A bold plan to transform the Yarra River into a swimmable, accessible urban waterway is gaining momentum, as local campaigners push to reconnect Melburnians with the city’s iconic river by 2035.
Led by Regen Melbourne under the banner “Swimmable Birrarung”, the initiative aims to clean up the river and reintroduce public swimming along its length—from Dights Falls to Port Phillip Bay.
The campaign, which made waves at the Swimmable Cities Summit in Rotterdam in June is part of a global movement to revive urban waterways. Inspired by projects such as the restoration of Paris’s Seine River ahead of the 2024 Olympics, Melbourne’s vision includes floating saunas, plunge pools, and designated swimming zones along the Yarra.
Currently, poor water quality—largely due to stormwater runoff and outdated infrastructure—prevents safe swimming in most sections of the river. To address this, the group is calling for policy reform, greater investment in stormwater treatment, and expanded collaboration with local councils, water authorities, and community organisations.
Architectural interventions are also being explored. Concepts such as floating swimming platforms and riverside saunas are not just leisure amenities—they’re designed to start conversations about water health and climate resilience.
The campaign hopes to see swimmable stretches of the river approved within the next decade, with long-term goals that position the Yarra as a central, living part of city life once again.
For more information or to get involved, visit regen.melbourne
