Many urban waterways were once waste dumps. Restoration efforts have made great strides – but there's more to do to bring nature back
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Thursday, June 15, 2023
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Melbourne’s major river, the Maribyrnong, was full of waste from abattoirs, tanneries and factories.
Key Points:
- Melbourne’s major river, the Maribyrnong, was full of waste from abattoirs, tanneries and factories.
- I live near Darebin Creek in Melbourne’s north, which was next to a tip and often polluted until cleanup efforts began in the 70s.
- Here’s what the restoration of Darebin Creek shows us about the successes and challenges of bringing life back to our urban waterways.
Rivers or rubbish dumps?
- European settlement had a big effect on creeks and rivers, we’ve often used them as convenient waste dumps.
- Treating rivers as dumps can (unsurprisingly) damage or even wipe out the life in it.
- Read more:
A tale of 2 rivers: is it safer to swim in the Yarra in Victoria, or the Nepean in NSW? - The group spent decades removing weeds and rubbish and planting trees.
- Rivers such as the Ovens and the Murray, and even the Yarra in places, are in poorer condition with low flows and high sediment and salt levels major issues.
How do we fully restore our city waterways?
Native species reliant on our city waterways still face threats. These include:
How can we help bring life back?
- If there’s a lesson in the restoration work done so far, it’s that we can’t expect life just to bounce back.
- Join a local Waterwatch program to monitor river health, or join the national waterbug blitz to learn more about invertebrate life.