'Partly thanks to the work of Melbourne Water, who've spent the last 50 years cleaning it up.' 'In some ways it's surprisingly healthy,' he said. He represents the Yarra Riverkeeper Association, which advocates independently on behalf of the waterway - effectively, a voice for the river.

Advocates optimistic about river's futureДЇew people would know the lower reaches of the river as well as Yarra riverkeeper Andrew Kelly. So, if you do go for a swim, do it sober. Australia's deadliest rivers 2002-2017ДЄ number of these deaths were due to falls or boating and fishing accidents, but the research found about 20 per cent were swimming accidents and 15 per cent were through diving.ДЄlcohol was judged to be a contributing factor in 73 per cent of river drownings in Victoria, whether the person was swimming, fishing or boating. Men are over-represented in these statistics, with 87 per cent of all river drownings in Victoria being men, and 25-34 the leading age group. In the 15 years to 2017, 37 people drowned in the Yarra River, compared to 70 people in the Murray, which is 10 times as long.

Research by the Royal Lifesaving Society found the Yarra was among the deadliest rivers per kilometre in the country. The other factor to consider is, even if the water is fine, it can be dangerous - even lethal - to swim in the Yarra, especially if you're male, aged between 25 and 34, and drunk. Even if water is clean, swimming is risky Heavy rain also tends to wash all kinds of nasty stuff from roads and other flat surfaces into the river, so if it's been raining you'd be better off seeking out your local pool where your chances of ingesting something nasty would be, hopefully, lower. Remember: 500 organisms per 100ml is the trigger point for a safety warning. coli levels at Kew above 24,000 organisms per 100ml. On one occasion, in December 2017, water testing the day after a torrential downpour found E. Stormwater drains can be a source of E.coli in the Yarra River ( ABC News: Tim Callanan) Its waters sustained the Wurundjeri people for thousands of years prior to European arrival, and it was instrumental in the decision to establish a settlement that eventually became Melbourne.Д®uropean settlement and the growth of Melbourne changed the river forever.Д¬oncerns about the health of the Yarra were raised as early as the 1880s, with advocates complaining about the many factories and tanneries illegally 'discharging their filth' into it, contrary to the Health Act, which had banned the practice 30 years earlier.

The river winds its way 242 kilometres from the Yarra Ranges to Hobsons Bay in Port Phillip. 'I wondered if it's still a terrible idea to swim in the Yarra.' A 'sewer of abominable odours'ДЇor most of the last 150 years it would appear it would've been a terrible idea to swim in the Yarra, in some parts at least. 'It was a warm morning and the water looked sparkly and inviting and I was tempted for a swim,' she said. The question occurred to Sara as she was riding to work along the Yarra near Richmond recently. If only he'd asked himself the same question Curious Melburnian Sara put to us: is it safe to swim in the Yarra? After winning the 1992 Australian Open, tennis player Jim Courier famously took a running dive into the Yarra River to celebrate.

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