Preventing litter entering Victoria Harbour from the Yarra River

Since my last update in the April Docklands News, I’ve continued pressing for a practical solution to prevent rubbish entering Victoria Harbour from the Yarra River.

My proposal remains straightforward: to trial a “proof of concept” floating boom at the Bolte Bridge pylons to intercept litter before it reaches the harbour, an initiative that will cost less than $30,000 to install.

Progress is occurring, but regrettably not fast enough. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Following my article in Docklands News, I was advised by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action that the then Environment Minister, Steve Dimopoulos, reconsidered his earlier decision not to proceed with the proposal. On April 9, he requested Parks Victoria to recontact me for renewed discussions. The role of Environment Minister is now the responsibility of Enver Erdogan.

Contact from Parks Victoria occurred on April 20. Unfortunately, what was offered, was in my view, more of the same obfuscation. The main concern raised by their director was the additional staff workload involved in collecting rubbish trapped by the proposed boom at the Bolte Bridge.

To confirm that this issue was in fact influencing senior management decision-making, I was provided with a written statement from Parks Victoria maritime and waterways director, Sarah Auld, which read: “Any staff time put to this matter would reduce staff time available for environmental works, asset maintenance and public safety activities.”

To me, that response spoke volumes. It highlighted that the real obstacle here was not whether the idea would work, but whether Parks Victoria was prepared to prioritise the health of Victoria Harbour in the way many residents would request and expect.

This is despite Parks Victoria’s obligations under the Parks Victoria Act 2018, which “reinforces its responsibility for the long-term stewardship of the Yarra and to ensure it remains an accessible and protected natural asset”.

I have also been disappointed by the lack of direct engagement from the minister’s office. Over six months I sent five emails and did not receive any acknowledgement, or an opportunity to discuss the proposal directly. That has meant I have not had the chance to explain why I believe the minister has been poorly advised on this issue.

On a more positive note, I’ve had encouraging engagement from the Shadow Environment Minister Nick McGowan, who has shown strong interest in the proposal. He has prepared a suite of questions to raise in Parliament during May in which he will be seeking a full explanation as to why Parks Victoria has refused to consider the proof-of-concept boom, requesting reasons why.

I have also approached 3AW seeking an interview with Tom Elliott. Their producer has acknowledged the request and is working towards organising an interview, which I hope will happen sometime in May. A similar request has been made to A Current Affair and I will continue to pursue that.

I’ve also written to the executive officers of the AFL, Gurner, Lendlease and MAB, providing them with an update, and asking whether they would further support the proposal by contacting the Environment Minister directly.

Most importantly, I am asking Victoria Harbour residents to have their say.

With around 19,000 residents currently living in Victoria Harbour, and that figure expected to increase to 30,000 or even 35,000 over the next five years, this issue matters deeply to our community. I have therefore prepared an online petition so residents can register their support for the “boom trial” by entering their name, postcode and any comments they wish to make.

I cannot stress enough how important local support will prove to be in this endeavour. If residents, along with their families and friends, get behind the petition, it will add real weight to the proposal, making it difficult for decision-makers to ignore.

My position remains simple: if we can stop rubbish before it enters Victoria Harbour, then we should. I invite everyone who cares about the harbour to come on board and support this proposal.

Sign the petition here •