Damper Creek and Valley Reserve
Damper Creek Reserve and Valley Reserve are two urban bushland parks managed by the City of Monash and used by the community for a range of activities.
In both Reserves there are areas of native bushland and restored habitats where visitors can take a bushwalk in the heart of Mount Waverley.
If visitors require further information about activities, locations or how to help maintain these important natural assets for our community, please see contacts, more information for details.
Using the Reserves
Both Damper Creek Reserve and Valley Reserve offer a variety of activities including bushwalking, playground facilities and dog walking areas (designated for on or off lead).
The following provides details of what is available at each Reserve:
| Activity | Damper Creek | Valley Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Bushwalking Tracks | Yes | Yes |
| Dogwalking Areas on-lead | Yes | Yes |
| Dogwalking Areas off-lead | Yes | No |
| Shared Pathways | Yes | Yes |
| Playground Area | Yes | Yes |
| Picnic Area | No | Yes |
| Barbeque | No | Yes |
| Toilet Facility | No | Yes |
Damper Creek Reserve
The 11 hectare Damper Creek Reserve, near the corner of Stephenson and High St Roads, is a narrow revegetated bushland strip about 1.5 km long that follows the Damper Creek watercourse.
The area around Damper Creek would originally have been a valuable source of food for the traditional inhabitants of the area - the Wurundjeri.
Following World War 2 the orchards and market gardens of the area gave way to urban development, and much of the Damper Creek area became infested with environmental weeds and covered with rubbish.
Over the last 10 years the creek bed and banks have been stabilised and reconstructed by Council, with planting and maintenance work undertaken by both the Council and the Friends of Damper Creek Reserve.
This has resulted in rehabilitation of an important area of urban bushland that is now rich in indigenous flora and fauna. Work continues to plant more indigenous species and to prevent invasion of urban weeds such as Ivy, Agapanthus, Wandering Jew and Morning Glory.
What to see in Damper Creek Reserve
The natural watercourse flowing through the Reserve supports a diversity of habitats.
The Reserve is considered of Regional Zoological Significance with many important species being found in the area, including the Southern Bell Frog, the Grey-headed Flying Fox, Peregrine Falcon, Gang Gang Cockatoo, Sugar Glider, and the Striped Marsh Frog.
Grassy Forest and Swampy Riparian vegetation in the Reserve is representative of that which would have been found in the east and southeast of Melbourne prior to European occupation.
Yellow Box, Silver-leaf Stringybark and Swamp Gums are dominant components of the vegetation, with Mealy Stringybark and Prickly Tea-Tree in the understorey upslope. Swamp Paperbark can be found in a narrow band along the creek in the swamp scrub vegetation.
Look out for the interpreative signage to guide you through our beautiful parklands.
Valley Reserve
Within this 15 hectare Reserve, near the corner of Waverley and Stephenson Roads, there are some of the only remaining patches of intact bushland in the area. These provide a vital habitat for a wide range of fauna and a fascinating insight into how Mount Waverley looked before urban development.
The Council together with the Friends of Scotchmans Creek and Valley Reserve, have done considerable work to restore and maintain this area, with weeding, planting and other maintenance work continuing to keep the Reserve in good health for the community to enjoy.
Signs are provided at the reserve to highlight points of particular interest. Information is provided about how the area used to look, the revegetation works undertaken to restore the Reserve, the importance of the habitat and details of flora and fauna to be found.
What to see in Valley Reserve
The unique urban bushland environment of Valley Reserve is home to more than 55 native species, including 32 significant plant species. This site is also considered to be of Regional Zoological Significance.
Significant fauna species likely to be found here include the Grey-headed Flying Fox, Southern Bell Frog, Eastern Snake-necked Tortoise, Peregrine Falcon, Crested Shrike-tit, Gang-Gang Cockatoo and the Striped Marsh Frog.
The vegetation is largely made up of Messmate, Narrow-leaf Peppermint, Silver-leaf Stringybark and Swamp Gum, with a Grassy Forest understorey. In the wetter areas of Valley Reserve, Swamp Paperbark grows in the Riparian vegetation community, with Swampy Scrub complex in the understorey.
Contacts, more information
If you would like to know more about Damper Creek Reserve and Valley Reserve or you would like to assist the Friends of Groups from either Reserve please contact Monash City Council.
For further information in relation to the reserves please visit:General Enquiries: 9518 3560
Email: mail@monash.vic.gov.au
Fax: 9518 3444
Monash Civic Centre
293 Springvale Road
Glen Waverley 3150
Hours: 8.15am to 5pm
Monday to Friday
Last updated: 22 February 2011
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