In an average year 70% of Melbourne’s freshwater supplies are sourced from the Yarra River’s upper reaches, allowing Melburnians to enjoy some of the best drinking water in the world. But as more and more water is extracted from the Yarra, the river’s health is under increasing stress. Right now the Yarra’s flow is down to a small fraction of its natural level, creating a huge threat to the survival of the birds, fish, frogs and platypus that rely on a healthy environment to thrive.

For many years scientists and community groups have urged the Victorian state government to help restore the Yarra by providing at least the minimum ‘environmental flow’ the river needs to support life. For a river like the Yarra, a healthy environmental flow – changing in rhythm with the seasons – is vital; it flushes along pollutants, transports nutrients to where they’re needed and provides fish with the right conditions to breed.

In October 2006 the government made a proud commitment to provide the Yarra River with its minimum environmental flow needs as a key action of its Sustainable Water Strategy for Melbourne. That promise is yet to be honoured.

Now, the government is plundering the Yarra even further by deciding to take an additional 10 billion litres of water from our stressed river rather than pursuing sustainable solutions to Melbourne’s water future.

The people of Melbourne have been using water wisely at home, at school and at work. We need to ensure our water savings provide real environmental benefits to our city’s great river through increased flows. And we need our government to help Melbourne get even wiser with water use by boosting investment in water conservation, efficiency and recycling.

Please, let the Victorian Government know you value a healthy Yarra River. Pledge your support to the Go Yarra Flow campaign today online at:  ww.environmentvictoria.org.au or http://www.yarrariver.org.au