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Dear reader,
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A range of events are taking shape over the coming months. We’d love you to join us at one or more and share your connection to rivers and creeks.
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Join us for a Tramboat ride on the Maribyrnong and experience the river from the river's perspective. We will spend a little time sharing our advocacy work as well as leaving some time to simply tune into the river and the environment upstream.
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Whether you’re a local or just curious, come join us to explore our river’s past, present, and the future we can all help to shape.
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You can purchase tea and coffee on board. Feel free to also bring your own water and snacks.
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Date: Saturday, 14th March 2026
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Time: 10am - 11.30am (please arrive 9.45 for boarding)
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Board: Footscray Wharf (opp 60 Maribyrnong Street Footscray)
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MRWA has received funding from the Victorian Government through the West Gate Tunnel Project’s West Gate Neighbourhood Fund to support this event.
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Join us for a special Water Think Tank event, this time on the river itself.
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We’ll be hearing about the recent planning scheme amendment VC278, which delivers important new protections for Victoria’s waterways through the Planning Controls for Waterways Program.
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Updates State Planning Policy
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Introduces Significant Landscape Overlays (SLOs) across 17 metropolitan waterways
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Makes permanent the planning controls developed through Waterways of the West
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Includes two new supporting Planning Practice Notes
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The briefing will unpack what these changes mean in practice, for councils, communities, and the long-term protection of our waterways.
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If you’ve been following the push for stronger planning protections along the Maribyrnong and beyond, this is a session not to miss.
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Come along, learn what’s changed, and help us consider what it means for our river.
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Date: Wednesday 11th March
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Board: Footscray Wharf (opp 60 Maribyrnong Street Footscray)
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P.S. We had originally hoped to secure a 10am slot, but due to availability this was the only time possible.
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MRWA has received funding from the Victorian Government through the West Gate Tunnel Project’s West Gate Neighbourhood Fund to support this event.
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Clean Up Australia Day
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Come along to help care for our much loved Maribyrnong River on Clean Up Australia Day.
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PROVIDED
Gloves, pickers, bags
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WEAR / BRING
Boots / closed shoes, long pants, hat & water
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The site has accessible pathways as well as hilly off track areas. Please contact us for further info.
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SAFETY
All participants must sign in and attend (or read) safety briefing
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KIDS
This a family friendly event, however all children must be supervised by an adult
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ORGANISERS
Brought to you by Maribyrnong River and Waterways Association and Moonee Valley Sustainability
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Meet at the Golf Club Carpark - Newson St, Ascot Vale
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Let's keep our river healthy & clean together!
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Department of Transport and Planning Webinar
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The Department of Transport and Planning’s Strategic Planning team will be hosting an online briefing on the recent planning scheme amendment VC278.
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This amendment delivers the Planning Controls for Waterways Program and includes:
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Updates to State Planning Policy
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Introduction of Significant Landscape Overlays (SLOs) across 17 metropolitan waterways
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Permanent controls arising from Waterways of the West
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Two new supporting Planning Practice Notes
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The session will walk through the details of the amendment and provide an opportunity to better understand how these changes will shape waterway planning and protection going forward.
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Date: Monday, 16th February 2026
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Location: Online (Microsoft Teams)
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New Funding Available to Tackle Litter
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Launched last year, the toolkit was developed in partnership with Shannon Behaviour Change and BehaviourWorks Australia to address a critical gap in public understanding: the direct pathway between everyday urban littering and the pollution that harms our creeks and rivers.
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The toolkit provides a suite of ready-to-use behaviour change resources, including decals, signage and campaign assets that can be easily adopted by councils, community groups and litter advocacy organisations. These materials are designed to shift everyday habits and build a culture of care for our waterways.
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To help more groups put the toolkit into action, Melbourne Water is offering funding of up to $5,000 to support the printing, installation and advertising of toolkit assets.
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Application open 9am 1st February and close 4pm 11th March
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Seasonal Watering Proposals – Have Your Say
Each year, water set aside for the environment is released from reservoirs to mimic natural flows and keep river ecosystems healthy. Environmental watering in the Maribyrnong supports: Small-bodied native fish, platypus, waterbugs, in-stream and streamside vegetation, channel morphology, and water quality, particularly dissolved oxygen. However, environmental water is limited, so decisions must be made about where and how it can achieve the greatest ecological benefit.
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Under the Water Act 1989, Melbourne Water prepares a Seasonal Watering Proposal to inform the Victorian Environmental Water Holder’s statewide plan for releases (July–June). These proposals are guided by scientific evidence, regional waterway strategies, and input from Traditional Owners, technical experts and local communities. Help shape this year’s environmental water proposals for the Maribyrnong River.
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Date: Thursday, 12th February 2026
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Location: Online (Microsoft Teams)
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https://letstalk.melbournewater.com.au/seasonal-watering-proposals/maribyrnong
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We'd love to see you at one or all of these events over the coming months!
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