By Renee Wood
Healesville Environment Watch Inc (HEWI) has supported the Run the Riverkeeper’s running campaign as the Yarra Riverkeeper Association CEO takes on the challenge to run the distance of the Yarra River.
CEO Karin Traeger started the 280 kilometre run on World River’s Day Sunday 25 September in the Upper Yarra, before meeting with HEWI on day three of the multi-day run in Healesville at the Graceburn Creek at Queen’s Park.
HEWI committee member Lou Sbalchiero said it’s great to support Ms Traeger’s journey and the group has donated $100 to the campaign which is raising awareness about the river system and climate inaction.
“The Graceburn runs into the Watts River, Watts river runs into the Yarra River, so it’s all part of that same flow of water that’s eventually making its way down to Port Phillip Bay and so we wanted to support Karin,” he said.
Ms Traeger said she was feeling relatively good after running 160km over three days and was enjoying the beautiful Yarra Valley scenery along the way.
“Oh, it’s beautiful – especially coming down Don Road… Yesterday we went through O’Shannassy Upper Trail and that was nice too and then we came through Redwood Forest,” Ms Traeger said.
Ms Traeger pledged to run the distance, raising funds to promote a healthy, protected and loved Yarra, Birrarung River, while also hoping to make governments and policy makers take action on climate change and invest in supporting the river system.
HEWI wanted to meet with Ms Traeger along the run to share the initiatives the group delivers locally for the Grace Burn.
This includes 20 years of revegetation works that works with volunteers and businesses such as the Healesville RSL and retirement village and local students to support.
HEWI delivers a Waterwatch program, that allows primary school students to learn about the Grace Burn and its health.
The group also collects data which is fed through to Melbourne Water’s water watch network.
Mr Sbalchiero said all data collection gives an indication of the water’s health, with the Graceburn considered a healthy system – something they want to maintain.
“We see it as a creek that’s in relatively good health…. but we know that it doesn’t take much to get that balance out of whack, so to speak. With increasing urbanization – more driveways, more roof areas going up so more stormwater runoff, litter, plastics – we know there can be a tipping point where a creek can go from healthy to becoming basically sick,” he said.
“So our work is focused on making sure that we have really good understanding of how the Graceburn is so that if there is any changes we’ll be able to protect them.”
The public projects aim to inspire others to think about how they can support the environment in their own backyard, much like Ms Traeger’s run is an inspiration to others.
“It’s an opportunity for people to hopefully became aware of the value of waterways,” Mr Sbalchiero said.
To support Run The Riverkeeper, visit https://www.pozible.com/project/run-the-riverkeeper
