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Merri Creek Industrial Pollution, Stakeholders in Industrial Pollution…
Merri Creek Industrial Pollution
Further pollution and water quality monitoring technologies
Bring back Cleaner Creeks, Everyone's Business?
Education and awareness program
Identified hotspots at the industrial sites around Merlynston Creek
Can reach out to Claire Fenby about having this project be run by the community and source funding. May be more effective that way. Also can chat to MCMC about their participation?
Outcomes Based Approach
As observed in the Waterways Investment Prioritisation Merri Creek Catchment Pilot Study
Prioritising solution implementation schemes that are appropriate in terms of applied technical solution, the level of control and the benefits realised for the customers and the environment.
Aligning with stakeholders investment to achieve the agreed outcomes.
Encompasses risk assessment and mitigation within an
adaptive framework
that allows continual improvement over the agreed planning horizon.
Stormwater diversion technology?
Tactical stormwater to sewer diversion, stormwater treatment tanks, gross pollutant traps (stormwater and wastewater overflows)
Sensors -
evaluating types of sensors to use and where to put them
Key recommendations
Results:
Drain outfalls (downstream) has highest levels of contamination
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon is a major concern. Pulse Pollution events detected on-site likely from top of catchment.
Learnings from EPA Trialing projects: The mobility of the real-time sensor hubs trialled in parallel to this project would allow EPA to locate the source of the pollution impacting Merlynston Creek.
Passive Samplers Recommendations: Incorporating ammonium passive samplers as part of future studies is recommended. Additional samplers deployed at multiple sites within catchments allows for a quick and approach for isolating and sourcing contamination.
Passive samplers 🧪
Ammonia Passive Samplers
EPA Trialing in 2020
What:
Analysis was done by flow system with a limit of detection (LOD)
Quality control
Measurement uncertainty
Conversion of values to give estimate of pollutant concentrations over large temporal scales when compared to grab sampling techniques.
Final concentrations reported as ammonia-N
Where: Fabrication and analysis of ammonia passive samplers was completed at the University of Melbourne, School of Chemistry
Where: Samplers deployed for 10 weeks at 3 key sites
StormScout Samplers
EPA Trialing in 2020
Where: Samplers deployed at 10 locations for 5 weeks
How: The pollution risk ratings are based on summary statistics derived from stormwater pollutant concentrations detected in the StormScout Samplers over a 12-year period.
How: All chemical analysis performed by National Association of Testing Laboratories Australia (NATA). Contaminant concentrations converted into a simple colour-coded pollution risk rating. The site risk score was determined by average pollutant concentrations across the 5 weeks of sampling.
What: After each sampling event, media from the sampler was collected, processed, and analysed for common persistent contaminants
Active sensors 🔗
Real-time pollution sensors
EPA Trialing in 2020
Where: Sensors deployed at 7 locations in the Merlynston Creek catchment
What/How: Data streamed via the 4G network every 15 minutes to a data visualisation dashboard. Monitors for Ammonia, pH, copper + other metals. Water collected periodically for spot-checking. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and water level monitored in real time across the catchment.
A3P Aquatic Pollution Prevention Partnership
Potential online treatment options through lab trials (e.g sand, scoria, bluestone, charcoal)
Toxicant Treatment Facility Barry Rd
This project was managed by the Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research (CESAR), a collaborative research centre that combined expertise from across La Trobe University, Monash University, and the University of Melbourne
(
https://www.starwater.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/water_treatment.pdf
)
It is located at Barry Rd, Campbellfield, Melbourne,
Victoria. Stormwater first passes through a Gross Pollutant
Trap and then to a flow splitter where it is discharged into three
1m3 treatment tanks constructed in parallel to enable direct
comparative performance of three filtration media. When
inflow volumes exceed the capacity of the TTF, water flows
over the diverter into the main drain and directly into the creek.
