Stopping rubbish entering Victoria Harbour

While battling environment ministers and government departments, it can be easy to lose sight of the issue at hand.

The photo featured shows rubbish that recently accumulated along the entire 450-metre Harbour Esplanade rockface after a single high-tide rain event. It demonstrates that the litter entering Victoria Harbour is coming from the Yarra River.

This is not rubbish dropped by boat owners, the passing public, or material simply blown in from nearby streets, as Parks Victoria’s Stuart Larner has suggested to me. The Yarra River is the source.

A floating boom, as depicted in the June edition, could have prevented this — and for just $30,000.

It is also important to note that in 2008, Parks Victoria was contracted by VicUrban, now Development Victoria, to provide litter capture in the Docklands precinct. At that time, Parks Victoria was required to collect and dispose of all floating litter and debris from Docklands waterways with minimal inconvenience to Victoria Harbour and river users. It was also required to collect litter seven days a week, providing 28 hours of on-water litter collection.

The “litter barge” purchased by Parks Victoria was once a regular visitor to the harbour. However, for the past four to five years, the barge has not been seen in the area. Discussions with a Parks Victoria employee revealed the barge is now taken out only once or twice a week, and only along the Yarra River upstream.

The result is no regular on-water litter collection in Victoria Harbour, other than irregular on-foot removal of rubbish along the Esplanade rocks. This is unsatisfactory and must be addressed by Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos.

As mentioned in the April edition, 145 “Echo” lights have been installed in Victoria Harbour, approved by Development Victoria, Heritage Victoria, Melbourne City Council and Parks Victoria. The lights are intended to signify the location of the former sheds, at a cost of $150,000 for a six-month installation.

That money could have provided 30 years of floating boom protection.

My challenge to readers is to pick out the lights among the illumination from high-rise buildings, bridge lighting and reflections across the water. In my view, $150,000 for lights that can barely be seen at night is not value for money.

For Development Victoria’s executive general manager Niall Cunningham to claim “Echo represents the beginning of a new phase for the waterfront” suggests he has not stood at Harbour Esplanade at night to inspect the effectiveness of this temporary installation.

This brings me to my ongoing efforts to convince the Environment Minister that action is needed.

Firstly, I recontacted Robert Clarke, the chief development officer of The Gurner Group, who has committed to contacting the minister directly. He said that, like me, he has not yet been able to reach the minister, but will continue trying.

Secondly, my efforts to secure an interview with ABC Radio Melbourne morning host Raf Epstein have resulted in an on-air interview in which I outlined the facts and explained why a proof-of-concept floating boom should be adopted. Mr Epstein has committed to seeking an interview with Parks Victoria.

Thirdly, questions raised in Parliament by Shadow Environment Minister Nick McGowan, requesting a response by June 11, have revealed that the minister has chosen not to respond. Mr McGowan will now invoke the parliamentary “no response” clause. See here.

Mr Dimopoulos’s online description of his role as Environment Minister reads: “As a guardian of our state’s natural assets, I take that responsibility seriously.”

The actions required to validate those words are still missing.

Ratepayers and visitors to the area must be wondering whether the Environment Minister will ever accede to reason and agree to a trial of the boom.

Rest assured, I will continue to press for this. After all, collectively our taxes pay the minister’s wages, and a state election is now only months away.

Please sign the petition here. •