Jan Juc creek daylighting project

Project value$700k
Completion Date31 July 2026

Updated December 2025

1. Algae on wetland site

Algae is visible at the newly formed wetland site. This algae is harmless and forms a normal part of a healthy wetland being established.

Constructed wetlands typically go through an establishment phase in which a lot of filamentous algae can appear. This occurs because wetland plants are still developing.

Once the plants are fully established, they compete with algae for nutrients and sunlight, helping maintain a healthy ecological balance.

2. Boardwalk construction

The existing boardwalk will be replaced with a new structure on the same alignment.

The project is currently out for tender. When the contract is awarded a timeline of works will be developed and shared with the community. Work is not expected to start before March 2026.

3. Excavated soil on site

Excavated soil remains on site while investigations continue with Traditional Owners.

Council Officers are working closely with Traditional Owners to ensure appropriate cultural heritage considerations guide how the material is managed.

These investigations are an important and necessary part of the process, ensuring the project upholds both environmental and cultural values before any soil is moved or reused.

Updated July 2025

The civil works to form the wetland and sediment basins is now complete.

Planting by the Wadawurrung Gobata Dja ‘Caring for Country’ team is complete with a few plants yet to be planted at the base of the bottom basin. The basin can't be emptied in this wet weather to allow for planting so planting will take place when there is a dry spell.

Engineering design of the boardwalk is currently underway and installation is expected towards the end of the year.

Council will continue to work with Traditional Owners and Heritage Advisors to navigate construction in this culturally sensitive area.

Background

Jan Juc creek is naturally an ephemeral waterway. As the township of Jan Juc developed in the 1960's the alignment of the creek was highly modified as utilities and drainage were moved underground. In the 1970's, the Shire of Barrabool installed a 'low flow' pipe under Jan Juc creek removing flows from the surface in an attempt to 'beautify' the creek area by transforming it into a grassed recreational reserve. Stormwater runoff from the adjacent residential catchment was also conveyed through the underground pipe and eventually out to the ocean.

In 2012, the 'Friends of Jan Juc Creek Reserve' (FJJCR) community group presented council with the idea of reinstating sections of the creek to a more natural state by removing underground drainage infrastructure and recreating the creek channel (daylighting). In 2013, council began work to develop a concept design for daylighting Jan Juc creek and in 2014 Stage one of the project commenced.

Stage one works - completed

Stage one works focussed on a section of the creek stretching about 230 metres west of Torquay Boulevard to the fork on Jan Juc creek reserve.

Works completed in stage one included:

Decommissioning and modifying the existing underground drainage.
Returning stormwater flows to the surface of the creek.
Building a sedimentation basin.
Reshaping creek banks.
Extensive replanting of indigenous species to restore natural habitats.

These works were completed in 2014.

Stage two works - underway

In 2022 stage two of the Jan Juc creek daylighting project was identified through the Barwon Integrated Water Management (IWM) Forum and the Barwon Regional Partnership, and received a grant of $700,000.

Stage two of the project supports greater use of stormwater and improves waterway health in a way that creates economic, social and ecological benefits.

Stage two works include: