THE HON TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR WATSON

GED KEARNEY MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BATMAN

A Labor government would commit up to $1 million in funding to restore urban rivers and corridors in Merri Creek, Darebin Creek and the catchment area. Labor candidate for Batman Ged Kearney and Tony Burke, Labor’s Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water, announced the plan in Reservoir today. 

“When we built our cities we treated rivers and creeks like stormwater drains. I want them to be treated like rivers and creeks again. Some people put the ridiculous view that when we protect the environment we are only protecting places that are far away. 

A Labor government wants to make sure the local environment is considered precious too," Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water Tony Burke said. 

"The Merri Creek is so important to the people of Batman and I enjoy it so much - I regularly walk my dogs there. We need to keep the Creek healthy and protect it for future generations, which is why I'm so glad to be able to be a candidate for a party of government that can deliver this money to help bring it back to its natural form." Ged Kearney said.

Through this grant, community groups will be able to apply for funding to:

• Turn urban waterways back to creeks and rivers by transforming hard surfaces like cement into natural surfaces.
• Build wetlands to capture and filter stormwater.
• Revegetate and plant trees along corridors.
• Set up citizen science and education programs along creeks and corridors, including bush kinder.
• Build bird boxes and waste capture facilities.
• Employ indigenous rangers.

Labor’s National Urban Rivers and Corridors policy will form part of a comprehensive platform for a healthier environment in our cities and across Australia.