The Georges River could be part of a $200 million proposal to tackle pollution in urban rivers.
Anne Stanley, the federal Member for Werriwa, welcomed the announcement and pledged to try to have the Georges River included in the national project.
Federal Labor has promised to invest up to $200 million on urban rivers if it is elected.
“The Georges River has always been an important part of Werriwa,’’ Ms Stanley said.
“It was important to the local Cabrogal people for thousands of years and as part of industry and recreation in more recent times.
“Unfortunately for too long our local creeks and waterways have been used as drains and dumping grounds for industrial waste, rubbish, and trolleys.
“For too long the Georges River has been suffocated by algae blooms brought on by external pollutants.
“I look forward to advocating for the Georges River to be included as a funded project to bring the bird life and fish life back.’’
Labor’s $200 million investment will unlock grant funding for projects to clean up our rivers including:
- Building wetlands to capture and clean and filter stormwater.
- Revegetation and tree planting along corridors.
- Citizen science and education programs along creeks and corridors, including bush kinder.
- Bird boxes and waste capture.
- Turning urban waterways back in to creeks and rivers again through changing hard surfaces back to natural surfaces (cement turned to river banks).
- Employment of indigenous rangers.
Labor says a Shorten Government will engage state
and local governments, local councils, community groups and local environmental
organisations to bring urban waterways and habitat corridors back to health.
Local environmental action groups will be able to apply for small grants,
benefitting our urban environment, creating jobs and also re-engaging,
educating and mobilising local communities to act on local environmental
protection.
