51
4
Management
approaches
4.1
Planning, strategy, guidelines
53
4.2
Advocacy
56
4.3
Enforcement
59
4.4
Building stewardship and sharing knowledge
60
4.5
Vegetation management
66
4.6
Habitat management
70
4.7
Asset protection and renewal
74
4.8
Stormwater management
78
4.9
Environmental water
81
4.10
Diversions management
87
A variety of approaches can be used to effectively manage waterways and to
protect and improve their condition to the level required to support values.
These range from on-ground waterway protection works to influencing planning,
policy and strategies.
This chapter outlines these management approaches under several themes:
>Planning, strategy and guidelines
>Advocacy
>Enforcement
>Building stewardship and sharing knowledge
>Vegetation management
>Habitat management
>Asset protection and renewal
>Stormwater management
>Environmental water
>Diversions management.
For actions specific to each system, see Chapter 5.
More detailed planning will translate the management approaches outlined in this chapter into actions to address
the strategic priorities and implementation targets outlined in Chapter 5. Further information on this process, known
as implementation planning, can be found in Chapter 7.
Melbourne Water is one of many organisations, community groups and individuals working to care for our
waterways. We recognise the importance of community and stakeholder contributions to improving waterway
health, and acknowledge that as a community, we all play a part in achieving the vision articulated in this strategy.
Examples of ongoing contributions to waterway health include:
>Landcare and ‘Friends of’ groups and environmental networks who deliver environmental improvement works,
build stewardship and share knowledge.
>Property owners who manage waterways on private land.
>Local government, which supports community education and engagement, implements environmental programs
such as litter reduction programs, undertakes waterway and stormwater management including complementary
waterway improvement works, and manages drainage and recreational assets.
>Government agencies such as EPA Victoria, the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) who
develop policy and guidelines, advocate good practice and undertake enforcement responsibilities within their
areas of responsibility; Parks Victoria, which undertakes complementary environmental improvement works and
manages recreational assets; and the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, which
provides strategic direction for natural resource management and builds stewardship.
>Water authorities that contribute to integrated water management and in particular prevent future degradation
by exploring alternative water sources and managing threats from sewerage.
>Developers who have a role in improving environmental condition and amenity through construction and
improvement of stormwater infrastructure and waterways in new developments.
This list is not exhaustive, but an indication of stakeholders and their roles in the management approaches.
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Healthy Waterways Strategy 2013/14–2017/18
Chapter 4: Management approaches
4.1 Planning, strategy, guidelines
Melbourne Water develops plans, strategies and guidelines to protect and manage waterways. Sound planning is
the basis for identifying priorities for waterway management and for ensuring effective delivery of on-ground works,
and guidelines are important to offer our stakeholders more detailed information and interpretation of policies.
Responsibilities for developing plans, strategies and guidelines
As the caretaker of waterway health and the waterway, drainage and floodplain authority for the Port Phillip
and Westernport region, Melbourne Water has several planning-related responsibilities including:
>Undertaking regional planning activities for healthy waterways – implementing legislation and state direction –
and developing strategies and guidelines for delivering these outcomes in the Port Phillip and Westernport region
(see Box 4.1: Developing guidelines for waterway corridors).
>Providing input to state and regional plans relating to our role as waterway manager. Examples include
contribution to the Draft Port Phillip and Westernport Regional Catchment Strategy, the Victorian Waterway
Management Strategy and the Melbourne’s Water Future.
>Responding to statutory referrals under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 for planning applications that
may affect waterways. This responsibility allows us to comment on applications and, if necessary, place
conditions on permits to ensure functionality and protection of waterways.
>Participating in regional planning activities including providing specialist technical input and advice to local
government, undertaking flood studies, providing advice and input to Precinct Structure Plans (see Box 4.2:
Working in partnership to manage development)and on planning scheme amendments.
>Participating in regional scale integrated water cycle management planning (see Box 4.3: What is Integrated
Water Cycle Management?).
BOX 4.1
Developing guidelines for waterway corridors
As part of our role to improve waterway health, Melbourne Water aims to establish and maintain streamside
zones along all waterways we manage. Streamside zones protect or improve native vegetation, river health and
biodiversity, and provide space for recreational infrastructure and activities. Within newly developing areas of
Melbourne, known as greenfield development zones, waterway corridors are assigned to waterways to preserve
areas of the streamside zone. Melbourne Water has been working with the development industry and other
key partners to develop guidelines to provide clear direction and a consistent approach for provision of these
waterway corridors.
The size and condition of the streamside zone is important for channel bed and bank stability, water quality,
and aquatic and streamside biodiversity, which are cornerstones of a healthy waterway and catchment system.
The guidelines for waterway corridors define standard corridor widths, vegetation quality and permitted
activities and infrastructure within waterway corridors. This will allow developers to plan for appropriate
streamside zones from an early stage in the urban development process.
Urban development represents a great challenge
and opportunity for waterway health because it has
the capacity to significantly affect streamside zones.
In the past, inconsistencies in provision of waterway
corridors have led to substantial confusion and less
than optimal outcomes for the environment,
development industry and community. The new
waterway corridor guidelines aim to provide clear
direction for stakeholders involved in developing
greenfield areas, allowing increased certainty at
the early planning stage.
Guidelines for waterway corridors result in better outcomes
for the community
53
BOX 4.2
Working in partnership to manage development
Melbourne, like other Australian cities, is growing at a rapid rate. It is predicted that Melbourne’s population will
grow to 5.5 million by 2036, requiring the development of more than 600,000 additional homes. This rapid rate
of urbanisation presents challenges and opportunities for our region’s waterways. It is essential that Melbourne
Water works with other stakeholders, such as local government, retail water businesses and the Metropolitan
Planning Authority (MPA), to manage this growth for river health outcomes. Melbourne Water works closely
with these stakeholders at the early planning stage to influence suburb-scale plans, such as precinct structure
plans (PSP), to achieve multiple benefits including appropriate setbacks of development from waterways,
waterway health improvements and beneficial outcomes for amenity and recreation, where appropriate.
The preparation of a PSP for Rockbank North provides an example of the many benefits of working in
partnership with other agencies to manage development along waterways. The PSP identified a large reserve
along Kororoit Creek and Deanside Wetlands. The reserve required integrated management of flooding, drainage
and specific conservation for the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999-listed growling
grass frog. This required extensive collaboration between Melbourne Water, local government, MPA and the
Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI). The strict requirements for the habitat of the
growling grass frog necessitated the development of a comprehensive management plan through collaboration
between Melbourne Water, DEPI and developers. This included determining other important outcomes
such as setbacks for development, vegetation planning and drainage management as part of an integrated
management approach.
This process has provided an excellent opportunity to examine and better understand the land and waterway
management needs of such a complex area and considerably increased understanding of the roles and
responsibilities of stakeholders. Through collaboration and partnerships such as this, Melbourne Water can
ensure the best outcomes for river health while achieving important benefits for water supply, drainage
and floodplains.
BOX 4.3
What is integrated water cycle management?
Historically, the elements of the water cycle – including water supply, sewerage, drainage and natural water
systems such as waterways and bays – have been managed separately. This has delivered significant benefits
to the community, but has not always led to optimum outcomes across the whole of the water cycle.
As outlined in the Melbourne’s Water Future, we are committed to a more integrated approach to delivering
our water services, where we:
• Plan for multiple objectives including water supply, flood mitigation, waste management, liveability and
waterway health
• Plan at different scales including city, regional and local scales
• Consider all water sources including large-scale supply options as well as local options such as groundwater,
recycled water and stormwater harvesting
• Plan across water systems including water supply, transfer, sewerage, drainage and waterways
• Work in partnership with our customers and stakeholders, including retail water businesses, local
government, government agencies and developers, to deliver multiple benefits.
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Chapter 4: Management approaches
Approaches to developing plans, strategies and guidelines
Melbourne Water works with a range of organisations to prepare and contribute to the development of strategies,
plans and guidelines. This collaborative approach improves communication and coordination, promotes aligned
objectives, integrated delivery and efficient outcomes that take advantage of multiple benefits.
Principles for the program
>Integrate planning with other strategies and stakeholders
>Seek innovative input to our strategic direction for waterway management through the use of expert scientific
knowledge and expertise (for example, the River Health Expert Input Panel)
>Explore opportunities for multiple benefits as part of integrated water cycle management planning
>The improvement of amenity will not be at the detriment of environmental values.
Key directions and activities 2013–18
Melbourne Water will:
>Review and develop the next version of the Healthy Waterways Strategy
>Continue to provide long-term strategic visions for healthy waterways through the Healthy Waterways Visions,
a resource that communicates Melbourne Water’s longer-term aims for the form and function of more than
5500km of waterways in the Port Phillip and Westernport region on a reach-by-reach scale, for vegetation, water
quality, flow, stream form and waterway corridor widths
>Continue to develop guidelines, such as the waterway corridor guidelines (on appropriate development setbacks
from waterways) and constructed waterways guidelines (to ensure the appropriate design of waterways where
they must be reconstructed in new developments) and shared pathway guidelines on Melbourne Water land
>Continue to provide advice to local government through our role as a statutory referral authority on planning
permit applications relevant to waterways
>Continue to consult with stakeholders to ensure an understanding of permit applications for works
on waterways
>Continue providing advice for strategic local planning, such as the Maribyrnong River Valley Design Guidelines,
and coastal action plans in the Port Phillip and Westernport region. In particular, work with others to develop
a vision and design guidelines for the lower Yarra River
>Work closely with the Port of Melbourne Corporation and Parks Victoria to develop clear management
arrangements for works in estuaries, develop estuary sediment management plans and trial the use of the estuary
entrance management support system
>Continue to provide input to the development of statewide and regional strategies and policy, such as the new
Victorian Waterway Management Strategy and the Draft Port Phillip and Westernport Regional Catchment Strategy
>Further refine the strategic direction and activities for managing amenity and waterways as a setting for
recreation in waterways and floodplains of high social value, and the role of waterways in an urban environment
>Work with local government, Metropolitan Planning Authority (MPA) and the development industry to improve
waterway health outcomes in new developments, with a focus on protecting amenity in newly developing and
re-developing areas
>Work with water authorities and the Office of Living Victoria to contribute to integrated water cycle
management planning
>Provide input to relevant strategies and policies that affect waterways and Melbourne Water-owned land.
