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Hello MRWA Friends,
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We hope you had a chance to slow down and enjoy the Easter break. As we near the one-year mark of our advocacy and education work across the Maribyrnong Catchment, we’re feeling grateful for the connections we’ve made and the momentum that’s building.
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Our recent focus has been on advocating for a much-needed Environmental-
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Water Entitlement for the Maribyrnong. While recycled water is being explored as part of the solution, we believe it must be treated to a high standard and proven safe before being released into our waterways.
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Our creeks and rivers are living systems, and they deserve thoughtful, genuine care. We hope to see you at an upcoming event —
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we’d love to keep the conversation going.
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Progressing Cultural Understanding and Collaboration
We are committed to taking meaningful steps toward reconciliation by listening to and learning from Traditional Owners. Over the past few months, our staff and board members have attended a range of Cultural Education sessions led by Wurundjeri educators, helping us to broaden our perspectives and deepen our understanding of their enduring connection to Country.
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We are also continuing our work with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC) on the research project we commissioned last year. In the coming months, we’ll be meeting with Elders to discuss respectful and appropriate ways to move forward with this important work, which focuses on the history and Cultural values of the Maribyrnong Catchment. Our aim is to strengthen and nurture our relationship through collaboration and shared learning in Wurundjeri-led and supported projects.
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Ngoon godjin (thank you) to Christopher Hume for sharing his greenstone hatchet heads and possum skin during the Maribyrnong Valley Connection Cultural Education session at Organ Pipes National Park.
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Our advocacy agenda continues to focus on our long term goal of recognising rivers and creeks as living entities. We would like to highlight two projects we've been involved with that focus on the ecological and independent values and needs of our waterways.
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What is a Waterway? - Launch Event
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The question of ‘what is a waterway?’ has long term consequences for both the health of our rivers, creeks and wetlands and how much water can be extracted from them. The definition of waterways in legislation is a key driver of government water policy and is crucial to sustainable water use.
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This report identifies a pressing need to reconcile outdated legal constructs with modern ecological and cultural understandings:
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Scientific Insights: Ecosystem health depends on viewing waterways as dynamic, interconnected systems influenced by factors such as biology, hydrology, and climate.
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Indigenous Knowledge: Aboriginal concepts emphasise reciprocal relationships with waterways, recognising them as ‘living entities’ with inherent rights and responsibilities.
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The definition of waterways in Victorian law is based on hydrologic and geomorphic criteria and, while expansive, represents waterways as resources for use, not as ecological communities or living entities. Its interpretation in policy has been difficult, with significant problems in determining what is or is not a waterway, and has resulted in a lack of focus on ecological and cultural aspects.
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The report discusses how the definition of waterway could be expanded in the light of contemporary scientific understanding of ecological integrity. The inclusion of a definition of a waterway as a ‘water dependent ecosystem’ would bring Victorian law into line with Commonwealth law and international best practice and be of great benefit to the long-term health of waterways.
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The report further discusses the concept of waterways as ‘living entities’ and how the Victorian government’s commitment to ‘Recognition of waterways and their surrounding lands as living, integrated, natural entities, and cultural entities in law, with Traditional Owners recognised as a unique ‘voice’ of the living entities’ could be translated into law, giving all Victorian waterways enforceable rights and integrating law, science and culture.
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Finally, the report outlines a pathway for improved governance that:
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Defines waterways as entities with ecological and cultural qualities.
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Establishes statutory processes for describing and managing waterways, such as action statements and recovery plans.
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Promotes legal pluralism by integrating Indigenous laws and customs with existing statutory frameworks.
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Recognising waterways as ‘living entities’ reflects a shift toward mutual, reparative relationships between humans and nature. Bringing the definition of a waterway into the modern era would allow the Victorian government to take the lead in fostering a more sustainable, inclusive approach to water management that respects both science and heritage, and protects our waterways as dynamic, living systems essential to our environment, culture and wellbeing.
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To read the full report and/or watch a video of the presentation visit: https://concernedwaterwaysalliance.org/launch-what-is-a-waterway-by-dr-bruce-lindsay/
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Spotlight on Dams: Where Did the Water Go?
