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Hello MRWA Friends,
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We are now six months into our Maribyrnong Catchment advocacy and education. More than ever we are sharply focused on ensuring the Maribyrnong River gets the seven billion litres of water per year that is missing from its environmental flow.
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We are continuing to work cooperatively with the water bodies and DEECA to make sure that this substantial amount of missing water gets delivered for the future health of the river. You can read more about our position and recommendations below.
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We are also excited to share some recent highlights of our work to date.
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We are incredibly grateful to our donors and partners for their support and will continue to deliver on the things that matter to them and us.
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Wishing you all a happy and safe summer and I look forward to catching you at one of our events in the new year.
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Cultural Values of the Maribyrnong
As part of our commitment to reconciliation, we recently commissioned the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC) to produce a scoping study to guide the framework for the development of future investigations of tangible heritage values and intangible cultural heritage (Cultural Values) for the Maribyrnong River riverscape and Maribyrnong catchment within the WWCHAC RAP area.
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The board is in the process of carefully reviewing the findings and the recommendations. This is a significant step forward in developing the objectives, methods, and priorities determined by Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elders to develop an Aboriginal narrative of the riverscape known as the Maribyrnong River.
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This scope will be integral to the implementation of MRWA’s strategic plan which has been aligned to the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 and the goals of The Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung muron) Act 2017.
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We look forward to sharing (with permission from WWCHAC) aspects of this study in due course.
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Ngoon godjin (thank you) to each Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder and representative who shared their time and knowledge to develop this document.
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Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elders: Karen Jones and Uncle David Wandin.
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WWCHAC staff: Dr Garrick Hitchcock, Catherine Keneley, Natalie Bell, John Coomans.
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La Trobe University: Andrew Tanner, PhD candidate
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An advocacy agenda - rivers and creeks are living entities
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We are developing an advocacy strategy that is focused on working toward the recognition of our rivers and creeks as living entities. It is time for us as a community to examine our relationship to water and the many ways water is used, managed and made available to us. The following projects are some of the steps we are taking toward this long-term goal.
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Environmental Flows in the Maribyrnong Catchment
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Over the past century, many of Victoria’s major rivers have been regulated with infrastructure such as dams, weirs, and channels, capturing up to half of their natural flows to secure water supplies for communities, agriculture, and industry. While this provides water security for the public, it is significantly altering natural flow patterns and is negatively impacting ecosystems.
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Environmental water releases aim to restore some of the critical flows that rivers and wetlands would have received before regulation. These flows are timed to meet the specific needs of ecosystems, helping to mitigate the impacts of reduced natural flows and ensuring the long-term health of these vital waterways.
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To promote healthy river flows a suite of statewide policy commitments and strategies have been established. Unfortunately, waterways in the Maribyrnong catchment still don’t have an environmental entitlement, despite plans for an entitlement since 2006. The absence of this entitlement places enormous pressure on the health of the Maribyrnong River, as competing water uses and reduced natural flows threaten its biodiversity and ecological function. Establishing an environmental entitlement for the Maribyrnong is critical to ensuring the long-term sustainability of its waterways, habitats, and the species that rely on them.
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The Maribyrnong River and Waterways Association has released a position statement with recommendations to improve environmental flows in the Maribyrnong catchment.
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• Stream Flow Plans: Create and implement flow management plans for Water Supply Protection Areas to sustainably manage water use and protect ecosystems.
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• Increase Passing Flows: Raise minimum passing flow requirements to support habitats, biodiversity, and river health, especially under climate change.
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• Improve Water Quality: Ensure sufficient dilution and manage recycled water releases to protect waterway health and ecological integrity.
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• Increase Rosslynne Reservoir Flows: Boost passing flows from Rosslynne Reservoir to improve water dilution and address environmental flow shortfalls.
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• Return Bulk Entitlements: Greater Western Water to return 1,000 ML of water annually from bulk entitlements to support river health.
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• Upgrade Wastewater Treatment: Significant upgrades to wastewater plants, including advanced pollutant removal technologies and improved flow management, to protect ecosystems like Jacksons Creek.
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• Purify Recycled Water: Use advanced technologies to produce drinking-quality recycled water, reducing reliance on traditional sources and supporting ecosystem health.
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• Risk Assessment: Add a reporting component to evaluate risks from increased wastewater discharges, focusing on species vulnerabilities and environmental stressors.
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The position statement will be available on the Maribyrnong River and Waterways Association website shortly.