55
Key stakeholders
Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Office
of Living Victoria, EPA Victoria, Parks Victoria, catchment
management authorities, water authorities, Department
of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure, Growth
Areas Authority, development industry, Indigenous groups,
interested community groups, private landowners,
Melbourne Water’s River Health Expert Input Panel.
Target
Review the Healthy Waterways Strategy by 2018,
in accordance with DEPI guidelines.
4.2Advocacy
Advocacy means working with others to influence outcomes for waterways. It is an important tool in securing
good outcomes for waterways. Advocacy gives Melbourne Water an opportunity to influence areas in which it
does not have direct responsibility for decision making or action.
Responsibilities regarding advocacy
As caretaker of waterway health, Melbourne Water takes direct action to protect and improve waterways and
floodplains by undertaking on-ground works on our own land, working with land managers on public land or
with landowners on private land. We can also directly influence outcomes for waterways by fulfilling our role as a
statutory authority and placing conditions on applications for land use or development that may affect waterways.
Under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, Melbourne Water has referral powers in specific planning processes to
require conditions that ensure development activities do not encroach upon or compromise waterway function and
values. Through the same process, we can advocate for additional conditions to protect and improve environmental
and social values where required.
Revegetating the
streamside zone,
Drouin West
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Healthy Waterways Strategy 2013/14–2017/18
Chapter 4: Management approaches
Influences on waterways over which Melbourne Water does not have direct responsibility or referral powers include
land management activities on private land alongside waterways, and recreational facilities on public land. Here we
rely on our relationships with others to build partnerships and align management objectives to protect and improve
the environmental and social values of waterways. We advocate for the protection of waterway values and for
appropriate management and infrastructure.
Advocacy approaches
We can advocate to influence outcomes for waterways most effectively by building and maintaining strong
relationships with stakeholders.
We advocate for waterways through participating in strategy and planning development with stakeholders.
This includes involvement in the development of early concept planning for new urban development areas, local
government master plans and integrated water management plans with water authorities and the Office of
Living Victoria. Melbourne Water also advocates for new or improved legislation, policies and regulation to ensure
appropriate protection of waterway values. This includes providing specialist technical input and advice. Community
feedback has highlighted an increased expectation of Melbourne Water to advocate for waterway amenity outcomes
in development processes and this will be an area of focus during the life of the Healthy Waterways Strategy.
We also work with land managers beside our land and waterways to ensure their land management activities
are sensitive to the waterways we manage. This includes working in partnership to achieve the most effective
environmental outcomes – for example, by providing effective vegetation corridors and habitat – and raising
awareness of environmental values and threats.
Many of the influences on community satisfaction with waterways are the responsibility of other organisations, such
as the provision of bike paths, seats and barbecues. Melbourne Water’s role in this instance is to work with others
to identify opportunities to allow people to access and enjoy waterways through the provision and maintenance
of appropriate facilities provided by the relevant public land managers such as local government and Parks Victoria.
Principles for the program
>Seek to prevent degradation of waterways and values rather than rectify degradation once it has occurred
>Work with others to achieve multiple benefits for waterways
>Support good recreational outcomes on and beside waterways where they do not conflict with waterway
function or environmental values
>Manage litter at the source
Key directions and activities 2013 –18
Melbourne Water will:
>Use statutory processes to advocate for and protect the health of waterway values
>Articulate a vision for waterways through the Healthy Waterways Strategy and the Healthy Waterways Visions
and encourage others to take steps to achieve this vision
>Build relationships and actively seek collaborative arrangements with stakeholders beside waterways
and Melbourne Water land
>In high priority sites with potential for multiple benefits – environmental, amenity and recreational – develop
a shared vision and define investment actions with appropriate agencies and land managers
>Advocate for stronger consideration of, and a consistent approach to, amenity for urban waterways, particularly
through advocating for development controls to incorporate amenity considerations
>Develop an understanding of the opportunities and constraints to the community becoming mutual caretakers
of waterways
>Build the capacity of the community to advocate for waterway values and to provide effective care
of waterways
>Work with public land managers to plan for and implement appropriate recreational outcomes on waterways
57
>Support the use of Melbourne Water land by local and Victorian government authorities and communitybased clubs for recreational activities that benefit the broader community, consistent with the principles
in the Recreational use of Melbourne Water Land Policy, and in agreement with Melbourne Water
>Advocate for and support the implementation of litter programs with partners such as the Victorian
Litter Action Alliance, local government, Parks Victoria and EPA Victoria to:
− share information about waterway sites with known litter issues
− develop litter programs that integrate with other stormwater management programs
− support the regulation of litter management and enforcement of the litter provisions in the
Environment Protection Act
>Provide clear information on waterway health
>Develop appropriate standards and influence policy development for the protection and
improvement of waterway values.
Key stakeholders
Local government, Parks Victoria, Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI), Port Phillip
and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, landholders beside our land and waterways, retail water
businesses, Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure, community members and groups,
Growth Areas Authority, development industry.
TARGETs
Implement a program of advocacy for waterways
and the values they support by seeking to
collaborate and build meaningful relationships
with stakeholders.
The program will:
>Provide clear and transparent information
on waterway health
>Develop an understanding of the opportunities
and constraints to the community becoming
mutual caretakers of waterways
>Develop programs targeted to improve the
capacity of stakeholders and community
members to provide effective care of
waterways
>Develop appropriate standards and influence
policy development for the protection and
improvement of waterway values.
Engaging with stakeholders
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Chapter 4: Management approaches
4.3Enforcement
Importance of this work area
Encouraging good land and waterway stewardship, building relationships and advocating for improved outcomes
are among the most cost-effective ways to achieve positive outcomes for healthy waterways. But in some
instances, these activities alone are not enough to ensure good outcomes, and enforcement of legislation
and regulation is required.
Responsibilities regarding enforcement
Melbourne Water has responsibilities under the Water Act 1989 that enable us to take enforcement action on specific
issues. Melbourne Water’s By-law No.2: Waterways, Land and Works Protection and Management (April 2009) allows
us to address illegal diversions or illegal works on waterways. Melbourne Water can utilise provisions in the Planning
and Environment Act 1987 to ensure compliance with planning schemes or place conditions on planning permits.
In other circumstances, we may work with agencies including local government, EPA Victoria and DEPI to enforce
regulations and legislation, in the interest of waterway health.
Melbourne Water is also the second largest landowner in Victoria and has a range of licences, lease agreements,
shared use agreements and other management arrangements with those who use our land. These agreements outline
management conditions to protect waterway and floodplain values. Where these agreements are not being met,
enforcement action may be required.
Enforcement approaches
Where licences, management agreements or legislation have been breached, Melbourne Water will consider the most
appropriate means of redress. This may involve further education or negotiation with the party involved, or in the
most serious and high priority cases where there is a clear threat to waterways, enforcement action may be pursued.
This may or may not involve prosecution.
Working actively with land managers, neighbouring stakeholders and authorities to ensure requirements
of these management arrangements are understood and implemented is our first priority to encourage good
land stewardship.
Community expectations about environmental protection are high. In 2011, Melbourne Water developed a new
enforcement policy to provide clarity and certainty to the community about the approach we take when enforcing
conditions, legislation and environmental requirements.
Melbourne Water will continue to improve the management of enforcement issues by developing a comprehensive,
risk-based program of assessing compliance and enforcement issues. The risk-based approach will consider the level
of threat and consequence and enable Melbourne Water to clearly identify priority issues on which to take strong
action where necessary.
Another important approach will be to increase our focus on working actively with stakeholders to clarify
enforcement roles and responsibilities and strengthen relationships with EPA Victoria, DEPI and local government.
Principles for the program in 2013 –18
Key principles for this program are:
>Undertake an advocacy approach before enforcement activities are considered
>Critically assess breaches of legislation, licence or leases to prioritise our actions in enforcing these issues.
A risk-based approach will consider the level of threat and consequence and enable Melbourne Water to
clearly identify the priority issues on which to take action
>Where breaches impact on powers broader than our own, pursue enforcement actions in close collaboration with
other agencies that have legislative authority in the matter, such as EPA Victoria, local government and DEPI.
59
Key directions and activities
2013 –18
Melbourne Water will:
>Develop a risk-based enforcement program to
assess waterway and drainage enforcement issues
including improving the process to identify and
record potential enforcement issues
TARGETs
Develop a risk-based enforcement program to
assess waterway and drainage enforcement issues
and take appropriate action on identified high
priority issues.
The program will:
>Take appropriate action on high priority issues as
>Improve the process to identify and record
>In priority instances identified through the risk-
>Conduct a program of enforcement training
identified through the risk-based approach
based assessment, work in partnership with relevant
enforcement agencies to enforce breaches of
legislation, licences or leases that impact on
waterways and the values they support
>Increase clarity about the enforcement roles and
responsibilities for Melbourne Water and other
enforcement agencies and conduct a program of
enforcement training for Waterways employees
>Continue to take enforcement action against illegal
potential enforcement issues
for Waterways employees
>Develop a process to assess enforcement issues
and identify high priority issues for action
>Work actively with stakeholders, other
authorities and internally to ensure
requirements of management arrangements
such as leases and licences on Melbourne
Water land are in place and understood.
water extractions and unauthorised works on
waterways in accordance with a risk-based approach
>Work actively with stakeholders, other authorities and internally to ensure requirements of management
arrangements such as leases and licences on Melbourne Water land are in place and understood
>Advocate for other legal avenues that will make it easier to undertake compliance and enforcement action.