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Image Credit: People for a Living Moorabool
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Farm dams are everywhere in the Maribyrnong catchment. While they play an important role in agriculture, new research reveals just how significant their cumulative impact is on catchment health, river flows, and biodiversity.
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MRWA is contributing to Southern Rural Water’s project on Water Risks in the Upper Moorabool and Maribyrnong Catchments, helping to explore the role of stock and domestic dams and their regulation. Our work focuses on ensuring rivers—and the communities who care for them—are heard as policy and planning evolve.
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Why Are Farm Dams a Concern?
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Farm dams intercept runoff that would otherwise feed our rivers and creeks. A recent MRWA-supported analysis found that:
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- Over 60% of surveyed dams in the Maribyrnong catchment are either on or near waterways
- Nearly 45% of sampled dams have significantly expanded in volume since 2012
- Despite stricter licensing under the Farm Dams Act 2002, the total volume of water stored in private dams continues to grow—even as rivers like Deep Creek face prolonged flow stress
These changes are often under the radar of current policy. Small dams under 5 ML—used for domestic and stock water—typically don’t require a licence, yet their collective impact is substantial.
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Private farm dams are linked to:
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- Altered streamflow and reduced baseflows to creeks and rivers
- Sediment capture, degrading downstream habitats
- Warmer, low-oxygen water bodies with higher greenhouse gas emissions
- Barriers to fish migration and impacts on riparian ecosystems
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While some farm dams can act as temporary wildlife refuges, particularly in dry periods, the overall ecological footprint of dam expansion and overuse is troubling.
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Policy Gaps and Governance Challenges
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At the March Stakeholder Reference Group meeting, which MRWA attended, landholders, agencies, Traditional Owners, and advocacy groups identified major gaps in current regulation:
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- Inconsistent definitions of waterways across councils and datasets
- Poor enforcement of compliance around unlicensed dams
- Insufficient consideration of cultural values in dam approvals
- Ambiguity about roles, responsibilities, and reporting requirements
There is also widespread concern that existing policy does not reflect the growing risks of climate change, with outdated rules failing to address cumulative impacts from thousands of small dams.
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The SRW project is now moving into the modelling phase, which will assess how farm dams affect environmental flows and values under different future climate scenarios. MRWA will continue contributing to these discussions—particularly around Deep Creek and upper Jacksons Creek, where dam density is high and flow stress is critical.
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We’ll also continue advocating for:
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- Better mapping of dams and their proximity to waterways
- Transparent reporting of stock and domestic water use
- Protection of priority environmental flows
- Stronger integration of Traditional Owner knowledge and cultural water values
With drought and flooding events becoming more frequent and extreme, it’s clear that revisiting how we manage farm dams is no longer optional—it’s urgent.
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Building Awareness, Inspiring Care
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Ensuring we have a community that is well informed and literate about the issues that face our rivers and creeks is a high priority for us. Using lots of different strategies, we are committed to finding thoughtful ways to help people connect with and care for our waterways. Below is a snapshot of the things we have been up to since our last newsletter.
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River Talks on the Move – Stories from the Maribyrnong
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Above image credit: Gerry Orval
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This February and March, the lower catchment came alive with river stories — told from the river’s point of view. You might’ve spotted the Tramboat gliding up and down the Maribyrnong, carrying 50 passionate locals on each journey. These floating River Talks offered more than just a chance to share our work — they opened up meaningful conversations with our community, shaped by shared concerns, ideas, and stories about the river.
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Tramboat Images: Gerry Orval
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River Image: Sharyn Sully
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We heard stories of deep connection: gardens lovingly built to welcome microbats, decades of quiet (and not-so-quiet) advocacy, and heartfelt memories of the river through time. There were reflections on floods — some sobering, some surprisingly funny — and strong messages of care and concern for the Maribyrnong’s future.
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It was inspiring, grounding, and at times emotional. Most of all, it reminded us that this river has many champions — and every voice matters in its story.
