Skeleton Waterholes Creek is a waterway in the outer western and outer south-western regions of
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
,
Victoria. The creek originates near
Mount Cottrell
Mount Cottrell is a town in Victoria, Australia, west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Cities of Melton and Wyndham local government areas. Mount Cottrell recorded a population of 496 at the 2021 census.
It is n ...
, to the south of
Rockbank
Rockbank is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Melton local government area. Rockbank recorded a population of 2,583 at the 2021 census.
Rockbank Post Office o ...
, and passes through rural land until it reaches the suburban areas of
Tarneit
Tarneit () is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, west of Melbourne's Melbourne City Centre, Central Business District, located within the City of Wyndham Local government areas of Victoria, local government area. ...
,
Truganina
Truganina is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Cities of Melton and Wyndham local government areas. Truganina recorded a population of 36,305 at the 2021 census. ...
,
Hoppers Crossing,
Altona Meadows and
Point Cook
Point Cook is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Wyndham local government area. Point Cook recorded a population of 66,781 at the 2021 census.
Point Cook ...
before it flows into
Port Phillip Bay after the
Cheetham Wetlands. The creek has important local
Aboriginal
Aborigine, aborigine or aboriginal may refer to:
*Aborigines (mythology), in Roman mythology
* Indigenous peoples, general term for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area
*One of several groups of indigenous peoples, see ...
spiritual significance, and parts of the creek are popular sites for recreation(various).
Environmental condition
It has been classed as being in "moderate condition" by
Melbourne Water,
Healthy Waterways - Waterwatch Program - Your Local Waterway > Werribee Catchment > Skeleton Creek
but it is becoming increasingly urbanised as new developments extend across the catchment from Hoppers Crossing and surrounding areas. This new development poses a major risk to the health of the river, as does the poor quality of both the creek's water and streamside vegetation along significant parts of the waterway.
A recent defence force study of PFAS contamination on defence bases has indicated some groundwater contamination from sites at the partially decommissioned Williams Landing airforce base. Hydrological studies show that this groundwater flows into Skeleton Creek, and caution should be taken with consuming fish and eels from this creek.
See also
*Skeleton Creek Trail
__NOTOC__
The Skeleton Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Skeleton Creek as it passes through the outer south western suburbs of Point Cook and Altona Meadows in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The no ...
, a cycling and walking trail along the southern part of the creek.
References
External links
Healthy Waterways - Waterwatch Program - Your Local Waterway > Werribee Catchment > Skeleton CreekParks Victoria: Cheetham Wetlands page
Melbourne Water catchment
Rivers of Greater Melbourne (region)
{{VictoriaAU-river-stub