RIFLING through records at the State Library, John Forrester came across a 40-year-old report from the Werribee Banner (now the Weekly) about the first condition report compiled on the Werribee River.
It was 1972, environmentalists Joe Sammartino and Brian Smith were in their 20s, and they were lamenting how the water quality had worsened, wildlife was at risk and rubbish was rife.
Mr Forrester, now secretary of the Werribee River Association, found out Wyndham councillor Heather Marcus had a copy of the original report, which was handed over to the association last week.
Mr Forrester says the problems plaguing the river then continue today due to urban expansion.
“We literally pull up thousands of plastic bottles, dozens of supermarket trolleys, rubber bands and litter that can distress animals, like a platypus we found who had been killed by the ring around a Vegemite jar lid.
“The river is Werribee’s great strand of eucalypts. No other town has such a great strand this side of the divide in Victoria. It’s superb, it’s a lovely place to walk along, a great environment for birds and great for human health.”