The need for structural and non-structural practices to address pollutants from industrial catchments
Regulation and enforcement, behaviour change program, online treatment
RMIT Discussion Paper
Structural
Structural Isolation within buildings
required in new builds
test efficacy of this
retrofit old buildings and washdown areas
Structural isolation
Gully baskets, litter traps at the end of the industrial estate to remove gross pollutants from entering the receiving waterway.
Stormwater runoff of dry weather flows and first flush in a storm event treated through filtered material which capture pollutants – build in the design of the industrial estate. Send these flows to sewer.
Biofiltration should only be used in 'low risk' industrial estates
Non-structural
education - tools trainings, info capacity building targets to SME industrial
Incentives - positive recognition assistance
Behaviour Change - site inspections, evaluations to each business, continued over time to maintain change
Enforcement
AQUEST Aquatic Environmental Stress Research Group
This project aims to:
Undertake an international literature review to identify what toxicants typically accumulate in stormwater wetlands and how they affect wetland performance and management
Conduct surveys in stormwater wetlands across Melbourne to determine what toxicants are present in local stormwater wetlands and where they are accumulating through the treatment process
Review traditional and emerging methods for monitoring wetland ‘ecological health’ and develop simple, cost-effective monitoring tools to determine the effects of toxicants on wetland performance
This is a collaboration with Melbourne Waterway Research-Practice Partnership (MWRPP) Project B2.
Findings
Metals (Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb), TPH, synthetic pyrethroid pesticide were commonly present in inlet sedimentation ponds.
No correlation between toxicant concentration and wetland age
Engagement with University
Academic knowledge on sensors
Opportunity for future monitoring and research
External Funding
Victoria University
Victoria University are wanting to partner to provide funding for a Masters Student on a future project.
Melbourne Water
Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways Program
Can support research with providing resources. They have previously worked with RMIT for research into sensor technology for industrial pollution.
Impact Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment
Native species
Growling Grass Frog
GGF Masterplan
Platypus
Historical data of water quality monitoring by the EPA and Hume City Council (Bio2Lab and Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Monitoring(CAPIM))
Measuring Chromium, Copper, Lead, Nickel, TPH, Zinc
Risk level based on Bio2Lab Risk classes developed through extensive collection and analysis of industrial stormwater sampling data, with the risk categories illustrating the relative magnitude of contamination compared to background industrial drains.
Asset Planning
Installing a wetland aroud the creek for biodiversity, ammenity, stormwater treatment.
Social Impact Assessment
Friends of the Merri Creek
Merri Creek Amenities
Health Impact Assessment
Evaluative framework that quantifies the level of risk at each site
Consult Health and Safety Team
Legislation and Policy
Victorian Waterway Management Strategy
Melbourne Water Healthy Waterways Strategy 2018-2028
IWMP 2020-2025
Goal: Protect Waterways from urban stormwater pollution.
Objective 2: Improve water quality or discharges to waterways by minimising pollution to waterways from Council, industry and development activities
Environment Protection Amendment Act 2018
General Environmental Duty
the state-wide policy instrument for the protection of beneficial uses of water environments in Victoria. Beneficial uses are defined as the uses and values of the water environment that the community and Government want to protect.
Under the updated Environment Protection Act (the Act) that came into effect in 2021, everyone in the community has a duty to protect our environment from pollutants. We are not exempt and we need to protect our waterways from chemicals entering via our stormwater drains.
Victorian Litter Plan
Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019
Hume Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2025
Live Green Plan 2021-2026
Contributes to the themes of the Community Vision and Council Plan:
A city that cares about our planet and is appealing and connected.
A council that inspires leadership, is accountable, and puts the community first.
Get involved and take action for the environment: Environmental Community Group in Hume
Anti-Toxic Waste Alliance (Inactive group) - Provides a strong, unified, and influential community advocacy regarding regulation and operation of hazardous industries such as waste and recycling facilities.
Hume City Council Industrial Stormwater Code of Practice
Section 3.
Advice on construction pollution control.
