River cashflow

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
A GROUP giving a voice to the Yarra River has been granted $10,000 to advocate in the Yarra Ranges area.
Yarra Ranges Council has granted the Yarra Riverkeepers $10,000 to help its work in protecting and restoring the Yarra River.
The area administered by Yarra Ranges Council includes almost half of the total length of the Yarra River within its borders, and three of the eight councils that border the river have also provided grants.
Yarra Riverkeepers spokesperson and Riverkeeper Ian Penrose told councillors at their Tuesday night meeting that the non-profit organisation advocated to tackle pollution, stormwater management and help provide the river with much needed environmental flows.
“Our association has been giving a voice to the Yarra because it can’t speak for itself,” he told councillors.
“We work closely with the authorities and are keen to work closely with all eight councils, particularly the Yarra Ranges because more than half the river is in your municipality and flows right through it.”
Mr Penrose said he would be delighted to become more involved in the Yarra Ranges, with more presentations and participation in local festivals alongside the annual Yarra Yabber tour. Councillor Len Cox said as the Yarra River was “one of our greatest assets” it needed all the protection it could get.
“Twenty-five years ago it wasn’t in as good condition,” he said.
“What’s got it healthier is people like this who are willing to put a lot of work and effort into improving the health of the river.”