Key stakeholders
EPA Victoria, DEPI and local government.
4.4 Building stewardship and sharing knowledge
Waterway protection and improvement requires the work and support of many dedicated individuals, community
groups and organisations. This dedication is due to a sense of connection to waterways.
Many people in the region have extensive knowledge of waterway management and a passion for caring
(or providing stewardship) for waterways. Melbourne Water engages with the community and stakeholders
to share knowledge and foster increased interest in and stewardship of our waterways.
Responsibilities for building stewardship and sharing knowledge
As caretaker of waterway health, Melbourne Water has a responsibility to foster waterway stewardship and
promote knowledge sharing to increase the effectiveness of waterway management across the Port Phillip
and Westernport region.
We do this through programs such as incentive schemes and education and by providing forums for communication
and knowledge sharing in the community.
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Chapter 4: Management approaches
Sharing knowledge
Approaches to building stewardship and sharing knowledge
Incentive programs
Melbourne Water provides funding to landowners or those managing and caring for land beside waterways to
help improve waterway health (see Box 4.4: Rejuvenating river frontages). Incentives aim to develop knowledge
and practical skills, encourage stakeholders to work together more effectively and provide on-ground waterway
improvement, and in turn, increase the stewardship of our waterways. Incentives are provided
on a cost-sharing basis towards:
>On-ground activities such as weed control, fencing and revegetation
>Community group support such as administration, raising public awareness and participation, education
and training
>Capacity-building activities such as on-ground extension advice, education and training to increase knowledge
and understanding of good water and land management practices
>Communication and information sharing such as field days, community events and publications.
Community programs
Melbourne Water supports community programs that provide forums for building stewardship and sharing
knowledge including:
>Healthy Waterways Waterwatch – this engagement program works with many partners to enable community
members, environment groups, local government and businesses to be actively involved in monitoring and
protecting the health of rivers and creeks, and also to develop their understanding of, and connection to,
waterways (see Box 4.5: Healthy Waterways Waterwatch program).
>Melbourne Water School Education – this education program enables students to understand the water
cycle and their contribution to a healthy environment and also to develop their understanding of, and
connection to, waterways.
>Discovery centres – the Edithvale-Seaford Wetland Discovery Centre and the Western Treatment Plant Discovery
Centre have been designed to provide school students and special interest groups with the opportunity to
participate in practical educational activities. The discovery centres focus on different aspects of the water
cycle and catchments to provide a holistic education experience.
>Melbourne Water Frog Census – this community-based biological monitoring program aims to better
understand frog populations in Melbourne and raise awareness of waterway health issues.
>Sponsorships and grants – Melbourne Water administers sponsorships and grants as part of its commitment
to collaborate, educate, engage and promote good relations with the community and key stakeholders.
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BOX 4.4
Rejuvenating river frontages
Since 1996, Melbourne Water has been working with
thousands of private landowners, community groups
and public land managers in the Port Phillip and
Westernport region to improve the condition of
waterways. The River Health Incentives Program
(including Stream Frontage Management, Community
Grants and Corridors of Green programs) provides
financial support for on-ground streamside
rehabilitation projects such as fencing, revegetation,
weed control and off-stream stock watering. Grant
recipients are also offered technical support and
education opportunities.
Lyn and Peter Link’s waterway frontages are a great
example of this. Lyn and Peter began protecting their
stretch of Hamilton Creek (a Bunyip River tributary
near Garfield, east of Melbourne) in 1997.
Land owners Lyn and Peter Link
Melbourne Water helped fund the cost of fencing both sides of the creek and provided all the plants and
planting materials. In total, the couple (and an army of Outlook volunteers) have planted about
8500 native shrubs and trees, of varying heights and species.
So far, Lyn and Peter have carried out three river health improvement projects and have been thrilled
with the results.
“We had a slight erosion problem,” says Lyn, “but we also wanted to help create a wildlife corridor between
Mount Cannibal and Cannibal Creek, and improve water quality in Western Port.”
Their erosion problem has been corrected, the creek is providing good habitat for wildlife (particularly birds
and insects), and the cattle are benefiting from additional shelter. The Links have also managed to save several
large eucalypts that had been struggling when stock had access to the area. The greatest benefit though
has been aesthetic. “It’s improved the place so much,” says Peter. “I just love coming to work each day.”
Over the past 16 years, more than 1000km of waterway frontages in urban and rural environments have
benefited from this partnership approach, and the incentive programs will continue to be an important
part of improving waterway health.
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BOX 4.5
Healthy Waterways Waterwatch program
Healthy Waterways Waterwatch is a hands-on education program that supports community members and
businesses to be actively involved in monitoring waterway health. At the core of the program is the desire to
create a better understanding, sense of stewardship and connection to catchments and waterways and in doing
so, generate more sustainable waterway behaviour.
The program supports community members in monitoring the condition of waterways. Each group is provided
with specialised training and resources, and receives ongoing support to develop and implement its own
waterway monitoring program.
A special project, Bushfire Waterwatch, aimed to work with the community to track the recovery of waterways
after the Black Saturday bushfires. Waterwatch community volunteers began monitoring affected catchments
in February 2009. The project included 37 monitors working across 53 sites in the burnt areas and directly
downstream of them in 20 sub-catchments of the Yarra and Bunyip rivers. Water quality information, physical
assessment of the site and photos were collected. The aim was to monitor habitat stability, water quality,
threats to natural regeneration from weeds and pests, emerging issues such as erosion and to collect a
photographic profile of how streams were recovering.
Participants at Waterwatch Family Festival
Knowledge sharing
Sharing knowledge and learning is an important part of equipping Melbourne Water, our customers and stakeholders
to be effective managers of waterway health. We facilitate knowledge sharing in several ways including:
>Forums – such as ‘Making Connections’ seminars for the community and stakeholders to inform Melbourne
Water programs and priorities, and river health seminars to share scientific information on a local catchment
(see Box 4.6: River health seminars)
>Publications – Melbourne Water publishes a wide range of information, much of it via our website, on everything
from significant projects, storage levels, water restrictions and rainfall to rivers, creeks, estuaries and wetlands
>Community learning – includes face-to-face learning experiences, interactive trailers explaining the water
cycle, educational programs and publications
>Indigenous communities – working collaboratively to share knowledge and increase our understanding of
Indigenous cultural values of waterways (see Box 4.7: Merri Creek Indigenous Community Values Project).
63
BOX 4.6
River health seminars
Managing waterways effectively requires sound knowledge of environmental condition and processes and,
most importantly, the ability to keep learning and applying new ideas. Melbourne Water aims to constantly
improve our knowledge through partnering with other research organisations, monitoring and evaluating
projects, and working with many knowledgeable groups and individuals. Regionally-run river health seminars
help us learn about the work that others are doing on waterways and provide an opportunity to share ideas
and concerns about waterway health.
Key objectives of the seminars are to gain advice and feedback from the community on our waterway
programs, generate interest in specific projects and increase awareness of local issues. The seminars also enable
networking between stakeholders to create a positive working relationship.
River health seminars are half-day events involving several speakers including Melbourne Water employees,
community groups and other organisations presenting information on outcomes of monitoring, investigations
and key projects in the area. They provide a forum for community and stakeholders to provide their views
about local priorities, which can help us adapt our planning and activities. Many seminars also involve a walking
tour of a local wetland or waterway for discussion of key issues and topics identified in presentations.
Participants at the seminars, which have been held since 2007, include local government, ‘Friends of’ and
Landcare groups, landowners, community members, scientific community, and other natural resource
management agencies. Attendees are surveyed about the usefulness of the seminars, quality of the
presentations and suggestions for improvements. Results from these surveys reveal that attendees appreciate
the opportunity to see what is happening in their area and more than three-quarters said they would attend
future river health seminars.
River health seminars have resulted in the establishment of a successful engagement model that has improved
our learning and which will remain an important part of our community and stakeholder engagement.
BOX 4.7
Merri Creek Indigenous Community Values Project
As Melbourne Water works to improve waterway condition, we are also working to improve our understanding
of cultural and heritage values to enable us to protect and improve them. The aim of the Merri Creek
Community Values Project was to explore these values. The Wurundjeri people worked collaboratively
with Melbourne Water to record the cultural values that Merri Creek held and still holds for the local
Traditional Owners.
This information provided valuable learning for Melbourne Water, improving our understanding of Indigenous
values and guiding direction when planning works along Merri Creek. Without such knowledge and appreciation
of the aspects of waterways that hold special importance to Indigenous groups, Melbourne Water cannot
effectively target works to protect or improve these values. The project was delivered by the Wurundjeri Tribe
Land and Compensation Cultural Heritage Council and Melbourne Water.
The project involved researching the history of the area, along with many walks along the creek and workshops
to discuss the values. It enabled Melbourne Water and the Wurundjeri people to work together in a constructive
manner to build the relationship. It provided an avenue for Wurundjeri Elders to ‘reconnect’ with Country and
document their knowledge of the area. It also provided an opportunity to engage the Wurundjeri youth in a
different and interesting way, strengthening the Wurundjeri connection with Country. This project has helped
compile a more accurate and complete representation of the value Merri Creek holds for Indigenous people of
the area and will help educate non-Indigenous people about these values.
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Principles for the program
>Provide cost-share incentives on a sliding scale, dependent on the waterway outcomes and benefits achieved
>Focus incentives to ensure greater public benefit, while recognising there will also be a private benefit.
