City of Melbourne councillors have backed an investigation into the Swimmable Birrarung (Yarra River) vision following last night's meeting.
The swimmable city movement in Melbourne gained significant council support last night. City of Melbourne councillors passed a motion to investigate council actions supporting a swimmable Yarra River (Birrarung) before 2050.
The Swimmable Birrarung initiative represents a largescale infrastructure project. A growing network of advocates leads the vision to regenerate the Birrarung Yarra River. The goal involves making it healthy, thriving and swimmable again from source to sea.
Environment portfolio lead Cr Davydd Griffiths brought the motion forward. Rising community and political support for river swimming access drove the proposal. The motion seeks a detailed investigation into council capabilities and inter-government collaboration opportunities. It will also identify potential trial swimming locations along the riverway.
The motion referenced Lord Mayor Nick Reece’s recent Herald Sun comments. Reece expressed confidence the Birrarung could become swimmable well before 2050.
Swimmable Birrarung (Yarra River) – Melbourne city council
- Initiative aims to regenerate the Birrarung Yarra River
- Calls for coherent response from government, business, civil society and community
- Motion seeks detailed investigation into council capabilities and potential trial swimming locations
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
View this post on Instagram
At the council meeting, Cr Griffiths emphasised the project’s significance for Melbourne.
“It would be recognition that we as a city have the capacity to take on large projects and see them through to fruition, and that’s what I’d like to see happen in this case,” he said. “Whatever we can do to improve the Birrarung will be good for all the people of Melbourne.”
Lord Mayor Reece drew inspiration from international examples during the meeting.
“I recognise we have our own context here in Melbourne, but gee whiz, if Paris, Copenhagen and Berlin can navigate these troubled waters, then we surely can do so here in Melbourne and make our beautiful river swimmable again,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to voting in favour of this motion and the report coming back.”
When asked if he would be the first to swim should this dream become reality, the mayor responded, “An emphatic yes, in fact I’ve already swum in the Yarra as a young boy in Warrandyte, can’t wait for the opportunity to do it again,” he said.
Swimmable cities around the world
The move aligns with a wider global trend of cities transforming formerly industrial waterways. Cities worldwide are creating safe and inviting spaces to swim. The Seine in Paris, Rotterdam’s harbour, and New York’s Hudson and East Rivers serve as leading examples.
At the council meeting, Cr Griffiths emphasised the project’s significance for Melbourne. “It would be recognition that we as a city have the capacity to take on large projects and see them through to fruition, and that’s what I’d like to see happen in this case,” he said. “Whatever we can do to improve the Birrarung will be good for all the people of Melbourne.”
After almost three years of convening key organisations, the Swimmable Birrarung initiative builds on decades of work. The work serves a thriving waterway and builds on millennia of Indigenous connection to the river. The group now works as a coalition of actors, supporting the holistic regeneration of the Birrarung.
The council motion represents a significant milestone for advocates. This marks the first formal steps toward making the long-held dream a reality.
For more information, head here.
