Koonung Creek Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Koonung Creek Reserve |
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Grassed informal open space in the reserve looking west
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| Location | Melbourne |
| Area | 313,352sqm |
| Operated by | City of Boroondara |
| Paths | Mix of formal and informal pathways |
| Terrain | Linear park |
| Water | Wetlands |
| Vegetation | Australian Native |
| Connecting transport | Bus routes 207, 284, 285, 309, 907, 908 |
| Facilities | Playground, barbeques, toilets, Dog off-lead |
Koonung Creek Reserve is a long, narrow park in Balwyn North, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It follows the path of the Eastern Freeway. The park stretches from Bulleen Road in the west to Doncaster Road in the east. It's a great place for outdoor activities and enjoying nature.
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History of Koonung Creek Reserve
This area has been a green open space for a very long time, even before European settlers arrived. It sits in a valley close to the Yarra River. The park was not officially named a park until at least 1966. We don't know the exact date it became a park.
How the Freeway Shaped the Park
The park changed a lot when the second part of the Eastern Freeway was built in 1982. Building the freeway meant losing a lot of green space. To make up for this, the Country Roads Board and local councils planted over 12,000 trees. Most of these trees were planted on the North Balwyn side of the freeway.
During this time, Koonung Creek was also moved underground for about 2.4 kilometers. This was done to make space for the freeway. These changes helped create the parkland we see today.
Noise Concerns Near the Freeway
After the freeway was built, local residents and the government had a long-standing issue about traffic noise. People living nearby and the local council have asked the government to reduce the noise. This is especially true for the part of the road near Koonung Creek Reserve. There are no tall noise barriers here, only small dirt mounds and plants. This means the noise levels are often higher than what is allowed for new freeways.
Future Plans and the East West Link
More recently, the reserve was part of discussions for the East West Link project. This project planned to make the Eastern Freeway wider by adding one lane in each direction. The City of Boroondara council strongly disagreed with using any parkland for this widening. They shared their concerns in 2013 and 2014.
What Can You Do at Koonung Creek Reserve?
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The Koonung Creek Trail runs right through the park. It's a paved path, 3 meters wide, perfect for walking or cycling from east to west. Some parts of the park also have separate gravel paths just for people walking.
Fun for Everyone
You can find a playground and public toilets near the corner of Wilburton Parade and Arama Street. Large parts of the park are "dog off-lead" areas, meaning dogs can run freely. However, there's a fence and rules that keep dogs away from the playground area. There are also several open grassy areas that can be used as informal ovals for games.
How to Get to Koonung Creek Reserve
The main paved path, the Koonung Creek Trail, makes it easy to walk or bike through the whole park.
Public Transport and Parking
Many bus services that use the freeway stop at the Eastern Freeway on-ramp on the eastern side of the reserve. There's also a small car park off Doncaster Road near the bus stop. Bus route 285 is the only public transport option that takes you directly to the center of the park. You can also find free street parking along the park next to the houses.