Improving the Site
Improving environmental management
Site audits
Advice on constructing pollution controls.
Merri Creek and Environs Strategy 2009-2014
Authority: MCMC
Instituted by the Merri Creek Management Committee with the endorsement of the City of Whittlesea, the Merri Creek and Environs Strategy specifies a number of catchment and waterway management actions to be undertaken by stakeholders within the Merri catchment, including Council. The current SWMP has been developed with reference to this document and is in line with its recommendations.
CIty of Whittlesea Stormwater Management Plan 2012-2017
Merri intersect the City of Whittlesea
Stakeholders
Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC)
Identifying areas and parameters for pollution monitoring
Merri Creek and Environs Strategy Chapter 3.2 - Water Quality and Stream Health
GGF Plan (to be released early 2024)
Water quality monitoring
EPA
Melbourne Water
Research with RMIT Aquatic Pollution Prevention Partnership
Contact Dave from Monash Uni who worked on this project and recommissioned the toxicant treatment facility
The Merri Creek waterways and Healthy Waterways Strategy
Friends of Merri Creek (FoMC)
The Merri Paddle
Victoria University
City of Whittlesea
is it possible to put in an application with them given that Merri Creek intersect through their city and they also have interest in the Merri Creek?
WSUD wetland assets (
https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/media/1239/stormwater-management-plan-2012-17.pdf
)
O'Hern's Wetland
Merri Creek becomes a perenial stream in this section
Hendersons Creek Wetland
Darebin Creek
Morang Wetlands
Plenty River
Contructed wetland in Doreen and Mernda
Aquifer Storage and Recovery techniques for water storage
Tanunda Wetlands
Plenty River
Industrial sites
City of Merri-Bek
IWM Strategy 2020-2025
https://www.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/globalassets/website-merri-bek/areas/living-merri-bek/environment/water/integrated-water-management-strategy-2040---2020-2025-action-plan.pdf
Outcome 1.13 Develop a plan for utilising and target water quality monitoring, such as Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC) Waterwatch2, to give us a better understanding of changes and impacts
Strategic Risks and Opportunities
https://www.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/globalassets/website-merri-bek/areas/living-merri-bek/environment/water/integrated-water-management-strategy-2040-1.pdf
• Recognition of the need for a comprehensive understanding and allowance for resourcing for ongoing maintenance of existing and new large WSUD assets. Response: Ensure enough trained resources and funding has been allocated for maintenance of WSUD assets.
Wetlands
https://conversations.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/moomba-park-wetland
Moomba Park Wetland and frog habitat
Construction underway (construction excpected to be complete by May 2023)
RMIT
Wetland Asset Opportunities
Pollution Interception (Melbourne Water)
Hume CC WSUD Masterplan
MCMC GGF Masterplan
Melbourne growth corridors investment priorities in conservation area 34 - NORTH & SOUTH
Four high priority reaches based on Biosis Research’s existing metapopulations. A portion of Merri Creek Reach 4 is a Nature Conservation area because of its very high biodiversity values, and is therefore unsuitable for wetland construction.
Merlynston Creek Masterplan
Project Objectives
Understand health and safety risks of Merri Creek and other tributaries (e.g Merlynston Creek)
Understanding potential impact on wetland assets (existing and planned)
Compliance with planning permits in industrial estates
Taskforce
Sustainability Taskforce
Upper Merri Taskforce
Edgars Creek and Edwardes Lake Taskforce
Stakeholders in Industrial Pollution Monitoring
Tertiary Institutions
RMIT
Victoria University
State Government
Department of Health
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
Local Councils
City of Whittlesea
City of Brimbank
City of Maribyrnong
City of Mitchell Shire
City of Banyule
City of Hume
The community
Local businesses
The Envio Champions
The Sustainability Taskforce
Friends of Merri Creek
Merri Creek Management Committee
Friends of the Merri Paddle
Community based organisations and groups
Water Corporations
Melbourne Water
Yarra Valley Water
Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
The developers and builders
