RMIT University

Paris recently opened the River Seine for public swimming for the first time in more than a century, after it was cleaned up for swimming events at last year’s Olympics. Advocates have long campaigned for the Yarra River in Melbourne to be rehabilitated, and as an RMIT expert explains, the benefits could be greater than providing a new spot for swimmers.

Dr Rebecca Olive, Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow

“‘Swimmability’ should be part of a healthy city and hopefully international examples, like the success in Paris, will encourage the Victorian government, councils and community to work towards creating cleaner and safer access to the Yarra for public swimming.

“‘Swimmability’ in urban environments provides many benefits. It creates more nature positive and regenerative cities that are more climate resilient, and generates the economy by supporting recreation businesses, hospitality and tourism.

“But before that happens, we would need to overcome the current barriers to swimming in the Yarra, including water quality, access points, boat traffic, stormwater and safety.

“Local community groups have already been working towards making the Yarra swimmable, but we also need the support of governments and local councils to make it happen.”

Dr Rebecca Olive is a Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow in the School of Global, Urban & Social Studies at RMIT University. Her research explores sport and leisure in nature spaces, with a focus on swimming and surfing. She is an Associate Director (Regenerative Environments and Climate Action) in the Centre for Urban Research and a Fellow in the Regenerative Futures Institute.

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