Transurban have partially funded a redevelopment project along the Moonee Ponds Creek. This includes landscaping and tree planting along the creek to give it a more natural feel. Many see this as a rare but positive action. A Media Release issued on the 1^st of October,1998, read:

“The prospects for a revitalised Moonee Ponds Creek have brightened with a joint commitment between Melbourne City Link Authority (MCLA), Melbourne Water, Transurban and the local governments of Moreland and Moonee Valley.

A series of pilot projects for naturalising the Moonee Ponds Creek are planned following a commitment from the parties to plan in detail and fund a demonstration project to upgrade a section of the creek and adjacent land. It is expected that the demonstration project would be completed by June 1999.

All parties have played a key role in the project with Melbourne Water, Transurban and the MCLA funding the project in conjunction with the local governments of Moreland and Moonee Valley. Transurban went beyond its contractual role to participate.

Melbourne Water's Managing Director, Brian Bayley said the project provided an ideal opportunity to improve the aesthetic and environmental values of the Moonee Ponds Creek and open space corridor.

"The creek has been much maligned in the past because of its unattractive concrete appearance and this project will assist in improving the community's perception of the creek." Mr Bayley said.

Mr Richard Parker, Chief Executive of MCLA, said "the Authority is pleased to be a participant in the pilot projects designed to improve community space adjacent to the City Link."

"We're delighted that the CityLink project has been a catalyst for revitalising the creek, and we're pleased to be part of this pilot initiative," said Kim Edwards, Managing Director of Transurban.

The creek has been a local eyesore for many years following the building of the Tullamarine Freeway and it has rightly been referred to as 'a concrete drain.' Construction on the City Link project was seen as a unique opportunity to address the problem, and create a gateway to Melbourne which recognises the importance of the natural opportunity.

Moreland City Link Project Councillor, Andrew Rowe, said the project represented the first stage in a vision for a long term program of changes to the creek watercourse and the adjoining open space.

"A real opportunity exists to change major sections of the creek from a concrete drain to a more natural and attractive waterway," Cr Rowe said.

Moonee Valley Mayor Hedley Moffat said it was important to maintain the momentum and to build on the success of the agreement.

"A revitalised and natural Moonee Ponds Creek flowing along City Link will be an asset for all Victoria," Cr Moffat said.” (Moreland City Council Website)

Three years on and some groups think not enough work has been done on the creek. One of these groups is Moreland City Council. In the November 2000 edition of Moreland City News (A publication of the Local Government of Moreland), the following was written in a report titled Disappointments: “Moreland has yet to benefit from large scale and appropriate landscaping and environmental works along the Moonee Ponds Creek. Moreland will continue to campaign for better treatment along one of its most important and neglected waterways”. Cr Larocca, current Mayor of the Moreland City Council, said he still felt that Transurban had not addressed all issues relating to the redevelopment of the Moonee Ponds Creek.

“Sign at one of the main redevelopment sites on the Moonee Ponds Creek”

“Paths created as part of the redevelopment”,

“Landscaping for the Moonee Ponds Creek redevelopment”

“Attempts by Transurban to return the creek to its natural state”