Wednesday, 14 August 2024

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (17:36): I rise to speak on the State of the Birrarung (Yarra) and its Parklands 2023 Report. This five-year review of the initial Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017 paints a dire picture of this vital waterway’s environmental and ecological health. Fundamentally, the report shows that the river’s health was not improved over the past five years. One of the key recommendations underlines the importance of community involvement in improving the habitat and management of the Yarra River and its surroundings. Most of the improvements made along the banks of the river, such as replanting, have been undertaken by passionate community groups. These groups engage volunteers to pitch in and help to care for this vital waterway, so many of the improvements to the Yarra in the past not only five years but 50 years have been community driven.

One of the objectives of Victoria’s Water Act 1989 is to maximise community involvement in the making and implementing of arrangements relating to the use, conservation or management of water resources. Harnessing community knowledge and experience and empowering volunteers is the second key recommendation of this report. It will be essential to ensuring the future health and revitalisation of the Yarra River, and it is a recommendation I urge the Labor government to act upon urgently. From an environmental perspective this report must be a wake-up call. All 10 environmental health indicators were marked as deteriorating. A trifecta of invasive plant and animal species, habitat loss and fragmentation as well as climate change are the main drivers of biodiversity decline in the Yarra catchment. This impacts a vast array of species from the platypus to native fish, invertebrates and the critically endangered Leadbeater’s possum.

Other shortfalls include the failure to meet the targets of the Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037 initiative. The government is yet to permanently protect or revegetate 2.1 million hectares of private land within the catchment. The report also highlights the impact a growing population is having on water resources. It states that long-term surface water availability for the Yarra River has declined by 16 per cent since 2020. In addition, water allocation has yet to be shared equally, with the environment bearing the burden of decreased availability: 28 per cent less water is now available for the environment compared to 5 per cent less water for consumptive use. Inadequate funding continues to be an ongoing burden for non-government organisations and continues to have negative ramifications on the Birrarung. The loss of a dedicated Yarra riverkeeper earlier this year due to lack of funding was an incredibly disappointing thing to see. Funding projects instead of organisations creates unsustainable cycles of funding that restrict the ability to plan and implement long-term sustainable solutions.

It is clear that much more work remains to be done to ensure that the Yarra River remains healthy. This waterway provides Victoria’s capital with some of the world’s cleanest drinking water, essential green spaces and a key habitat for many endangered and threatened species. The river ecosystem must be healthy not only for human health but for the flora and fauna that rely on this natural corridor connecting the mountains to the sea. This report shows promise for what the Yarra could be and the integral part it could play in ensuring the Victorian government meets its targets of Biodiversity 2037. I endorse the recommendations made by the commissioner and call upon the Labor government to action these recommendations to ensure subsequent reports paint a healthier picture for the future of the Yarra, a future which includes genuine community engagement, sustainable funding models and an ongoing commitment to work alongside traditional owners to ensure the best outcomes for people and country.