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March Highlights: From Creekside Chats to Community Celebrations
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March was full of energy and connection as we got out and about, meeting passionate people and hearing powerful stories. We kicked things off at the Riddells Creek Enviro Expo, where we had a fantastic day chatting with locals about everything from landcare to regenerative agriculture. It was genuinely inspiring to hear how individuals and groups are taking action — whether on a small patch of land or across a whole community. Shout out to our volunteers Anwyn, Anna, Peter and Ken who helped run the stall. Huge kudos to the Expo organisers for putting together such a warm and welcoming event — we’re already looking forward to the next one!
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Later in the month, we were thrilled to join Melbourne Water and the Chain of Ponds Collaboration to celebrate the launch of the Reimagining Moonee Ponds Creek Project. Congratulations to everyone who played a part in bringing this milestone to life. The event was made even more meaningful by the strong presence of Wurundjeri Mob. Uncle Bill Nicholson, as always, offered powerful words — reminding us of the deep, ongoing responsibility to care for our waterways as the living beings they are.
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Water Think Tanks
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The Maribyrnong River has hosted a series of Water Think Tanks at Sunbury Global Learning Centre courtesy of a Hume City Council Community Grant. We've brought together community members, water experts, and agency representatives to explore complex issues facing the Maribyrnong catchment. Here’s a look at our most recent sessions:
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February: Position Statement on Environmental Flows
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In February, MRWA shared our Position Statement on Environmental Flows in the Maribyrnong Catchment, outlining the urgent need for water management reform to ensure a sustainable future for the river system.
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The Maribyrnong catchment plays a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, water security, and climate resilience, but it faces increasing pressure from reduced flows, groundwater extraction, and unregulated private water use.
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Our Position Statement includes 12 clear recommendations—ranging from returning unused bulk entitlements to improving streamflow and passing flow rules, regulating farm dams, and upgrading recycled water treatment.
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March: Community Leadership on Flood Resilience
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In March, we heard from Madeleine Serle of the Maribyrnong Community Recovery Association (MCRA) about her experience of the October 2022 floods and the need for stronger flood readiness across Melbourne’s west.
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Madeleine highlighted the systemic issues that contributed to the impact of the floods: short notice, inadequate monitoring, and a lack of western flood infrastructure investment compared to the east. MCRA is now leading the way in flood resilience, building a strong network of members and advisors, and working directly with major stakeholders—from Melbourne Water to insurers to the University of Melbourne.
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Instead of waiting to be heard, MCRA is knocking on doors at the top, pushing for system-wide change. Their vision is proactive and solution-focused: building a flood-resilient home, improving risk communication, and empowering residents with the tools and knowledge to demand action.
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April: Recycled Water and Jacksons Creek – What’s the Alternative?
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At our April session, Shane Cowie from Greater Western Water (GWW) joined us to present potential future options for managing recycled water from the Sunbury Recycled Water Plant.
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With Sunbury’s population set to grow rapidly, GWW’s current plan from 2030 is to transfer excess recycled water to Melton and onwards—either to a new irrigation district or Melbourne Water’s Werribee plant.
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But one potential alternative could offer direct benefits for Jacksons Creek and broader environmental flows. This option is still in the early investigation phase, and any future decision would need to pass rigorous scientific and regulatory assessments, guided by EPA standards and DEECA oversight.
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At the end of his presentation, Shane asked two key questions:
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- Should the Water Think Tank support GWW investigating this alternative?
- If yes, what conditions or expectations should we put on that investigation?
We’ll be discussing both questions at our next WTT session on Wednesday 7 May at the Hume Learning Centre in Sunbury. For those who missed the April session, we’ll provide a short recap before we dive into discussion.
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Impacts of a changing climate on hydrology
📅 Wednesday 7 May, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Hume Learning Centre, Sunbury – Meeting Room 3
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Unseen Creatures: An Arts-based Project for the Catchment
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Imagine these unseen creatures as an intricate embroidery and then multiply. Intrigued?
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Over the coming months we will be launching a catchment-wide community quilting project to raise awareness about the health of the Maribyrnong Catchment through art.
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Inspired by the research of Dr. Robert Walsh (Australian Waterlife), who has studied microfauna for over 40 years, this project will focus on the ecological health of the region’s rivers and waterways, with a special emphasis on microfauna—tiny, often unseen creatures that play a crucial role in aquatic ecosystems. Participants will create small-scale embroidered representations of these creatures, which will come together to form a large, collaborative quilt.
