The Maribyrnong River flows through Melbourne’s western suburbs into Port Phillip Bay. Once a thriving fishing river, over the past 200 years the waterway has had many pressures on its health and habitats. Historical dredging and de-snagging, along with industrial waste have severely impacted the health of the river, and subsequent fish populations. Only 10% of native vegetation in the Maribyrnong catchment remains.

Supporting current efforts in the waterway, OzFish will help restore fish habitat in the Maribyrnong, creating homes for local fish populations and healthier waterways. Weed removal, erosion control, and replanting of the riparian zone will help contribute to the goal of 33,000 ha of revegetation. Furthermore, soils will be stabilised, reducing runoff and increasing these waterways resilience to flooding events.

Working with partners to restore instream habitat, snags, and woody debris, OzFish aims to improve local native fish populations.

Through education and on-ground activities, this project will help to increase stewardship and understanding of the importance of healthy river systems in the metropolitan Melbourne areas, with community involvement playing a key role in the restoration efforts.