Dandenong Creek Corridor

Dandenong Creek

Indigenous vegetation communities along Dandenong Creek are represented by substantially intact remnants, which are among the best fauna habitats in south-east Melbourne. Of these, Though now severly depleted, Manna Gum (E. viminalis) was the dominant floodplain eucalypt of tall open forest along the creek and formed a Floodplain Forest community with Swamp Gum (E. ovata).

Dandenong Creek also supports a diversity of aquatic habitats, including the creek itself and Wetland Herbfields, (constructed and naturally occurring wetlands). These aquatic habitats support a diversity of fauna micro-habitats including open water, submergent and emergent aquatic vegetation (e.g. Phragmites), seasonally inundated grassland and open, sandy areas. The diversity of aquatic habitats provides the best habitat for frogs, waterbirds, fish and some mammals.

There are also areas of excellent revegetation works beneath scattered remnant eucalypts, especially between Shepherds Bush and Jells Park, but also between Ferntree Gully Road and Wellington Road. In time, these areas will provide a vegetated corridor running along Dandenong Creek through most of the City of Monash management area.

Flora

Floodplain forest:
  • Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis)
  • Swamp Gum (E. ovata)
Grassy forest:
  • Yarra Gum (Eucalyptus yarraensis)
Swamp Scrub or Forest:
  • Swamp Paperbark (Melaleuca ericifolia)
Heathy/Sedgy Forest:
  • Narrow-leaf Peppermint (Eucalyptus radiata)
  • Grey Scentbark (E. ignorabilis)
Wetland Complex:
  • Wetland Herbfields (including vegetation of constructed wetlands)

Fauna

National Significance:
  • Dwarf Galaxias (Galaxiella pusilla)
  • Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis)
  • Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus)
  • Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
State Significance (12 Species)
  • Lewin's Rail (Lewinia pectoralis)
  • Baillon's Crake (Porzana pusilla)
  • Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius)
  • Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)
  • Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia)
  • Great Egret (Ardea alba)
  • Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)
  • Australasian Shoveler (Anas rhynchotis)
  • Hardhead (Aytha australis)
  • Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis)
  • Musk Duck (Biziura lobata)
  • Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

Regional Species (41 Species)

Page top

Last updated: 22 February 2011

[ Up: Flora and Fauna  |   Forward: Regionally Significant Species ]

Back to main navigation Back to section navigation