Responsibility for the restoration of a Point Cook waterway has been duck-shoved between water management authorities.
Waterhaven Estate developers Hallmarc temporarily dammed Skeleton Creek last month to create a sewerage connection from a housing development on the northern side of Skeleton Creek to an existing sewer point at its southern end.
But Hallmarc failed to notify nearby residents or the Friends of Skeleton Creek (FoSC) group about the works, for which it obtained permits from Wyndham council after reference to Melbourne Water and City West Water.
The developer could not bore under the creek bed to install the sewage pipe because “geological constraints” meant there was not sufficient fall for the sewage to disperse by gravity.
Pumps would not work, Star Weekly was told, because they had “failed” in the past.
FoSC president Angela Whiffin said the environmental group had been concerned about the impact the damming would have on the creek’s biodiversity.
After an on-site meeting with stakeholders on Thursday, group members were assured the site would be restored to its previous condition after works are finished. But, when asked, neither City West Water nor Melbourne Water would take responsibility for the clean-up.
A City West Water spokesman said its role was to ensure pipework met construction standards, but it had no input in post-work restoration. There is still a stormwater pipe to be constructed across the creek, and another housing estate is due to start next year.
“We have birds nesting along the creek, as well as native rats and lizards, and some native vegetation,” Ms Whiffin said.
“We would have thought, at the least as a matter of courtesy, local residents and our group would have been consulted and informed,” she said.
She also slammed the lack of an environmental impact report and the lack of detail about who was going to restore the damage.
Neither Hallmarc nor Melbourne Water responded to requests for comment by deadline.
