Each year, responsible public entities invest significantly in vegetation restoration and habitat improvement along Birrarung.
The Greening the Birrarung project aims to support, align and amplify investment and on-ground activities for greater ecological impact, while also delivering on Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo - Yarra Strategic Plan actions relating to biodiversity, revegetation, and the management of invasive species.
One of the most significant achievements of the project to date has been the strengthening of relationships across organisations participating in the Greening the Birrarung Community of Practice, fostering a more connected, collaborative and enduring approach to caring for Birrarung.
Designed for the many people and organisations who care for Birrarung, the Greening Birrarung Guide celebrates our shared commitment to restoring the river’s ecological richness and diversity.
By honouring Traditional Owner knowledge that understands the river as a living entity, we work together to apply this thinking in how we care for Birrarung. The guide has been deeply enriched by the generous knowledge‑sharing of the Wurundjeri Corporation, whose cultural guidance continues to ground the project in connection, responsibility and caring for Country.
Explore the full guide and see how you can help green our Birrarung.
Councils and agencies are working together to create a map of canopy cover across Birrarung. This work will help identify canopy gaps, biodiversity hotspots, and significant hollow‑bearing trees, strengthening efforts to protect and enhance habitat along the river.
The Birrarung Canopy Dashboard led by Manningham City Council, and guided by the GTB mapping sub-committee, is now in the testing phase. This collaborative initiative aims to deliver a consistent, corridor‑wide view of canopy health and connectivity.
Once complete, the mapping will support coordinated planning for revegetation and habitat improvement across the 245‑kilometre Birrarung corridor.
Shaped by on-county workshops, explore what we're up to on all things Greening the Birrarung below.
The first GTB planning workshop will take place at Bolin Bolin billabong this March. Community of practice members will have the privilege of being guided around the billabong by Narrap rangers, gaining insights into the cultural significance of the area and the restoration work underway. The workshop will offer the opportunity to test the new canopy dashboard and collaborate on planning priorities for next year.
In this session participants considered the Birrarung landscape and how individual management actions create ripple effects throughout the Birrarung corridor and beyond.
They also reflected on the past year and explored future direction for the Greening the Birrarung project working group and agreed to follow a Community of Practice model in 2026.
The group was privileged to hear from Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Dave Wandin, who shared his perspective on Birrarung as a living entity.
Participants toured Haining Farm’s revegetation sites, discussing techniques and insights on restoration practices. The day concluded with a presentation from Dr En Chee, from Melbourne University, who provided an overview of recent climate science and its implications for local vegetation management. The group explored practical ways to apply this knowledge.
The group explored biodiversity maps of the Birrarung. They identified unloved sites and opportunities for collaborative initiatives to enhance riparian habitat, resulting in an extensive list of “shovel ready” projects to align our collective work for the benefit of Birrarung.
The proposed project activities were presented to the Wurundjeri Water Subcommittee on 30 May and the Elders were supportive of the proposal.
Bushland and biodiversity officers from councils and government agencies came together with Wurundjeri and Bunurong Corporation representatives. They work-shopped opportunities to increase the collective impact of their vegetation works and contribute net gain to Birrarung.
Melbourne Water respectfully acknowledges the Bunurong, Gunaikurnai,
Taungurung, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples as the Traditional
Owners and Custodians of the land and water on which we rely and operate.
We
pay our deepest respects to their Elders - past, present and emerging.
