Waterways Local Update 2014-15
Melbourne Water’s work to improve waterways and provide flood protection
in the City of Hume.
19 volunteers provided us with rainfall data
$119,914 in community funding
Supported community water quality monitoring
Melbourne Water is responsible for 8,400 km of rivers and creeks, 428 wetland treatment systems and more than
1,400 km of regional drainage systems in the Port Phillip and Westernport region.
This work is funded by the Waterways and Drainage Charge, which is paid by property owners and collected by
water retailers on our behalf.
Within your local area, Melbourne Water cares for the following waterways:
• Konagaderra Creek
• Longview Creek
• Jacksons Creek
• Emu Creek
• Kismet Creek
• Blind Creek
• Deep Creek
• Merri Creek
• Upper Moonee Ponds Creek
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Healthy waterways
Maintenance
Each year we create and maintain healthy waterways by removing litter, debris and excess sediment.
We remove and spray weeds, cut grass and plant native trees and shrubs.
What we have done
Why
2 km revegetation
We plant native trees and shrubs along waterways to
provide habitat for birds and animals. Revegetating
waterways also
helps prevent them from erosion
55 km weed control
Introduced and noxious weeds can choke waterways
and take over from plants which provide healthy
habitats for birds and animals
420 m3 sediment/silt removal
Silt and sediment is removed for drainage and flood
protection and to prevent pollution building up in our
waterways. Excess silt and sediment in waterways and
wetlands can also impact on habitat
for native plants and animals
170 m3 litter/debris removal
Litter can have devastating consequences for native
animals and plants living in waterways. Debris such a
leaves and grass cuttings can restrict the flow of water
causing a flooding risk and changing the habitat for
platypus and fish
Environmental water
We work with government agencies, councils, industries, landowners and the community to provide the allocated
water needed in rivers to maintain healthy natural ecosystems.
What we have done
Why
Worked with Council, Environmental Protection
Agency, the Department of Land, Water and Planning,
Southern Rural Water and Western Water to plan
stormwater and wastewater treatments
Stormwater pollution is the biggest threat to our rivers
and creeks. By working with others, we can identify
how to best manage the health of the Maribyrnong
River and improve water quality
Worked with the Victorian Environmental Water
Holder, licenced diverters and Southern Rural Water to
deliver environmental water to the Maribrynong River
Releasing water from upstream storages mimics flows
that would naturally be there without the river being
dammed. This improves water quality and habitat for
native wildlife in the Maribyrnong River and Jacksons
Creek
As part of our Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems
Program we investigated the role of groundwater on
Jacksons Creek
During drought conditions, groundwater provides an
important water source to many ecosystems. This work
helps us understand potential threats to Jacksons
Creek and how we best manage it
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Monitoring and research
We regularly undertake extensive monitoring, investigations and research to help us better understand how
we can improve local waterways.
What we have done
Why
Undertook monthly water quality monitoring at
eight sites within your area. These tests measure:
Our water quality monitoring program is designed to
assess broad-scale, long-term trends in water quality
(typically over eight to 10 years). We use this data to
help identify pollution sources and inform the
community about local water quality
• water temperature
• dissolved oxygen
• salinity (conductivity)
• pH level
• nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, Kjeldahl nitrogen,
soluble reactive phosphorus and total phosphorus)
• indicators of faecal contamination (E. coli)
• metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper,
lead, nickel and zinc)
Annual platypus surveys in Jacksons Creek
Improved knowledge of platypus population health and
distribution allows us to nurture this important species
Macroinvertebrate surveys in the Merri Creek
These surveys improve our knowledge of the
waterway’s condition and how it changes
Conducted our Long Term Sediment Quality
Monitoring Program in Skeleton Creek, Jacksons
Creek, Deep Creek, Maribyrnong River, Highlands
Estate Wetland, Brodies Lakes and Shankland
Wetland
Improves our knowledge of contaminants and guides
our management of the waterway
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Planning for future development
We plan for future development to ensure growing communities do not threaten local waterways.
