Merri Creek Management Committee

Muddy Merri upstream from Blyth St bridge A dramatic change in the colour of Merri Creek in May 2018 - from its usual darkish hue to a worrying, pale-yellow - had concerned locals contacting MCMC, posting on Facebook and reporting the issue to the EPA. The spate of yellow muddiness began after rain in mid-May and continued for more than three weeks, an unprecedented time. 'Old hands' said that the turbidity (sediment load) in Merri Creek was much worse than anything they'd seen in their decades of creek-watching. What caused this massive pollution event? Was it 'natural', or the result of disturbance from urban development activity?

Photo above: Merri Creek at Blyth St, Brunswick East, 15 May 2018

On Wednesday 25 January 2012, Lauren Keim, an East Brunswick resident and teacher at a local primary school rescued a large male platypus from the Merri Creek 200 metres north of Moreland Rd bridge.
The platypus was tangled in rubbish and debris and had a wound in his side. Lauren took the platypus to Essendon Emergency Vet who treated the platypus’ wound. The vet called a Wildlife Carer who took him to Healesville Sanctuary. After determining the platypus was healthy, Jessica Thomas, a Platypus Keeper at Healesville Sanctuary, decided that he should be released back where he had come from. So he was put back into Merri Creek.
Lauren has kept the tangled mess of rubbish to show her class and to educate them about rubbish in the creek.
Melbourne Water has advised that members of the public should not attempt to rescue platypus in trouble. Male platypus have a poisonous spur on their back legs that can cause serious injury to people. Platypus are also easily stressed through handling and can even die. If you see a platypus in trouble please contact wildlife specialist Josh Griffith – 0422-783-994.
We’d love to know if you’ve seen the Merri Creek platypus. Please contact us or make a report through our website animal sightings form.

Saturday 1st June 2013 was the wettest June day in Melbourne on record. The Merri Creek catchment received rainfall above 57 mm from Flooding aftermath - bridge to Coburg pool 350 x 197 9am Friday 31st May to 11am on Saturday 1st June.

The rain led to the media issuing a “major flood warning” at Bell St and St Georges Rd in Coburg. This means that the water was 5m above its normal level.

The flood left huge amounts of mud, litter and debris on the Merri shared path. MCMC and Moreland City Council still went ahead with a planting in Coburg on the next day to celebrate World Environment Day, despite having most of the mulch swept away and mud filling up the holes that had been dug previously.