Wurundjeri Elder, Uncle Thane Garvey delivering a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony at the Gardiners Creek Regional Collaboration launch event
Yarra Valley Water joins new alliance to help protect Gardiners Creek
Managing Director, Pat McCafferty said collaboration is important to help protect the health and vitality of the waterway.
“The Gardiners Creek (KooyongKoot) catchment is more than a piece of land. It’s a vital part of our community that brings people together through a range of environmental, cultural, social and recreational activities.”
“It’s a place of play, exercise, and community connection, and we must work together to protect its rich biodiversity, cultural values and preserve what makes it special,” Mr McCafferty said.
Gardiners Creek was originally known as KooyongKoot, meaning ‘Land of the Waterfowl’. The catchment is the traditional land of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, and it covers 112 square kilometres and spans across most of the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
It flows from its origin near Blackburn through Burwood and Malvern East to the Yarra River (Birrarung), and includes large parts of Boroondara, Monash, Stonnington, Whitehorse and a small part of Glen Eira.
Convenor of KooyongKoot Alliance, Graham Ross, highlighted that the catchment is a crucial refuge for flora and fauna.
“Gardiners Creek and its tributaries are not a drain, but a key piece of green infrastructure to share not just amongst our community, but with the flora and fauna that relies on it too.”
“It deserves our serious and immediate attention and a diverse group of organisations working together to heal the KooyongKoot. That’s what this Collaboration is all about.”
The 16-member alliance includes: Monash Council, AFL Victoria, Bicycle Network, Boroondara City Council, Cricket Victoria, Deakin University, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, Football Victoria, City of Glen Eira, Golf Australia, KooyongKoot Alliance, Melbourne Water, City of Stonnington, Whitehorse City Council, Yarra Riverkeeper and Yarra Valley Water.
To find out more about upcoming projects and programs for the Gardiners Creek (KooyongKoot) Regional Collaboration, read the newly released prospect.
For more information email media@yvw.com.au or phone +61 466 852 203
