Residents living along a tributary of the Yarra are being warned heavy rains are likely to stir up a stink, eight months after a cocktail of chemicals spilled into its waters following a factory fire. 

The Environment Protection Authority issued the warning to residents of West Footscray, Kingsville and Yarraville living near Stony Creek this week in anticipation of the storms that hit Melbourne early on Thursday morning. 

Clean-up crews pumped chemicals and fire retardant out of Stony Creek.  The clean up is continuing, but it's far from finished.  Credit:Jason South

Tests of the creek water last month showed high levels of acetone, disinfectants, herbicides, fire-retardant chemicals and heavy oils following a blaze at West Footscray in August last year. 

Water scientist Leon Metzeling said in April the creek's health was improving, but that a full recovery was a long way off, describing the case as the worst he had seen in almost 30 years at the EPA.