Natural Environments

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10 08

23 Fall May

Nicholas Freeman 369012

Natural Environments 880101

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Environmental Effects Statement: Koomba Park

Introduction
Site Location and Description
Located in the leafy outer eastern suburb of Wantirna lies Koomba Park, the northernmost parkland in a network of parks that make up the Dandenong Valley Parklands. Bordered by three heavily trafficked roadways; Eastlink Freeway, Boronia Road and the Mountain Highway, as well as being surrounded by a golf course on the western boundary of the site indicates a semi-urban environment with sparse human habitation in close proximity to the site. Running through the heart of the park is Dandenong creek, originating in the Doongalla Forest and subsequently flowing into Port Phillip Bay (Melbourne Water 2009), the creek acts as the main draw card for both human interactions and environmental processes on the site. Koomba Park has a long history of anthropogenic interaction beginning with the inhabitance of indigenous people on the land. It has also spent part of its lifetime as grazing land for cattle, a practice still employed on the site to this day albeit on a minimized scale. At one point in its history apple orchards were also planted indicating to us that the site has incurred non-native flora. At current Koomba Park takes up 92 hectares of land of that 33 hectares are open to the public. Within these confines as demonstrated by Figure 1, Koomba Park facilitates a number of anthropogenic activities such as bike riding, bird watching, dog walking and general observation of the abundant wildlife (Parks Victoria 2010). To accommodate these activities several human interactions have taken place on the site such as the construction of bike and walking paths, a boardwalk across the swampland and power lines running through the centre of the park.

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Figure 1 Boundary of site related to our research (Google 2010)

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Proposed Land Use Change

The proposed land use alteration is the implementation of a carbon credit plantation. In order to effectively implement the plantation the parkland would need to be closed off to the public as well as several landscaping changes to the site such as removal of bike and walking paths, removal of the boardwalk over the swampland and general surface changes to different aspects of the site. With the construction of the carbon credit plantation we are likely to observe several major changes within the sites eco-system.

Site Attributes, Processes and Interactions

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Geology
Figure Colluviums (Qc1) Unnamed2 Creek Formation (Sxa) (DPI 2009) Andersons Alluvium (Qa1) Setting Unnamed Geological

Three different sedimentary rock types make up the geological composition of Koomba Park. As Figure 2 demonstrates the three main underlying rock types are that of unnamed colluviums, alluvium and Andersons Creek Formation sandstone.

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Located either side of the alluvial terrace we are able to find Andersons Creek Formation sandstone dated to have begun formation between 417 to 433 million years ago through the process of deposition and compaction of sand grains containing high levels of quartz. (Hamblin and Christiansen 2001) The alluvium terrace or the vast majority of the site observed consists mainly of alluvium deposits, transported down the Dandenong Creek system. As Koomba Park is relatively flat the energy flow within the river system would be quiet weak compared to energy flow located at the higher points of the river beginning in the Doongalla forest. As sediment is eroded it would then be transported down the river system depositing alluvium at lower energy points such as Koomba Park (Bridgman et al. 2008).

Figure 3 Locations on the site visited (Google 2010)

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Koomba Parks soil composition is rather uniform across the site as Figure 3 demonstrates we took a number of samples from 3 different locations on the site. What we were able to observe was the consistent occurrence of sandy clay loam topsoil with silty clay loam soil found right below. The formation of the soil can be attributed to the process of sedimentation flowing down from upper levels of the creeks system. This in turn creates highly fertile soils with poor drainage properties that may cause problems with the planting of some types of flora. The landform of Koomba Park has undergone several changes over the course of its history resultant from both environmental and human factors. We are able to observe the site and understand it to be an alluvial terrace yet to properly understand the current status of the site we must look outside the boundaries of the current parkland. Either side of the parkland we observe raised levels of land in comparison to the lower levels of the creek, this infers that the creek has arisen out of erosive processes common to fluvial landscapes whereby the sedimentary rock is eroded away by water flowing down stream depositing alluvial sediments along flatter lower energy levels parts of the stream. This process has taken millions of years with many variations occurring to the creeks path, as can be observed due to the existence of billabongs and swamp areas located within Koomba Park which suggest that the creek has changed its course at different points in its history. Human impacts have also caused the current landforms and soil composition such as the clearing of vegetation to construct the power lines leaving cleared grassland with significantly poor levels of water drainage.