Key directions and activities 2013–18
Activities relating to building stewardship and sharing knowledge among our customers, stakeholders and
the community will include:
>Continuing our incentive programs for management of waterways on privately owned, local government
and Parks Victoria-managed land, and DEPI crown land – for rivers, estuaries and waterway-related wetlands
>Focusing on building capacity and encouraging stewardship of waterways to collectively achieve outcomes
for waterways and their key values
>Continuing to support community education programs including Healthy Waterways Waterwatch, the Melbourne
Water Frog Census, and the establishment of EstuaryWatch
>Continuing to provide school resources and education on waterways
>Providing a range of engagement and knowledge-sharing initiatives across the Port Phillip and Westernport
region related to rivers, estuaries and wetlands
>Improving online access to data and waterway health information
>Continuing and diversifying where appropriate the means by which we engage with, learn from and share
knowledge with our customers, stakeholders and the community to build stewardship and capacity
>In priority areas, clearly linking incentives and on-ground works to key waterway value outcomes
>Outside priority areas, continuing to provide incentives to invest in longer-term system improvements
for waterways, and capacity building for individuals and organisations.
Key stakeholders
Private landholders, Parks Victoria, DEPI, public
landowners, ‘Friends of’, network and Landcare groups,
local government, Port Phillip and Westernport
Catchment Management Authority, schools and
students, Indigenous groups, local Committees of
Management for public land.
TARGETs
Encourage stewardship by sharing knowledge,
actively learning, supporting community-based
monitoring and increasing community capacity
through delivery of grants, targeted programs
and education to landholders, community
groups and land managers.
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4.5 Vegetation management
The health of waterways is intrinsically linked to the type and quality of vegetation within and alongside them.
High quality vegetation provides habitat, food resources, nesting and roosting sites, bed and bank stabilisation,
shade temperature control and a source of seed.
Vegetation also provides important links between waterways and the surrounding land as areas of habitat, refuge
and biodiversity, and supports important ecological processes such as nutrient exchange and carbon cycling.
Vegetation is also an important part of waterway amenity, providing shade and beautiful landscapes for the people
who visit them.
Responsibilities for managing vegetation
Vegetation management is the most substantial part of Melbourne Water’s works program. Our collaboration with
partners to protect and improve native vegetation is crucial because waterway condition and values rely on suitable
vegetation quality.
The type of vegetation management required depends on the objectives for an area, which will be influenced by
the values present. For example, in an area that has good quality vegetation that already supports many values, our
objective will be to maintain the current condition. However, in an area that has moderate quality vegetation, and
the potential to support more values, our objective will be to improve the vegetation condition to the level needed
to support the values (see Box 4.8: Translating strategic direction to on-ground action).
Key values that are the focus of this strategy – amenity, birds, fish, frogs, macroinvertebrates, platypus and vegetation
– have different requirements, and it is important to consider these when planning vegetation management works.
Public safety and asset protection may also require vegetation management – for example, planting to stabilise
banks or strategic vegetation removal to reduce the risk of flooding.
To improve and maintain waterway values, ongoing investment in improving and maintaining vegetation is critical
(see Box 4.9: The benefits of maintenance – Yarra catchment).
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Approaches to managing vegetation
A wide variety of approaches are used in vegetation management, including revegetation, weed control, fire
management, pest animal management and grass cutting. These approaches range from manual work such as hand
weeding or planting to large-scale works assisted by machinery such as direct seeding, or removal of large swathes
of tree weeds such as willows.
We apply these approaches by undertaking capital works and maintenance programs and through grants to
landholders, land managers and community groups.
Melbourne Water also provides expertise in waterway and wetland design to local government and developers
in the planning and construction phase of new developments. This includes advice on the types, amounts and
placement of waterway plants. In all cases, vegetation management activities consider and minimise potential
impacts on flood or fire risk (see Box 4.10: Streamside vegetation and fire).
BOX 4.8
Translating strategic direction to on-ground action
Several attributes can be used to describe the quality of vegetation along waterways. Melbourne Water has
developed five categories (very low to very high) to describe vegetation quality using the following attributes:
the degree of connectivity and continuity, vegetation structure, species composition, weediness and capacity
to regenerate. These categories can be used to assess and describe vegetation quality and also to propose
vegetation quality that we are aiming to achieve in an area.
This understanding of current and proposed condition is an important part of effective vegetation management
because it enables works to be planned to most effectively reach the proposed condition. Management activities
can then be targeted to each vegetation quality category in a way that provides a level of service appropriate to
the condition we are aiming for (usually based on the requirements of key values).
For example, consider a small urban waterway reserve consisting of mown grass and scattered trees (very low
quality vegetation). This waterway provides amenity to nearby residents and vegetation condition is at the
right level to support community values of the area. Management activities at this site will consist of simple
ongoing maintenance such as grass mowing and occasional replacement of a tree or two. Conversely, consider
a large reserve in a rural area that has some remnant vegetation but is weedy. It supports birds and frogs but
has the potential to support a greater diversity of animals, for amenity to be improved and for fish to expand
their range into this area. This waterway has moderate quality vegetation but we are aiming for it to have high
quality vegetation to better support community values. To achieve our aims in this waterway a higher level of
service is required such as weed control, tree planting and activities to encourage natural regeneration.
Waterways with vegetation of moderate or high quality provide the greatest opportunity for overall
improvement. These quality levels have enough structure and variety of native species to provide a good basis
to work with, and can show measurable improvement with weed removal and if appropriate, supplementary
planting activities. They have potential to progress to very high quality areas in the long term. In planning for
the future condition of waterways aspects such as the presence of significant or threatened species, the size
of the patch of vegetation and the history of disturbance are all considered, along with the requirements of
the key values the area can support.
As the condition of vegetation improves along a waterway, the potential to support key values and the diverse
requirements that they have is also strengthened.
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BOX 4.9
The benefits of maintenance – Yarra catchment
Maintenance is an important part of waterway management for all rivers, wetlands and estuaries. These activities
are an integral part of maintaining the health of the river system, developing long-term system resilience and
minimising the need for costly rehabilitation works. Through ongoing, programmed maintenance and inspections
Melbourne Water monitors, controls and minimises threats such as invasive weeds, erosion, and the impacts of
extreme events such as flood, drought and bushfire.
Melbourne Water provides this maintenance service in waterways ranging from high value areas, such as
protected headwaters that require minor weed control, to areas of declining waterway condition that require
significant intervention such as targeted weed control or physical channel works.
An example of the benefits of ongoing surveillance and maintenance can be seen in Upper Scotchmans
Creek near Warburton, which flows through high quality forest. In 2005 a significant invasion of weed species
including red cestrum was identified. If left unmanaged this would have reduced the quality of vegetation
and habitat in Scotchmans Creek and surrounding headwater tributaries. A long-term weed control program
has resulted in progressive removal of invading vegetation and promotion of significant recolonisation by
indigenous species (see Photo 2 below). In contrast, further downstream, the invasion had progressed beyond
maintenance levels and significant weed removal works were required through the capital works program to
prevent the impacts of this invasive weed (Photo 1 below). Such projects require major investment. The site
is now managed to nurture natural indigenous regeneration while weed monitoring and control continues.
Across the catchment site inspections monitor waterway vegetation condition and identify maintenance needs
before expensive restoration projects such as this are required. Sites such as Upper Scotchmans Creek are part
of the maintenance program with maintenance costs declining as indigenous vegetation develops resilience.
The maintenance program of preventative management provides significant environmental and
cost benefits compared with large-scale rehabilitation.
Scotchmans Creek (2006), downstream of maintenance site before weed control
Recolonisation of creek and surrounding gully by indigenous
vegetation after weed control
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BOX 4.10
Streamside vegetation and fire
In 2009, southern Victoria experienced some of the worst fires that have occurred in Australia. When working
with communities after this event concern was expressed that streamside vegetation could increase the risk
of fire and could act as a ‘fire wick’.
While fuel for a fire can be provided by any vegetation, wind direction usually dictates the direction in which
fire will spread. Healthy streamside vegetation, including revegetated areas, is considered to pose a low risk
compared with other vegetation types.
Principles for the program
Melbourne Water’s vegetation management program will:
>Protect the best – focusing on priority areas to retain the structure of the vegetation and the functions it provides
>Manage to the appropriate vegetation level required to support key values
>Select management actions appropriate for the scale of the issue
>Select the most appropriate and efficient vegetation management tool to gain outcomes – for example,
in some cases it may be appropriate to encourage natural regeneration rather than replanting
>Plan vegetation works around the water-carrying capacity of waterways to minimise flood risks
>Use appropriate locally indigenous species in vegetation establishment programs
>Continually adopt changes and improvements to enable best practice.
Key directions and activities 2013 –18
Melbourne Water will:
>Undertake vegetation improvement works in priority areas
>Provide ongoing vegetation maintenance, consistent with an asset management approach, to maintain
and prevent degradation of vegetation and associated waterway values
>Continue to work with interested and committed stakeholders to support vegetation management across
the region
>Undertake a program to manage priority high threat regional weeds and new and emerging weeds through
monitoring and control
>Provide advice to local government and the development industry on appropriate vegetation for waterways
and wetlands in new urban developments
>Explore the use of planning controls, such as Environmental Significance Overlays, to protect significant
areas of vegetation.
Key stakeholders
Private landholders, community groups, local
government, Parks Victoria, indigenous nurseries
and plant providers, DEPI.
TARGETs
>Establish 802km of vegetation to the required
level to support waterway values
>Manage 7579km of vegetation to the required
level to support waterway values
> Construct 546km of stock exclusion fencing
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‘Vegetation established’ refers to vegetation introduced to an area. It may be achieved through replanting or direct
seeding or through works to encourage natural regeneration such as targeted weed control, ecological burns or
excluding pests.
‘Vegetation managed’ refers to activities required to manage and improve existing vegetation. It may include largescale weed control, annual maintenance of vegetation through weed control or weed surveillance through vegetation
surveys in forested headwaters. This target may be counted annually in the case of maintenance revisits to the same
section of waterway where appropriate.
