Edgars Creek is an important tributary of Merri Creek. Unfortunately its middle section is one of Melbourne’s most polluted waterways. Melbourne University’s Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Management found contaminants such as arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc in stormwater drains from Thomastown industrial areas leading to the creek.

This summer, Merri Creek catchment experienced its most significant bushfires ever.
In January, two major fires occurred along Old Sydney Road in Wallan, burning a large amount of remnant bushland. The second fire caused a lot of damage due to many trees knocked over and extensive bulldozing for fire control. Although there was the potential for erosion from bare hills with heavy rain, most of the area now has quite a good grass cover, which should help limit any erosion.
Then, in February, the Donnybrook/ Wollert/Epping grassfire burnt more than 2000 hectares and caused traffic chaos as residents and workers in outer suburbs including Aurora tried to evacuate. The fire burnt along both sides of the Hume Freeway before being halted at Cooper Street Epping. The Merri Creek itself was spared, but the fire highlights the particular vulnerability of newly developing suburbs on Melbourne’s outskirts and the need for good fire management planning.