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Protecting Waterways Amid Elite Park Development
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Artist's impression of Elite Park
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The Maribyrnong River and Waterways Association recently submitted feedback to Melbourne Airport regarding the proposed Elite Park Major Development Plan. Elite Park is set to develop a vacant 32-hectare site located between the Tullamarine Freeway and Airport Drive into a leisure, entertainment and retail precinct. While the project promises economic and employment benefits, MRWA emphasises the critical need to balance development with environmental stewardship. Our waterways, including the Maribyrnong River, Moonee Ponds Creek, Steele Creek, and Arundel Creek, are already under immense pressure from Melbourne Airport and additional urbanisation and pollution and will further deteriorate our waterways.
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MRWA’s submission highlights three primary areas of concern: ecology, surface water management, and cumulative impacts.
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The development risks removing 4.58 hectares of the critically endangered Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain. This loss diminishes biodiversity and fragments ecological connectivity. The developers propose using offsets as a tool to minimise impacts, but we all know they cannot fully replace this unique ecosystem. MRWA recommends prioritising on-site conservation, by maintaining and establishing green corridors.
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The project will increase impervious surfaces, leading to higher volumes of runoff carrying pollutants like heavy metals and PFAS. Past discharges from the airport have already harmed local waterways, making this issue even more pressing. MRWA calls for using alternative water sources (e.g., recycled and harvested water) and adopting best-practice Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) measures, including rain gardens, bio-retention swales, and constructed wetlands.
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Cumulative Impacts of Development
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The combined pressures of Elite Park and the third runway highlight the need for integrated management to mitigate overlapping environmental impacts. MRWA urges Melbourne Airport to lead by example, integrating sustainable practices into the Elite Park development and fulfilling its environmental commitments. By prioritising ecological health, adopting progressive water management strategies, and addressing cumulative impacts, Elite Park can become a model for responsible urban growth.
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Members of the public are invited to provide written comments on the Preliminary Draft MDP to the Planning Manager, Melbourne Airport, Locked Bag 16, Tullamarine VIC 3043, or via email at community@melair.com.au. The closing date for receipt of submissions is 20 December 2024.
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An education agenda - raising community water literacy
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We are working toward building an active community that is thinking about water use, availability, management and sustainability in both the upper and lower Maribyrnong Catchment. Our education program draws on our advocacy projects and is enacted through the following two key areas of activity.
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Cultivating a Maribyrnong Catchment Water Think Tank
(Upper & Lower)
The Upper Water Think Tank has been running now for two years. Our latest event looked into the topic of environmental flows. First we heard some unsettling news about unlicensed farm dams and bores in our catchment from Southern Rural Water. This was followed by some exciting updates on projects like decommissioning/partly decommissioning reservoirs to help recover water into our creeks from Greater Western Water. Then @EcoFutures shared their illuminating environmental flows study for the Maribyrnong.
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Suffice to say this event galvanised us into developing a position paper on Environmental Flows as reported above. We are keen to share our thoughts and recommendations for our catchment in the early part of next year. Shout out to Ross Colliver who generously hosted us at his property in Riddells Creek.
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The Lower Water Think Tank on the other hand is just getting started and we kicked things off with a walk and talk at Woodlands Park in Essendon. Senior Landscape Architect, Jessica Gigliotti from Moonee Valley City Council shared the complexities of stormwater capture and irrigation in this urban park. We learnt that using stormwater to irrigate this park reduces our reliance on using drinking water for irrigation. At the same time this park uses a mix of nature-based solutions, UV treatments and litter traps to clean stormwater before it enters our waterways removing harmful toxins and litter that are so dangerous to our tiny water creatures.
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The two ponds form a nature-based solution to treating stormwater. The lining of the upper treatment pond was constructed with particular gravel filtration layers, combined with aquatic species that absorb pollutants and reduce sediment. The floating islands encourage plant roots to further absorb pollutants, and the wetland has been stocked with native fish species to promote improved water quality and a better balanced ecosystem. The constant trickle of stormwater taken from the main drain also means there is a constant movement of water.
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This extremely effective system also slows the flow of water into Five Mile and Moonee Ponds Creeks supporting ecosystem health which can be adversely affected by harsh and fast flowing water. Urban wetlands can have positive impacts on our waterways and we are keen to communicate this message. We are in the process of developing some on-site info-graphics for this park that will help the community know about and understand this complex water management system . . .stay tuned!
