Reimagining Moonee Ponds Creek

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This award-winning project set out to transform a section of a concrete-lined creek running through Melbourne’s northern suburbs and demonstrate what’s possible for the future of the waterway.

Services

Landscape Architecture Water Engineering

Client

Melbourne Water

Location

Strathmore and Oak Park, VIC

Landscape architecture designed by Spiire at moonee ponds creek

Funded and delivered by Melbourne Water, Reimagining Moonee Ponds Creek is a collaboration between the Chain of Ponds Collaboration Group, Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Merri-bek City Council, Moonee Valley City Council and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

The objective was to transform the nominated section of creek to reflect our current values of waterways and their integral contribution to a healthy and connected community. From inception, the project embedded aspirations shared by Wurundjeri elders, and shaped the decision making for the project.

Working with Jacobs as a delivery partner, Spiire’s Landscape Architecture Team and Water Engineering Team led the design for the first stage of the project. From project inception through to detailed design and construction delivery, the team worked closely with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and the broader community to translate shared aspirations into design outcomes.

Early stakeholder and community engagement was critical to the project’s success. We teamed up with Melbourne Water to host a series of design discussions to shape the project with the local community.

Transforming a community and a waterway

Integration of community connection to the creek via access paths, resting spots, a stepping stone crossing and an experiential cultural trail – the Wilami Wunmabil Trail, were strategic interventions to provide residents with a new way to connect to the waterway. These outcomes represent shared values that were led by Wurundjeri Elder guidance throughout the project.

Once a concrete-lined channel with little vegetation, construction of the first stage delivered a revitalised 360m length of creek into a greener, rocked waterway with extensive planting and improved community connections. An instream pond was reintroduced as a reference to the creek’s original form.

The works in this section of the creek include realigning an existing shared pathway to allow more space for the creek’s environs. Navigating a complex interface of existing trees and a high level of foot traffic from the adjacent school, this involved a balancing act to enhance the site’s natural values while maintaining safe community access. New boardwalks, bridge and path connections also provide an environment that integrates the creek back into community life.

The project demonstrates what is possible when a strong shared vision brings natural values back into a constrained urban environment. The transformation has delivered for both the community and the waterway, inspiring students at the adjacent Strathmore North Primary School to rewrite their Acknowledgement of Country to recognise their responsibility to the creek.

The first stage of the Reimagining Moonee Ponds Creek project has been considered a huge success and recently won the Award for Excellence in Infrastructure at the 2026 AILA Victoria Excellence Awards.

Building on this success, Spiire will continue to support the design for the next stage of development, which is currently underway.