Protection Principles established under Part 2 of the Birrarung Act support integrated decision-making that cares for Birrarung as a living entity.
The Act groups the nineteen Protection Principles into six themes.
Overview of Protection Principles themes and focus areas
| Theme | Focus areas |
|---|---|
| General principles | Integrated and shared decision-making, public health and wellbeing and intergenerational responsibility. |
| Climate change, biodiversity, ecological integrity and net environmental gain. | |
| Social principles | Protecting amenity and supporting community participation. |
| Recreational principles | Public access, enjoyment and recreational opportunities. |
| Cultural principles | Protecting cultural heritage and landscapes and recognising Traditional Owner custodianship. |
| Management principles | Policy coordination, effective implementation and continuous improvement. |
The Protection Principles are intended to operate collectively. Decision-makers should consider the principles holistically, rather than applying them individually, to ensure their collective intent and interrelationships are fully reflected.
The Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo (Yarra Strategic Plan) 2022-32 (MWC), February 2022) provides a framework supporting implementation of the Protection Principles. Aligning with the plan puts the principles into practice.
Page last updated: 30/10/26