We also advise and assist new developments to ensure they do not increase flood risk.
What we have done
Why
461 referrals for land subdivisions reviewed
To ensure proposed land subdivisions meet current
standards for drainage and stormwater quality
40 development applications reviewed
To make sure that growing communities don’t increase
flood risk
138 flood information requests reviewed
To provide flood information to property owners and
people interested in purchasing or redeveloping
property
52 applications for works near Melbourne Water assets
and works such as bridges, shared pathways and
jetties reviewed
To ensure waterways, and the plants and animals that
live there, are protected from the potential impacts of
building works
22 stormwater connection applications reviewed
To ensure waterways and the plants and animals that
live there, are protected from the potential impacts of
construction works
Flood protection
While floods are natural and we can’t stop them all from occurring, we aim to minimise the damage they cause
to people, places and communities.
We manage the regional drainage system and work with Council, the Victorian State Emergency Service, the
Bureau of Meteorology, property owners and developers to make sure flood information is up to date, provide flood
warning services, and prepare flood response plans. We also identify and construct new flood protection projects in
areas with the greatest need.
What we have done
Why
Consulted with councils and communities to develop a
draft strategy to guide future flood management across
the Port Phillip and Westernport region
Although we cannot prevent floods from occurring, we
can work together to manage the risks and minimise
the damage and disruption they cause to people,
places and communities
We operate and maintain eight monitoring stations in
your area to collect real-time information such as
rainfall and water levels
This data helps us understand rainfall patterns, plan
responses to droughts and floods and make sure rivers
and creeks have enough water to support local wildlife
Completed flood mapping for:
To update our knowledge of flooding, better manage
drains, assess flood risks in the catchment and assist
with planning scheme overlays
• Jacksons Creek
• Arnolds Creek East
• Moonee Ponds Creek Upper
Met with Council and the State Emergency Service to
review implementation of the Flood Management plan
To ensure on-going coordination and collaboration in
managing flood risks
19 volunteers in your area provide us with rainfall data by recording information from a rain gauge in
their backyard. These figures, together with data from our automated gauges, provides us with valuable
rainfall information.
Find out more at melbournewater.com.au/communityrainreaders
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Working with the community
The involvement of community groups, volunteers, land managers and farmers supports our management of local
waterways and regional drainage systems. If you’d like more information about funding opportunities please call
131 722 or email river.health@melbournewater.com.au
Funding provided
Grant
$92,642
Stream Frontage
Management
Funding for private land owners and managers for works that
protect or enhance riverbanks, such as weed control, fencing
and planting native trees
$9,735
Community Grants
Funding for volunteer and community groups for works that
protect or enhance riverbanks on public land and raise awareness,
training and education to protect local waterways
$17,537
Corridors of Green
Funding for councils and public land managers for projects such
as weed control, fencing and creating management plans
Throughout the year we also worked with the local community on several events and initiatives.
Who we worked with
What we did
Friend of Emu Bottom Wetlands
Provided training and support for water quality
monitoring including field visits, equipment
maintenance and quality
control exercises
Clarkefield Landcare
Sunbury Landcare
Friends of Holden Flora Reserve
Provided training, materials and ongoing support for
macroinvertebrate monitoring in Jacksons Creek
Sunbury Primary School
Conducted raingarden experience sessions at Sunbury
Primary School as part of the Waterway Ambassadors
program
Autism Plus
We ran biodiversity and litter education sessions to
assist Autism Plus who have taken on custodianship of
Global Drive Reserve in Westmeadows with Hume City
Council
Waterwatch is a citizen science program that encourages communities
to monitor platypus, frogs and waterbugs as well as the water quality of their local river or creeks. We
empower our volunteers to collect data, protect the waterways environment and share their knowledge.
Visit melbournewater.com.au/waterwatch or call 131 722 to find out more.
ISSN: 1837-1663 (Print) ISSN: 1838-2428 (Online)
Copyright © Melbourne Water Corporation July 2015
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