A homeless man has been charged with the murder of a man whose body was found in a creek in Melbourne's west.

However, police are yet to identify the victim, who appears to be Caucasian and aged in his 40s or 50s.

The man's body was found in Kororoit Creek in Sunshine about 9am on Wednesday.

Police arrested a 32-year-old man, of no fixed address, in Sunshine about 5.30pm. He was remanded to face Melbourne Magistrates Court charged with one count of murder.

Earlier on Wednesday, homicide squad detectives released CCTV images taken near Kororoit Creek allegedly showing the man holding plastic bags.

It is understood police were still trying to locate the bags on Thursday morning.

A person walking through a park just off Glengala Road discovered the body in the creek and alerted police.

Detective Inspector Mick Hughes of the homicide squad said police had been told an "altercation" took place near the creek about 6am.

He would not comment on the dead man's injuries but said: "It was a vicious assault that has resulted in his death."

A postmortem examination was expected to be conducted on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.