The Maribyrnong River must be afforded the same protection from overdevelopment as the Yarra, according to Maribyrnong mayor Nam Quach.
The state government is working on tougher planning controls to protect the Yarra under a special Yarra River Protection Act overseen by a new trust. The act is intended to work to preserve vegetation and parkland while warding off encroachment by large-scale apartments.
Cr Quach said protection of the Maribyrnong River was firmly on the council’s agenda.
“We’re looking at revitalising the whole river corridor and at the environmental health of the river.”
Former planning minister and now Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Daniel Andrews was re-announcing what the Coalition had done two years ago in enacting the strictest planning controls ever for the Yarra.
“While it’s nice to see Daniel Andrews copying our protections for the Yarra River, he should also copy the other half of our policy which was to extend the same protections to the Maribyrnong,” Mr Guy said.
Maribyrnong council was highly critical of last year’s decision by Mr Guy to approve the riverside construction of 751 apartments in four towers ranging up to 28 storeys that would overshadow the Maribyrnong River.
In August, the council adopted the Footscray River Edge Master Plan 2014, a document guiding the revitalisation of the Maribyrnong waterfront in Footscray.
Environment Minister Lisa Neville said the state government was committed to preserving the environmental, cultural and recreational values of both the Yarra and the Maribyrnong rivers.
“We’ll continue to work with councils, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water and other stakeholders to deliver appropriate planning controls to protect both rivers,” she said.
