The waterways flowing through the City of Melbourne include the Yarra River (Birrarung), Maribyrnong River (Mirrangbamum) and the Moonee Ponds Creek (Moonee Moonee). These waterways provide places for walking, riding, boating and other recreational activities. They are also critical areas of biodiversity, and habitat corridors for local wildlife.
Our rivers and creeks are of deep cultural, social, economic and environmental importance for Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people. These water courses have faced many challenges due to the impacts of European settlement, population growth and climate change. Since the 1980s, our approach to caring for waterways has shifted dramatically with improvements to the spaces alongside our waterways and better management of stormwater and pollution. The Greenline Project will also play a major role in revitalising the north bank of Yarra River – Birrarung.
Waterways are managed by multiple stakeholders. The City of Melbourne has an important role in delivering continuous trails, improved waterfront open spaces, and managing waterway operations in Victoria Harbour and along the banks of the Yarra River – Birrarung. We also deliver sustainable water projects to reduce pollution entering our waterways.
Yarra River – Birrarung
The Yarra River – Birrarung flows for 242 km from its source east of Melbourne, through forested catchments, agricultural land, townships and suburbs into the heart of Melbourne and out to Port Phillip Bay. The river is one of the defining features of our city.
To the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, the river is known as the Birrarung, meaning ‘river of mists and shadows’. The Birrarung is the sacred lifeblood of Country for Traditional Owners – providing food, water and meeting places, as well as being central to cultural, economic and spiritual life. The river also has unique legal status under Victorian State law with the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017 recognising the river as a single, integrated living entity.
Where Queens Bridge now crosses the Yarra was once a waterfall that separated fresh and salt water. This was a traditional crossing point for Kulin communities and continues to be a place of great cultural significance.
Our planning for this waterway is guided by the Yarra River – Birrarung Strategy (PDF 6.2 MB).
Maribyrnong River - Mirrangbamum
The Maribyrnong River runs for 41 km, beginning on the southern slopes of the Great Dividing Range in the Cobaw Ranges with its lower reaches within the City of Melbourne, approximately 3.5 km west of the central city. The Maribyrnong River was known as the Saltwater River until 1913.
The meeting point of the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers was once at the edge of the vast wetland lagoon which was known as the West Melbourne Swamp. The Maribyrnong River has long been an important place for Aboriginal people, their cultures and traditions.
Our planning for this waterway is guided by The Maribyrnong Waterfront: A way forward strategy.
Moonee Ponds Creek – Moonee Moonee
Moonee Ponds Creek drains an extensive catchment that extends from Greenvale through parts of Broadmeadows, Glenroy, Essendon and Moonee Ponds, before flowing southward through Flemington, Kensington, and North and West Melbourne into Victoria Harbour in Docklands, within the City of Melbourne municipality.
Before European settlement, the creek was a travel route and food source for the Aboriginal peoples of the Kulin nation. At the time, it was a chain of ponds during the drier months and a flood plain during heavy rains. The creek fed into a picturesque saltwater lake near to what is now Southern Cross Station.
In 1835, the saltwater lake was turned into a tip, then filled in. The creek's cultural importance to local Aboriginal people was ignored and it was treated as an industrial drain and transport corridor. Since late last century, supporters of the creek have worked hard to change perceptions, and to advocate to restore the creek’s natural functions.
Our planning for this waterway is guided by the Moonee Ponds Creek Strategic Opportunities Plan.
Keeping our waterways clean
Three billion pieces of litter are being washed into Melbourne’s waterways through stormwater drains every year.
We share the responsibility of keeping local waterways clean is with several organisations, including Melbourne Water, the Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action, the Environmental Protection Authority, Parks Victoria, marina lease holders and others.
Litter comes from all over Melbourne and, to combat such a large problem, many groups do their part to clean our rivers and bays. Learn more about what is being done improve the water quality of our waterways.
We’re protecting our waterways through litter traps installed throughout the municipality. These traps, most of which are underground as part of the drain network, are designed and located to prevent litter entering our rivers and creeks. For more information see Monitoring drains.
As the management authority for our waterways, Parks Victoria has also installed litter traps along the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers to prevent litter entering the river from stormwater drains and ending up in Port Phillip Bay.
Litter traps are chosen based on local knowledge of experienced rangers. During high-river-flow events, the traps are emptied up to two times per week. In times of low water flow, they are cleaned as needed.
When rain falls on hard surfaces such as roofs, roads and footpaths, it becomes contaminated with oil, metals, litter and other pollutants. This is what we call stormwater. Stormwater drains do not have any treatment systems, so pollution is carried directly to our waterways, bays and oceans.
Water-sensitive urban design aims to reduce the volume of stormwater and pollution that enters our waterways. Examples of water-sensitive urban design include raingardens, wetlands and permeable pavements.
By including these design features in streets and parks we can not only reduce litter but other pollution, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, that can cause algal blooms.
For more information visit Urban Water.
Cleaning contractors are engaged to manage litter that has made its way into our waterways.
Due to the configuration of the Docklands harbour and changing currents, flow-dependent litter traps are not as effective. New technologies such as Seabins have been implemented within marinas where debris and litter can become trapped after heavy rains.
The data collected about the litter we remove downstream is submitted to Tangaroa Blue to inform upstream strategies for litter reduction.
Bacterial water quality is sampled weekly by Melbourne Water at four sites in the Yarra River.
For more information about water quality, see Melbourne WaterOpens in new tab.
Aquatic pests can be found in both our marine and freshwater systems including Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra River.
Pests include fish and other animals or aquatic plants that have set up residence in locations they would not normally be found. Their introduction can be a result of species extending their range due to global warming, intentional releases, aquaculture escapes or unintentional actions.
It is estimated that a third of the non-indigenous oceanic species in Australia have arrived via ships’ ballast water. Other aquatic pests have entered Port Phillip Bay on the hulls of ships, anchor chains, fishing gear or recreational equipment.
All boat owners and users have an important role in stopping these pests. You can protect Port Phillip Bay catchment by keeping your boat and equipment clean.
Help to keep our waterways clean by getting involved in river clean-ups with community organisation the Yarra Riverkeeper AssociationOpens in new tab and the Chain of Ponds CollaborationOpens in new tab, which work to increase awareness and appreciation of our rivers and creeks.
Reporting issues
Please use our online form below to report litter, waste or other cleaning issues relating to waterways.
If there is any danger to the public or public space, please call us immediately on 03 9658 9658.
Report a waterways cleaning issues
