The Yarra/Birrarung River is one of Warburton’s defining features. The trickling of the river has been the town’s soundtrack for over a century and the Wurundjeri people for thousands of years prior.
But did you know there is a 100-year-old volunteer group dedicated to its maintenance and upkeep?
The Upper Yarra River Reserve Committee of Management (UYRRCoM) was established to manage, maintain, improve and control the river reserve.
UYRRCoM secretary Rob Hay said the group works with government bodies such as the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA) and Melbourne Water to protect and enhance one of Warburton’s most prized assets.
“The committee has very limited income, so we have to rely on funding from government bodies like DEECA or Melbourne Water, to undertake larger projects like revegetation of large areas, weed removal or infrastructure improvement projects.”
In 2022, the Victorian Government allocated $930,000 to the UYRRCoM for the maintenance of the Yarra River.
Recent projects funded include the installation of new wayfinding signage along the river, making the paths and trails surrounding the area more accessible for locals and visitors alike.
It’s just one example of the group’s work in making the river a better place.
The group’s existence can be traced back to 1901, where a newspaper clipping from the National Library of Australia reveals how the “Department of Public Health wanted to curtail residences on the river reserve as far as possible in order to avoid pollution of the Yarra”.
The Upper Yarra River Reserve Committee of Management name was formally established in 1925 and later was appointed under section 12 of the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978.
The river reserve extends about seven kilometers from Warburton, upstream to East Warburton; and approximately 42 meters out from the water’s edge on each side.
Mr Hay said it was one of the most complicated reserves to look after in the state.
“The Upper Yarra River Reserve is one of the largest and most complex from a management perspective. There is a big area to look after, with lots of different forms of assets like the tracks, bridges, seats, picnic settings and signs,” Mr Hay said.
As Warburton’s popularity as a tourist attraction grows, the UYRRCoM is working to minimise the impact of tourism on the river.
“A growing challenge is managing the increasing pressures arising from the area’s increased popularity,” Mr Hay said.
“More visitors means more vehicles and demand for parking spaces, and people don’t always park where they should. Then there is another, and another, and before long the vegetation that was there has been damaged or destroyed, not intentionally, but it happens and causes negative impacts to the river reserve.”
“Another impact is litter – we need to encourage people to do the right thing – which means when they go and find a quiet beautiful peaceful spot for a picnic that they don’t leave all their waste behind – they need to take it with them as it is not practical for there to be bins everywhere along the river tracks because trucks cannot get in everywhere to empty them,” he said.
This prompted the UYRRCoM to work on an extra set of signs which will guide visitors and locals on what behaviour is appropriate around the river.
“With these things in mind the UYRRCoM will be designing another set of signs to advise people about what they should and should not do. These signs will probably have a symbol and a brief message explaining why the expected behaviour is important.
“These will take some time to develop and we are hopeful that the local Yarra Ranges Council will collaborate with us to deliver them.”
The UYRRCoM will be painting all the viewing platforms and ramps in the area to freshen them up for 2026. Anyone who is interested to help can call Lachie Pitman on 0417 384 050.
