Water Sensitive
Urban Design

Back
to map

Leamington Street Wetland

North of Leamington Street, Reservoir, upstream from Edwardes Lake.

The Leamington Street Wetland helps improve water quality in Edwardes Lake and Edgars Creek. It is home to many aquatic plants and animals.

The Leamington Street Wetland (also known as Edgars Creek Wetland) is located just to the northeast of Edwardes Lake, across Leamington Street. It is a type of wetland known as a sediment basin, because it allows the flow of water to slow right down so that sediments (silt, soil and other small particles floating in the water) can settle to the bottom, leaving the water cleaner.

Sediment basins are an important method of improving the quality of stormwater entering our waterways. Stormwater is rainwater that flows over the hard surfaces of a city, such as roofs, roads, footpaths and gutters. It can often pick up and carry pieces of litter, silt, oil, chemicals and pollutants with it. If stormwater is not filtered, these pollutants end up in our lakes and creeks where they can harm aquatic wildlife.

Sediment basins also help to slow the flow of stormwater into waterways, reducing the risk of erosion (loosening of soil) on creek and lake banks, which can affect water quality and wash plants away.

The Leamington Street wetland is an ephemeral wetland, meaning it can be dry for many months of the year. It has been built around Edgars Creek, upstream of Edwardes Lake. It is known as a Plains Sedgy Wetland. Sedges are grass-like plants that prefer wet soil and grow well in wetlands, or along creeks and rivers.

Stormwater from the neighbourhoods and industrial areas of Reservoir flow into Edgars Creek, through the wetland and into Edwardes Lake. From Edwardes Lake, Edgars Creek flows on into the Merri Creek, which eventually joins the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay.

Outcomes

Cleaner water entering Edwardes Lake and Edgars Creek
Less stormwater entering Edwardes Lake and Edgars Creek, reducing flooding risks
Slowed flow of stormwater entering Edwardes Lake and Edgars Creek, reducing erosion
Increase biodiversity (range of plants and animals in an area)
Pleasant green space for the community to enjoy

Project Description: The Leamington Street Wetland filters stormwater entering Edwardes Lake and provides habitat for an abundance of aquatic plants and animals.

Catchment: Edgars Creek Catchment (a tributary of the Merri Creek)

Project details

PROJECT DETAILS

How the System Works

The Edgars Creek receives stormwater flowing from surrounding streets, industrial areas, sports grounds and, further upstream, farms and market gardens. Stormwater enters the creek every time it rains.

The Leamington Street wetland was built around Edgars Creek to help filter water flowing from the north along the course of the creek towards Edwardes Lake. The wetland expands and contracts with the seasons – in cooler months when there is more rain, it is wetter and larger; in warmer months when there is less rain, it is dryer and smaller. The Merrilands Drain to the east of the wetland provides an additional flow of stormwater to the wetland.

The flow of water entering the wetland is slowed down by the flood-tolerant wetland plants, allowing sediments to settle to the bottom. The water is then filtered by microorganisms and algae that grow on the plants. Nutrients in the water are filtered out. This is important because excess nutrients can cause eutrophication of lakes and creeks.

Eutrophication is an overgrowth of surface plants and algae, which can strip the underlying water of oxygen and harm or kill fish and other aquatic wildlife.

Bacteria and fungi in the wetland also break down the organic matter (such as soil and leaves). The large litter accumulates on top of the surface where it can be collected and removed. The treated stormwater then drains slowly into Edwardes Lake.

System Components

Inflow: Stormwater enters the wetland via Edgars Creek, the Merrilands Drain, or overland flow during high rainfall events.

Wetland Sediment Basin: The flow of water is slowed down in the wetland basin. Sediments settle to the bottom, and the water is filtered by plants, algae, bacteria and fungi, making it cleaner.

Outflow: Once treated, the stormwater passes through the Edwardes Lake Gross Pollutant Trap (GPT) into Edwardes Lake. Water from the lake flows on into the downstream reach of Edgars Creek, which eventually joins the Merri Creek.

Project Timeline

1995/1996 – Sediment-trapping wetlands constructed northeast of Leamington Street to help improve water quality of Edgars Creek and Edwardes Lake.

2001 – Reconstruction of wetland to improve its function.

Maintenance and Monitoring

The Leamington Street wetland is visited by Darebin City Council every six weeks to carry out weed control, litter removal and planting. Regular community revegetation events are also held at the wetland.

Annual monitoring of frog and wetland bird population are completed by local conservation and ‘Friends of’ groups.

PROJECT BENEFITS

Benefits to the Community

The Leamington Street wetland is surrounded by houses and parkland. The wetland provides an attractive area for local residents and visitors to enjoy on bicycle or on foot. Studies have also shown that public open spaces in urban areas can increase levels of physical activity in the community and have mental health benefits.

The increased biodiversity of the wetland provides the opportunity for people to see plants and animals that are not usually present in a city area. This helps the community learn about our local wildlife and the importance of protecting out waterways. It also provides an educational location for schools and community events to share learnings about water sensitive urban design. The wetland continues to play an important part in flood reduction of private property and local infrastructure in the Reservoir area.

Environmental Benefits

By filtering stormwater from the surrounding urban area, the Leamington Street wetland helps improve the quality of water in Edwardes Lake and Edgars Creek. This creates a cleaner and healthier environment for the plants and animals that live in and around the lake and creek. It also promotes better water quality further downstream in the Yarra River and in Port Phillip Bay, benefiting ecological communities (plants and animals) in those environments.

The wetland helps to prevent stormwater entering Edwardes Lake and Edgars Creek at a high speed, reducing soil erosion, which also helps to improve water quality. Many native animals call the creeks and lakes of Darebin home – such as platypus, rakali (native water rat), frogs, fish (such as the common galaxias) and birds (such as the sacred kingfisher).

Wetlands like the Leamington Street basin provide food and habitat for wildlife, promoting biodiversity and protecting our local environment.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Acknoledgements

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.

Darebin City Council was supported by Melbourne Parks & Waterways in establishing the Leamington Street wetland.