By Paul Dunlop
A PAKENHAM icon in danger of being drowned in rubbish has prompted a call for more care in the community.
Despite the best efforts of many residents, the picturesque Toomuc Creek has once more become clogged with shopping carts, plastic bottles and other debris.
The creek and surrounding area have been the focus of concerted cleanup efforts in recent months.
Pakenham Rotary club members and students from Pakenham Consolidated School are leading the beautification bid.
But there are concerns they are fighting a losing battle, with a new barrage of litter spoiling the popular green belt that dissects the town.
From a distance, the patchwork of white softening into the banks of the creek evokes visions of spring snow melting into mountain streams.
Unfortunately, the reality is paper torn out of a tissue box and strewn around the rocks below the bridge that spans the waterway near the picnic shelter.
Two supermarket trolleys sinking slowly into the creek’s depths also make for a less than idyllic setting.
Pakenham Rotarian Ken Rook said the lack of respect some people had for the creek environment was disappointing.
“It’s annoying more than anything,” Mr Rook said.
“It’s become a bit of a tip, there are always some people who don’t care.
“Some of the rubbish would have been brought downstream from rains but the shopping trolleys and some of the other stuff has just been dumped or left.
“It’s probably just kids but our message is that this area is an asset that, as the town grows, will be an important piece of open space for future generations.
Mr Rook said Rotary, in conjunction with Cardinia Shire Council and the school, had poured a lot of time and money into tending the creek surrounds with walking tracks, barbecue facilities and signage among the improvements.
Planning is also under way to further emphasise the area’s assets.
A longtime Pakenham resident, Mr Rook has fond memories of swimming in the creek as a boy.
Cardinia’s 2005 Citizen of the Year Graham Treloar is another who has previously spoken of summers spent at the creek in the days when it threaded through open farmland.
Mr Rook said he hoped people would appreciate the creek as one of Pakenham’s best assets.
“In time, it will be close to the geographic centre of town and it is a magic place.”
