WODONGA’S network of creeks have become so beloved that many neighbouring residents see the waterways as their front yard.
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It is with this in mind that a call has been made for online submissions to help with planning.
“We’re looking for what people want the creeks to be like in the future,” Wodonga Urban Landcare Network facilitator Anne Stelling said.
Ms Sterling said the plan would consider whether the creeks needed to be “wild places” or manicured as was the case in some inner-urban areas.
“People will have different views on weeds, willows and blackberries,” she said.
“The creeks have always been in people’s backyards, though some people in inner Wodonga are starting to make these more their front yards.
“As a Landcare person I think that’s really great. People are also getting interested in coming to do some planting and cleaning up weeds.”
The Wodonga Waterways Action Plan is a joint project between the Landcare group, North East Catchment Management Authority and Wod-onga Council.
It will cover Felltimber, Huon, Castle, Middle, Jack in the Box and House creeks, plus the lower reaches of the Kiewa River.
“The old action plans from 15 years ago didn’t really include community perspectives,” Ms Stelling said.
Other perspectives to be considered in the next plan include the creeks’ role in the city’s history, as well as the fire risk.
“The plan we are developing will be very community focussed and as such, we are conducting a survey so that we can capture public opinion on issues, values and vision for each waterway,” Ms Stelling said.
“We need to think about what are the recreation activities people use the waterways for.”
Ms Stelling said there were are a lot of people in Landcare groups who cared about the wildlife “and the beautiful plants” of these corridors.
“Those creeks do act as lungs for Wodonga. We’ve got things that people wouldn’t know about, like platypus in House Creek,” she said.
The survey will remain open online until July 10, which will be followed by four community forums.
The survey is available online at surveymonkey.com/s/CCBK2LS
Hard copies will be available at displays to be set up from Monday at Baranduda Community Centre, Wodonga library and the Wodonga Council and catchment authority offices.
A survey can be sent out by calling Alicia Power on 0418 770 051.
