<< BACK TO CONTENTS Paddling in ‘the backyard’ As well as boosting waterway health for native plants and animals, water for the environment delivered to the iconic Yarra River is providing a playground for paddlers. The Yarra River is Sean Marler’s little slice of paradise in Melbourne’s high-rise landscape. Sean’s been paddling the Yarra River since he was 19 years old. He said the peaceful surrounds of the river and diverse wildlife made it easy to forget Melbourne is a city that more than four million people call home. “I’ve paddled on rivers all over the world but nothing quite beats what you’ve got in your own backyard,” Sean said. “The Yarra River is my main playground. I go bushwalking, birdwatching and paddling there, and I’m constantly amazed by the biodiversity I see,” he said. It’s an appreciation being shared by a growing number and diversity of people. “There’s a huge age range. I know people in their 70s who get out here and I take kids as young as three down the river, too,” Sean said. Environmental flows create a healthier waterway for native plants and animals and a Yarra River for everyone to enjoy. I know people in their 70s who get out here and I take kids as young as three down the river too. Paddling on the Yarra River during an environmental flow, by Melbourne Water 43 | Victorian Environmental Water Holder
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