3. The Rights of a River, Our River

Recognising the rights of Nature is an idea that many people find really challenging, but today’s special guest is a Pro at explaining why giving rights to the Yarra River is just common sense. 

Dr Erin O’Donnell tirelessly works with waterways worldwide, from communities in Aotearoa New Zealand to the United States. This is all part of her role as a Senior Lecturer and ARC Research Fellow at Melbourne Law School.

Protecting urban waterways from stormwater pollution, old sewage systems and vegetation clearing is a hard task, especially when you think about the rising pressures of climate change. But embracing Indigenous and Western knowledge could just give us the edge we need, and the Yarra River Protection / Wilip-gin Birrarung murron Act 2017 has already started this journey.

Are you ready for another step towards a swimmable Birrarung?!

 

Note: Two Bays Podcast series #2 is brought to you by Regeneration Projects, the Yarra Riverkeeper Association and RMIT University.