Pilot Raingarden Project
For residents involved in DCMC's Pilot Raingarden Project, here is some further information for those interested:
The following study was undertaken by Kathleen Bartlett, a third year RMIT student and it discusses a range of issues associated with stormwater management, partcularly connected imperviousness and the impact of this on waterways. It then details the nature and benefits of raingardens and how they can influence flow rates and lastly details the Darebin Creek Managment Committee's proposed pilot project and makes some recommendations.
Raingarden Feasibility Study
The following chart is from December 2010 when the Darebin Creek Catchment experienced very heavy rainfall. The charts include a range of water flow and height data, but of most interest to those installing raingardens is the initial peak flow. This is what causes a lot of damage to waterways through bank scouring, erosion and vegetation damage. Your raingarden will start the process of slowing the infiltration rate of stormwater into the Creek and help minimise that peak flow event.
Creek height/flow chart
For further enquires about this project please contact DCMC directly on
9499 4454 or email us at info@dcmc.org.au
Thanks for your participation.
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New Education Building
The Darebin Creek Environment Centre has a new building that can be used for school education sessions, conferences, or community meetings. This facility is available for use by the local community and was primarily funded through EPA's 'Inspiring Environmental Solutions' Program.
For further information or to book the facility please contact info@dcmc.org.au
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Nestled
in the Darebin Parklands, the Darebin
Creek Management
Committee (DCMC) comprises five staff
members and operates from the Darebin
Creek Enviroment Centre, Alphington.
Most of the time the Darebin Parklands
is a peaceful place with dog-walkers,
bike-riders and local residents walking
along the shared trail. Red-rumped
parrots feed on the ground and an
indigenous garden surrounding the
office serves
as an example of how local species
can be used in home gardens. However,
the Parklands sometimes becomes a
hive of activity with hundreds of
school
children seen playing sports in
the park grounds or being taken on
an
excursion with the Ranger
or Waterwatch
Officer.
The DCMC was formed in 2001 by amalgamating
the Darebin Creek Co-ordinating Committee
(est.1984) and the Darebin Parklands
Committee of Management (est.1978).
The DCMC consists of 11 members who
represent the four city councils,
Banyule, Darebin, Whittlesea, Yarra
and La Trobe
University. The parklands division
manage, maintain, educate and revegetate
the Darebin Parklands, whilst the
co-ordination division plan, advise,
liaise, and
comment on a range of issues that
effect the creek and its linear parklands.
The Committee has been established
to ensure the preservation, restoration,
environmental protection, and ecologically
sensitive development and maintenance
of the Darebin Creek Linear Park. As
a result we work closely with council
on planning issues, Bush crew works,
creek maintenance, revegetation and
related issues.
The Darebin Creek Management Committee
Inc. has the authority to undertake
the following tasks:
- Manage Creek Parklands to ensure
environmentally sensitive maintenance
and development,
established regenerated indigenous
vegetation, restore the landscape on
public land along the Creek valley
(while recognising the historic significance
of designated individual exotic plants)
- Comment on Land Use Planning issues
along the Darebin Creek, and Implement
the Lower and Middle Darebin Creek
Concept Plans
- Raise Funds from member body contributions,
grants, donations, membership fees
and other resources
- Encourage Community Involvement, work
with existing and future community
groups, and educate the community about
environmental issues
- Co-operate with the community, and
local, state and federal Government
Authorities in protecting and enhancing
the Darebin Creek Linear Park
Darebin Creek Managment Committee is an Incorporated association and is governed by a Statement of Purposes and a Constitution. This document and a copy of our latest Annual Report can be downloded here:
DCMC Constitution Download
Annual Report Download (approx 3mb in PDF format)