Climate
Figure 4 Mean5 Mean Monthly Rainfall (BOM 2010) 2010) The general Figure Maximum & Minimum Temperate (BOM climatic pattern of Koomba Park correlates to that of the general metropolitan area of Melbourne ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS STATEMENT: KOOMBA PARK 7

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indicating larger scale climatic influences such as the urban heat island effect, surrounding landforms not pertaining to the site and global climatic influences impeding on the climatic status of Koomba Park. Yet when looking at the site we can see a range of different climatic machinations occurring due to factors such as fauna, drainage and landforms.

The microclimate of the forested area would be greatly influenced by the vegetation cover provided by the trees to the understory, especially during summer months shielding the surface from high levels of sunlight. This would negate higher levels of evaportranspiration during the summer months encouraging plant growth with damper nutrient rich soils. Due to the close proximity of the forested area to the creek during winter months we will see low levels of evaportranspiration due to increased cloud cover, in turn water runoff from the soils to the creek will increase helping to provide water and nutrient rich soil in order to cater for the larger amounts of fauna located in the forested area. Differing from the forested area is the cleared grassland located at the centre of the site, in contrast during summer months we will see high levels of evaportranspiration due to extreme high temperatures and low rainfall levels as Figures 4 & 5 detail. This will cause dry hard soils with little sub surface moisture, discouraging plant growth. During winter months we will expect to see extremely damp soil due to increased rainfall and lower levels of evaportranspiration. Looking at the swampland area of Koomba Park we can expect to see increased levels of flora activity during summer months due to the billabongs and swampland areas acting as a heat sink providing a cooler climate preferable to other areas around the site. During winter months with higher levels of rainfall, we can expect to see increased water levels concurrent with that of Dandenong Creek due to peaking creek water levels and lower levels of evaportranspiration. During summer months the site experiences relatively high temperatures with markedly low levels of rainfall, coupled with the mixture of both densely vegetated areas and minimal vegetated areas we can expect to see increased bushfire risk (Parks Victoria 2010). This is due to high levels of evaportranspiration occurring creating extremely dry surface conditions to areas with minimal flora coverage.

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Hydrology
Koomba Park caters for a number of hydrological features most prominent of which is the Dandenong Creek running through the heart of the park. Dandenong creek originates from the Dandenong Ranges and more specifically the Doongalla catchment. Situated in close proximity to the creek is a swampland and billabong all interacting to facilitate ecological, geographical and climate processes. Dandenong Creek shares many similarities with an alluvial river; over time it has carved out a path depositing alluvium sediments at lower energy locations along its route. Common to alluvium river systems is the likelihood of change, as has been mentioned before there is evidence that the river has changed course through the existence of external water bodies to the river such as the billabongs and swampland areas. Figure 6 Saturation Excess Runoff

The rate of flow with respect to Dandenong creek can be correlated to seasonality of the local area. During winter months when there are higher levels of rainfall and lower levels of evaportranspiration, the formation of a water table occurs beneath the soil. This in turn rises to the surface of the soils inhibiting exterior rainfall and water flow from entering the soil thus creating water runoff into the creek (Western 2010). Figure 6 demonstrates this. With an increase in the water table and subsequent increase in the creeks water flow it would be expected that greater erosion would take place. Due to the forest and its high levels of vegetation located in close proximity to the creek, high levels of erosion are avoided due to increased strength in the sub soil because of the root systems acting to keep the soil together.

