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Hello MRWA Friends,
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There are some important issues emerging around our precious waterways including the use of recycled water for the environment and the proliferation of data centres in the west to name a few. Rest assured we are continuing our advocacy to governments and water agencies for protection of the Maribyrnong catchment through targeted campaigns and lobbying. At the same time we are finding ways to promote environmentally sustainable practices and create events that help you, our community, connect with our river. Here's a snapshot of our work over the past couple of months.
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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 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. We found a small drain on the eastern side directly opposite where Billy Button creek spills into the river on the western side. Interestingly this site still operates as a kind of confluence as the roads and new bridges cross directly overhead connecting suburbs either side of the river.
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We have nothing definitive yet, but over the coming months we will be gathering stories from Elders, looking at old maps, and investigating some archival documents. Here's a little post on our Socials that provides a bit more information.
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The project will also include some linguistic research about the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung naming of the Maribyrnong River. Stay tuned - we'll keep you posted.
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There are some critical issues that need attention in our catchment. We have spent the past couple of months preparing position statements and writing letters to decision makers so that we can be clear about what our 'ask' actually is. Now it's time to share this with you.
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Proposed Data Centres in the West - Wait, What?
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Data Centres and Water Management in the Maribyrnong Catchment
Data centre growth is experiencing rapid expansion across the globe. It's safe to say the issues have crept up on us. Here in Victoria the majority of proposed centres are concentrated in Melbourne's north and west. Whilst we are not opposed to data centres per se, MRWA strongly urges the Victorian Government to adopt a comprehensive and proactive approach to data centre development and water management.
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We recommend the following win-win approach:
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- Free up potable water for households and restore passing flows to rivers, advancing long-overdue environmental entitlements.
- Supply data centres with a reliable, climate-resilient source of recycled water.
- Strengthen the recycled water market, reducing waste and improving overall system efficiency.
- Deliver community-wide benefits, including lower costs for waterway health management.
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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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Recycled Water for the Environment
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MRWA and the Water Think Tank have provided formal feedback on Greater Western Water’s proposal to use highly treated recycled water from Sunbury Waste Water Treatment Plant to help address chronic flow deficits in Jacksons Creek.
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We support continued investigation if it meets best-practice treatment and governance standards and is delivered alongside broader catchment reforms. Read the full submission and recommendations HERE
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Single Living Entity and Planning
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MRWA hosts the Concerned Waterways Alliance Launch
In September, we hosted an important event for the Concerned Waterways Alliance who were launching their latest evidence-based report on The Single Living Entity Concept in Planning for Waterways. Opened by Uncle Tony Garvey with a Welcome to Country we were invited to re-think our relationship to waterways.
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Stephen Rowley, the author of the report spoke about the dilemma for legislators on comprehensiveness vs strength of planning laws. He called for the status of Catchment Management Authorities to be raised and how this needs to be resourced.
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Claire Romaskzko, Department of Transport and Planning, helped us understand SLO's (Significant Landscape Overlays). What they can recognise and how they work to help planners make balanced decisions that can protect nature corridors and cultural values.
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Alex English, principle planner from Merri-bek Council, alerted us to the legacy of turning our backs on our rivers and creeks. He urged us to remember that we already have provisions to act but we are not using these provisions effectively enough - yet! He invited us to actively imagine and re-imagine what we want to see for our waterways so that we can leave a better legacy for future generations.
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Finally we heard stories from Cameron Steele and Nicole Kowalczyk about case studies from the Moorabool and the Maribyrnong catchments respectively - two of the driest and most neglected catchments in Victoria. As passionate advocates for rivers, they showed how communities can indeed make a difference in caring for Country through determination, alliances and persistence.
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Shout out to Anglers Tavern for supporting the event with the use of their space and a yummy lunch!
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Awareness Raising through Connection
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Our education work is focused on providing opportunities for our community to engage with activities that provide direct connection with our waterways. We are quilting, tramboating, planting, talking and taking time to sense into our environment. Here's a taste of what's been happening.
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Quilting for the Maribyrnong Catchment: Unseen Creatures
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Finally we have all our ducks in a row. The fabrics are in, threads are chosen, patterns are made and we have our inaugural stitching group underway with the Maribyrnong U3A. We are also activating embroidery and CWA groups up in Gisborne and Lancefield. As reported in our last newsletter this is a signature project for the Maribyrnong catchment aimed at raising awareness of the plight of waterways in this region through the arts. If you are keen to know more contact angela.clarke@maribyrnongriver.org.au if you or your group would like to participate. Beginners to experienced stitches - all welcome!
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Working with Schools
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Over winter we have been engaging with two secondary schools in the catchment to support water literacy education. In Niddrie, a group of year 10 students at St Bernard's College are working on revegetating a section of the school grounds as part of their studies. We are supporting their amazing teacher Lori Carroll to share knowledge about what vegetation can support their local waterway - Steele Creek. They've been really getting into the weeding!
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Further up the catchment Petra Chambers, the wonderful Environmental Science teacher at Salesian College in Sunbury, is focused on water security with her year 11 students. We invited Tina Alvi from Melbourne Water to share the water catchment model with the class. Together we gave the students an insight into water management from the agency perspective and from a community advocacy lens. We then headed outside to test water quality and identify water bugs from Jacksons Creek which runs right through their school. It was great to see the enthusiasm of the students and to listen to their concerns about the environment.
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Water Think Tank
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The Sunbury Global Learning Centre, courtesy of a Hume City Council Community Grant, continues to be our venue for our monthly Water Think Tank Sessions. We have held five sessions since our last newsletter that have been informative and thought provoking. Our guest speakers have covered topics from hydrology and climate change, waterway management to emerging contaminants. Presentations of these talks can all be found on our Water Think Tank page for your reference.
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World Rivers Day on the Maribyrnong
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Join us on the shores of the Maribyrnong River for World Rivers Day. You are invited to spend time with water together - sense, connect, tune in. Experiment, chat and move with embodiment specialist Camilla Maling in collaboration with Angela Clarke our Education Lead.
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The session, at Pipemakers Park, will explore how water supports healthy systems - human, social and environmental - as we move in relationship with the river. We will consider the wisdom of water and its lessons around flow, cycles, movement, connection and resilience.
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To learn more about our River Sensing program see our webpage HERE.
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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 an announcement about our latest collaboration.
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Announcing our new partnership with Greater Western Water
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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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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 an independent organisation. We also gratefully acknowledge the many volunteers who provide in-kind contributions to our our work.
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