Integrated Water
Management Strategy
Implementation Plan 2014–2016
Responsible Directorate: Environment and Infrastructure
Authorised By: Chief Executive Officer
Date of Authorisation: 27 November 2014
Sunset Date: June 2016
Implementation Plan 2014–2016
1
Table of contents
1. Purpose ............................................................ 3
2. Background...................................................... 3
2.1.
2.2.
IWMS vision, guiding principles and objectives
Action plan structure
3
4
3. Action plan ....................................................... 5
4. Complementary ongoing activities ................ 8
5. Monitoring and reporting ................................ 8
Appendix 1 - Alignment of IWMS objectives and strategies with actions
from the Implementation Plan (2014–16) ................. 9
Implementation Plan 2014–2016
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1. Purpose
The Integrated Water Management Strategy 2014–2024 (IWMS) was adopted by Council on 26 May
2014. The IWMS aims to better integrate the City of Boroondara’s approach to water cycle management
and seek solutions that deliver multiple benefits to Council, the community and the environment.
This Implementation Plan 2014–2016 incorporates an action plan outlining initiatives that will be
undertaken over the next two years to ensure progress towards the Strategy’s vision and objectives. This
Implementation Plan is an operational document and actions included are subject to funding being
available.
Implementation of these actions will lay the foundation for longer-term investment in pollution reduction
and water harvesting projects from 2016–17.
This Implementation Plan is to be read in conjunction with the IWMS (available to download from
www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/water).
2. Background
2.1. IWMS vision, guiding principles and objectives
The Strategy’s vision is for “…a healthy, green and resilient city…where a diversity of water sources is
available so that the right quality of water is available when and where it is required…contributing to
healthier waterways and open spaces for greater community well-being.”
A set of six guiding principles have also informed the objectives of the IWMS and will guide the
implementation of the strategy, being:
 Valuing water - water is one of our most valuable resources not only for drinking but also
protecting our local amenity and valuable urban ecology.
 Partnership approach - partnering with project beneficiaries to co-fund implementation actions is
critical to realising the aspirations of this strategy.
 Balance competing objectives and pursue multiple benefits - the IWMS should be
implemented in a way that maximises community well-being and other potential co-benefits
(social, environmental, financial)
 Leadership by Council within the community
 Action prioritised by impact - prioritise actions according to greatest social, environmental and
economic benefit per dollar of Council funds invested.
 Consider the impacts of climate change - it’s important that we plan ahead to ensure greater
resilience to expected heatwaves, droughts, floods and storms.
The vision is supported by four overarching objectives that provide a framework for action over the next
decade. These objectives are:
1. Minimise use of drinking water.
2. Increase local water harvesting and fit-for-purpose reuse.
3. Remove pollutants contaminating our stormwater before it enters our waterways and Port
Phillip Bay.
4. Support Council’s flood mitigating activities in a way that better protects properties from
flooding while also protecting the environment, amenity and function of Council assets.
The IWMS contains a range of interrelated strategies that have the potential to achieve the four
overarching objectives, and associated targets, within the IWMS.
Implementation Plan 2014–2016
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2.2. Action plan structure
The actions identified in this initial Implementation Plan have been grouped under categories of:

