The Swimmable Cities is a movement that is gaining momentum, and recently a group of leaders from around the world, including the International Waterkeeper Alliance, of which Werribee River Association is a member of, have signed off on a set of guiding principles.
So, what is a Swimmable City? And why is it important?
When we think about climate change, urban heat island-effects and the increase of heat wave events, it is vital that urban communities have safe and accessible ways to cool off. A healthy, swimmable river would be one such option, and will support both human health, and their connection to nature.
To achieve a swimmable urban waterway will require further regeneration around waterways, and better management of stormwater pollution and litter.
A swimmable urban waterway will provide a safe habitat for wildlife and seek to address the climate and biodiversity crisis.
The Swimmable Cities Charter recognises the interconnections between the Rights of Nature and the Right to Swim (human rights) and is designed to empower decision-makers, advocates, and community leaders in their work with local natural waterways.
The principles of the charter are:
1. THE RIGHT TO SWIM: Safe, healthy and swimmable waterways should be accessible to all people.
2. ONE HEALTH, MANY SWIMMERS: Swimmable urban waterways are vital to the liveability of cities and communities, as shared civic places that promote the health of people (physically, mentally, spiritually) and the health of Mother Earth.
3. URBAN SWIMMING CULTURE: Urban swimming culture is a unique expression of life in cities and communities, reflecting the distinct interplay of sports, recreation and tourism in each given place, as well as natural and cultural heritage.
4. WATER IS SACRED: Urban swimming should celebrate natural waterways as living, integrated entities that nurture communities, promoting universal accessibility and peaceful coexistence inclusive of religious, cultural and gender diversity.
5. REWRITING THE RULES: Urban waterway swimming should become part of a new status quo in public access standards, challenging accepted conventions such as industrial uses and stormwater pollution, with governing authorities swiftly amending legal and regulatory frameworks to enable citizens access to its benefits.
6. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION IN SWIMMING PLACES: Urban swimming places and experiences should be planned, designed, made and operated through inclusive, integrated water management approaches; with managers ensuring universal access via community-led programs for learning how to swim in natural waterways and ecological literacy.
7. RECONNECTION & RESILIENCE: Urban swimming places and experiences should be invested in as an innovative way to enable resilient communities to adapt and thrive in a changing global climate, environment and economy.
8. NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES Urban swimming development models should balance social, cultural, ecological and economic values, creating new jobs, careers and livelihoods in regenerative professions and industries.
9. SHARING WELLBEING BENEFITS, CULTURE & KNOWLEDGE: Urban swimming should create wellbeing benefits to local citizens, ecosystems and economies; enhanced by the respectful sharing of Indigenous, traditional and Western water culture knowledge.
10. STEWARDSHIP FOR TODAY, TOMORROW & FUTURE GENERATIONS: Urban swimmers are stewards responsible for protecting the health of their local waterways, working alongside Mother Earth’s closest carers, such as Indigenous peoples, rangers and waterkeepers as well as urbanists, architects, social changemakers, educators and policy-makers.
Read more about the Swimmable Cities Charter.
Werribee River Association encourages all levels of government to join the movement.