Elwood Canal, the final stretch of Elster Creek, is the last opportunity to prevent litter pollution from flowing relentlessly into the bay. The latest plan sees Council join other councils, Melbourne Water and the EPA to stop litter before you—and the fish—swim in it.
Elster Creek, which culminates in the Elwood Canal, is a key drainage network flowing from a 40-square-kilometre catchment that snakes through Bentleigh, Carnegie, Elsternwick, and finally through Elwood into Port Phillip Bay.
Despite past efforts, significant litter continues to flow, blocking drains and diminishing community amenity.
In response, the Elster Creek Litter Collaboration (ECLC), led by Glen Eira City Council and supported by Port Phillip and Bayside councils, Melbourne Water, and EPA Victoria, has launched the Elster Creek Litter Action Plan 2026–2031.
This five-year effort aims to significantly reduce litter through prevention, removal and monitoring:
Prevention: Reducing litter at its source through awareness campaigns, education programs, and promoting circular economy initiatives.
Removal: Actively removing existing litter from the catchment before it reaches Port Phillip Bay. This involves improving stormwater management systems, prioritising litter hotspot cleanups, and mobilising community participation in cleanup efforts.
Monitoring: Continuously assessing litter levels and types to track progress and identify areas for improvement.
Low on budget, high on community participation
While the plan is comprehensive, it comes with challenges. Its success will depend on prioritisation, resources and continued cooperation between agencies.
Proposed actions, such as examining higher penalties for littering or creating tougher standards for private waste contractors, have been deferred due to time and resourcing constraints.
With some measures delayed, the plan leans heavily on the community. Residents are expected to play a key role through local cleanups, citizen‑science monitoring programs, and participation in education initiatives. The plan also backs circular‑economy projects and advocacy for stronger state‑level policies.
The total five‑year budget provides a measure of the commitment behind the plan — and will likely be scrutinised in the years ahead.
Community concern: “Short on detail”
During public question time, Isaac Herman from the Elwood Canal Action Team welcomed the plan but said it remained “short on detail.”
“Who’s going to ensure accountability overall?” he asked.
He pointed to the long‑awaited litter trap installation at New and Murphy streets — a project he described as the most important element of the strategy — and questioned why Melbourne Water had “gone silent” despite having completed significant engineering work.
Herman also criticised the two Melbourne Water litter booms above Broadway in Elwood, calling them “woefully ineffective” and “visual pollution in and of themselves.”
FYI: Glen Eira City Council leads the Elster Creek Litter Collaboration because more than 70% of the catchment lies within its boundaries, and over 85% of runoff originates there. The council is responsible for overseeing the Action Plan for its full five‑year duration.
