Collaborative Projects
WRA has a 40-year history of advocacy work and collaborating with a long-standing network of partnerships, across the catchment and wider region, to deliver positive environmental outcomes.
Included in this is a successful track record of engaging with Environment Justice Australia and others on advocacy programs, with outcomes such as the Waterways of the West initiative and the Lower Werribee Amenity Action Plan.
Rivers of the West and Waterways of the West
The first Healthy Waterways Strategy in 2018 helped inform the Rivers of the West, a campaign that Environment Justice Australia (EJA) worked on collaboratively with WRA, Friends of Steele Creek, Friends of Maribyrnong Valley, western metropolitan Councils, community members and other partners.
EJA’s inspirational work on the Rivers of the West and their involvement in the Yarra River Action Plan, has led to the State Government’s announcement in August 2018 of the Waterways of the West, which was a joint Minister for Water and Minister for Planning initiative. The plan is transformational approach to protecting the iconic waterways and landscapes of Melbourne’s west.
Read both reports here:
Lower Werribee River Amenity Action Plan
In 2021, WRA was a key stakeholder in the Lower Werribee Waterway Amenity Action Plan (LWWAAP), identifying improvements for public amenities and the landscape along the Werribee River. Partner agencies involved included Bunurong Traditional Owners, Melbourne Water, DELWP, Wyndham City, Western Melbourne Tourism, Zoos Victoria and Parks Victoria.
The LWWAAP articulates a 10-year vision for improved amenity, cultural values, community access and visitor experience along the Wirribi Yaluk (Werribee River) corridor, and provides prioritised actions to achieve this. Read the full report here.
The Werribee River Association is built off the back of collaboration. Beginning in 1981, led by a group of vocal community members who were concerned about the degradation of the Werribee River, we have now grown into a small team of professionals, supported by hundreds of members and volunteers, and dozens of partners and stakeholders. To read about how this collaboration has evolved and developed over 40 year, check out our history book.