Local residents became the consultants and town planners yesterday, in a community feedback session at Les Stone Park on what should be included in the Wodonga Waterways Action Plan.

The plan is a joint project between Wodonga Urban Landcare Network, North East Catchment Management Authority and Wodonga Council and will cover Felltimber, Huon, Castle, Middle, Jack in the Box and House creeks, plus the lower reaches of the Kiewa River.

Residents were invited to give their views of what they think of the creeks now, and what they’d like to see down the track.

Felltimber Creek, they said, was “over-burdened”, while the little trickle that is Jack in the Box Creek was neglected but had potential to be beautified.

Others imagined a day when Huon Creek would be swimmable, with water running clear.

Wodonga resident Susan Cheetham said she used the trails around House and Huon creeks everyday to walk her dog, and was recently concerned to discover a wetlands area had been cleared, presenting a worry for future flood risk.

“I just want to see the wetlands looked after,” she said.

Others believed the waterways should be integrated into the greater urban design of the city.

Landcare facilitator Anne Stelling said the feedback gathered would be used to inform a series of community forums, as well as be used to write their final report, which would be submitted to the council in late September.

“A lot of people use the creeks for many different things, so this is giving the community some ownership of their future in part,” she said.

“Often these plans are made by consultants or experts and the community might not have a lot to do with it.”

A survey is also available online until July 10, at surveymonkey.com/s/CCBK2LS.

Hard copies will be available at displays to be set up from today at Baranduda Community Centre, Wodonga library and the Wodonga Council and catchment authority offices.