By KATH GANNAWAY
YARRA Valley residents will have a chance to have their say on future management options for the Yarra River.
State Government Planning Minister Richard Wynne and Minister for Water Lisa Neville have called for comment on the Protecting the Yarra River (Birrarung) Discussion Paper which was released last week.
Mr Wynne said a plan was needed to protect the river.
“With the pressures of urban growth and climate change, we need to protect the river and the land around it and to have a clear plan for future development,” he said.
“There are more than 10 different organisations responsible for management of the Yarra River – we need clear management of the river and its corridor.”
The Yarra River Protection Ministerial Advisory Committee that prepared the discussion paper will provide advice to the Government by the end of this year on governance reforms regarding three key aspects – waterway health relating to stream, riverbanks and vegetation, community use including access and amenity of the river and the network of parklands and open spaces, and interface of the river with adjacent land uses and its catchment.
A spokesperson for the Minister of Planning said part of that protection would be the introduction of legislation, stronger planning controls and a trust to ensure the river is protected.
View the discussion paper at http://haveyoursay.delwp.vic.gov.au/protecting-the-yarra-river.
Public comment closes on Friday 5 August.
