The Andrews Labor Government is creating a new wetland sanctuary in the heart of Knox for you, your friends and your family.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
Currently there’s a fenced-off site containing a man-made agricultural dam on the corner of Burwood Highway and Scoresby Road in Knoxfield that’s unsafe for the community and the environment.
We’re getting on with fixing this site by turning it into a wetland sanctuary for local flora and fauna which will be accessible and open for all locals to enjoy – now, and for generations to come. This means a significantly better environment for the Blue-billed Duck which will have a specifically designed wetlands to thrive in.
We are making a true nature reserve in the heart of Knox that we all can be proud of.
The new wetlands sanctuary will be delivered in a staged and sensitive way to allow for continual access to a body of water for wildlife currently using the existing man-made dam – under the careful watch of an ecologist.
This staged construction will mean the current dam will exist until the new wetland sanctuary is ready to be transitioned across, meaning works to decommission the existing dam won’t begin until wildlife experts are confident that the wildlife has transitioned across to their new home. This will be for a period of at least 12 months.
WHY WE ARE DOING IT
The current man-made, agricultural dam is decades old, is structurally unstable and at risk of flooding surrounding houses and businesses.
This dam is also not environmentally sound – it allows untreated and hazardous stormwater to be discharged into the surrounding natural environment including neighbouring Blind Creek.
And currently it’s also completely locked away from locals, with no public access provided given the steep and unsafe banks.
CAN’T WE KEEP THE DAM?
The original working position was to retain the dam, taking into account the history of the site.
However, unfortunately once it was assessed by expert hydrologists, they found that:
- It was structurally unsound and had leaks and cracks in the dam wall.
- The banks are too steep. If someone falls in they might not be able to get out.
- The dam does not meet the stormwater management requirements.
At the end of the day, this is all about creating a nature reserve – a fit for purpose wetlands sanctuary which will allow the Blue-billed Duck and other wildlife not just to survive, but to thrive and flourish for years to come.
It’s about providing more and better open space. Cleaner waterways and less pollution for our environment. And doing so in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way.
The new wetland will provide a larger, healthier and safer waterbody for the Blue-billed Duck and other wildlife – with improved water quality for local waterways.
We have been and will continue to consult with the community on this project.
WHAT ELSE WILL BE ON THE SITE?
On top of the new Wetland Sanctuary, this Knoxfield site will be home to a vibrant new neighbourhood, with diverse housing and open recreational spaces for the comunity to enjoy.
The Masterplan provides approximately 416 homes that will be designed and built by a number of different townhouse builders, providing a diverse range of product for local community living.
The site will deliver a diverse range of housing options close to jobs, services and transport. Housing will primarily be medium density townhouses with a range of two to four bedrooms. It will also offer mixed-use development opportunities to benefit local residents, businesses and the wider community.
This growth in housing will deliver a minimum 10% affordable housing product for moderate income earners, and offer up to 5% of dwellings for purchase to a Registered Housing Association.
The development will also be partnering with the Green Building Council of Australia to pilot its new Green Star Homes standard on the site. The standard is a key tool to drive transformation in the residential sector and create a market for healthier, more resilient, energy efficient homes, and will work towards delivering best practice and carbon neutrality across the site.
The current timelines expects sales to commence in 2023, subject to change.
You can register your details to be kept up to date on the project by emailing knoxfield@development.vic.gov.au
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?
You can find out more at our Frequently Asked Questions page here.