Werribee Riverkeeper
The Werribee Riverkeeper group headed by John Forrester, is a program of the Werribee Waterways Management Committee (WWMC), which aims to gain support for the Werribee catchment in the western area of Melbourne. WWMC was formed to gain this never before given support, on 23rd November 2004.
The catchment is the westernmost of five designated catchments in the Port Phillip & Westernport region, and stretches from Little River in the west, to Hobsons Bay in the east, and from Korweinguboora in the north to Port Phillip Bay in the south. The catchment covers three major ecological zones – the Victorian Uplands, the Victorian Volcanic Plain and a segment of the Otway Plain. It includes a number of significant ephemeral streams, wetlands, remnant native forest, and grasslands. It is home to a large number of unique species of native plants and animals which face constant threats, and many of which are endangered.
The Werribee Riverkeeper group’s vision is that the catchment streams, tributaries, wetlands and catchment assets will be peaceful and treasured places, protecting and enhancing uniquely Australian indigenous values.
The Werribee Riverkeeper group believes that:
o The vision of the community must be respected
o Current and future generations have a right to the catchment’s beauty, and the use of its resources
o Suburban housing or any development and its activities must not encroach on the rivers and streams in the catchment, their tributaries, neighbouring streams and wetlands or other special places
o Indigenous flora and fauna must be the desired vegetation class for the river catchment
The Werribee Riverkeeper group seeks:
o Integrated catchment management
o Support for landcare or friends of groups
The Werribee Riverkeeper group has begun to implement its vision by:
- Appointing a coordinator to help landcare or friends of groups with their grant applications or works
- Seeking financial and other support from a range of stakeholder organisations in the catchment
- Contributing to discussion on the Eynesbury Estate development
- Submitting to the Victorian Government Water and Biodiversity White papers
- Successfully working with others to achieve a strong team of three Waterwatch Coordinators in the catchment – one for schools, one for groups, one for industry – a real coup!
- Successfully arresting permanent flooding of fourteen river red gums after a poorly made decision by a developer to create lakes out of Lollypop Creek – hopefully something we won’t see again
- Successfully nominating galenia pubescens for consideration as a noxious weed in Victoria
- Developing future plans and actions to meet our aims
To date Wyndham City Council has supported our cause for financial support to appoint a coordinator. Currently, the Werribee Riverkeeper group has a number of affiliated landcare, friends of and other groups, plus a number of individual members from across the Werribee river catchment.
The Werribee Riverkeeper group is always seeking further financial and other support for our work, and we are willing to meet the needs of all sponsors who can support us.
Werribee Riverkeeper Joins forces with Scientifiques Sans Frontieres Australia
The Werribee Riverkeeper has joined in partnership with Scientifiques Sans Frontières (SSF) Australia to create a water testing program for the Werribee River. This exciting program sees SSF Australia undertaking monthly testing at eight strategic points along the river to help build a comprehensive picture of its health.
The points have been chosen as they coincide with distinct changes in the river’s environment, such as rural to urban, freshwater to saltwater estuary, as well as around manmade structures, such as the Melton reservoir.
There are three core aspects of the river that are monitored at each site. They are:
- Environmental conditions - parameters tested - flow rate, pH, salinity and dissolved oxygen
- Agricultural influences - testing for the presence of nitrates and phosphates washed into the river from the surrounding land
- Industrial influences - monitoring chlorine and ammonia levels to determine if these chemicals have entered the river from industrial areas.
These aspects will help build the picture of the river’s health and assist the Werribee Riverkeeper and the community in their efforts to restore and protect this precious waterway.
Read the monthly reports here
For more information on Scientifiques Sans Frontieres Australia go to: www.ssfaustralia.org
Contact:
Werribee Riverkeeper
(Werribee Waterways Management Committee)
PO Box 883
Werribee Vic 3030
