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Melways Ref: 97 D9-12 and 99 D1-10
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The creek and reserves form a 7.5 kilometre linear strip from Eel Race Road, Seaford, to the mouth of the creek in Frankston City. They are about 43 hectares in area and have a good representation of local vegetation with flood plains, vegetated dunes, and grassed woodlands which are of regional significance.
Special Features
The number of access points to the walking trail make it very suitable for short or longer walks. Alternatively, take an extended walk along the complete 5.7-kilometre trail from Eel Race Road to Mile Bridge returning via the foreshore, making a day walk of 12 kilometres.
Guided tours of the reservation can be arranged through the Kananook Creek Association (KCA). These are specifically designed for schools or larger groups.
An annual festival day called Henley-on-Kananook is held at Seaford Community Centre in March. This is very much a family day and boat tours along the creek are very popular with children, as is a ride over the creek on a flying-fox.
Flora
Over 200 plants have been identified as occurring in the reserves. Of the locally indigenous plants, the most frequently occurring trees are tea tree, coast wattle, coast banksia, Gippsland manna gum, and black wattle. Sweet bursaria, coast and common beard heath, common and white correa, and hop goodenia are represented among the shrubs, and there are good occurrences of rushes, sedges, grasses, and wildflowers. Large bloomings of different greenhood and some helmet orchids can be seen in late winter and early spring.
Fauna
Birds are the most numerous fauna observed in the reserves with more than 60 species being listed by KCA members. Water birds account for 30 per cent of these and many are regular visitors from the nearby Seaford Wetlands. The most often seen are black ducks, cormorants, white-faced herons, spoonbills, and white egrets. The banksias provide a nectar source for a good population of honeyeaters and visiting parrots and lorikeets.
Lizards, snakes, and frogs are well represented, and the brushtail and ringtail possum are common.
The creek is home to over 15 species of fish and crustaceans. It is expected that this number will increase with improved water quality.
Management Issues
Frankston City Council manages the reserves whilst Melbourne Water is responsible for the creek itself . The Kananook Creek Advisory Committee oversees the implementation of a management plan for the creek and reserves. The major contribution comes from the Kananook Creek Association, who are represented on the Advisory Committee and play a major role in the care and regeneration of the reserves.
Environmental weeds are a major and ongoing problem. Regular working bees are organised by the KCA to combat this and replace the weeds with local native plants, which they propagate in the Council nursery under a programme sponsored by Council. Feral animals such as foxes, rabbits, rats, mice and cats also create management problems in the reserve.
Caring for the Reserve
Most of the work carried out in the reserves is organised by the KCA and endorsed by Council. Regular working bees are held in the Seaford Road to Mile Bridge sections on Saturdays and in the Eel Race Road to Station Street sections on every second Sunday morning from 9.00am to 11.00am.
How You Can Help
When walking in and enjoying the reserves, keep to the formed trails. Deviation and trampling destroys small plants, disturbs the soil and encourages weed strike. Avoid using the mulched walking trails as bike tracks as this leads to erosion and also encourages weeds. Consider removing pest plants from your garden and replacing them with indigenous species. The KCA will supply appropriate plants to residents adjacent to the reserves free of charge. Mulch garden refuse or dispose of it at the Recycling Centre. Dumping in the reserves frequently leads to the establishment of weeds. This applies to lawn clippings also as they can contain kikuyu and buffalo grass. Join the Kananook Creek Association and become involved in plant propagation at the nursery, seasonal planting in the reserves to improve the floral diversity, or weed control projects to ensure the future integrity of the natural reserves.
For details contact Council's Environment Department on 1300 322 322.
Kananook Creek and Mordialloc Creek were the original outlets from the Carrum Carrum Swamplands, draining the 430 square kilometres which formed the catchment area of Dandenong Creek, Eumemmerring Creek, and other streams. Works started in the 1870s created Patterson River, drained much of the wetlands, and effectively cut off the swamp water supply into Kananook Creek. Today the water quality of the creek is dependent on the flow from a pump station lifting water from Patterson Lakes into the Eel Race Drain.
Most of the reserves north of Mile Bridge and on the eastern side of the creek were subject to sandmining in the early part of this century, and the original banksia/sheoke woodlands were substantially altered. They are now banksia/tea tree scrublands on the dunes and swamp paperbark on the floodplains, but contain a good representation of local indigenous flora.
Facilities and Activities
A pleasant walking trail runs for 5.7 kilometres through the reserves from Eel Race Road to Mile Bridge. The walking trail passes through mature tea tree scrub, banksia woodland, open and closed scrublands (regenerating after fire in 1988), open banksia/eucalypt woodlands, and passes close to stands of swamp paperbarks and floodplain swamps as it follows the creek along, providing elusive and inviting glimpses of the water and its bird life.
The creek itself is a delightful canoe venue, particularly in the upper reaches. It is tidal for its entire length, but the flow from the pumping station minimises the tidal effect. There are a total of five canoe landings where launchings can be made.
Location and Access
The nature reserves are located on Melway maps 97, D9-12 and Map 99, D1-10. Walking paths along the bank in Frankston City appear on Map 99, D9-12, and Map 102, C1-3. The reserves can be accessed at the various road crossings. The creek has canoe landings at Riviera Street, Station Street, McCulloch Avenue, and Fiocchi Avenue. The boat launching facilities near the creek mouth are accessed from Nepean Highway, just south of Davey Street.
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