This page documents the geography of the KooyongKoot Catchment including how it relates to relevant Local Government agencies.
The Gardiners Creek catchment covers 112 square kilometers and spans much of the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Its area includes large parts of the local government areas of Boroondara, Monash, Stonnington, Whitehorse and a small part of Glen Eira. Gardiners Creek itself originates near Blackburn and flows through Burwood and Malvern East before following the Monash Freeway to the Yarra River (Birrarung). Major tributaries of the creek include the Scotchmans, Back and Damper creeks.
The Kooyongkoot has a significant impact on the quality and health of the water in Yarra River (Birrarung) and, in turn, Port Phillip Bay.
Impacts
Although the catchment still contains fragmented biodiversity hotspots including areas of remnant habitat, the ecological state in general of the catchment is poor. There is declining tree canopy and understory coverage, and additional stormwater continues to be added to the creek.
The catchment does provide significant open space with many parks, reserves and sports grounds. These activities have important community strengthening and health benefits.
The catchment is impacted by continuing water quality and pollution issues as a result of the urbanisation of the area. Restoring and maintaining the vegetation and canopy cover is essential in the face of climate change, lessening the Urban Heat Island effect in the suburbs, as well as supporting, biodiversity and the wellbeing of local community, through connection to nature and for recreation. However, increasing densities and recreational use due to population growth, is putting growing pressure on us all to ensure that we conserve green spaces and the benefits that they provide.
The councils in the area, Melbourne Water and the large number of Friends and Advisory groups have long been actively involved in ecological restoration.
We believe that we, The KooyongKoot Alliance, have a key role through hands-on actions and advocacy to help stem, and indeed reverse, some of these pressures.