Yammerbook Nature Reserve
You will remember that Melbourne Water said they were keen to explore the nature of any expansion or improvement in this area. Yammerbook is the land on the North West side of Wells Road between Sanctuary Place and the Wells Bridge at Mordialloc Creek. The Yammerbook Lake inside the special boundary fence has a saline content which requires different management techniques than conventional wetland waters.
A meeting took place on the 1st April this year to review the current position with representatives from Melbourne Water - Regional South East River Health, the City of Kingston and the Yammerbook sub committee in attendance.
The Yammerbook Committee objective has been to see if we can work with the parties to expand the lake inside the wetland and plant more native plants etc to encourage further natural development of flora and fauna. You will remember that some proposals were made a couple of years ago to expand or add a new lake at the same time as developing a wider plan for the secondary drain right through to the Northern Edithvale Wetland. We waited on council developing this concept but it has become clear that Melbourne Water do not have funds to support this concept so we are now back at the start and a Yammerbook committee member tabled a map or Discussion Plan (less detailed than a Concept Plan) covering the Yammerbook site, Mordialloc Creek, Mordialloc Secondary Drain corridor and surrounds, showing proposals for a new Yammerbook water body and wetland corridor between Edithvale Wetlands and Mordialloc Creek along the Secondary Drain swale. The committee discussed factors that influence the proposals on the Discussion Plan map.
Melbourne Water's River Health program has a five-year funding cycle, and the Regional South-east section has existing priorities in the current funding cycle, including the proposed Mordialloc Creek wetlands in Braeside. Because the Yammerbook lake and the Secondary Drain are not actual waterways (the Drain is a pipe under a swale), funding cannot be invested in this Regional Discussion Plan for about three years. Also prior to approval for expansion of the lake, permits will have to be obtained from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria who would survey the area for artefacts of any significance, and for earthworks that would include hydrological and geological surveys and tests for acid-sulphate soil, salinity, etc.
In the long-term, Council are pursuing funding for the installation of a 'purple' Class A recycled water pipeline from Eastern Treatment Plant/Patterson River to the Mordialloc Pumping Station on the south bank of Mordialloc Creek. This water would be used for watering sports grounds and reserves. As a matter of interest, Council are also pursuing an additional 'purple' pipeline through Keysborough, Dingley to Mordialloc for watering needs.
It might be possible to channel stormwater into the Yammerbook water body, the wetland corridor, and Mordialloc Creek to relieve the effect of occasional high flows and to reduce water wastage into Port Phillip Bay. MW will advise the Yammerbook Committee on permits, surveys and tests required.
Council reported that the COK $100,000.00 budget for the lake expansion is held until 30 June, meaning that we either have to commit the budget to an action or ask Council to carry it over to next financial year, which they are likely to support. It was suggested that the COK $100, 000 budget seemed an opportunity to consider a wider context than what one member called, “a hole in the ground (a dog pond).”
One Yammerbook member suggested that he would prefer trees to be planted around Yammerbook and down the wetland corridor subject to MW Flood management approval. If this suggestion went ahead planting would be negotiated between MW and COK. The concept included provision for a yabby habitat corridor, Superb Blue Wren habitat, possible Grey-crowned Babbler habitat (although they may now be extinct in this area), and a grassy meadow.
The committee also has to consider the original plan for which the COK allocated the $100,000 budget for an alternative water body for a dog pond, this to keep dogs out of the main lake and revegetated area. Part of the lake could be expanded and fenced off. MW reminded the committee of the requirements for this - licences, detailed plans, contours, design work, mitigation measures, etc, and the time it would take - the AAV process takes about nine months!
A composite consideration was also raised to fence off a part of the existing lake for a dog pond, and to create a vegetation/habitat link from planting on the northern end of the Yammerbook site with the Mordialloc Creek vegetation just downstream of the pedestrian bridge. It was also suggested that the committee revisit the creation of a picnic area at the southern end of Yammerbook, although parking here is an unresolved issue with Council and residents may not wish to look over a picnic site.
The AGRA committee member said he is keen to pursue feasibility studies for all of the suggestions, but not for trees and seating along the Mordialloc Creek levee bank. In his view that is a new project that should be budgeted in its own right and not draw on the Yammerbook lake funding.
Clearly Council will have to carry funding over into the next financial year. We ask our three South Ward Councillors to ensure this happens while further work is done on deciding the next step for this program. Quite candidly it has become frustrating to get an outcome for what was once a simple budgeted objective.
This sub committee will be meeting in June to determine our next action. If you want to join the Yammerbook committee please contact Ken Carney, AGRA President.