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Hello MRWA Friends,
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As we wrap up another busy and inspiring year, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in MRWA activities throughout 2025. Your energy, curiosity and commitment have made this a standout year for community engagement across the Maribyrnong catchment.
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There are important issues emerging for our precious waterways, from the rapid expansion of data centres in the west, to the increasing number of farm dams intercepting flows in the upper catchment. MRWA will continue to advocate strongly to governments and water agencies, pushing for policies and decisions that protect the Maribyrnong now and for generations to come.
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At the same time, we remain focused on creating opportunities for our community to connect with the river through meaningful and accessible activities.
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As an opening to this newsletter, and a reminder of why we do what we do, we’re delighted to share Lyn Steele’s spectacular photo of a White-faced Heron. These moments of river life capture the beauty and fragility of our waterways and highlight the importance of the work we carry out together.
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Wurundjeri Engagement
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Uncovering the chosen course of our rivers
As part of our ongoing work with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Corporation (WWCHC) we are investigating the chosen course of the Yarra /Birrarung and its original relationship with the Maribyrnong. Researchers from WWCHC, Greater Western Water and first nations digital storyteller Brett Leavy joined us for a scoping trip in our boat Puggle to take a closer look at a site in Footscray where the pre-colonisation confluence of our two great rivers may have been.
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Next year, in partnership with Greater Western Water, we we will be gathering stories from Elders, building a virtual map with Brett Leavy and undertaking linguistic research about the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung naming of the Maribyrnong River. Stay tuned!
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Proposed Data Centres in the West
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Data Centres and Water Management in the Maribyrnong Catchment
Across Victoria, proposals for new data centres, large facilities that store and process our digital information, are growing rapidly. These centres use significant amounts of water for cooling, and this raises important questions for communities along the Maribyrnong River.
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Recent national research shows a major gap between the water use the data centre industry expects and what water authorities are actually planning for. For example, while one industry forecast suggests demand of around 10 billion litres a year in Sydney by 2030, Sydney Water is preparing for up to 90 billion litres by 2035. This nine-fold difference shows just how uncertain the real impacts could be, and why communities need clear information about what this means for our water systems.
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The report also notes that while pricing rules try to prevent households from directly subsidising big industrial users, water bills are still likely to rise as utilities secure the next “increment of supply.” This usually comes from expensive sources like desalination or advanced recycled water. If data centres accelerate the need for these upgrades, the increased costs are shared across everyone, including households and small businesses.
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Why this matters for the Maribyrnong
The Maribyrnong River is already one of Victoria’s most flow-stressed waterways and still does not have the Environmental Water Entitlement that was first promised in 2006. To restore the river, we need access to raw water and climate-independent water sources — the very same sources now being sought by data centres at a large scale.
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Without safeguards, the Maribyrnong risks falling further behind just as pressures on the system intensify. To protect the Maribyrnong and ensure fair, sustainable water planning, MRWA urges the Victorian Government to:
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Deliver the long-promised Environmental Water Entitlement for the Maribyrnong River so the river is not left behind as industrial demand grows.
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Require cumulative impact assessments for all data centre proposals in the catchment, recognising this is a concentrated and rapidly expanding industry.
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Protect households from paying for infrastructure upgrades that are only needed because of new industrial users.
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Mandate recycled water use so drinking water is not used where recycled alternatives are suitable.
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MRWA reaffirms its strong position: unchecked data centre expansion, particularly its heavy water demand, must not come at the expense of environmental justice or community water security. Read more in our Data Centre Position Statement.
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Farm Dams in the Maribyrnong Catchment
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The Moorabool–Maribyrnong Farm Dams and Stock & Domestic Water Use Project, led by Southern Rural Water, is an exemplar of how agencies can work collaboratively with stakeholders to tackle complex waterway challenges. The process has been highly collaborative and evidence-driven, bringing together regulators, researchers, Traditional Owners and community organisations to develop a shared understanding of dam impacts, licensing gaps and management needs across the Maribyrnong catchment. MRWA has been an active partner throughout, ensuring that community values, environmental flow needs and local knowledge were embedded in the project’s assessments and recommendations.
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The study found that the Maribyrnong catchment is experiencing significant flow stress, driven in large part by the cumulative impact of farm dams and unregulated stock and domestic water use. These dams reduce baseflows and limit the system’s ability to recover during dry periods. Many smaller tributaries are particularly vulnerable, with increasing numbers of private dams intercepting water before it reaches the main river system. The project also highlighted gaps in regulation, including unclear D&S provisions, automatic licence renewals, and outdated waterway definitions, which constrain effective management.
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Together, these findings show that without reform, the catchment will face worsening ecological decline and reduced resilience under climate change.
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MRWA is actively working with stakeholders to define practical and effective management opportunities for the Maribyrnong catchment.
