Likes: Active community engagement.
Dislikes: Selfish, self-centred people.
Favourite Animal in the Yarra Catchment: Platypus
Warwick Leeson OAM is the appointed Chair and President of the Yarra Riverkeeper Association Board. A resident of Kangaroo Ground for 25 years, he is a former councillor and mayor of Nillumbik Shire and is passionate about nature, especially that which has been protected by Green Wedges legislation.
Warwick has a strong track record of standing up for the Yarra River, and has been a powerful advocate for Victorian waterways and for the associated open spaces in the riverine corridor, which are vitally important to the liveability of Nillumbik and of Greater Melbourne. Warwick has an extensive and balanced understanding of the environmental issues affecting residents of the Yarra catchment area in which he has utilised to make significant contributions to the formulation of various associations’ policies and strategies.
As a Nillumbik councillor and mayor, Warwick worked to provide the Diamond Creek Community Stadium, Eltham and Diamond Creek Reserves water-harvesting projects, improved local bus services and a street lighting program that reduced council’s greenhouse emissions by 50%. He worked to provide the Kangaroo Ground War Memorial Tower Moor-rul ‘viewing platform, Kangaroo Ground Kindergarten and the Eltham Leisure Centre upgrade. In the aftermath of the 2009 bushfires, he worked extensively to support community rebuilding and recovery projects; encouraging property fire awareness planning. These contributions were highlighted in Warwick’s Order of Australia citation.
Throughout his entire adult life, there has never been a time when Warwick has not been actively involved in any number of organisations or clubs that are aimed at making our society stronger and more resilient. As Greater Melbourne’s population continues to boom, Warwick has no intention of slowing down, and will continue to advocate for the protection of our beloved riverbanks, parklands and waterways, noting that urban green spaces are the key to resident’s mental and physical health. Some of Warwick’s esteemed accomplishments include but are not limited to:
“My favourite places are Watsons Creek, where I can see Water Rats (Rakali) and Pound Bend at Warrandyte, where I can walk alongside the Birrarung and enjoy the serenity of nature.”
