By Benjamin Millar
Heavy rainfall has hampered efforts to clean up the badly contaminated Stony Creek, spreading thick sediment and resparking odour concerns.
Last Tuesday’s downpours overflowed the creek downstream from the site of the August factory fire, sending black sediment across footpaths and into trees in West Footscray.
Strong odours were reported in Cruickshank Park in Yarraville and at Stony Creek backwash.
Friends of Cruickshank Park secretary Sue Vittori said the situation was what residents living near the creek had worried about for weeks.
“When heavy rain comes, more pollutants just wash downstream into the park and other areas all over again,” she said.
A Melbourne Water spokesman said inspections were carried out on Wednesday and all damaged booms and hay bale structures, used to draw pollution from the creek, were repaired or replaced.
“It was noted that some visible debris and sediment had washed up above the banks,” he said.
“However, the black sludge that had previously been removed from vegetation does not appear to have returned in significant quantities.”
The spokesman said the decision to commence recovery works on Stony Creek at Cruickshank Park, rather than further upstream, was made due to the high public usage of the park and complexity of creek access upstream.
Environment Protection Authority (EPA) metro manager Daniel Hunt said officers were at the fire site during Tuesday’s rain and conducted follow-up inspections at both the site and downstream areas including Cruikshank Park.
He said officers reported that existing contamination in the banks of the creek was being flushed due to high water levels caused by the rain and this caused odour levels in the area to rise again.
“EPA officers reported that there has been no sign of contaminated runoff from the site since the fire, but it is acknowledged further clean-up of contamination in the creek – in addition to contamination already removed – is a priority.”
EPA continues to advise people and pets to avoid coming into contact with water or odour from Stony Creek.
Maribyrnong Council is holding a Stony Creek Community Day at Cruickshank Park from 11am to 2.30pm Sunday, November 18, including free family activities and a chance to ask questions of Melbourne Water, EPA and Council.
