On 30 August 2018, an industrial warehouse near West Footscray that was housing unregistered toxic chemical waste caught fire and burned for two weeks. Firewater runoff washed into Stony Creek – a highly valued urban waterway that flows through Melbourne’s western suburbs to the Yarra River – causing large scale devastation and contamination to a five kilometre reach of the popular creek. The contamination resulted in a significant loss of plant and animal life, and for several days afterwards, the creek exceeded safe guidelines for human health.

Described as the worst pollution event to a Melbourne waterway in almost 30 years, the scale of the disaster – including the high level of community concern and significant public impacts – commanded a matching response.

Come to this seminar to hear how Melbourne Water has been working closely with the local community and their partner agencies to rehabilitate Stony Creek.

Speakers: Tom Hurst (Lead – Stony Creek Rehabilitation Program) and Edwina Manifold (Communications and Engagement Lead – Stony Creek Rehabilitation), Melbourne Water

Tom will provide an overview of the incident response and recovery efforts which required a coordinated and collaborative multi-agency approach.

Edwina will outline how Melbourne Water is working with the local community to develop a community-focused long-term rehabilitation plan to help restore, enhance and protect Stony Creek into the future.