Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) CEO Dr Cathy Wilkinson joined with the local community, Member for Williamstown, the Hon Melissa Horne, Minister for Public Transport, Ports and Freight, Melbourne Water Executives and Maribyrnong Mayor Cllr Martin Zakharov at Cruikshank Park on Sunday (8 Sept) to launch the Stony Creek Rehabilitation Plan .
Residents heard how a ten year rehabilitation program would work to bring the creek up to its healthiest standard in many years.
EPA will continue to test the water and creek sediment. Despite results showing continuing improvements to the water, there will not be any change to health advice regarding contact with the creek at this stage and EPA will engage with the community before any change is implemented.
Dr Wilkinson also announced a stronger EPA presence for the west and north of Melbourne with EPA offices opening in Sunshine and another to be opened in the north with the location to be announced soon. This is in addition to a new Officer for the Protection of the Local Environment (OPLE) being appointed to start work with Maribyrnong Council as well as Hume Council and an extension of the OPLE program currently at Brimbank and Hobson's Bay Council.
"We understand local communities want more local EPA presence and creating a dedicated western metropolitan region will move EPA officers closer to the communities we serve," said Dr Wilkinson.
