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Field Notes is a fortnightly column in which Regen Melbourne Lead Convenors provide on-the-ground updates and insights from their work and focus areas.
As the Swimmable Birrarung project readies to shift gears in 2024, Lead Convenor Charity Mosienyane dives into everything giving her hope and energy for the year to come.
This is my first Field Notes for the year and I cannot help but reflect on the year that was and imagine what the year ahead will look like.
Transitions
2023 was a big year for the Swimmable Birrarung project. It was a year of consolidating two years of sensemaking and orienting and convening across six fields of actions. The fields of action provide a landscape for a broad alliance of individuals and organisations to collaborate across six thematic areas that represent the key systemic barriers and design opportunities for regeneration of the river.
Reconnection and storytelling
Legal, policy, political and governance systems
River Health
Business and capital
Campaigns: building a movement
Swimming activations
These fields of action were collectively identified by a diverse group of actors and stakeholders within the Birrarung ecosystem and represent the areas where collective action is required to achieve the ambitious goal of swimming in the river.
I am humbled by the humans who have continuously shown up, shared their knowledge and expertise and have committed to walk this journey together in service to the Birrarung.
Magic in the field
Yesterday I met with Sarah Barns, Kathryn Deyell and Erin O'Donnell who are leaders in their fields (Arts and Culture Policy and the legal rights of nature). We were meeting in person for the first time to discuss a research project that explores how creative arts, culture and boats can be used to support and amplify nature based work such as the Swimmable Birrarung project.
When I started this role I thought most businesses would have an extractive approach to the river but these organisations want the river to thrive, because they understand that a healthy, thriving river means a healthy, thriving city.
Last year during a Business and Economy field of action meeting, a representative from Envirobank gave us an overview of the container deposit scheme and suggested exploring ways of using the scheme to support the river.
Follow the money
The whole experience led us at Regen Melbourne to explore what it would look like if we had a systemic approach to investing and directing resources to system transformative projects such as the Swimmable Birrarung. We have undertaken research in partnership with Dark Matter Labs, Climate-KIC and TransCap. You can read more here.
Hope
I am hopeful and believe that Melburnians can rise to this ambitious challenge. I have seen the power of creating spaces to bring diverse groups of people together, seen unlikely actors and stakeholders collaborate in service to a shared purpose.
I have sat in meetings with the EPA, Melbourne Water and DEECA to talk about working together in service to a healthy and thriving river. Enthusiasm, support and exploring how to collaborate across the ecosystem have been the response.
I have had inspiring conversations with businesses on the river such as Arbory Afloat, PonyFish Island and Waterbikes Australia. These organisations want the river to thrive, because they understand that a healthy, thriving river means a healthy, thriving city.
The 10 year anniversary of making the Paramatta River swimmable again demonstrates that ambitious goals can become a reality with the right level of collective action. I will continue to choose hope for the life force that is the Birrarung/Yarra River.
