Getting to Know the Greenline
Stroll along the river's edge and explore the Birrarung Trial Floating Wetlands with wetland specialist Dr Tom Headley, ecologist Jacinta Humphrey and principal landscape architect of the City of Melbourne's Greenline Project Yijun Liu.
Approximate distance: 2.5km
Approximate duration: 1 hour
On this tour, you’ll visit the three Birrarung Trial Floating Wetlands that are part of the Greenline Project. The Greenline will eventually stretch along the north bank of Birrarung (Yarra River) between Birrarung Marr and Victoria Harbour, adjacent to Naarm’s CBD.
The Greenline team are actively working to develop the wetlands habitat and log data to inform the project. As the young plants grow and wildlife inhabit the environment, these sites are in flux; they’ll likely change from one visit to the next and depending on seasons, tides and another local conditions. While listening to the discussions at each location you’re encouraged to spend time observing local wildlife. Visit the Birrarung Trial Floating Wetlands project on iNaturalist to see what other visitors have noticed, and you can contribute your own observations too. You can also find more info about species selection and wildlife monitoring for the Birrarung Trial Floating Wetlands on this self-guided tour booklet.
About your tour guides
Yijun Lu is a Senior Landscape Architect at the City of Melbourne, working on the Greenline Project team.
Jacinta Humphrey is an urban ecologist and PhD candidate at La Trobe University. She is monitoring wildlife at the Greenline floating wetlands, gathering data about the river ecosystem.
Dr Tom Headley is a “wetland doctor” specialising in constructed wetlands. With Wetland + Ecological Treatment Systems (WETSystems), Tom is a contractor for the Greenline Project. WETSystems designed, installed and planted the floating wetlands.
Tom discusses the design of the constructed floating wetland, which you can see by looking northwest from the water’s edge.
The floating wetlands are made from a series of interlocking platforms that are placed on the water and securely anchored to the riverbed. These platforms feature water-loving plants specially selected for the relative salinity and conditions at each location, and design features like ramps and perching structures designed to provide access and attract birds and other wildlife.
Jacinta looks out for birds — and encourages us to look out for rakali water rats after dark! — and Tom fills us in about the planting choices that are designed to entice local wildlife.
Jill Garner and Hamish Lyon visited Webb Bridge on their Stroll The City tour.
This floating wetland is further out in the water than at the other two locations visited on this tour. Yijun talks about some of the history of this wider section of Birrarung (Yarra River), and the goals for the Greenline experience at this location.
Jacinta spots some seagulls perched on the floating wetlands. She encourages us to visit the iNaturalist project, where you can help the team with their research by logging your own wildlife spotting.
This is the final stop on the Greenline tour. Nearby, you can continue strolling the city with:
Jill Garner and Hamish Lyon’s visit to Sandridge Bridge.
Many thanks to Yijun Lu, Jacinta Humphrey and Dr Tom Headley for hosting this tour, which was presented in partnership with the City of Melbourne.
