The Yarra River (Birrarung) is one of Victoria’s most iconic waterways and is integral to Melbourne’s identity and liveability. The river is central to the identity and wellbeing of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the lands through which the river flows, Flowing across more than 240 kilometres of urban and rural landscapes, it is a major biodiversity corridor supporting diverse landforms.
The Victorian Government has committed to protecting the Yarra River (Birrarung) through a range of landmark initiatives which include:
- The Yarra River Action Plan.
- The Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017 (the Act) a landmark legislation co-titled in Woi wurrung, the traditional language of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, to protect this iconic river for future generations.
- The Birrarung Council established as the independent ‘voice of the Yarra’.
- The forthcoming Yarra Strategic Plan, which is intended to guide future land use and development along the entire Yarra River corridor.
- Amendment GC48 to the Yarra River Planning Controls, which are interim planning controls to manage development pressures.
Page last updated: 07/01/20