public open space, parks, gardens, and sports grounds

private land use planning and development

Council buildings

community engagement.
Actions under each of these categories are delegated to a responsible department, budget implications
are noted as well as the objectives and strategies within the IWMS (refer to Section 7 of the IWMS) that
the action contributes towards achieving.
A number of other activities, undertaken within existing resources on an ongoing basis, will also support
the delivery of the IWMS and are included in the ‘Complementary activities’ section of this document.
Implementation Plan 2014–2016
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3. Action plan
Acronyms: E&SL (Environment and Sustainable Living Department), P&G (Parks and Gardens Department), P&S (Projects and Strategy
Department), SP (Strategic Planning Department), AM (Asset Management Department), FY&R (Family, Youth and Recreation Department).
IWMS Objectives: Objective 1 - Minimise use of drinking water; Objective 2 - Increase local water harvesting and reuse; Objective 3 - Remove
pollutants from stormwater runoff; Objective 4 - Flood management
Public open space, parks, gardens and sports grounds
Action
#
Action
Timeframe
Resource
implications
Responsibility
Related IWMS objectives
and strategies
1
Assess the feasibility and relative priority of
opportunities for water sensitive urban design
(WSUD) infrastructure across the municipality.
2014–15
Grant funding
(Melbourne Water)
$90,000
Lead: Principal
Sustainability
Officer (E&SL) in
collaboration with
P&S, P&G, IS, SP
All objectives
Lead: Principal
Sustainability
Officer (E&SL) in
collaboration with
P&G, P&S
Objective 3
Lead: Manager
Parks and
Gardens/Senior
Coordinator Open
Space (P&G) in
collaboration with
E&SL
Objectives 1 and 2
Note: 2014–15 Council Plan commitment
1a
2
Budget allocation
$10,000
Pending successful grant application,
commence design and community consultation
for a wetland in Chandler Park.
2014–15 2015–16
Develop an irrigation management plan that
will:
- identify a framework for the sustainable
management and irrigation of open space
- set KPIs for water management based on
efficient use, quality of open space
outcomes and sustainability
- reflect the need for sportsgrounds to be
kept playable throughout the year despite
weather conditions in line with community
expectations.
2014–15 2015–16
Implementation Plan 2014–2016
Budget allocation
$40,000
Grand funding
(Melbourne Water pending) $80,000
Budget allocation
$25,000
Strategy 3.1
Strategy 2.2
Strategy 3.1
Strategy 1.2
Strategy 2.1
5
3
Implement Bolin Bolin stormwater harvesting
project.
2014–15 –
2015–16
Budget allocation:
$300,000
Note: this is part of a larger project led by the City of
Manningham.
4
Implement the Glenferrie Water Management
Plan.
2014–15 –
2015–16
Budget allocation:
$950,000
Grant funding:
$1,000,000 from
Victorian Government
$200,000 from
Melbourne Water
(pending)
Lead: Manager
Parks and
Gardens/
Coordinator Turf
Management
(P&G) in
collaboration with
E&SL
Objectives 1 and 2
Lead: Team
Leader Landscape
and Design
(E&SL) in
collaboration with
P&S, P&G
Objectives 1, 2 and 3
Strategy 1.2
Strategy 2.2
Strategy 1.2
Strategy 2.2
Strategy 3.1
Private land use and development/planning
Action
#
Action
Timeframe
Resource
implications
Responsible
department(s)
Related IWMS objectives
and strategies
5
Include elements of the IWMS into the
Planning Scheme through the update of the
Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS).
2014–15 2015–16
Budget allocation:
within existing
resources
Lead: Senior
Project Planner
(SP) in
collaboration with
E&SL
All objectives
6
7
Strategy 2.3
Strategy 3.4
Develop local content relating to integrated
water cycle management for inclusion in the
Planning Scheme. This will be flagged as
further strategic work in the updated MSS.
From
2014–15
Budget allocation:
within existing
resources
Lead: Senior
Project Planner
(SP) in
collaboration with
E&SL
All objectives
Undertake scoping study for flood modelling
project.
2014–15
Budget allocation:
$30,000
Lead: Team
Leader Drainage
Strategy (P&S) in
Objective 4
Implementation Plan 2014–2016
Strategy 3.4
Strategy 4.1
6
collaboration with
SP, AM, E&SL
8
Commence modelling of the catchments of
Boroondara and examine Council drains and
floodway system to develop more precise flood
mapping.
From
2015–16
onwards
Foreshadowed
budget: $400,000
across a 2-3 year
period (TBC
through Action 7)
Lead: Team
Leader Drainage
Strategy (P&S) in
collaboration with
SP, AM, E&SL
Objective 4
Strategy 4.1
Council Buildings
Action
#
Action
Timeframe
Resource
implications
Responsible
department(s)
Related IWMS objectives
and strategies
9
Establish a Facility Retrofit Program to improve
water efficiency and reduce potable water
consumption at Council facilities outside
Council’s scheduled renewal program. The
analysis to inform the program will include a
focus on high water using sites and financial
payback. Implement retrofit works as funding
becomes available.
2014–15 –
2015–16
Budget allocation:
$0
Lead: Principal
Sustainability
Officer (E&SL) in
collaboration with
FY&R and P&S
Objectives 1 and 2
Note: $50,000 per
year
foreshadowed in
2016–17 and
2018–19
Strategy 1.1
Strategy 2.1
Community Engagement
10
Work with Yarra Riverkeepers to engage with
the community around reducing pollutants
flowing into waterways
2014–15 2015–16
Budget allocation:
$0
Principal
Sustainability
Officer (E&SL)
Strategy 3.5.
2014–15 2015–16
Budget allocation:
$15,000
Principal
Sustainability
Officer (E&SL)
Objectives 1-3
Note: Yarra Riverkeepers were the recipient of a triennial
operational grant from Council for 2014–15 to 2016–17.
11
Develop and deliver community engagement
resources and activities to support the
community in the uptake of water sensitive
practices.
Note: this will be primarily delivered through Council’s Living
for our Future program.
Implementation Plan 2014–2016
Strategy 1.3
Strategy 2.4
Strategy 3.5
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4. Complementary ongoing activities
In addition to the above priority actions, a range of activities will be undertaken by Council to support
delivery of the IWMS. These continuous improvement activities will be delivered within operational
resourcing or incorporated into planned capital works projects, for example:

