By Cameron Weston
THE Kororoit Creek has long been treated as little more than a drain, but the waterway has its share of friends, and they are determined to see it thrive.
The Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek have won the Caring for Waterways award at the Port Phillip and Westernport Regional Landcare Awards, recognition of years of dedication in trying to restore the creek to its natural state.
President Geoff Mitchelmore said the award recognised the group’s achievements, and made them eligible for a statewide award, to be announced later this year.
Mr Mitchelmore said that with more residential development such as Caroline Springs coming into the area the creek would become of “major importance” in coming years.
There was still a lot of work to be done at the creek, he said, including a trail network, and the group’s passion for the area remained as strong as ever.
“If it hadn’t been for the group, we couldn’t have got anywhere. It is really a group effort,” he said.
“It’s planting, planning and the development of plans, involving the community, to get the creek up from its status as a drain to having it seen as a waterway.
“It is actually a major catchment but it has been ignored until now.
“People didn’t want to know about it because of the material that was in it,” Mr Mitchelmore said.
