Environment Victoria, the state’s peak green group, has welcomed the State Opposition’s call for tougher fines and penalties for polluters of the Yarra and the Maribyrnong Rivers.
The call is part of the Liberal Party’s Melbourne Rivers Action Plan, announced today.
“Environment Victoria supports the Liberal Party’s call for more stringent fines and penalties of polluters of the city’s two major waterways,” said Dr Paul Sinclair, the director of EV’s Healthy Rivers campaign.
Dr Sinclair welcomed the Liberal Party’s entry into the debate on the two rivers. “It’s a very important debate for Melbourne to be having.”
He agreed with the Liberal Party’s recognition that the Yarra and the Maribyrnong both need to be managed “from top to bottom”.
“Much more work is needed to coordinate the local government and agencies along the 245 kilometres of the Yarra and the 160 kilometres of the Maribyrnong,” he said.
“These two rivers, like so many of Victoria’s rivers, have been abused for far too long. If our rivers are going to be revived then Governments must continue to invest in improving environmental flows and in stopping pollution.”
Dr Sinclair called on the Liberal Party to support continuation of the environment levy on water bills.
“The funds from this levy are vital for protecting all our catchments and our rivers. We must not forget that the Yarra and the Maribyrnong rivers are just two of Victoria’s great, yet damaged rivers.”