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The project will involve community groups across the six municipalities of the Maribyrnong Catchment from the Macedon Ranges to Port Phillip - everybody welcome. The finished quilt will be displayed in a location chosen by the community as well as entered into various Australian quilting fairs and/or exhibitions.
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MRWA staff along with quilting specialists from Seabreeze Quilters will engage with groups at their regular meeting places across the region, discussing topics like biodiversity, stormwater management, environmental flows, water security, and catchment challenges while participants work on their embroidery and quilting.
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Microfauna are small, vital creatures, often less than 2mm in size, that live in rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Despite their size, they form the foundation of the aquatic food web, supporting everything from algae to fish. Their presence is key to assessing waterway health, and by telling their story through art, this project aims to deepen community engagement and understanding of the Maribyrnong Catchment’s ecological plight.
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If you think a group or community you belong to might be interested in being part of this project, contact Angela on angela.clarke@maribyrnongriver.org.au
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One of our core aims is to work in partnership with the community, First Nations people, educational institutions, agencies, and all levels of government to facilitate systemic environmental change and increased investment in the enhancement of the Maribyrnong River and its surrounding waterways. Here's a snapshot of some of the collaborations that are underway.
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MRWA & RMIT Landscape Architecture
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We are collaborating with RMIT Landscape Architecture students, guided by their lecturer Fiona Harrisson, to explore sustainable design and environmental connectivity in Riddells Creek. The project focuses on riparian edges—where land meets waterways—and aims to integrate these areas into landscape design for better social and environmental outcomes. MRWA staff, Angela Clarke and Nicole Kowalczyk, will support the students in addressing the environmental needs of rivers and creeks in the Maribyrnong Catchment. Local residents Lyn Hovey and Ross Colliver will provide insights, while students are encouraged to engage with the community during site visits.
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MRWA & RMIT Public Art
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We are also excited to be collaborating with RMIT Public Art students. Their Lecturers, Dr Fiona Hillary and Jody Haines, are working with students on sites along the Maribyrnong to develop speculative public art projects. Jody and Fiona joined Angela and Kelvin on a Puggle ride up the Maribyrnong to kickstart the collaboration. Angela then visited students in at RMIT to discuss the why focussing on water is critical now and how art interventions have potential to raise awareness of the plight of rivers and creeks.
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Puggle: A Shared Asset for MRWA & YRKA, Now with a Stellar Crew
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Above Image Credit: Kelvin Gedye
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Our trusty little 8-seater electric boat, affectionately known as 'Puggle', has been busy cruising up and down the river, ferrying us and our friends from the Yarra Riverkeeper Association (YRKA). These trips have been made even more enjoyable thanks to Puggle’s new volunteer caretakers, Kelvin Gedye and Palz Vaughan. Both experienced boaters, Kelvin and Palz are always ready to skipper when needed and have taken on the role of mentoring Angela, who recently earned her boating license. Angela says they’ve been incredibly patient—and wonderfully calm—teachers.
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But the gifts don’t stop there: Kelvin is also a skilled photographer and has been capturing some stunning shots of the Maribyrnong. Keep an eye on our socials—his work will be featured soon!
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We’re thrilled to welcome Kelvin and Palz to our growing MRWA volunteer network, whose support continues to power our work.
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Have your say in Melbourne Water’s community group survey
Community groups are invited to share their priorities in a Waterways and Drainage Survey to help shape Melbourne Water's Price Submission 2026 and Waterways and Drainage Investment Plan.
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The survey will close on 7 May 2025 at 5pm.
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Minor security breach on our website
We regret to inform you that our website and newsletter mailing list recently experienced a security breach. During this brief incident unauthorized access to newsletter user data may have occurred. Post incident monitoring indicates that no access has actually occurred. Using guidance from the ASD Australian Cyber Security Centre we promptly addressed the issue and have implemented enhanced security measures to prevent future occurrences. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your understanding and continued trust.
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We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the following funders who have supported our mission over the years when we were auspiced by the Yarra River Keeper and now as we near our first year anniversary as an independent organisation. We also gratefully acknowledge the many volunteers who provide in-kind contributions to our our work.
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