Waterways Local Update 2014-15
Melbourne Water’s work to improve waterways and provide flood protection
in the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
40 km trees planted along waterways
Platypus surveys in Yarra River and Monbulk Creek
25 volunteers provided us with rainfall data
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:
• Yarra River
• Jehosaphat Creek
• Steels Creek
• Ferny Creek
• Monbulk Creek
• Watts River
• Woori Yallock Creek
• Stringybark Creek
• Olinda Creek
• Hoddles Creek
• Little Yarra River
• Don River
Waterways Local Update 2014 –15
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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
40 km revegetation
We plant indigenous trees and shrubs along
waterways to provide habitat for birds and animals.
Revegetating waterways also
helps improve water quality
511 km weed control
Introduced and noxious weeds can choke waterways
and take over from plants which provide healthy
habitats for birds and animals
275 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
180 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
Red Cestrum weed control along the Watts River
above Maroondah Reservoir
Red Cestrum is a listed environmental weed in your
area. By controlling its spread we allow for significant
regeneration of indigenous plant species and reduce
the seed source in the upper catchments
Upgraded the Birdsland Monbulk Creek track
To enhance public safety and assist Council to re-open
the area
Worked with Council to improve habitat along
Dandenong Creek within the Dandenong Ranges
National Park
To improve the habitat for native animals such as
Lace Monitors and Powerful Owls
Completed designs for a hydrology improvement
project along Cockatoo Creek within the Yellingbo
Nature Conservation Reserve
To improve habitat for Victoria’s endangered floral bird
emblem – the helmeted honeyeater, and Victoria’s
endangered faunal emblem – the lowland leadbeaters
possum.
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Stormwater
We work closely with Council and local communities to better manage stormwater to protect the environment,
provide alternative water sources and improve the stormwater that flows into local waterways.
What we have done
Why
Provided funding and worked with Council on the Little
Stringybark Creek research project, a world first to
encourage the capture and reuse of stormwater to
improve the health of rivers and creeks in your area
Empowering the local community to make changes by
increasing awareness of the connection between
stormwater and healthy waterways. By treating and
reusing stormwater we can reduce potable water use,
mitigate flooding and help protect the health of rivers
and creeks by reducing the quantity of stormwater that
flows into local waterways
Contributed to the stormwater harvesting and reuse of
water, including raingardens and bio-swales as part of
the Monbulk Soccer Centre development
Raingardens capture stormwater that runs off hard
surfaces after it rains, reducing the quantity and
improving the stormwater that flows into local
waterways
Provided funding to the Sassafras Stormwater
Management project
This project is aimed at protecting the gully from further
erosion and improving water quality in Sassafras
Creek
Through our Living Rivers program, we have worked with Council and contributed $934,325 to projects
that assist waterway health and create sustainable stormwater management solutions in your area.
Find out more at melbournewater.com.au/livingrivers
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 the Victorian Environmental Water Holder
to deliver three environmental water flows
to the Yarra 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
Worked with local landholders to measure flows
and identify on-ground actions that can improve Woori
Yallock Creek
To improve our understanding of water flows and help
improve the needs of the plants and animals that live
here
Undertook investigations with Council at the
billabong within Spadonis Nature Reserve to
understand flows and current vegetation conditions
This information helps us better manage waterways
within the Reserve
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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
26 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)
Undertook weekly monitoring at one site to better
understand recreational health risks during the
summer period
We use this data to identify any pollution sources and
provide information to the community
Annual platypus surveys in the Yarra River
and Monbulk Creek
Improved knowledge of platypus population health and
distribution allows us to nurture this important species
Macroinvertebrate surveys in the Yarra River
and its tributaries
These surveys improve our knowledge of the
waterway’s condition and how it changes
Undertook fish surveys at 18 sites along the Little
Yarra, Don and Hoddles Creeks. Also monitored fish
within the Stringybark and Log Creeks
This is part of our monitoring program to understand
and improve our management of water resources
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
325 referrals for land subdivisions reviewed
To ensure proposed land subdivisions meet current
standards for drainage and stormwater quality
77 development applications reviewed
To make sure that growing communities don’t increase
flood risk
79 flood information requests reviewed
To provide flood information to property owners and
people interested in purchasing or redeveloping
property
49 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
29 stormwater connection applications reviewed
To ensure waterways and the plants and animals that
live there, are protected from the potential impacts of
construction works
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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 82 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
25 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
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
$504,724
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
$115,160
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
$136,950
Corridors of Green
Funding for councils and public land managers for projects such
as weed control, fencing and creating management plans
$69,357
Rural Land
Program
Funding for landholders in specific catchments for projects that
reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients entering waterways
from agricultural land
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Throughout the year we also worked with the local community on several events and initiatives.
Who we worked with
What we did
Grace Burn (Healesville Environment Watch Inc.
and Mt Toolebewong Landcare)
Provided training and support for water quality
monitoring including field visits, equipment
maintenance and quality control exercises
Monbulk Landcare
Upper Yarra Landcare
Friends of Hazel Vale
Friends of Sherbrook Forest
Belgrave Lake Park
Friends of Elizabeth Bridge Reserve
As part of our Waterway Ambassadors program we
provided funding and support for the Chelodina Festival
Southern Dandenongs Landcare
Provided support to run river health and water quality
activities as part of the Platypus Festival in Belgrave
Communities for Platypus Program
This year we developed a pilot program in Belgrave to help reduce threats to local platypus populations. We
worked with community groups and ran a series of events in your area to raise awareness of platypus in
Monbulk Creek and encourage residents to help them.
As part of this program Melbourne Water:
• Ran a series of innovative street art and engagement events to encourage local Platypus Spotters to help
reduce entangling litter, the use of illegal nets and injury from domestic animals
• Supported local student leaders from four Healesville Schools to visit Healesville Sanctuary
• Provided resources for the Healesville Environment Watch Inc school education program
• Conducted a platypus and macroinvertebrate walk and talk at the Belgrave Minibeasts Festival
• Provided support for the Southern Dandenongs Landcare group to run river health and water quality activities at
the Belgrave Platypus Festival
• Launched the Platypus Spotters program in conjunction with the Belgrave Platypus group
• Provided resources to the Upper Yarra Landcare for their festival
ISSN: 1837-1663 (Print) ISSN: 1838-2428 (Online)
Copyright © Melbourne Water Corporation July 2015
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