But, it’s the mess, rubbish and stench that’s upsetting locals since the waterway dried up.

The question is, where does the responsibility of the clean-up lie?

At council’s door, according to residents.

Recently, Denman’s Tyson Bruns took it upon himself to contact the mayor via Facebook.

“It’s a disgrace,” Mr Bruns said.

“It looks terrible and it stinks, it smells like dead fish and stagnant water and mud.

“It’s bad for visitors to town staying at the caravan park because the creek runs next to it.

“The stormwater area is all blocked up, there’s even an old computer in there.

“Now would be the time to get a dozer in and clean it up.”

However, a Muswellbrook Shire Council spokesperson said responsibility for the management and conservation of the waterway and funding for Landcare rested with the NSW Government’s Local Land Services.

“It is noted the wetlands are charged predominantly by storm water and is expected to refill at any time, after even a short period of rain,” the spokesperson said.

“It would be impractical and unsafe to undertake such works while the wetlands are dry.

“The work required to remove and manage the built-up silt will also take time to plan and prepare.

“Council is looking forward to partnering with the Denman community in establishing a new Landcare group and working together to secure the necessary funding from the state government to undertake long-term works.”

The spokesperson said council had previously had a committee that provided advice on the expenditure of around $5000 on environmental works for the waterway but it folded because of a lack of committee members.

Former Muswellbrook Shire councillor and long-time Denman local Dexter Burkill has a particular interest in the waterway as he organised the Denman Creek sub-committee and acted as chairman from 1995 until 2004.

“It’s not actually a creek, it’s a billabong-come-stormwater drain, it used to join with Sandy Creek until the levee bank cut it off,” Mr Burkill said.

“Over the years we committee members and many volunteers planted thousands of reeds, bushes and trees along the creek between Turtle and Macauley Streets.

“Those reeds act as filters for the run-off water, a wetland’s job in essence is to purify the water.

“It’s a mess now, it could be de-silted.  

“If you say nothing, nothing ever happens. It’s good to see local people taking the matter to heart and doing something.”

The council spokesperson said they were encouraged by recent calls from Denman community members wanting to work together to improve the wetlands.

“We are looking forward to working with a new Landcare group which is essential to secure grant funding for improvement works.”