What would it take for a new urban story to spark collective demand for a thriving, healthy and swimmable Birrarung?
Telling a story of care, relationship and reciprocity between people and place in Greater Melbourne by centering the health of the Birrarung as an indicator of the health of people and place. Galvanising public support for a swimmable Birrarung translates this initiative into a city-shaping goal. Long-term swimmability will be the result of many people, many hearts and many hands demonstrating care for the health of the Birrarung.
More foundationally, the Birrarung has been flowing for millenia. Creation of the Birrarung is part of the dreamtime stories of the Wurrundjerri Woiworrung and the Bunwurung peoples who have lived and continue to live in reciprocity with the river. The stories of the Birrarung are part of our history and we need to create spaces for these stories to be told, heard and shared.
Identify opportunities to get the idea of a Swimmable Birrarung into the public imagination and work closely with others to make this a story with many voices.
The idea of a Swimmable Birrarung isn’t new, surfacing the story of transformations and multiple benefits are possible through focusing on swimmability is an on-going endeavour.
Research, guides, and stories from the work underway.
