Confluence 2026: Community Waterways Forum

What does it take to create healthier urban waterways and stronger communities to care for them?

Confluence 2026 brings together people from across Melbourne who care about our rivers, creeks and waterways for a day of conversation, learning, inspiration, celebration and connection.

This is a community-led forum - organised by community, for community, with a dynamic program of speakers, conversations, music, art, interactive activities, networking and a community expo.

Program highlights include:

🌿 Welcome to Country by the Birrarung with Wurundjeri Elder and Birrarung Council Chair Uncle Andrew Gardiner with the Climate Choir and Janet Bolitho, President of Yarra Riverkeeper Association.
🎤 Living Waterways - Uncle Andrew Gardiner in conversation with Angela Clarke from the Maribyrnong Rivers and Waterways Association.

🔬 Citizen Science: From Data to Storytelling – a panel hosted by April Seymore from Port Phillip EcoCentre.
🐦 Why Birds Help Us Care for Place – featured speaker Kirsty Costa, environmental leader and founder of the Weekend Birder podcast.

🤝 Turning Care into Community – hosted by Kirsty Costa, with Ann McGregor, founder of Friends of Merri Creek and Sam Russell from Urban Guerrillas.

💧 Power Through Collaboration – featuring the Urban Waterways Alliance community waterway leaders - Janet Bolitho (Yarra Riverkeeper Assoc), Nicole Kowalczyk (Maribyrnong River and Waterways Assoc), Graham Ross (Kooyong Koot Alliance), Annette Salkeld (Darebin Creek Management Committee), David Tsardakis (Werribee River Assoc), Bernadette Thomas (Merri Creek Management Committee).

🎶 Music and Art – two songs led by Community Music Victoria, bringing people together through music and a display of Unseen Creatures, a community collaboration quilt featuring the aquatic life of the Maribyrnong.

😀 Our MC for the day is Ben Cullen from Finding Melbourne's Nature, and visual storytelling will be created by Josie Ford from RAA Studio.

Throughout the day, there will be many opportunities to meet other waterway supporters, discover what’s happening across Melbourne and find new ways to get involved.

🥪 Registration is free, with a $30 lunch ticket available (must be pre-booked). Lunch is provided by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. We encourage you to book lunch so you can stay for the whole program, connect with other participants and explore the community expo without leaving the venue.

Everyone who cares about Melbourne’s waterways is welcome.

Confluence 2026 is proudly presented by Yarra Riverkeeper Association and the Urban Waterways Alliance as part of the 2026 Birrarung Riverfest in partnership with Fed Square as part of RESET a free festival for grounding and growing.

Please note: Registration is at 9.30am.

• Most Riverfest events are free, and many have limited places with long waitlists. Please only book if you're confident you can attend, so others don't miss out. Bookings are limited to 2 tickets for smaller events and 4 tickets for larger events.
  

• Can't make it? Please cancel your ticket by opening your Humanitix confirmation email and selecting 'Manage Order'. Your place will then be released to someone on the waitlist. If you need assistance, contact us by email: riverfest@yarrariver.org.au
  

• Events will proceed unless severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances require a change. If this happens, registered participants will be notified by email.

Accessible and Auslan Interpreted

We welcome people of all abilities. If you have any accessibility requirements or need assistance to participate, please contact us before the event so we can discuss how we can support your attendance.

Celebrate the Yarra, Birrarung at one of 70+ events hosted over three weeks from 27 September to 18 October. Whether you enjoy riverside walks, cleanups, creative workshops, wildlife spotting or paddling adventures, there's something for everyone at Riverfest. Riverfest is presented by Yarra Riverkeeper Association with thanks to our partners Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo collaboration and Water4Good. Check out the full Riverfest program here.

Yarra Riverkeeper Association acknowledges that the lands and waterways of the Yarra, Birrarung catchment, are the unceded territories of the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung and Bunurong Boonwurrung peoples. We pay respect to Traditional Owners, who have, and continue, to care for Country. We acknowledge that the river now called Yarra has always been known as the Birrarung by its custodians.