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Fostering River Connection
We know that taking time to connect with nature is an entry point for many people in caring for the environment. We also know that connection to nature supports mental and physical health especially as more people report feelings of climate anxiety.
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There is a quietness that settles when we simply tune in to the flow of water on the banks of the river. In our River Therapy program we share simple mindful moving and sensory perception strategies that promote nature connection, relaxation, stress reduction, and mental clarity.
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Sensory attunement to the natural world can bring awareness to the fluid nature of ourselves providing openings for us to soften and be more present. This process can be highly restorative and can help build a sense of purpose in caring for our environment.
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We run regular River Therapy sessions along the catchment to support human health and in turn create connections and love for our waterways.
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Images here are of our sessions in Afton Street Conservation Reserve, Essendon in September and Pipemakers Park, Maribyrnong in December 2024. Rest assured we are working our way up the catchment. Stay tuned for more offerings into the new year.
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Corridor CoLAB Project Moonee Valley
Over the past few months we have been involved in a nature corridor project in Moonee Valley. We are one of 11 community groups who are joining forces with Moonee Valley City Council to support people to plant up their nature strips and gardens to support wildlife corridors between Napier Park and Moonee Ponds Creek.
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This alliance is the first of its kind in Moonee Valley and is an exciting collaboration across the many active groups in the area. The group is piloting a particular corridor in Strathmore/Essendon and letter dropped 400 residents in that corridor. There was a huge response with 56 people saying they wanted to be involved and then 40 people actually turning up to the first information and free plant give away meeting.
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We are so excited about this project because the people that are stepping up all had reasons that related to caring for the environment and wanting to be part of something bigger. We are taking this opportunity to create moments of sharing information about stormwater impacts and how nature corridors can help to filter and slow the flow of water. More information about the project can be found here: https://mvsustainability.org.au/projects/nature-corridor-collaboration/
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Melbourne Water Research Forum
Once a year, Melbourne Water hosts the much-anticipated Melbourne Water Research Forum, a platform that brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore new ways to protect and enhance our waterways. This vital gathering addresses knowledge gaps and advances the objectives of the Healthy Waterways Strategy, providing actionable insights for better management of Victoria’s iconic water systems.
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The forum showcases cutting-edge research designed to inform policy, guide investments, and evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies. With significant funding from the Victorian Government, these initiatives aim to create healthier, more resilient waterways for current and future generations. As we reach the midway point of the 2018 Healthy Waterways Strategy, the forum plays a critical role in reflecting on key learnings and shaping the path forward.
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This year’s forum highlighted a wide range of topics crucial to waterway health, including:
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The Little Stringybark Creek Project: A catchment-scale stream restoration experiment.
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A Framework for Aquatic Ecosystem Health: Using demonstration catchments to enhance understanding.
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Restoring Birrarung's Billabongs: A collaborative effort with the Wurundjeri to revive vital ecosystems.
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Chemicals of Concern: Exploring the current state of pollution and its impact on waterways.
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Solutions to Industrial Pollution: Innovative approaches to managing industrial contaminants.
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Protecting Headwater Streams: Safeguarding streams in urbanising areas.
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Instream Vegetation Distribution: Examining vegetation patterns across varied landscapes.
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Herbicide Alternatives: Investigating options to reduce or eliminate herbicides in urban vegetation management.
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One of the key objectives of the forum is to ensure that research findings are translated into real-world action. By identifying what works—and what doesn’t—the Healthy Waterways Strategy continues to evolve, addressing complex challenges such as pollution, habitat restoration, and climate resilience.
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For example, partnerships like the Aquatic Pollution Prevention Partnership (A3P) and collaborations with the Waterway Ecosystems Research Group (WERG) at the University of Melbourne ensure that this work remains grounded in science and innovation.
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Visit the following resources to dive deeper into the research:
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Melbourne Waterway Research-Practice Partnership (MWRPP): Explore outputs from Melbourne Water’s collaboration with WERG at the University of Melbourne. Visit mwrpp.org.
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Aquatic Pollution Prevention Partnership (A3P): Learn about initiatives addressing aquatic pollution, renewed until 2028.
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MRWA in the Media
We have been gaining some traction in the media over the past few months. Listen here to our Chair, Helen speaking about advocacy for the Maribyrnong catchment:
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You can also read about us in The Age and the local paper Star Weekly by following the links below:
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https://maribyrnonghobsonsbay.starweekly.com.au/news/mindfullness-and-meditation-by-the-maribyrnong/
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https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/news/ensure-platypus-are-here-to-stay/
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