Ensure that Sustainable Buildings Policy and guidelines continues to be used as a means of
incorporating water efficiency and rainwater harvesting as standard practice (E&SL/ P&S).

Promote water saving incentives and rebates available to residents and business (E&SL).

Ensure all relevant Council officers are trained in WSUD maintenance, and maintenance
checklists and procedures developed (P&G, IS, E&SL).

Investigate implementation of technology and practices to better use available water resources
and improve irrigation (P&G).
5. Monitoring and reporting
Monitoring involves collection and analysis of data and information to assist timely decision-making,
ensure accountability and provide the basis for assessing progress toward achievement of objectives and
targets. It will help identify if adjustments need to be made to strategies, resourcing and program or
project design. Section 8 of the IWMS includes proposed progress indicators for the first three objectives
of the Strategy, and the data that will be used to track progress against these indicators. The 2024 targets
will be reviewed pending completion of the feasibility assessment and prioritisation of identified WSUD
infrastructure opportunities.
The actions listed in section 3 of this plan will be entered into Council’s reporting system Interplan and
reported on annually.
For all queries or feedback regarding this document, please contact the responsible officer below.
Contact: Bronwen Hutchinson, Principal Sustainability Officer
Contact Number: 9278 4011
Contact email: bronwen.hutchinson@boroondara.vic.gov.au
Implementation Plan 2014–2016
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Appendix 1 - Alignment of IWMS objectives and strategies with
actions from the Implementation Plan (2014–16)
IWMS Objectives and strategies
Related Implementation Plan actions
Objective 1: Minimise use of drinking water
Strategy 1.1
Action 9
Strategy 1.2
Action1, Action 2, Action 3, Action 4
Strategy 1.3
Action 11
Objective 2: Increase local water harvesting and reuse
Strategy 2.1
Action 2, Action 9
Strategy 2.2
Action 1, Action 3, Action 4
Strategy 2.3
Action 5
Strategy 2.4
Action 11
Objective 3: Remove pollutants from stormwater runoff
Strategy 3.1
Action 1, Action 1a, Action 4
Strategy 3.2
No specific action (complementary ongoing activity)
Strategy 3.3
No specific action (complementary ongoing activity)
Strategy 3.4
Action 5, Action 6
Strategy 3.5
Action 10, Action 11
Objective 4: Flood management
Strategy 4.1
Action 7, Action 8
Strategy 4.2
Beyond Implementation Plan timeframe
Strategy 4.3
Beyond Implementation Plan timeframe
Implementation Plan 2014–2016
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