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Concerned Waterways Alliance
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MRWA's Collaboration with the Concerned Waterways Alliance
This year MRWA continued to play an active role within the Concerned Waterways Alliance, a collective of community and environmental organisations advocating for healthier, better-protected waterways across southern Victoria.
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Through the Alliance, we contributed to several major achievements, including coordinated submissions to the Essential Services Commission’s price review, joint advocacy on environmental water entitlements, and strategic engagement with DEECA on the Waterways of the West Action Plan and the state-wide Water Security Plan.
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The Alliance also strengthened its influence at a policy level, meeting with Ministers and MPs to highlight risks posed by urban development, data centres and climate-driven water scarcity. Together, we helped elevate the visibility of waterway health, champion stronger planning protections, and build a unified community voice on the need for long-term, climate-resilient water management.
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Unseen Creatures
Quilting for the Maribyrnong Catchment
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The quilting project has continued to grow from strength to strength, and we’re thrilled to share how quickly it’s expanding and taking shape across the catchment. Since our last newsletter, participation has surged. The Maribyrnong U3A stitching group is now meeting regularly, with new members joining each month, and our partnerships with embroidery and CWA groups in Gisborne and Lancefield have solidified into an enthusiastic network of makers.
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We’re now seeing beautifully completed pieces coming in, shared techniques across groups, and a deepening sense of collective purpose as the story of our waterways is stitched, quite literally, into fabric. Interest from additional community groups continues to grow, and we are preparing for a mid-year 2026 gathering where all contributors can come together to connect, share progress and plan the final quilt. If you or your group would like to get involved, please contact angela.clarke@maribyrnongriver.org.au — all skill levels welcome.
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Water Think Tank
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Water Think Tank – Closing Reflections and 2025 Summary
After three years of learning, dialogue and collective action, the Water Think Tank has now come to an end in its current shape and form. What began as a small community conversation has grown into a catchment-wide network committed to understanding our water systems, strengthening advocacy, and building relationships across community, government and research sectors. As we pause to reflect, it’s clear the Think Tank has deepened understanding of waterway challenges, supported MRWA’s advocacy, connected leaders across groups, and created a space for agencies to speak frankly with the communities they serve.
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Below is a snapshot of the 2025 program:
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February: Environmental Flows in the Maribyrnong Catchment – Nicole Kowalczyk
March: Maribyrnong Floods of October 2022 – Madeleine Serle (MCRA)
April: Recycled Water for Environmental Flow at Sunbury RWP – GWW briefing
May: Climate Scenarios and Waterways – Geoff Steendam (DEECA)
June: Recycled Water for the Environment – Feedback on MRWA’s position
July: Stormwater for the Environment & Economic Benefits of Flow – Priya van Ryn (Melbourne Water)
August: Victorian Waterway Management Strategy – Simone Wilkie & Kylie Swingler (DEECA)
September: Emerging Contaminants – A/Prof Brad Clarke (University of Melbourne)
November: Farm Dams – Matt Hudson (Southern Rural Water) and Jacksons Creek Condition Assessment – Claudette Kellar and Sara Long(RMIT)
December: River Sensing – Angela Clarke & End-of-Year Reflection and Celebration
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This rich program was made possible through thoughtful facilitation, generous knowledge sharing, and the willingness of our community to learn and act together.
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A heartfelt thank you to Ross Colliver for his steady, skilled facilitation throughout the year, to all participants for your insight and commitment, and to Hume City Council for supporting this work and enabling such a diverse and engaged network to flourish.
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Although the Water Think Tank concludes in its current form, the relationships, knowledge and momentum it created will continue to shape our work as we look toward new opportunities in 2026. Stay Tuned!
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Tram Boat Series
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Tramboat Sessions – 2025 Reflections and What’s Coming in 2026
This year MRWA has hosted a number of highly successful Tramboat sessions along the Maribyrnong River, creating unique opportunities for our community to learn, reflect and connect with the river from the water itself.
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These sessions have quickly become one of our most popular engagement activities, bringing together residents with First Nations speakers, agency partners with environmental leaders, and RMIT students with water advocates for conversation, creativity, and river-centred learning.
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In early 2025 these events were supported by Melbourne Water. We are thrilled to share that MRWA has now been successful in securing further support through the West Gate Neighbourhood Fund, enabling us to deliver five tram boat sessions with two more scheduled for early 2026. We were also supported by Maribyrnong City Council for a special Tramboat event featuring First Nations speaker Robert Ogden. Visit our website or facebook page for future event details.
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MRWA & Greater Western Water Partnership Launch
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We are pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Greater Western Water who are partnering with us on community water literacy, advocacy and catchment health projects.
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We are excited to be exploring innovative ways to tell old and new stories of the Maribyrnong River and its waterways through a range of digital offerings.
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Read the full story here.
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Many thanks to Nigel Egan from Greater Western Water for the photo above.
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We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the following funders who have supported our mission over the year. We also gratefully acknowledge the many volunteers who provide in-kind contributions to our our work.
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