Strettle Wetland

In the 1970s, the Thornbury area experienced severe flooding and as a result, a flood levee (embankment) was built between Anderson and Normanby Roads. The soil used to build the levee was sourced from the area along the Merri Creek behind Strettle Street. The “borrow pit” (hole) created when the soil was dug out was the start of the Strettle Wetland.

The pit was fitted with an inlet pipe from the Merri Creek, allowing it to fill and hold water during flood events (called a flood retardant basin). The area to the south, which had previously been used as a rubbish tip, was then cleaned up so that the wetland could be established.

The area was progressively planted out with indigenous trees, shrubs and aquatic plants over many years and is now a well-established wetland.

Up until the mid-two thousands, the Strettle Wetland filled annually via an inlet pipe. The wetland now only fills during severe rainfall events and when water levels rise above the inlet pipe from the Merri Creek. Although it does not receive local stormwater,  it does still serve an important role in reducing flood risk to nearby properties.

1970s
Severe flooding in the Thornbury area.

An artificial wetland (Strettle Wetland) created as a “borrow pit” during construction of a flood levee around surrounding houses.

1989     
Flood retardant basin constructed along the Merri Creek behind Strettle Street at the same time as levee building works.

Rehabilitation work undertaken.

1990 onwards  
Area progressively planted out with indigenous species and maintained to allow for establishment of the Strettle Wetland.

Darebin City Council visits the Strettle Wetland every eight weeks, to carry out planting and weeding work.

Friends of Merri Creek also care for the wetland by planting and weeding the area during a number of working bee events that are scheduled throughout the year.

The Strettle Wetland is valued by the community as a beautiful, peaceful, green space that can be easily accessed on foot or bicycle.

As an urban wetland, it provides the opportunity for children, families and other community members to see fauna (animals) not usually found in urban environments and to learn about their habitats and ecosystems (their surroundings and the other creatures they depend on to live).

As a water sensitive urban design feature, it benefits the community by reducing the risk of flooding to nearby homes and properties. It also improves the quality of stormwater flowing into local waterways, improving the quality of the environment we live in.

The Strettle Wetland is now a mature urban wetland, comprised of many native plants species. It provides habitat to a range of birds, frogs, fish, insects and small mammals. It increases the biodiversity (variety of species) of the Thornbury area and its plants help to improve air quality, provide shade and stabilise soil.

As a water sensitive urban design feature, it helps take excess water from the Merri Creek during high rainfall events. By storing stormwater temporarily, it allows sediment and other contaminants to be filtered out, making it cleaner. This reduces the amount of pollution entering the Merri Creek, which is home to a range of important aquatic species including platypus. The stormwater entering the Merri Creek eventually flows into the Yarra River and into Port Phillip Bay, so by improving water quality upstream, we are also helping to protect our marine environments.

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.

Melbourne Water and Darebin City Council partnered to develop the Strettle Wetland.

Valuable ongoing revegetation work and clean up days from community volunteers and the Friends of Merri Creek.