The degree of activity required to support the values will vary significantly across the catchment depending on the
values and current condition.
4.6 Habitat management
More than 1860 species of native plants and 600 species of native animals are supported by rivers, wetlands and
estuaries in the Port Phillip and Westernport region. Protecting and enhancing streamside and floodplain habitat is an
important focus of our work and crucial to maintaining healthy populations of waterway-related plants and animals.
Responsibilities for managing habitat
Melbourne Water works alongside several stakeholders to protect and improve habitat in priority areas across the
region. Habitat management works in streamside areas and wetlands range from providing cover for frogs and
nesting sites for birds to removing fish barriers and implementing measures to control pests.
Melbourne Water also has obligations as a landowner of sites such as sewage treatment plants, flood retarding
basins and water quality treatment wetlands to manage and protect rare or threatened species where these occur
on our property. These obligations originate from legislation such as the Commonwealth Environment Protection
and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and the Victorian
Wildlife Act 1975.
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Two Melbourne Water properties are listed as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar convention:
the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee, which is one of the most important waterbird refuges in Victoria; and
Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands. Where Melbourne Water land is listed as a Ramsar site, we have an obligation to
maintain the ecological character of that site through management works.
Such obligations are a contributing factor to the designation of many Sites of Biodiversity Significance. These
are sites on Melbourne Water land with important biodiversity values, which we work to protect and improve.
Melbourne Water owns and manages more than 40 sites of biodiversity significance (see Sites of Biodiversity
Significance below).
Approaches to managing habitat
Melbourne Water undertakes a range of activities to manage habitat and improve waterway values.
General habitat management
We work with partners across the region to manage habitat to meet the needs of key values (see Box 4.11:
Vegetation works for habitat). This may include providing suitable vegetation for habitat beside and within
waterways, removing fish barriers, or implementing pest control measures. In wetlands works may include
manipulating water levels or wetland form or providing vegetation or groundcover such as rocks or logs to
provide greater habitat diversity.
Investigations into the location and role of habitat connectivity corridors across the Port Phillip and Westernport
region will provide valuable information for future management. Developing new connectivity corridors and
improving existing ones will be delivered through our on-ground works and by continuing to provide grants
to landowners.
Rare and threatened species
For rare and threatened species in areas outside Melbourne Water-owned land, we work with DEPI to understand the
priorities and habitat requirements of these species, and then support the responsible land managers (such as private
landholders, local government and Parks Victoria) to manage them. We also liaise with DEPI in providing advice to
local government and the development industry on waterway-related habitat requirements for rare and threatened
species in our role as referral authority on developments.
Managing for climate variability
Following the extended drought across Victoria, Melbourne Water has been identifying important waterway-related
refuges for fish, frogs and platypus, to prioritise habitat management and flow requirements in times of drought.
We plan for the management of these sites through Melbourne Water’s Drought Refuge Plan, and regularly monitor
these sites, more recently through the community-based Waterwatch program.
In our highly variable climate, focusing on the management of refuge areas to support key values in times of
environmental stress will continue to be an important aspect of habitat management (see Box 4.12: Drought
refuge – managing for climate variability).
Sites of Biodiversity Significance (SoBS)
These sites are managed in accordance with site-specific management plans. As part of this program, Melbourne
Water undertakes monitoring and investigations of the sites and develops management plans to protect and
improve biodiversity. These management plans are reviewed regularly to ensure they are addressing site needs.
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BOX 4.11
Vegetation works for habitat
Melbourne Water has undertaken an important project to manage significant habitat values along sections
of the Yarra River. The project involved works to control more than 60 regionally significant weeds, including
invasive trees, along a 20km stretch between Plenty River in Templestowe and Dights Falls in Abbotsford.
Works of this scale will significantly improve vegetation and habitat by increasing regeneration and
habitat diversity.
In November 2007, Melbourne Water commissioned a report on the condition of vegetation along this
section of the Yarra and developed a management plan for the area. The report identified nine endangered
or vulnerable vegetation communities that required protection, and proposed management actions to
protect these communities and improve the river’s health.
Several significant bird and mammal species depend on habitat in this area. Melbourne Water is aware of
the need to keep adequate structure and canopy for wildlife and this was carefully considered during the
project planning. To reduce habitat loss, dead trees that provide roosting or nesting potential were left standing.
The project enabled works to provide additional habitat for an endangered species of owl, the powerful owl
which have been observed breeding in the area.
Controlling weeds allows native plants such as gum trees, wattles and bottlebrush to regenerate more
successfully along a substantial reach of waterway, helping to protect and improve significant areas of
vegetation. In time, the project will help improve water quality and increase local numbers of native fish,
platypus and frogs. Works occurred over three years and targeted weed species including willow, English ivy,
prickly pear, blackberry and Canadian poplar.
Melbourne Water is also working with the Department of Environment and Primary Industries at the project
site to carry out seeding trials to increase the germination of mid-storey shrubs by controlling smothering
plants on the ground. A trial investigating various ground and seed treatments has been undertaken together
with the large-scale weed management project.
Planting for water quality
improvement, Dandenong
Valley wetland
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Principles for the program
>Ensure we meet our legislative obligations for Ramsar sites, and for EPBC Act and FFG Act-listed species on
Melbourne Water land
>Focus habitat improvement works for key values in priority areas, and in priority habitat corridors
>Manage habitat for a range of species, rather than a single-species approach.
BOX 4.12
Drought refuge – managing for climate variability
Jacksons Creek in the Maribyrnong River catchment has several drought refuge reaches located downstream
of Rosslynne Reservoir. Drought refuges are sites that maintain habitat even during very dry times, often
because they have a deep pool that animals can retreat to when other sections of the waterway contain
too little water. These drought refuges are a high priority for protection because they support populations
of native fish and platypus.
Jacksons Creek has historically received a minimum passing flow for environmental purposes from Rosslynne
Reservoir; however, these environmental flows were reduced in 2008 to ensure the security of drinking water
for the nearby towns of Sunbury and Gisborne and irrigation water for farms along the Maribyrnong River.
The reduced flows posed a risk to water quality and quantity that could harm the fish, platypus and
macroinvertebrates living in the creek. An Environmental Emergency Contingency Plan (EECP) was developed
to manage these risks. The EECP is an emergency response plan that sets out actions to take when water
quality parameters indicate that risks to aquatic animals have become too great. The plan uses monitoring of
dissolved oxygen levels and other critical water quality parameters at several refuge sites along Jacksons Creek.
Under the EECP, when the dissolved oxygen becomes too low, water is released from upstream storages.
Dissolved oxygen is selected as the trigger because fish need enough dissolved oxygen in the water to breathe
and without enough water flowing down the creek, oxygen levels may drop to the point where fish kills occur.
The amount of water is managed to ensure that it will flow down as far as the refuges and is sufficient to
return the dissolved oxygen above trigger levels.
Under this plan, several emergency flow releases were made during the autumn of 2009 and summer
of 2010 to prevent fish kills and improve available habitat.
Putting such a plan into action requires a strong partnership between Melbourne Water, the community
and Southern Rural Water, which manages Rosslynne Reservoir. Community Waterwatch volunteers play
a particularly important role. Before the release, data collected by Waterwatch drought refuge monitors
was used to verify data from automatic monitoring devices. When the emergency flow began to be released,
Waterwatch monitors provided daily updates about progress of the environmental flow in the system and
changes in dissolved oxygen concentration.
Managing for climate change poses more and different challenges than simply managing for drought.
However, work undertaken during the drought has provided a broad knowledge base of refuge management
that is particularly relevant to climate change response and has helped equip Melbourne Water and
stakeholders with the skills and knowledge to recognise existing threats to waterways and to target
works to build system resilience.
Key directions and activities 2013 –18
Melbourne Water will:
>In priority areas, focus investment in habitat management works to protect and improve key values
>Continue working with private landholders to provide appropriate habitat for key values in priority areas
>Work with stakeholders such as DEPI and Victorian Recreational Fish (VRFish) to gain a shared understanding
of priorities for fish habitat management and investment
73
>Continue working with DEPI to advise local government and the development industry on habitat
requirements for rare and threatened species in new urban developments
>Explore the use of appropriate planning controls to identify and protect significant habitat from the
impacts of inappropriate development
>Continue refuge mapping, monitoring and seasonally adaptive management of refuge sites across the
Port Phillip and Westernport region, and integrate flow with habitat requirements at these sites
>Manage habitat requirements for drought refuge sites in accordance with Melbourne Water’s Drought
Management Plan
>Monitor and implement habitat maintenance and improvement works at Sites of Biodiversity Significance
in accordance with their management plans, and review these plans according to specific timeframes.
Key stakeholders
Parks Victoria; DEPI; local government; ‘Friends of’ groups;
Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management
Authority; Federal Department of Sustainability, Environment,
Water, Population and Communities; Department of Transport,
Planning and Local Infrastructure; Growth Areas Authority;
Victorian Recreational Fish; private landholders.
Aquatic habitat refers to improving the conditions of aquatic
habitat areas through changes to existing habitat, or the
creation of new habitat. This target does not include the
ongoing maintenance of existing aquatic habitat.
TARGETs
>Improve 193ha of aquatic habitat to the
level required to support waterway values
> Remove 16 fish barriers
>Manage Sites of Biodiversity Significance
as guided by the SoBS Strategy
>Manage high priority refuge sites as
guided by Melbourne Water’s Drought
Refuge Plan.
4.7 Asset protection and renewal
Melbourne Water’s role as waterway manager involves asset management responsibilities of protecting and renewing
waterway (river, wetland and estuary) channel form and function.