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The overall drainage of the site is quite poor due to the composition of soils, relative flatness of the park and its low lying position in relation to surrounding geography. Together with the poor drainage of the site and the size of the Doongalla catchment (833 square kilometers) contributing the water flow to Koomba Park, periods of flooding are quite common. This can have devastating effects on the local environment causing major ecological damage such as loss of vegetation and subsequent loss of animal species.

Flora and Fauna

Previous to 100 years ago Koomba Park would have been a densely vegetated landscape with a flourishing ecology. This was in part due to the river system and its feeding of nutrient rich sedimentary matter to the site. From that time to present a substantial amount of development has occurred in and around the site altering the ecological diversity of the park. Originally the site would have consisted of a dense forest with swamp and billabong water bodies. With the influence of human development the site has been broken up somewhat to accommodate different human endeavors such as orchards and cattle grazing. With each modification of the site brought introduced species of flora to the parkland, as the site is quite accommodating due to its nutrient and water rich soils. In the riparian forest section of the site we were able to observe a range of Eucalyptus, Elms and Acacias making up the canopy, underneath we observed a range of ferns, shrubs and native grasses. This section of the park was ideal for bird habitation that was unobserved at the time yet we are told the park consists of a vast array of bird species in all totaling 117. The forest would also be an ideal habitat for the 11 species of mammals such as Ringtail & Brushtail possums, bats and sugar gliders (Parks Victoria 2010). The cleared grassland consists of mainly native grass and low growing herbaceous species. This part of the site clearly shows the effect of human impact on the parklands ecological status. As the cleared grassland is under the influence of both direct sunlight and wind elements almost no fauna was observed except for insects in the sub soil encountered when soil testing was conducting, alluding to the fact that the soil in the park is nutrient rich. The swamp component of the site consisted of wetland vegetation such as reeds, water lilies and other submerged vegetation. In contrast to the other aspects of the site the swamp area displayed obvious interactions of wildlife with a range of bird species observed on the site visit. Beneath the water of the swamp we are told 23 species of reptiles are to be found (Parks Victoria 2010). Along the banks of Dandenong Creek we observed numerous pant species common to local riparian forest, we were also able to 1 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS STATEMENT: KOOMBA PARK 0

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observe bird life as displayed in Figure 7 below. Yet unobserved though more importantly the creek caters for a range of threatened flora and fauna species such as Yarra gums, dwarf galaxias and growling grass frogs (Melbourne Water 2009). Thus Koomba Park plays an important part in the survival of endangered and native flora and fauna.

Figure 7 View of ducks in Dandenong Creek (Agar 2010)

Environmental Effects Statement: Carbon Credit Plantation

The history of Koomba Park is steeped in human modification, from the increased urbanization surrounding the site to the modified ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS STATEMENT: KOOMBA PARK 1 1

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ecology and construction of power lines through the heart of the parkland. All of these events have caused significant effects to the geology, hydrology and put at risk certain species of fauna. When discussing the creation of a Carbon Credit Plantation we must understand the process and implications of its implementation on a range of different scales and components. The benefits of a Carbon Credit plantation would include improved air quality to the site and the surrounding area, increased social awareness of environmentally sustainable ideas and concepts, increased numbers of native bird and mammal species in particular possums and bats. At first thought turning the site into an environmentally sustainable project would seem an extremely viable option yet we have to look at the mitigating environmental outcomes that would arise from it. In order to effectively implement the Carbon Credit plantation clearing of the land would need to be initiated causing dramatic loss of integral habitation for native flora and fauna alike. The loss of the swamp area would be particularly damming as it caters for a large number of rare bird species native to the area. It would also cause significant damage to the state of the creek as during times of high flow runoff can be collected and held in the billabongs and swamplands. Once the land is cleared the period of time between planting of the trees and their maturation will potential cause disastrous environmental outcomes for the state of the creek. During winter months when precipitation is at its greatest and there is a decreased level of evaportranspiration occurring, potential for flooding and water table rising is markedly increased due to the non-existence of vegetative root systems in the sub soils causing the water table to rise, facilitating large levels of water runoff. As a result we may observe an increase to the likelihood of flooding over the site, causing negative environmental impacts to both the site and other locations further down the creek. Once the trees have matured we would see an increase in certain native flora and fauna although due to the temperate climate and effects of the urban heat island affect, during the dry summer months increased chances of bush fires will arise due to the compaction and density of typical tall dry bark species of trees used for the plantation such as eucalypt trees. Like flooding the impacts of bush fires are incredible dangerous to the local eco system of Koomba Park as we would see destruction of habitat for native species potentially removing them from the area permanently as well as the potential for the creek to become polluted with ash and debris causing damage to both the site and locations further down stream. As a result of the plantation, the natural beauty of the site will be affected negatively due to the destruction of natural landforms such 1 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS STATEMENT: KOOMBA PARK 2

