After seeking your ideas and your feedback on our draft concept designs, we’re now thrilled to present the final concept designs as we start turning them into reality.

Before we start construction, there are a number of steps to finalise:

  • Remainder of 2024 to 2025: complete further planning and assessments, including ongoing land management arrangements with our partners at Merri-Bek City Council.
  • 2025 to 2026: finalise function and detailed designs, and confirm funding.

‘Follow’ this page to stay up to date with progress on this project.

[music]

[visual: green, grassy retarding basin]

Dan Green: Open space is essential for community health and wellbeing.

[on-screen text: Dan Green, Melbourne Water Senior Asset Planner]

[visual: Dan stands in an office]

Dan: Here at Melbourne Water, we’re exploring ways to safely open up three retarding basins in Glenroy.

[visual: a woman stands in a retarding basin, looking at a narrow, water-filled channel that runs through it.]

Dan: You’ve told us your feedback around how you’d like to see desirable open spaces in Glenroy. We’ve taken on that feedback and created some draft concept plans. We’re now really excited to present the three final concepts.

[visual: before and after transformation of Box Forest Road retarding basin, featuring walking paths and lush vegetation along a creek)

[visual: before and after transformation of Campbellfield Creek retarding basin, featuring a walking path overlooking a wetland]

[visual: before and after transformation of Jack Roper Reserve (CSL) retarding basin, featuring outdoor exercise equipment and a shaded seating area]

Dan: Based on your feedback we’re interested in enhancing the amenity of these spaces and providing experiences to connect to nature, recreation, relaxation and exercise. You are now able to explore our final concept designs at our website.

[Melbourne Water logo]

[on-screen text: melbournewater.com.au]

[end of transcript]

Final concept plans

The overall design approach aims to improve amenity and naturalise these spaces – providing opportunities to exercise, relax, socialise and connect with nature. We’ve collaborated on the designs with Merri-bek City Council and other stakeholders to put safety first, while preserving the basins’ overall function to slow down floodwaters.

Explore the designs for each site below. You can expand the plans to view the details.
Read more about how we responded to your feedback.

Box Forest Road retarding basin design concept

This concept proposes community open space and walking tracks next to a stormwater wetland, and an upgrade of the concrete channel into a naturalised creek.

Concept plan showing existing and proposed trees, pathways and facilities
Seating
Walking path and ramp
Nature play features
In-stream weir crossing
Constructed waterway, Merlyston Creek
Bridge access
Connecting path
Rock boulders set to the slope
Connecting path
Future interment sites by Northern Memorial Park
Picnic table
Stair connection and viewing platform
Boardwalk
Viewing platform
Seating
Wetland planting
Wetland planting
Potential future connection to Evell Street
Emergency exit
Existing drop structure
Compacted gravel access / walking track
Walking path and ramp
Emergency exit
Gravel walking path
Before: Box Forest Road basin in current state, showing a plain grassy area After: Artist's impression of new basin, with shared paths and picnic spaces

Key features include:

  • 300 m of naturalised waterways and new wetland habitats, including a sediment pond that encourages water to slowly move through landscape
  • approximately 1.2 km of sealed and gravel walking paths, providing safe access through the site
  • main entrance with new landscaping features, a seating area, rubbish bins, bike racks and a drinking fountain
  • a nature play space for children
  • rest areas, including seating and viewing platforms across park
  • educational and safety signage throughout the space
  • connections to the surrounding landscape, including the Northern Memorial Park
  • emergency exit paths and markings to allow safe evacuation from rising water levels
  • new native vegetation, including retaining existing mature trees, aquatic vegetation and native grass cover for biodiversity, shade-enhanced amenity and screening of surrounding properties
  • multiple creek crossings, including a boardwalk, culvert bridge and stepping stone crossing.

What you told us

Read about what you told in previous phases of engagement, and how we responded to your feedback.

  • Phase 1

    You told us how you use open space, and the features and experiences you’d like to see.

    Find out more 

  • Phase 2

    We presented the draft concept designs and asked for your feedback.

    Find out more 

  • Phase 3

    We considered your feedback and explained what we’ve included and why.

    Find out more 

More information

Frequently asked questions

Find answers to common questions asked of our project team throughout the engagement process.