Asset protection and renewal aims to:
>Protect environmental values, for example, preventing erosion from washing sediment downstream and filling
in the deep pools where fish live or smothering areas where fish spawn
>Protect critical community assets such as roads, bridges and railway lines from negative impacts of
waterway processes
>Ensure public safety by managing bank stability and maintaining appropriate levels of hydraulic capacity
(ensuring that waterways can carry the appropriate amount of floodwater).
Existing infrastructure built to manage bank erosion, support waterway stability and improve connectivity can
deteriorate over time, and needs to be maintained, repaired and replaced to continue delivering the intended
benefits. In some cases, new work is required to address current and emerging issues.
The Healthy Waterways Strategy guides asset protection and renewal related to waterways assets such as fishways,
erosion control structures and waterway bed and banks. It does not guide management of other Melbourne Water
assets such as drainage, sewerage or water supply pipes, water quality treatment wetlands or flood retarding basins
or public assets such as roads or bridges. Where such assets are threatened by waterway processes, Melbourne Water
will work with asset owners to identify solutions.
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Responsibility for asset management
Melbourne Water has a responsibility to consider public safety and environmental risk and ensure we spend
public money wisely. We must appropriately balance the public and private costs and benefits when undertaking
asset protection and renewal works. We will use a risk-based approach to identify and manage the most serious
erosion issues. This will involve prioritising these issues across the Port Phillip and Westernport region based on the
nature of the assets threatened, the available options for intervening and the potential for multiple benefits to be
achieved through intervention.
Melbourne Water will take an active role in ensuring critical public infrastructure is protected and that public money
is invested in achieving public benefits. Where works will result in a private benefit, the private beneficiary will
contribute to the cost.
Landholders and asset owners are responsible for managing private assets. Where private assets are threatened by
erosion on a waterway, and the asset owner wishes to fund and undertake works themselves, they must apply for
a Works on Waterways permit. There may be conditions placed on permits due to the requirement for works to be
undertaken to an appropriate standard to protect waterway health. Where there are demonstrable public benefits
from the works, Melbourne Water may co-invest.
In the Koo Wee Rup-Longwarry Flood Protection District, we work with Cardinia, Casey and Baw Baw
shire councils and the local community to manage drains and flood protection structures using funds collected
through a special precept rate. Melbourne Water manages the precept drains and carrier drains, while council
manages the council-owned drains and the community are responsible for any private drains.
Under the Water Act 1989, works on waterways need to be licensed. Technical Guidelines for Waterway Management
(DSE 2007) and the Guidelines for Assessment of Applications for Permits and Licences for Works on Waterways
(SKM 2001) provide guidance on best management practice for engineering works in waterways.
Approaches to managing asset protection
Rivers and floodplains are dynamic systems that change course over time in response to changes in the environment.
They are not ‘stable’; rivers naturally move and change over time across the floodplain and this ‘instability’
is expected and planned for by allowing appropriate waterway corridors with robust streamside vegetation.
Sometimes dynamic waterways need little active management; some may require intervention in certain
circumstances (for example, river banks may become unstable due to floods); and others require more active
intervention. Built assets need to be maintained or replaced at the end of their life. For example, fishways have
a limited design life and need to be renewed or rebuilt after this design life has been reached.
Melbourne Water’s investment in asset protection will vary across the Port Phillip and Westernport region. This
investment will be underpinned by sound policy and robust planning. Rock and other ‘hard’ engineering options are
no longer Melbourne Water’s preferred solution to manage erosion issues; our preference is to use vegetation to provide
stability (see Box 4.13: Evolving approaches to managing channel stability). In most circumstances, vegetation provides
a more natural and appropriate solution to erosion issues. However, situations occur where ‘hard’ engineering works
are required to address erosion, often where:
>Existing in-stream structures such as rock chutes or rock beaching need to be repaired or replaced
>Significant public infrastructure investment is at immediate threat
>Erosion is extensive and with the potential to continue and cause significant issues for the waterway itself
or for high value assets such as threatened fish.
Effective asset management requires a variety of management techniques. Melbourne Water focuses on:
>Planning: Developing strategic asset management plans to clarify the maintenance, inspection and renewal
requirements of assets
>Monitoring: Carrying out routine checks of assets to identify any problems or emerging issues
>Prioritisation: Developing priorities based on the nature of assets threatened, available options for intervening,
multiple benefits from intervention and the beneficiary-pays principle.
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>On-ground works including:
− Channel form interventions using stabilisation techniques including ‘soft’ engineering approaches, such as
fencing off or revegetating a waterway, and ‘hard’ engineering such as placing rock on the bank
− Desilting or vegetation management of non-wetland sediment traps and waterway channels for flood and
asset protection
− Fishway renewal projects such as the new Dights Falls fishway (see Case study: Dights Falls fishway).
CASE STUDY
Dights Falls fishway
The Yarra River supports a unique and diverse range of fish including several threatened species of national
conservation significance and several species (such as the Australian grayling) that need to migrate between
freshwater and estuarine/marine water as part of their lifecycle. Barriers to movement are a major threat to
fish in the Yarra River. Barriers can prevent fish from completing their lifecycle and stop fish moving up and
down the river to find suitable habitat and food.
Dights Falls in the lower Yarra River near Abbotsford was long considered one of the most significant in-stream
barriers to native fish passage in Victoria. The weir at Dights Falls has been in place in various forms since the
1840s, when it was constructed to provide power to an adjacent flour mill. A fishway had been constructed
at the site previously, however studies showed it was not performing to expectations.
A new weir and vertical slot fishway at Dights Falls was completed in 2012. This style of fishway consists of a
gradually sloped concrete channel, divided to create a series of stepped pools that allow fish to gradually move
through the pools and past the barrier. The new fishway will improve the health and size of fish populations
along the length of the river by improving upstream and downstream passage for the whole fish community,
even during times of low flow.
Melbourne Water worked with several community and government agencies on this project – including
Heritage Victoria, Wurundjeri Tribe and Land Council, City of Yarra, river users and environmental groups.
A proposed design was presented to key stakeholders and the community in August and September 2010.
The feedback received was considered in finalising the design for construction.
Fish-way
Artist’s impression of the Dights Falls fishway
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Principles for the program
In implementing our asset protection and renewal program, Melbourne Water will:
>Acknowledge that waterways are dynamic and will move across floodplains. Where possible, waterways will
be managed to allow for erosion and movement by creating sufficient corridors for them to move within
>Understand the geomorphic processes operating within the waterway and across the catchment to ensure
erosion sites that threaten the stability of the waterway system are managed appropriately
>Adopt ‘soft’ engineering approaches wherever possible and appropriate
>Focus on achieving multiple benefits from on-ground works, for example incorporating vegetation in the design
to provide habitat opportunities
>Prioritise investment based on the nature of the assets threatened, available options for intervening and multiple
benefits from intervention
>Undertake works if a risk assessment has shown it to be necessary, a priority and that the benefits
justify the cost
>Ensure costs are shared appropriately between beneficiaries to enable a balance between public
and private contribution and benefit
>Assess Works on Waterways applications in accordance with the guidelines and works standards set out in the
Guidelines for Assessment of Applications for Permits and Licences for Works on Waterways. Melbourne Water will
give approval for works on waterways only where the proposed works maintain or improve the environmental
value of the site and surrounds or are unlikely to cause stream instability, adverse site impacts or flooding.
Key directions and activities 2013 –18
Activities will include:
>Develop and review strategic asset management plans to direct maintenance to protect community and
waterways assets
>Develop and implement a risk monitoring and assessment program to identify and prioritise risks to public
infrastructure
>Undertake on-ground works to protect assets and values and maintain waterway function consistent with
prioritisation
>Oversee works to protect private assets undertaken through a Works on Waterways permit.
Key stakeholders
Landholders, committees of management, local government, DEPI, Parks Victoria, VicRoads, retail water businesses.
TARGET
Implement a risk-based program of asset protection and renewal to maintain in-stream connectivity, channel
stability for community asset protection, ‘systemic’ river health outcomes and an appropriate hydraulic level
of service.
The program will:
>Develop a process for assessing risk to built and natural assets
>Develop strategic asset management plans for critical asset classes and site management plans for key sites
>Target vegetation establishment for waterway stability where appropriate
>Undertake bed and bank intervention as required
>Undertake desilting where appropriate
>Undertake vegetation management where appropriate.
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BOX 4.13
Evolving approaches in managing channel stability
In the past 20 years, a fundamental shift has occurred in the way waterway management agencies have
approached erosion, waterway movement and the management of hydraulic capacity.
Historically there was an emphasis on ‘hard’ engineering solutions with the aim of stabilising waterways
to reduce the risk of flooding. This focus has now broadened to recognise the ecological health values of
waterways. ‘Soft’ engineering approaches (e.g. vegetation) that provides waterway stability and habitat is a
more cost-effective use of public funds to achieve multiple benefits and is a more appropriate method where
circumstances allow.
As we deliver the HWS, our risk-based assessment process will be improved to ensure that we are investing
in high priority asset protection and that the cost of the works is borne by the beneficiary. That is, public
money is invested in achieving public benefits, and where works will result in a private benefit, the
beneficiary contributes to the cost – this is referred to as the beneficiary-pays principle.
4.8Stormwater management
Definitions of stormwater differ across various policies, strategies and guidelines. The definition adopted in
the Healthy Waterways Strategy and Stormwater Strategy (see www.melbournewater.com.au) is consistent with
the State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria), which refers to stormwater as “water directly resulting
from rainfall” and covering rural and urban areas.
In rural areas, the movement of stormwater through the landscape is influenced by factors such as land use,
management practices and landform. Typically, rural land generates runoff that increases sediment, agricultural
fertilisers, nutrients and chemicals entering waterways and bays.