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as the swampland enabling human visitors to come and observe the rare flora and fauna native to the site. Also with a decrease in open spaces and lack of walking paths public access would be minimal to none, all of which will cause social unrest amongst the community who value their local piece of natural environment that albeit modified to some degree, exhibits the native environment of yesteryear. The overwhelming negative environmental factors coupled with the social factors far out way the perceived positive environmental factors arising form the implementation of a carbon credit plantation at Koomba Park. With the already large imprint humans have placed on the site to completely dismantle the environmental fabric that is balancing a diverse range of geological, hydrological and ecological components would create irreversible damage to a fragile eco system that is Koomba Park.

References
Melbourne Water, 2009, 'Dandenong Creek', Waterwatch Melbourne, accessed 24th March 2010, from <http://www.waterwatchmelbourne.org.au/tabid/193/Default.aspx> Parks Victoria, 2010, Koomba Park in Parks Victoria website, accessed 16 May 2010, from <http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=122> Figure 1 Google, 2010, Google Maps, accessed 16 May 2010, from <http://maps.google.com.au/maps? client=safari&rls=en&q=Koomba%20Park&oe=UTF8&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl> ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS STATEMENT: KOOMBA PARK 1 3

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Figure 2 Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, 2009, Geovic - Explore Victoria Online, accessed 21st May 2010, from <http://mapshare2.dse.vic.gov.au/MapShare2EXT/imf.jsp? site=geovic> Hamblin, W K & Christiansen, E H, 2001, Earth's Dynamic Systems, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey Bridgman H, Dragovich D & Dodson J, 2008, The Australian Physical Environment, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Victoria Figure 3 Google, 2010, Google Maps, accessed 5 May 2010, from <http://maps.google.com.au/maps? client=safari&rls=en&q=Koomba%20Park&oe=UTF8&redir_esc=&um=1&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il> Australian Bureau of Meteorology, 2010, 'Summary of statistics for Scoresby Research Institute', Climate Statistics for Australian Locations, accessed 24th March 2010, from <http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_086104.shtml > Figure 4 Australian Bureau of Meteorology, 2010, 'Scoresby Research Institute', Climate Statistics for Australian Locations, accessed 21st May 2010, from <http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av? p_stn_num=086104&p_prim_element_index=0&p_display_type=sta tGraph&period_of_avg=ALL&normals_years=allYearOfData&staticPa ge> Figure 5 Australian Bureau of Meteorology, 2010, 'Scoresby Research Institute', Climate Statistics for Australian Locations, accessed 21st May 2010, from <http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av? p_stn_num=086104&p_prim_element_index=18&p_display_type=st atGraph&period_of_avg=ALL&normals_years=allYearOfData&staticP age> Figure 6 Western, Dr. A 2010, Lecture Fifteen: Water Budgets, Natural Environments, 29th April 2010, The University of Melbourne Figure 7 Agar, T, 2010, Photograph of Dandenong Creek, 5 March 2010, Koomba Park

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