Creek care

Are you looking to maintain a creek on your property or local area?

Our new online booklet has been created to help you navigate the natural process of channel erosion and deposition in creeks of all sizes.

Further information

Maintain riparian vegetation

Plants growing on creek banks and within the channel help stabilise the waterway. Where banks have not been modified with hard engineering, they should have established ground cover to help minimise erosion and deposition downstream.

Maintain trailing plants and woody debris

Where fallen branches or trailing vegetation accumulate in a creek, avoid removing them. These natural features slow water flow and reduce erosion.

In some situations, they can create flood hazards or cause scour that threatens infrastructure. Contact Council so the risks can be assessed and the appropriate action determined.

Use 'soft engineering' to stabilise channels

In some cases, an eroding channel may need to be stabilised by re-grading the banks, planting vegetation or strategically placing natural logs.

Works involving re-engineering a creek bank should be designed and constructed by qualified professionals and require a development application (DA). Superficial works, such as revegetation or surface erosion controls, may be undertaken without a DA. Contact us if you're unsure whether your proposed works require approval.

Use 'hard engineering' to stabilise channels

'Hard engineering' includes rock lining, channel realignment and other major stabilisation measures. These works should always be designed and constructed by qualified professionals and require a DA.

All significant works within a creek channel must comply with Council's relevant Development Control Plan.

Outlet protection

Pipe and culvert inlets and outlets require protection to reduce erosion. Energy dissipaters, including rough surfacing, basins, protruding structures and graded spillways, reduce the force of flowing water. These structures should be designed by a qualified engineer using suitably sized natural materials that complement the surrounding environment.

Further information available here guidelines for controlled activities - outlet structures from the Department of Water and Energy.

Water quality monitoring

Council undertakes biannual water quality monitoring of these waterways to track conditions and alert to any influencing factors up stream.

You can report pollution to our local waterways directly to Council here.