There are two consultation processes currently involving protection of Victorian rivers and we encourage you to have your say.
Speak up for the waterways of Melbourne’s west
The Ministerial Advisory Committee is wants to hear your views of Melbourne’s western rivers – lodge your submission by 6 May 2019. You can read more about why these rivers need protection elsewhere on our website.
Rivers and freeways – North East link and the Yarra
The Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the multi-billion dollar North East Link freeway project has been released and will go before a planning panel in July. This is a massive road-building project, key features of which will include widening of the Eastern Freeway (up to 20 lanes in places), tunnel construction under the Yarra River and above-ground road connections to the Ring Road.
It is a formidable series of documents. Among concerns expressed to us are loss of significant parklands along the Yarra River, conversion of creeks to drains, interference with groundwater affecting wetlands on the Yarra (including the culturally important Bolin Bolin Billabong), and the amenity impacts of the Eastern Freeway widening.
Despite the Victorian Government’s championing of the 2017 Yarra River Protection (wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act, this project is (most unsatisfactorily) exempt from the operation of that legislation. We are in discussion with community environment groups in relation to submissions to the panel process. We encourage individuals and groups interested or affected to make submissions also and make enquiries of local councils on their responses to the project.
Image: Lollipop Creek, Wyndhamvale, by Colleen Miller