In urban areas, most rainfall runs off ‘hard’ surfaces such as roofs and roads and is typically transported directly to
waterways through a drainage system. As a result, stormwater reaches waterways more often, more quickly and
in greater volumes, producing ‘flashy’ stormwater systems that are characterised by sudden surges in water volume
and velocity. The stormwater drainage system transports nutrients, sediment and many toxicants, including heavy
metals and persistent organic compounds, to waterways.
Stormwater is a threat to the values in waterways and bays and to public health because it delivers poor quality
water, pollutants and litter to waterways and, in urban areas, excess flow due to the higher frequency of surface
runoff from hard surfaces. In managing these threats, we strive to find beneficial outcomes for the environment
and community.
The Stormwater Strategy, a complementary strategy to the Healthy Waterways Strategy, articulates a shift in the
way stormwater is managed to contribute to a more sustainable, prosperous, liveable and healthy community.
It highlights the multiple community outcomes that can be achieved by implementing integrated stormwater
management solutions and outlines the role Melbourne Water will play in managing stormwater between
2013 and 2018.
Responsibilities for managing stormwater
Melbourne Water has a statutory role in protecting Port Phillip Bay and Western Port. We are also required to
help achieve water quality objectives for waterways – to improve water quality in waterways and estuaries,
improve environmental values and the health of water ecosystems, and protect other beneficial uses of waterways,
such as recreation.
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Melbourne Water is the major drainage system manager and floodplain management authority and is responsible
for the management and maintenance of numerous stormwater quantity and quality control structures such
as flood retarding basins and water quality treatment wetlands. The other key stakeholders in stormwater
management are local government, which manages local drainage systems (in catchments less than 60ha)
and property owners, who manage drainage systems from roofs and stormwater pipes on their property.
Melbourne Water is responsible for working with the community and stakeholders to reduce intolerable
flooding, and stormwater management is an important component of flood management (see Melbourne
Water’s Flood Management and Drainage Strategy www.melbournewater.com.au).
Melbourne Water manages stormwater treatment assets across the region, including 168 wetlands, 104
urban lakes, 1500km of drainage pipes, numerous retarding basins, levee banks, pump stations and floodgates.
Other organisations and individuals also have responsibilities in managing stormwater and it is critical to
work in partnership to achieve shared outcomes.
Many stormwater treatment assets, particularly wetlands, are also used as habitat for birds, frogs and mammals,
and their management needs to be balanced to ensure they are operating as designed but also being retained
as habitat.
Approaches to stormwater management
The past five years have seen significant developments in stormwater management, knowledge sharing
and skills development, including:
>Construction of a significant number of regional water quality treatment wetlands in urban areas
>Increased training and capacity building programs for individuals and organisations involved with
stormwater management
>Collaborative approaches to urban stormwater management and water sensitive farming
>A program encouraging rural landowners to manage runoff from agricultural properties
>New approaches and technology for water sensitive urban design.
Melbourne Water aims to build on past achievements and lessons learned by focusing on a collaborative and
integrated approach to stormwater management. The community seeks a variety of outcomes and benefits
from stormwater management to support a liveable region. The Stormwater Strategy aims to meet these
expectations by promoting stormwater management to achieve four community outcomes: healthy waterways
and bays, wellbeing and amenity, public safety and alternative water supply.
In the past, these areas might have been considered in isolation. Now multiple community outcomes can
be achieved by considering stormwater within an integrated water management framework of water supply,
sewerage, drainage and waterway health.
Principles, strategic direction and targets for the program
The principles, strategic direction, commitments and targets for stormwater management are contained in the
Stormwater Strategy. It contains stormwater-related actions identified through the Healthy Waterways Strategy
required to protect and improve key waterway values in priority areas in the Port Phillip and Westernport region.
The key directions in the Stormwater Strategy focus on working with others in undertaking stormwater
management activities to achieve multiple community outcomes and benefits, described in Figure 4.1.
Melbourne Water promotes collaboration and partnerships to plan, design and invest to achieve multiple outcomes
that address a range of needs, achieve efficiencies in investment such as co-investment, and shortened timeframes
to completion.
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A toolbox of approaches will be used to deliver sustainable stormwater management. The foundation of our
approaches is working together – establishing and maintaining partnerships with others in all that we do, sharing
knowledge and building capacity, and communicating outcomes. This is fundamental to successful delivery of:
>Better on-ground outcomes – working closely with key land management partners in the construction
and maintenance of stormwater management assets in rural and urban areas
>Research and knowledge building – building and sharing knowledge on the impacts of stormwater and
most effective multi-benefit solutions
>Planning, policy and regulation – supporting those involved in planning, policy and regulation to achieve
better stormwater management outcomes for the community.
See the Stormwater Strategy for further information on Melbourne Water’s role, directions, programs of works
and targets regarding stormwater management in rural and urban areas.
Key stakeholders
Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Office of Living Victoria, EPA Victoria, retail water businesses and
other water authorities, local government, Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure, Department
of Health, Parks Victoria, Growth Areas Authority, development industry, Clearwater (stormwater industry capacity
building organisation), Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, agricultural industry groups,
rural and urban landholders, Stormwater Victoria, Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) such as the CRC for Water
Sensitive Cities, universities and other research institutions.
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Chapter 4: Management approaches
Outcomes from sustainable stormwater management
as part of an integrated water management framework
HEALTHY
WATERWAYS
AND BAYS
Protect and improve the
health of waterways and bays
Maintain stormwater
treatment assets
ALTERNATIVE
WATER SUPPLY
Viable for purpose
alternative water supply
Irrigation of open spaces and
streetscape vegetation
Greener urban spaces
Improve visual amenity
(e.g. reduce litter)
WELLBEING
AND AMENITY
Safer water recreation
Reduce risk of flooding
PUBLIC
SAFETY
Access to recreational spaces
LIVEABILITY
Figure 4.1: Community outcomes from sustainable stormwater management
4.9Environmental water
Melbourne’s high quality drinking water is a result of planning undertaken in the late 1800s and early 1900s to
protect water supply catchments and construct several significant storages. At this time, there was little recognition
of the impact of the water supply system on the waterways on which it relies. In a similar manner, the allocation
of surface water extraction licences (diversions) for irrigation and other uses was not considered in the context
of potential environmental impact. Urbanisation has impacted on environmental flows regimes. Water now runs
off from hard surfaces quickly rather than filtering into ground water and making its way slowly into waterways
as baseflows.
As we continue to build our understanding of the relationship between streamflows and priority values, it is clear
that water for the environment is important to support waterway values by maintaining habitat and providing
ecological triggers to protect fish, maintaining healthy macroinvertebrate populations, and ensuring streamside
vegetation thrives.
Responsibilities for managing environmental water
In 2004, the Victorian Government established the Environmental Water Reserve to ensure water was available
to achieve a full suite of ecological objectives for waterways. In 2011, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder
(VEWH) was established to hold and manage environmental water entitlements and allocations.
The Environmental Water Reserve is provided in three ways:
1.Environmental water entitlements: a volume of water held by the environment in perpetuity. In general, these
entitlements are a share of the available resource (inflows) in storages.
2.Obligations on consumptive entitlements: the passing flows that water corporations or licensed diverters are
obliged to provide out of storage or past a diversion point to protect environmental values.
3.‘Above cap’ water: the water left over after limits on consumptive use have been reached and unregulated flows
cannot be captured in storage.
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Melbourne Water is responsible for managing the Environmental Water Reserve (EWR) in the Port Phillip and
Westernport region on behalf of the Minster for the Environment and the Victorian Environmental Water Holder.
We work with the VEWH to ensure environmental water entitlements are used to achieve the best environmental
outcome with the water that is available. Establishing and managing the EWR includes ensuring passing flow
obligations are met, licensing private diversions and ensuring they are managed according to the Water Act 1989,
managing environmental entitlements, and understanding and negotiating flow requirements for rivers, estuaries,
wetlands and billabongs.
Increasing stress on water resources due to climate change and population growth means there is reduced security
of environmental water and a need to be increasingly accountable for water allocated to the environment.
Melbourne Water is also responsible for managing groundwater dependent ecosystems, such as wetlands, streams,
estuaries or vegetation that rely totally or in part on groundwater. Melbourne Water is investing in increasing our
understanding of groundwater-surface water relationships and of groundwater dependent ecosystems across the
region (see Box 4.14: Managing groundwater dependent ecosystems). This will enable more effective implementation
of our role in managing these complex ecosystems and protect and improve environmental values where they are
supported by groundwater.
Approaches to managing environmental water
Melbourne Water’s environmental water programs have, until now, focused on understanding environmental flow
requirements of major waterways in the Port Phillip and Westernport region, and working with water users to protect
or restore water for the environment.
In regulated rivers (those with dams), the environmental water reserve has been managed by negotiating conditions
on consumptive entitlements such as passing flows included in retail water business bulk entitlements.
In unregulated rivers (those without dams), this is managed through private diversions in streamflow management
plans or local management plans, which are developed in consultation with landholders, government agencies and
the community to share water equitably between users and the environment.
Maribyrnong River
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Chapter 4: Management approaches
We are looking to new and innovative approaches to protect and improve the EWR by focusing on integrated water
management, programs to address flow stress caused by impacts beyond water extraction, and seeking to integrate
programs across the region.
The new VEWH planning and decision making framework is the structure within which decisions for environmental
water use are made. We will prepare seasonal watering proposals each year that identify priority reaches or wetlands
for watering in the coming year using environmental water entitlements. The VEWH will analyse the seasonal
watering proposals for all catchments and through the development of its seasonal watering plan, will make
decisions on the use of environmental water allocations on a priority basis. These decisions will be communicated
through the VEWH’s seasonal watering statement, which authorises Melbourne Water to make the necessary water
delivery arrangements.
