By Callum Ludwig
A fallen tree across the Yarra River in Warburton has prompted concerns for the safety of river users and had an impact on a local business.
Richard Stanwix operates Warburton Rivertubing during the warmer months and had to cancel all bookings for December, which were refunded, following a risk assessment.
Mr Stanwix shared his communication with Melbourne Water with the Star Mail and said he gets the narrative about fallen trees and their role in the river system but each has to be risk assessed individually, taking into account how frequently it is traversed.
“In this case, that tree will be passed by hundreds (or thousands over the summer) of kids from the caravan park – nothing to do with our business,” he said.
“We manage ‘gaps’ cut in fallen trees in formal safety briefings before every trip but many parents let their kids play in the river unsupervised (rightly or wrongly, from a risk assessment perspective it is the reality of that location) and the current water draw under that log will be a death trap,”
“That being the case I would strongly recommend referring that tree assessment to your Risk Management department because if it is not made 100 per cent safe in that location then I think that would be a dereliction of duty and of course, I’ll share this correspondence post any event.”
Melbourne Water had been made aware of the tree concern on Thursday 5 December initially, with an inspection conducted that day.
Mr Stanwix said he is not trying to be dramatic but this is a genuine danger of people being sucked under the main trunk where it is suspended out of the river on the Riverside Drive side.
“If you (Melbourne Water) intend to leave it in the river then the only risk ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable) solution is to drop the tree into the river – it will form a precarious blockage still but at least will reduce the risk of people being sucked under the suspended log. The log is suspended high enough for current to flow but not high enough to pass under – meaning people will be jammed under the log,” he said.
“From a business perspective the unfortunate tree fall will materially impact our small business, for which we have a Parks Victoria Tour Operator Licence, and of course pay a fee per person that travels the river,” he said.
“This instruction will cause us to lose significant revenue, and not be able to employ staff but we all choose that option over a safety risk.”
Melbourne Water raised a work order to have the tree trimmed to allow safe passage past but initially communicated to Mr Stanwix that it is likely works would occur early in the new year, prompting his decision to cancel all bookings for the month of December.
A Melbourne Water spokesperson said starting Friday 13 December, Melbourne Water contractors will begin initial work on the fallen tree.
“They will remove smaller branches to make access and inspection easier. Crews will return mid-week next week to safely undertake broader work, which may include cutting or moving larger logs,” they said.
“In the meantime, we remind all recreational users to assess the river conditions before entering. Please listen to local advice, stay within your capabilities, and always supervise children,”
“We thank the local community and visitors for their cooperation and understanding.”
The Yarra trail and one Lane of Giffords Road will be closed to allow the works to proceed on Friday 13 December and into the following week and due to the complexity and time it will take to plan and carry out the works, river users are advised to avoid this area of the river during works for their own safety.
Melbourne Water’s primary functions in waterway management as per the Water Act 1989 are largely focused on ecology and drainage but they do carry out works to reduce known safety hazards.
When deciding how to manage individual cases of hazards such as large wood debris, Melbourne Water takes into account that waterways are natural environments and inherently contain rocks and logs which can be hazardous under certain conditions as well as the important role fallen trees and branches play in the healthy functioning of the river ecosystem, contributing habitat for a range of animals, such as fish and platypus.
