A Dry Creek Bed for Koonung Creek Reserve, Balwyn North

The North East Link Project is moving to plunder the Koonung Creek Reserve in Balwyn North. It is estimated that about 70% of the area of the Reserve would be lost to public use. This would be the combined effect of greater space for road lanes and the installation of a “dry creek bed” to take away flood water that would result from the substantial increase in road capacity, to be built at a time when climate change is predicted to increase the frequency of major flooding events.

Koonung Creek Reserve, Balwyn North, near the intersection of Doncaster Road with the Eastern Freeway. Substantial numbers of trees have been removed by the North East Link Project, including a remnant orchard.

The Koonung Creek Reserve has been a location for passive recreation and relaxation for many years in a maturing treed environment. Many of these trees date back to the 1970’s when much of the Reserve was planted out by local residents in a project facilitated by the Rotary Club.