MEDIA STATEMENT   21 November 2014

Promising Act to Protect Precious River

“Labor’s plan, announced today, to introduce a Yarra River Protection Act” is welcomed news” says the Yarra Riverkeeper Association.

Association spokesperson, Ian Penrose says “today’s announcement acknowledges the importance of the river and its corridor, and the need for its protection. The Yarra River corridor is Metropolitan Melbourne’s prime wildlife habitat and is the key outdoor space for recreational and nature-based activities, which are vital to the city’s liveability.”

Today’s announcement says “Labor will preserve rivers and open spaces, for the health of our future generations…Labor will introduce a Yarra River Protection Act to guard the river corridor from inappropriate development. A new Trust will develop standardised planning controls for the Yarra, and work with agencies to promote the river’s amenity and significance”.

Mr Penrose say, “that whilst there are no details yet about what might be in the proposed Act, we hope that it will address the stresses that Melbourne’s burgeoning growth is putting on the river from pollution, water extraction, and encroaching urban development.”

“In the planning arena, we hope it will

• Regulate that any new building in the corridor is no taller, bigger or closer to the river than what’s already on the site, in order to stop further degradation.
• Ensure that all planning decisions in the corridor are overseen by a single authority which has a whole-of-river remit, beyond local council boundaries.
• Promote a long-term vision for the Yarra corridor as a continuous corridor of public green space and unbroken wildlife habitat along the length of the river.”

Mr Penrose concluded that “this is a welcomed announcement from the Labor party, particularly in a state election that has, to date, paid inadequate attention to protecting or enhancing our precious national environment.”