Principles for the program area
Principles for the environmental water program include:
>Management will be efficient and maximise the environmental benefit achieved from available water
resources and funding
>We will manage the Environmental Water Reserve consistent with an integrated water management approach
>Adverse social, economic and environmental impacts will be avoided or minimised where possible
>Social and economic benefits will be provided if possible, where this does not adversely impact
environmental outcomes
>The use of consumptive water and/or recycled water should be used to provide environmental benefits where
this does not adversely affect existing users
>Environmental water management will be robust under all water availability scenarios
>Actions will aim to address the risks and options to manage severe drought and climate change, while avoiding
unacceptable costs if this does not occur.
Key directions and activities 2013–18
Environmental water programs will be driven by the following focus areas:
Environmental water delivery
This approach considers the Environmental Water Reserve and environmental flow issues for all water sources,
considering all sources as one resource. Actions will include:
>Developing frameworks for the sustainable allocation of all sources from an environmental water perspective
>Continuing negotiation and delivery of the surface water allocation program including the development of
environmental water management plans and seasonal watering proposals in conjunction with VEWH for the
delivery of environmental entitlements
>Developing a groundwater program, including investigation of groundwater and surface water relationships,
groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) and opportunities to protect and improve GDEs (see Box 4.14:
Managing groundwater dependent ecosystems)
>Continuing to build knowledge and to ensure environmental flow regimes in urban waterways are improved
through the sustainable management and licensing of stormwater
>Developing a program to prioritise, secure and deliver water to priority wetlands and billabongs
>Priority areas for the environmental water delivery program are shown in the Figure 4.2.
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BOX 4.14
Managing groundwater dependent ecosystems
Melbourne Water is responsible for managing groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) – ecosystems such
as wetlands, streams, estuaries or vegetation that rely totally or in part on groundwater. Our understanding
of the environment’s reliance on groundwater is under-developed and in most local areas it is not understood
in any detail. This gap presents a significant risk to the delivery of environmental flow improvements and the
capacity to maintain the environmental values of the water system, sustain biodiversity, ecological function
and water quality.
Melbourne Water has invested in building knowledge around groundwater, particularly in understanding
GDEs in the region, and in understanding groundwater-surface water interactions. Innovative approaches
have resulted in detailed mapping identifying potential GDEs, and work is continuing to validate these
locations to determine the nature of the GDE and the values present.
Maribyrnong
Catchment
Yarra Catchment
Werribee
Catchment
Dandenong
Catchment
Western Port
Catchment
Major waterways and channels
Major reservoirs and dams
Yarra Environmental Entitlement
Werribee Environmental Entitlement
Tarago Environmental Entitlement
Figure 4.2 Priority areas for environmental water delivery
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In conjunction with the groundwater investigative work that Melbourne Water has undertaken, we are
developing a program to manage GDEs. The program will define roles and responsibilities in groundwater
management, identify knowledge gaps and recommend monitoring programs to address these gaps, and
outline priority actions for implementation in the strategy period.
The development of a groundwater dependent ecosystem management program is a critical element of
managing water for the environment. Working with other groups and organisations such as Southern Rural
Water we can build knowledge, identify priority actions that will protect the health of significant GDEs,
and protect surface water environmental flows.
The groundwater dependent ecosystem management program is new for Melbourne Water, and the
learnings from work undertaken to date will form the basis of the program.
Figure 4.3 Potential groundwater dependent ecosystems in the Melbourne Water region, including vegetation, waterways and wetlands
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Knowledge and innovation
Monitoring, investigations and research underpin all decisions made through the environmental water program.
Actions in this area include:
>Continuing to build knowledge of environmental flow requirements in all waterways and estuaries across
the region through a targeted program of monitoring and investigations, focused on priority waterways
>Improving ecological response monitoring to further test assumptions in our conceptual models
>Expanding understanding of specific flow-related impacts across the region.
Influencing water allocations at a broader scale
he focus of this program is on large-scale opportunities for environmental benefit with a whole-of-region scope.
T
Actions in this area include:
>Developing a program for knowledge-sharing and capacity building for stakeholders at all levels
>Influencing water allocation decisions such as statewide environmental water and water freed up from
the implementation of new and alternative water sources
>Identifying and implementing opportunities to move water between catchments and prioritising within
and across catchments.
Unregulated rivers
In unregulated rivers, Melbourne Water works with communities to implement flow improvements.
Actions in this area include:
>Developing, monitoring, and reviewing streamflow management plans
>Working with customers to improve diversions management within Melbourne Water’s area of licensing
responsibility, and working with other authorities to develop management mechanisms such as local
management rules for priority unregulated waterways
>Identifying on-ground investment programs with community and water users for targeted environmental
flow benefit
>Developing management opportunities for flow improvements by addressing farm dams and domestic
and stock opportunities.
Key stakeholders
Department of Environment and Primary Industries,
Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH),
Southern Rural Water, EPA Victoria, Department
of Primary Industries, universities and research
organisations, retail water businesses and other water
authorities, diversion customers, community members,
local government, community groups, Waterwatch,
‘Friends of’ and Landcare groups.
TARGETs
>Environmental flows in major waterways
and unregulated rivers will be improved by
managing environmental entitlements in
accordance with the Victorian Environmental
Water Holder legislation and Melbourne Water
programs respectively.
>Groundwater dependent ecosystems will be
protected or improved by developing and
implementing a groundwater dependent
ecosystem program.
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4.10Diversions management
The right amount and diversity of flows in waterways is a critical part of waterway health. Water is a limited
resource and careful management is needed, particularly in low flow periods, to protect waterway health and
ensure water is available for agriculture, recreation and other beneficial uses. It is important that diverters
(businesses that extract water from waterways under licence) and competing uses for water from waterways
are effectively and equitably managed.
Responsibilities for managing diversions
Melbourne Water is responsible for issuing and managing licences for diversions and construction of farm dams in the
Yarra catchment, lower Maribyrnong River and minor western tributaries of Stony, Kororoit, Laverton and Skeleton
creeks, and for stormwater diversions from regional stormwater assets across the Port Phillip and Westernport region.
Diversions licensing is a statutory role delegated by the Minister to Melbourne Water. About 1900 licences and dam
registrations are issued in accordance with the Water Act 1989, Victorian Government policy and local management
plans. The licences are used for commercial and irrigation purposes as well as for stock and domestic uses.
Southern Rural Water manages diversions in the rest of the Port Phillip and Westernport region, as well as
groundwater across the region.
Management of diversions in accordance with government policy is an important role for Melbourne Water.
Improved understanding of environmental issues, climate conditions and advocacy by water users can lead to policy
changes. Broader strategic directions for diversion management are set in consultation with DEPI and other state
licensing agencies. Melbourne Water works to implement such directions at the local level by initiating programs
that deliver environmental benefit, economic value and sustainable water use objectives in consultation with
diverters and other stakeholders.
Approaches to managing diversions
Effective management of diversions from waterways is essential to protect waterway health while promoting the
beneficial use of water resources within sustainable limits. Management of diversions from waterways is also an
important element in managing the Environmental Water Reserve as outlined in Section 4.9. In the Yarra River basin,
streamflow management plans have been developed by Melbourne Water across eight major sub-catchments to
provide balanced and sustainable sharing of streamflows between water users.
A drought response plan for licensed water users is a critical tool in managing access to water by all users and the
environment, and in defining the conditions under which restrictions or bans will be required and how these will
be implemented.
Metering has been undertaken for all active large licenceholders. Metering is essential to understand water use
requirements and patterns of use, and to ensure that licenceholders stay within their licensed allocations. To improve
our understanding in these areas, many meters include dataloggers and remote sensing equipment that provides
accurate and timely meter reading. This data enables compliance monitoring as well as improved understanding
of impacts on waterways from user demands.
Within the Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy and following the drought, the government has promoted the
use of stormwater as an alternative water resource. Melbourne Water has worked closely with DEPI to develop policy
around stormwater access and developed tools for the assessment, quantification and management of the resource,
considering impacts on receiving waterways.
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Principles for the program
>Manage waterway diversions in accordance with government policy
>Respond to broader strategic directions set in consultation with DEPI and other state licensing agencies
>Manage diversions consistent with requirements outlined in streamflow management plans, where appropriate.
Key directions and activities 2013 –18
Melbourne Water will:
>Continue the review, renewal, transfer and amendment of the 1900 diversion licences to meet statutory,
stakeholder and landholder requirements
>Continue to monitor licenceholders’ use and access to water
>Assess new diversion applications as well as applications for trade or transfer to ensure catchment allocation caps
are not exceeded
>Explore opportunities to involve licenceholders in other key Melbourne Water waterway management incentive
programs to deliver integrated outcomes
>Implement streamflow management plans, including changing, communicating and enforcing licence conditions
such as bans and restrictions, providing flow gauge points and applying trading rules.
>Undertake annual surveillance and compliance activities to enforce the Drought Response Plan for licensed water
users and protect environmental flows
>Review the Drought Response Plan and utilise usage data and datalogging capabilities to improve management
of the water resource and move towards volumetric-based restrictions rather than time-based restrictions
at present
>Replace meters and undertake maintenance regimes to meet compliance with the National Metrological
Standards for non-urban metering
>Promote and manage stormwater harvesting schemes consistent with government objectives and
refinement of policy
>Continue to work with the Victorian Environmental Water Holder to protect water releases made for
environmental purposes
>Liaise with Southern Rural Water on sustainable management of groundwater and surface water throughout
the Port Phillip and Westernport region.
Key stakeholders
Diversion licenceholders and individual landholders in
the Yarra and lower Maribyrnong and Werribee systems,
local government, environmental groups, Southern
Rural Water, DEPI.
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TARGET
Diversions will be managed in accordance with
rules specified in streamflow management plans,
local management rules or drought response plans,
and aim to meet the service requirement targets
in Melbourne Water’s customer charter for
diversion services.
Chapter 4: Management approaches