Saleyards Creek

Saleyards Creek (also known as Saleyard Creek) is a canalised urban stream, acting as a stormwater channel, located in Sydney, Australia.

Description

Saleyards Creek has its source in the Rookwood Cemetery[1] beside the suburb of Strathfield, and flows generally northward through the suburb of Homebush.[2] Saleyards Creek is now lined with concrete banks for its entire length,[2] although the portions of the creek flowing through Airey Park and beside Bressington Park[3] also have trees planted alongside. Since its water is largely provided by rainfall in the Sydney area, flows are reduced to little more than a trickle during dry weather.[2]

Saleyards Creek flows through a man-made tunnel under Paddy's Markets Flemington.[2] Emerging into daylight, it continues under Parramatta Road and the M4 Western Motorway, finally flowing into Powells Creek at Bressington Park in Homebush.[2] When driving westbound on the M4 Western Motorway it is possible to see a sign showing where Saleyards Creek flows under the motorway, not far east of Homebush Bay Drive.

History

Saleyards Creek is named after the Flemington cattle saleyards, established in 1909.[4] Once a natural stream, Saleyards Creek was canalised by the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board in the 1930s,[5][6] partly as a work relief project during the Great Depression.[7]

Ecological issues

Canalisation of the stream has affected salinity and pollution levels in nearby tidal wetlands.[8] Silt build-up from stormwater flows provides a feeding habitat for birds such as ducks and gulls, but interferes with water flow, and so is occasionally removed.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Powells Creek Landscape Design Framework, Volume 2.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Stephen Ambrose, Vertebrate Fauna Study for the Strathfield LGA, April 2009.
  3. ↑ Strathfield Council web site: photograph.
  4. ↑ Strathfield Council management plan 2005/06–2007/08.
  5. ↑ New South Wales. Dept. of Labour and Industry and Social Services, The New South Wales Industrial Gazette, Volume 43, 1933, p. 26.
  6. ↑ Strathfield Council: Mason Park Plan of Management, p. 15. Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Cathy Jones, 'Airey Park History', Strathfield District Historical Society web site.
  8. ↑ Strathfield Council: Mason Park Plan of Management, pages 16, 19, 21 & 63. Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ New South Wales. Olympic Co-ordination Authority, Homebush Bay Ecological Studies, 1993-1995, Volume 2, ISBN 0-643-05860-5, pp. 46–48.

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