Bayside residents can look forward to enjoying their own wetlands and grassy woodland oasis when Council completes its creation of a chain of ponds. The ponds will be accessible via a network of footpaths, boardwalks and rock crossings early in the new year in Elsternwick Park Nature Reserve.
Works began on the Reserve in January 2021 with the new biodiversity spaces earmarked for completion by October 2021 but as a result of COVID lockdowns works have been slightly delayed. .
The Reserve covers 15 hectares of area that was formerly the Elsternwick Park Golf Course, 11 hectares of which are currently open to the public.
Council is in the process of creating a chain of ponds with up to 30,000 new plants, including aquatic plants to be planted in the Reserve. The ponds will use water from Elsternwick Creek to irrigate and circulate water through the Reserve.
Additionally, two new boardwalks are scheduled for completion in February, with one measuring 60 metres and the second measuring 30m.
These boardwalks are expected to improve public access across particularly steep areas in Elsternwick Park Nature Reserve.
Council's Masterplan also includes shelters, a toilet and a network of paths across the Reserve which are scheduled for completion by the end of the 2022 financial year.
This natural oasis in the middle of suburbia will generate significant benefits to the general health and wellbeing of the community while also improving water quality in the area and raising the bar on environmental sustainability and biodiversity.
