More Than Human

Living with Birrarung 5: Human Nature

Hey humans! In this episode, we zoom out to a landscape scale and hear from two of the people working to restore the river's health and support the many species that rely on it. At the core of this is a question about how we continue to support the wellbeing and health of a growing city as we protect and restore the health of our most important neighbor. Because what is good for Birrarung is good for all, right? In this episode, we heard from: * Sarah Gaskill, Service Lead Water Resources and Compliance with Melbourne Water. * Melissa Tuliranta, former ranger with Parks Victoria based in Yarra Ranges National Park. Some useful links to some of the projects we discussed in this episode: * The restoration of Birrarung’s billabongs is a priority project in Burndap Birrarung Burndap Umarkoo (Yarra Strategic Plan) 2022-2032. Sarah specifically mentioned a Bolin Bolin Billabong, Annulus Billabong and Montpelier Billabong. The interview for this episode was at Banyule Billabong, where additional rehabilitation works are planned for late-2026. * Many of these billabongs are cared for in partnership with the Wurundjeri Narrap (‘Country’) team. * Friends of Yarra Flats Park and the Warringal Conservation Society are both active volunteer groups involved in billabong restoration in urban Melbourne. * Find out more about the Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area. * The Helmeted Honeyeater and Lowland Leadbeaters Possum are Victoria’s faunal emblems and part of a dedicated captive breeding program at Healesville Sanctuary. Support the podcast More Than Human is an independent podcast series produced by Tim McIntosh-Hannah and Mark Spencer (Here Media). If you think our work has value, you can support the our work with a one-off or ongoing contribution via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/morethanhuman [ https://ko-fi.com/morethanhuman]. Donations help us ensure our content remains free to everyone and helps us plan for future stories with confidence. You can contact us at morethanhumanpod.net/contact [morethanhumanpod.net/contact].

Living with Birrarung 4: Coherence

Hey humans! In this episode, we speak with some of the organisations and communities putting the ambition and ideas introduced in our first three episodes into practice. Specifically, we explore the idea of a swimmable urban river, the restoration of one of Birrarung’s billabongs, and the big question of how we overcome our own differences to achieve common goals.  In this episode, we heard from:  * Charity Mosienyan, lead convenor of the Swimmable Birrarung Earthshot [https://regen.melbourne/earthshots/swimmable-birrarung] at Regen Melbourne [https://regen.melbourne/]. You can find out more about the Swimmable Cities Charter here [https://www.swimmablecities.org/].  * Andrew Lees, president of the Friends of Yarra Flats Park [https://www.friendsofyarraflatspark.org.au/].  * Rebecca Penrone, Waterways and Land Officer for the Lower Birrarung at Melbourne Water [https://letstalk.melbournewater.com.au/]. There were a few call outs to volunteering in this episode. Here are some useful links to get you started, if you’ve heard the call:  * Victorian Environment Friends Network [https://www.vefn.org.au/] have a handy database of local “Friends of” groups.   * The Victorian Government have a page dedicated to resources for those engaged in or interested in environmental volunteering: https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/volunteering/volunteering [https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/volunteering/volunteering]  * Conservation Volunteers Australia [https://conservationvolunteers.com.au/] have resources to connect people with projects.  * iNaturalist [https://www.inaturalist.org/] is a platform for anyone to contribute to citizen science by logging observations.   For even more, head to morethanhumanpod.net [https://www.morethanhumanpod.net/] and click "Dive Deeper".  More Than Human is an independent podcast series produced by Tim McIntosh-Hannah and Mark Spencer (Here Media [https://www.linkedin.com/company/heremedia]). You can contact us at morethanhumanpod.net/contact [https://www.morethanhumanpod.net/contact/].

Living with Birrarung 3: Something in the Water

Hey Humans! In our third episode of Living with Birrarung, we’re zooming out to the global Rights of Nature movement to explore how this movement emerged and where Birrarung fits in this wider picture. 2017 was a huge inflection point in this movement but it also represented decades of groundwork from Indigenous groups and local communities.   In this episode, we heard from:   * Dr Erin O’Donnell, from the Melbourne Law School [https://law.unimelb.edu.au/] and member of the Birrarung Council [https://www.birrarungcouncil.vic.gov.au/].   * Elke Nicholson, from Environmental Justice Australia [https://envirojustice.org.au/]. * Dr Michelle Maloney, from Australian Earth Laws Alliance [https://www.earthlaws.org.au/].     Some key links related to this episode:   * Christopher D. Stone’s “Should Trees Have Standing” is available to read here [https://huminst.red.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/412/2019/04/May-6-Stone-Should-Trees-Have-Standing.pdf].  * The Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) has a fantastic library of resources on earth-centred governance, rights of nature and many other topics: https://www.earthlaws.org.au/resources/ [https://www.earthlaws.org.au/resources/].  * The Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature was mentioned by Michelle in this episode and also has a fantastic library of resources and information: https://www.garn.org/ [https://www.garn.org/].  For even more, head to morethanhumanpod.net [https://www.morethanhumanpod.net/] and click "Dive Deeper".  More Than Human is an independent podcast series produced by Tim McIntosh-Hannah and Mark Spencer (Here Media [https://www.linkedin.com/company/heremedia]). You can contact us at morethanhumanpod.net/contact [https://www.morethanhumanpod.net/contact/].

