Council is planning the following improvements to enhance the natural bushland in a section of Bellbird Dell (off the Philip Street entrance, Vermont). Local community members from the Bellbird Dell Parkland Advisory Committee approached Council highlighting the condition of the natural gully. In support of this idea Council has designed a range of improvements to restore and revitalise the vegetation which includes diverting storm water into bushland.

Council has designed a draft landscape concept plan to guide the rehabilitation of the natural bushland within Bellbird Dell with the main improvements of the plan including:

  • Enhancement of vegetation through removal of woody weeds and replanting of indigenous vegetation.
  • Planting of additional tall canopy trees.
  • Drainage works and rock embankment landscape works.
  • Gross pollutant trap (GPT) and sediment pond to capture litter and pollutants entering the waterway.
  • A diversion pit to control the amount of water entering the gully, which can be increased or decreased depending on surrounding weather conditions.

Project Benefits

  • The rejuvenated area would include new vegetation such as plants and trees and support existing vegetation which is being impacted from erosion and a dry landscape.
  • The project will re-establish vegetation to improve understory (shrubs, small trees) that provide habitat, shelter, and food for various wildlife. As well as support healthy soils to reduce erosion.
  • It will provide an opportunity to grow our existing canopy by adding large new trees amongst the area to improve amenity and provide shade.
  • The project will include a Gross Pollutant Trap (GPT) and sediment pond to capture litter and sediment before it enters the waterway.

This initiative aligns with Council’s Integrated Water Management Strategy 2022-2042 which has an outcome to reduce pollutants entering our waterways and our Urban Forest Strategy 2021-2031, that includes a targets to increase tree canopy coverage and improve biodiversity through weed management, indigenous planting.

The project complements the Park’s Victoria ngarrak nakorang wilam park https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/projects/melbourne-region/ngarrak-nakorang-wilam-park

How to get involved

  • View the draft landscape concept plan (link below)
  • See our before and after imagery (link below)
  • Read the FAQs

The Bellbird Dell Stormwater Diversion Project Design received funding from Melbourne Water of $15,000 towards the design to rehabilitate the natural gully.