Fez’s Wetland (Dundas Street wetland)

End of Dundas Street, Thornbury (part of the Darebin Creek floodplain)

Fez’s wetland helps reduce flood risks to local homes and properties, as well as reducing stormwater pollution and increasing biodiversity.

Fez’s Wetland was originally created to prevent flooding of properties near the Darebin Creek in Thornbury. It is a low-lying wetland that collects stormwater (rainwater that runs off hard surfaces such as roofs, roads and carparks) from local industrial estates. When stormwater enters the wetland its flow is slowed down, allowing sediments, litter and other contaminants to settle to the bottom, leaving the water cleaner. Plants, bacteria and fungi in the wetlands help to break down sediments and contaminants further, releasing nutrients from organic material (any material that was once alive) which help the plants to grow.

Any stormwater leaving the wetland and entering Darebin Creek is much cleaner than if it had flowed straight into the creek untreated. This helps to improve water quality in the creek and benefits the animals that live in and around the creek, such as fish, frogs and birds. As water from the Darebin Creek flows into the Yarra River and eventually into Port Phillip Bay, improving creek water quality in Thornbury also has a positive effect on our river and marine environments.

Fez’s Wetland increases local biodiversity (the range of plants and animals present) and is easy to access on foot or bicycle, via the Darebin Creek Trail. It is a pleasant resting spot that offers a chance for people to see and hear plants and animals they wouldn’t usually find in a city area.

Outcomes

Less risk of flooding of local properties.
Less stormwater entering the Darebin Creek.
Cleaner stormwater entering the Darebin Creek.
Slowed flow of stormwater entering the Darebin Creek, reducing the risk of erosion (loosening of soil on creek banks).
Increased local biodiversity (the range of plants and animals present).
Improved bushland amenity and recreation area in an urban setting.

Project Description:
Fez’s Wetland is a flood retardant basin next to the Darebin Creek, which helps to reduce stormwater pollution and provides habitat for frogs and other wildlife.

Purpose:
Fez’s Wetland is designed to reduce flooding in areas near the Darebin Creek in Thornbury. It also filters stormwater and provides habitat for frogs, birds and other wildlife.

Catchment:
Darebin Creek

Completion Date:
Early 1990s

Downloads:

Watershed: Towards a water sensitive urban design Darebin (3MB)

Project details

How the System Works

Stormwater from Dundas Street industrial estate enters Fez’s Wetland each time it rains via a pipe outlet. The pipe outlet connects to a swale drain (shallow ditch) which is lined with rocks and reedy plants that help to slow the flow of water down and add oxygen into the water.

The plants in Fez’s Wetland (called macrophytes) help to filter out large pieces of litter and sediments (small particles of soil, litter and other contaminants floating in the water). Smaller contaminants (such as oil, organic matter (any material that was once living), tiny pieces of plastic, detergents and chemicals) are trapped in the wetland floor (bed layer). Bacteria and fungi in the wetland break down the organic matter (such as soil and leaves), releasing nutrients that can be absorbed by the wetland plants, helping them grow. The treated stormwater then drains slowly into the Darebin Creek via groundwater or overland flow during floods.

System Components

Fez’s wetland consists of:

Stormwater collected from Dundas Street industrial estate.
Inlet pipe that channels stormwater towards the wetland via gravity.
Swale drain that slows the flow of water down and boosts oxygen levels via rocky sections.
Flood retardant basin that slows the flow of water further, allowing sediments and contaminants to settle to the bottom.
Plants, bacteria and fungi in the wetland that help to filter the water further and absorb nutrients.
Ground water and overland flows that discharge excess treated stormwater into the Darebin Creek.

Project Timeline

Early 1990s
Fez’s Wetland was constructed. Ongoing maintenance.

Maintenance and Monitoring

Fez’s Wetland is visited by Darebin City Council every six weeks to carry out weed control, litter removal and planting. Regular community ‘working bee’ events are held to carry out more weed control, litter removal and planting. Annual monitoring of frog populations and wetland birds are completed by local conservation groups.

PROJECT BENEFITS

Benefits to community

Fez’s Wetland is an attractive wetland and bush landscape in an urban area. The wetland and Darebin Creek Trail provide the community with a much-valued greenspace that is used for cycling, walking and observing wildlife. Public open spaces in urban areas can increase levels of physical activity in the community and have mental health benefits, which can help to reduce healthcare costs.

The wetland is also used as educational location for schools and community groups to learn about water sensitive urban design and the benefits of increasing local biodiversity.

The wetland continues to play an important part in reducing flood risks to private property and local infrastructure (such as roads and paths).

Environmental benefits

By collecting stormwater from the nearby industrial estate on Dundas Street and treating it via Fez’s Wetland, the quality of stormwater entering Darebin Creek in this area is known to be much higher than if it had flown directly into the creek. This creates a cleaner and healthier environment for the plants and animals that live in and around Darebin Creek. It also promotes better water quality downstream in the Yarra River and in Port Phillip Bay, benefiting ecological communities (plants and animals) in those environments.

Fez’s Wetland also helps to stop stormwater entering the Darebin Creek at a high speed, reducing erosion of the creek banks, which also helps to improve water quality. The reduction of contaminants including heavy metals, petrols and oils, dog droppings, detergents, cigarette butts, organic matter and plastics ensures the aquatic life within Darebin creek is protected. The wetland is part of the Darebin creek riparian wildlife habitat corridor which supports locally indigenous flora and fauna. Many native animals call the creeks and lakes in Darebin home – such as platypus, rakali (native water rat), frogs, fish (such as the common galaxias) and birds (such as the sacred kingfisher). Waterways like the Darebin Creek provide food and habitat for these and other animals and plants, so it is important to prevent water pollution that may cause them harm.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Darebin City Council acknowledges the Wurundjeri people as the traditional owners and custodians of this land and pays respect to their Elders past and present.

Project Funding Partners

Darebin Creek Management Committee