Living with Birrarung 2: Life and Law

Hey Humans! In our second episode of Living with Birrarung, we’re zooming in on the people and powers that led to the creation of the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung muron) Act 2017 that recognised Birrarung as one, living and integrated entity.   This episode examines the relationship between settler-colonial and Traditional Owner law and how Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo (the Yarra Strategic Plan 2022-2032) and the Birrarung Council that emerged from the 2017 Act are trying to find new ways to articulate and progress that relationship.  In this episode, we heard from:   * Andrew Kelly, former Yarra Riverkeeper and convenor of The Waterway Network.   * Claire Dunn, the Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo (Yarra Strategic Plan) Implementation Manager at Melbourne Water.   * Dr Erin O’Donnell, from the Melbourne Law School and member of the Birrarung Council.   * Uncle Andrew Gardiner, Wurundjeri Elder and now chair of the Birrarung Council.     Several documents and links are mentioned in this episode:   * The Yarra Riverkeeper Association has a handy list of policies and legislation governing the river on their website: https://yarrariver.org.au/policies-and-legislation/ [https://yarrariver.org.au/policies-and-legislation/]     * You can find out more about the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017, including access to a recording of the full address by Wurundjeri Elders to the Legislative Assembly of Victoria here. [https://www.water.vic.gov.au/waterways/protecting-the-yarra-birrarung/yarra-river-protection-wilip-gin-birrarung-murron-act-2017]  * Read about Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo (Yarra Strategic Plan) 2022-2032, including links to the most recent annual reports and community engagement plan produced by Melbourne Water here [https://www.melbournewater.com.au/about/what-we-do/publications/burndap-birrarung-burndap-umarkoo-yarra-strategic-plan].  * You can find out more about the Birrarung Council, including links to their most recent annual report (2025) at https://www.birrarungcouncil.vic.gov.au/ [https://www.birrarungcouncil.vic.gov.au/]  * Read more about the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung vision for Birrarung, community and Country in Nhanbu narrun ba ngargunin twarn (Ancient Spirit and Lore of the Yarra) [https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/hdp.au.prod.app.mw-yoursay.files/2315/8984/4614/Wurundjeri_Woi_Wurrung_Birrarung_Water_Policy.pdf].  * Read more about the 50-year community visions for Birrarung, and watch the videos, here [https://letstalk.melbournewater.com.au/birrarung/50-year-vision].   * You can find out more about the Victorian Government’s Water is Life reforms here [https://www.water.vic.gov.au/our-programs/aboriginal-water-program/water-is-life-roadmap].  We also opened this episode with a story about the original Yarra Falls crossing on Birrarung, at the location of the current Queens Bridge. This story and many others are beautifully captures on the City of Melbourne’s Mapping Aboriginal Melbourne interactive website [https://aboriginal-map.melbourne.vic.gov.au/].    For even more, head to morethanhumanpod.net [https://www.morethanhumanpod.net/] and click "Dive Deeper".  More Than Human is an independent podcast series produced by Tim McIntosh-Hannah and Mark Spencer (Here Media [https://www.linkedin.com/company/heremedia]). You can contact us at morethanhumanpod.net/contact [https://www.morethanhumanpod.net/contact/].

Living with Birrarung 1: To Be Alive

Hey humans! In our first episode of season one, Living with Birrarung, we're diving straight into the question of what it means for a river to be alive. Birrarung was recognised as "one, integrated and living entity" in Victorian legislation in 2017. Since then, the ripples of that recognition have become waves that continue to influence policy, governance, community action, and our relationship with the river today. In this episode we heard from: * Uncle Andrew Gardiner, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder and member of the Birrarung Council. Read more about the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung vision for Birrarung, community and Country in Nhanbu narrun ba ngargunin twarn (Ancient Spirit and Lore of the Yarra) [https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/hdp.au.prod.app.mw-yoursay.files/2315/8984/4614/Wurundjeri_Woi_Wurrung_Birrarung_Water_Policy.pdf].  * Dr Erin O'Donnell from the Melbourne Law School and member of the Birrarung Council. You can find out more about the Birrarung Council at https://www.birrarungcouncil.vic.gov.au/ [https://www.birrarungcouncil.vic.gov.au/].  * Emma Barnett, Community Engagement and Education Officer at the Yarra Riverkeeper Association. You can find out more about the Yarra Riverkeeper Association's work at https://yarrariver.org.au/ [https://yarrariver.org.au/].  Juanita Sundberg’s 2014 paper, Decolonising Posthumanist Geographies is a good starting point for some of Juanita’s ideas Emma introduced this episode.   * Andrew Kelly, author and convenor of the Waterways Network, and former Yarra Riverkeeper. You can view and download the Concerned Waterways Alliance's report on the living entity and the planning scheme mentioned in this episode here [https://concernedwaterwaysalliance.org/launching-the-single-living-entity-concept-in-planning-for-waterways-report/]. Andrew Kelly's children's book Prayer for a River was written with Uncle Glenn Loughrey and is published by Wild Dog Books [https://wdog.com.au/prayer-for-a-river-2/].  * Charity Mosienyane, lead convenor of the Swimmable Birrarung project at Regen Melbourne. You can read more about the Swimmable Birrarung project at https://www.regen.melbourne/ [https://www.regen.melbourne/].  You can find out more about the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017, including access to a recording of the full address by Wurundjeri Elders to the Legislative Assembly of Victoria here [https://www.water.vic.gov.au/waterways/protecting-the-yarra-birrarung/yarra-river-protection-wilip-gin-birrarung-murron-act-2017]. For even more, head to morethanhumanpod.net [http://morethanhumanpod.net] and click "Dive Deeper". More Than Human is an independent podcast series produced by Tim McIntosh-Hannah and Mark Spencer (Here Media). You can contact us at morethanhumanpod.net/contact [http://morethanhumanpod.net/contact].