We have all noticed by now the Floating Wetlands located in the Yarra River at a few key locations in the Docklands area: outside of the Library at the Dock, beside the Webb Bridge at Yarra’s Edge, and the Turning Basin at Enterprize Park.

The City of Melbourne has coordinated the installation of these platforms as part of a trial funded by the Victorian Government as one step towards the ambitious Greenline Project.

The Yarra River (Birrarung) was once a rich ecosystem of vegetation and seasonal wetlands. This former landscape and the diversity of species made it an important place for the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, though little of the original landscape remains due to the extensive development of this part of the city, the river, & the harbour systems.

These floating wetlands provide a unique opportunity to reintroduce native, indigenous planting to the area, in order to gain further knowledge of the plant and animal life that these wetlands could support. It will provide information to improve the health of the river system.

The wetlands themselves have been created from a series of interlocking modules planted with native species, which have been towed into these key areas and anchored to the river beds with tram wheels, so they can move up and down with the tide but not float away or be dislodged by flooding.

They include a number of elements: perching posts, basking areas, sunken planting into the river itself, together with small ramps which provide access for native birds and other river wildlife. They are close enough to the river promenades but far enough away for the visiting wildlife not to be disturbed.

It is delightful to see local children and families watching our black swans resting with their cygnets on these platforms and to see these babies develop and mature into teens. Families of ducks are also frequently seen making use of the resting platforms seeking a safe and quiet environment to take a well-deserved nap.

As a community, we can help record any observations of wildlife utilizing these wetlands online at www.inaturalist.org

This is an important stepping stone for The Greenline Project and will help determine if, and how, landscapes such as these might be further integrated and incorporated to improve the city's waterways. 

The Greenline Project’s aim is to draw more people to the waterfront with an uninterrupted journey from Birrarung Marr to the Bolte Bridge. With a plan likened to that of New York City’s High Line. It would be one of the largest networks of green spaces in Melbourne and one of the largest developments the city has undergone since Southbank Promenade was completed in 1990 and Fed Square opened in 2002.

The ideas include interconnected promenades, parks, open spaces, native plantings, cultural activations and environmental renewal, with the project looking to be comprised of five distinct precincts along the north bank of the Yarra River. For further information go to: participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/greenline