PROTECTING WATERWAYS SO OUR WILDLIFE CAN THRIVE

Victoria's natural environment is precious and needs to be protected from overdevelopment. From our green wedge in the suburbs to our pristine waterways – our environment is a major tourism drawcard, allowing us to spend time outdoors with our loved ones and is home to our beautiful, local wildlife.

It’s why we’re delivering 6,500 hectares of new parkland across Melbourne – that’s 3,200 MCGs worth of open space – as part of our $315 million Suburban Parks Program.

We're planting 500,000 new trees in our western suburbs too – so families can enjoy a cooler, cleaner environment in their community.

And we've delivered great new open spaces along train lines where dangerous and congested level crossings once were. Instead of tracks, communities now have space with exercise equipment, greenery and play areas for kids.

But our environment must be protected from overdevelopment, so we’ll do more.

A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will introduce planning controls on 12 key rivers and creeks in Melbourne to create wildlife corridors, protect waterways and restore the natural environment.

It'll mean Edgars Creek, Darebin Creek, Gardiners Creek, Jacksons Creek, Koonung Creek, Kororoit Creek, the Maribyrnong River, Cherry Creek, Merri Creek, Moonee Ponds Creek, Steele Creek and Stony Creek are safeguarded from any future inappropriate development – protecting these creeks for local wildlife, families and communities for generations to come.

We'll also establish a $10 million Green Links fund to support revegetation along our creeks, rivers, and waterways – so local councils and community groups can plant trees, help revegetate our waterways and protect our wildlife.

More than 1,800 species of native plants and 600 species of native animals live in our state’s waterways. From our beloved platypus to countless birds, frogs and insects – our precious biodiversity needs them to survive and thrive.

Labor has made record investments in our biodiversity – to make our rivers healthier, protect precious native habitat and help secure the future of our waterways – and the Victorian businesses and jobs that rely on them.

We’ve already been delivering the Waterways of the West Action Plan, informed by a 50-year Community Vision, which highlights local aspirations to protect much-loved waterways in the west.

In 2021, Labor made permanent planning changes to protect the Yarra River and its surrounding lands from Richmond to Warrandyte.

Victorians know you can't trust Matthew Guy's Liberals to protect our green spaces.

When Matthew Guy was Planning Minister, he removed planning regulations to build a skyscraper that would have overshadowed our beautiful Yarra River. He also rezoned pristine farmland, trashed height limits, and built towers at the expense of open space – all to line the pockets of greedy developers – and Liberal Party donors.

Only Labor will protect the lifeblood and lungs of our city that are our waterways and trees, because only Labor will do what matters.

Quote attributable to Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan

“Only Labor will protect our rivers and creeks so they can be enjoyed by families across Victoria for generations to come – because only Labor will keep doing what matters.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio

“We’re protecting our waterways and the unique plants and animals that depend on them as part of our record investment in protecting the environment – more than any other government in Victoria’s history.”

“You can’t trust Matthew Guy’s Liberals – he personally approved a skyscraper to shadow the Yarra, rezoned green spaces and trashed height and density limits to line the pockets of greedy developers and donors.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Water Harriet Shing

“Water is precious. And investing in our waterways means investing in the wildlife, communities, livelihoods and local economies that rely on them.”