Koonung Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Koonung Creek |
|
|---|---|
Koonung Creek, downstream from Blackburn Road, showing realignment works on the right
|
|
| Country | Australia |
| State | Victoria |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 11 km (6.8 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | Unknown |
Koonung Creek (also called Koonung Koonung Creek) is a small tributary (a smaller river that flows into a larger one) of the Yarra River. It is located in Melbourne's east, in Victoria, Australia.
The creek starts in Nunawading near Springvale Road. It then flows for about 11 kilometers (7 miles) until it joins the Yarra River. This meeting point is where the suburbs of Ivanhoe East, Bulleen, and Balwyn North meet. A shared path, called the Koonung Creek Trail, follows the creek's path.
Contents
Where is Koonung Creek?
The Koonung Creek begins near the areas of Nunawading and Donvale. This is about 21 kilometers (13 miles) east of Melbourne. From there, the creek flows mostly west. It travels for about 11 kilometers before it reaches the Yarra River. This happens near the Yarra Flats in southern Bulleen.
Creek Features
Along its path, Koonung Creek has some interesting natural features:
- Boronia Grove Wetlands
- Doncaster Hill
- Other wetlands and billabongs (small lakes or ponds)
The Creek's Health
Melbourne Water is the group that looks after Melbourne's waterways. They have rated the condition of Koonung Creek as 'Very Poor'. In fact, they say it is the unhealthiest waterway in all of Melbourne.
Melbourne Water checks the creek's water quality regularly. At their station in Bulleen, they found high levels of E. coli. This is a type of bacteria that shows the water is not clean. The average E. coli count was 1800. This is nine times higher than what is considered safe for swimming (which is 200). This was the highest level of E. coli found in any of Melbourne's waterways. The creek has been in poor condition since early European settlement.
Animals Living in the Creek
Even with its challenges, Koonung Creek is home to five types of frogs. These include:
- The Common eastern froglet
- The Spotted Marsh Frog
- The Striped marsh frog
- The Eastern or Pobblebonk Frog
- The Southern Brown or Ewing's Tree Frog
The Eastern Freeway runs alongside the creek. It follows the creek's path through the parkland next to it.
Crossing the Creek
Many roads and paths cross over Koonung Creek. Some of these crossings include:
- Freeway Golf Course Footbridge
- Bulleen Road
- Thompsons Road
- Eastern Freeway
- Doncaster Road (the creek flows under the road)
- Elgar Park Footbridge
- Elgar Road
- Tram Road
- Wetherby Road
- Boronia Grove Footbridges
- Blackburn Road (the creek flows under the road, built in 1995)
- Koonung Creek Park Footbridges
- Springvale Road
Images for kids
-
The Koonung Creek (center) since its diversion for the construction of the Eastern Freeway (right) and the Koonung Creek Trail (left)
Other Facts
Koonung Creek has given its name to many local places. These include:
- Koonung Park in Blackburn North and the Koonung Park Tennis Centre
- Koonung Road in Blackburn North
- Koonung Creek Reserve
- The Koonung Ward in the City of Manningham local government area
- The Koonung Creek Trail
- Koonung Secondary College
- Koonung Heights Cricket Club
