By Alesha Capone
The Werribee River Association (WRA) and several other environmental groups say they are “deeply concerned” about the deterioration of rivers, waterways and wetlands in southern Victoria.
The groups have issued a joint statement about the state government’s next Sustainable Water Strategy (SWS) for the Central and Gippsland regions, which is being developed to cover waterways including those in the western suburbs.
Other groups supporting the statement include the Friends of Steele Creek, Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek Inc, NatureWest and Westgate Biodiversity.
Werribee Riverkeeper John Forrester said the Werribee River and other western waterways “are under great stress”.
Mr Forrester said litter, poor-quality stormwater and low flows negatively impacted upon the dwindling population of endangered platypuses that live in Werribee River.
He said these issues also made waterways “less pleasant for our human population which depend on our waterways for much of their walking and outdoor life”.
“People are being asked to tolerate higher impacts on their comfort, health and their environment – rainfall is decreasing, days are growing hotter, wildlife are suffering,” Mr Forrester said.
“We need a better future.”
Mr Forrester said one example of degradation in the Werribee River catchment was the Bridging Troubled Waters Litter report of three years ago, which found levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and dissolved oxygen at some waterways in the area exceeded Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC).
Mr Forrester said a recent clean-up at Bungey’s Hole in Werribee removed 260 kilograms of rubbish and 1250 drink containers.
The joint statement from the environment groups has been sent to acting Water Minister Richard Wynne.
Mr Wynne said that community input would be central to developing the Sustainable Water Strategy.
“I know how important the Werribee River is to local communities and that people want to see more water for the river,” he said.
“Later this year we will be releasing a draft sustainable water strategy which will give everyone an opportunity to have a say on how we manage our waterways.”
