Residents of the ACT and region have a ‘deep, almost spiritual fondness for the Upper Murrumbidgee’ offset by a ‘profound sadness and sense of loss that some of what gave rise to this fondness is gone’.

This is one of the key findings of a survey conducted by the Australian River Restoration Centre in November and December 2023 to gauge community understanding of how the Upper Murrumbidgee River is managed.

The survey was distributed to residents of the ACT and greater ACT region and received over 1,000 responses.

Respondents were asked what they value about the river, their understanding about how it is managed, and how they would like to see it managed in future.

The results show clearly that people care deeply about the river and hold strong personal and cultural connections to it.

Many respondents made clear their strong opinion that these values must be better considered in the river’s current and future management, for the benefit of all who ‘interact with this ancient and much-loved part of Ngunnawal Country’.

The survey also found there is also a strong sense of disenchantment and disempowerment — bordering on cynicism — about whether anything positive will actually be done to restore the river.

Read the full results of the survey here.