management approaches - melbourne water · more detailed planning will translate the management...

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Management approaches4.1 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

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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.

Healthy Waterways Strategy 2013/14–2017/18 Chapter 4: Management approaches52

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 guidelinesAs 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

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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.

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 4.2 Working in partnership to manage development

BOX 4.3 What is integrated water cycle management?


Approaches to developing plans, strategies and guidelinesMelbourne 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 2013–18Melbourne 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.

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Revegetating the streamside zone,

Drouin West

Key stakeholdersDepartment 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.

4.2 Advocacy

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 advocacyAs 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.

TARgeT

Review the Healthy Waterways Strategy by 2018, in accordance with DEPI guidelines.


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 approachesWe 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

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> Support the use of Melbourne Water land by local and Victorian government authorities and community- based 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 stakeholdersLocal 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.

Engaging with stakeholders

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.


4.3 enforcement

Importance of this work areaEncouraging 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 enforcementMelbourne 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 approachesWhere 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 –18Key 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.

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Key directions and activities 2013 –18Melbourne 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

> Take appropriate action on high priority issues as identified through the risk-based approach

> In priority instances identified through the risk-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 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 stakeholdersEPA 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 knowledgeAs 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.

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:

> Improve the process to identify and record potential enforcement issues

> Conduct a program of enforcement training 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.


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.

Sharing knowledge

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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.

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.

BOX 4.4 Rejuvenating river frontages

Healthy Waterways Strategy 2013/14–2017/18 Chapter 4: Management approaches

Land owners Lyn and Peter Link

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BOX 4.5 Healthy Waterways Waterwatch program

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).

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.

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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.

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 4.6 River health seminars

BOX 4.7 Merri Creek Indigenous Community Values Project


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 2013–18Activities 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 stakeholdersPrivate 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 vegetationVegetation 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 vegetationA 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

Recolonisation of creek and surrounding gully by indigenous vegetation after weed control

Scotchmans Creek (2006), downstream of maintenance site before weed control

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.


BOX 4.10 Streamside vegetation and fire

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

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 programMelbourne 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.


> 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 stakeholdersPrivate landholders, community groups, local government, Parks Victoria, indigenous nurseries and plant providers, DEPI.

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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 large-scale 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 habitatMelbourne 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.


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 habitatMelbourne 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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Planting for water quality improvement, Dandenong

Valley wetland

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.

BOX 4.11 Vegetation works for habitat


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.


> 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

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.

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> 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 stakeholdersParks 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.

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.

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.


Responsibility for asset managementMelbourne 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 protectionRivers 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).

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.

CAse sTUDY

Dights Falls fishway

Fish-way

Artist’s impression of the Dights Falls fishway


Principles for the programIn 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 –18Activities 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 stakeholdersLandholders, committees of management, local government, DEPI, Parks Victoria, VicRoads, retail water businesses.

TARgeTImplement 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.

4.8 stormwater 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 stormwaterMelbourne 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.


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 managementThe 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 stakeholdersDepartment 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.


Figure 4.1: Community outcomes from sustainable stormwater management

4.9 environmental 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 waterIn 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.

Outcomes from sustainable stormwater management as part of an integrated water management framework

ALTERNATIVEWATER SUPPLY

WELLBEINGAND AMENITY

HEALTHYWATERWAYS

AND BAYS

PUBLICSAFETY

LIVEABILITY

Protect and improve the health of waterways and bays

Maintain stormwater treatment assets

Greener urban spaces

Improve visual amenity (e.g. reduce litter)

Access to recreational spaces

Safer water recreation

Reduce risk of flooding

Viable for purpose alternative water supply

Irrigation of open spaces and streetscape vegetation

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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 waterMelbourne 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


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 areaPrinciples 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 2013–18Environmental 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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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.

BOX 4.14 Managing groundwater dependent ecosystems

Figure 4.2 Priority areas for environmental water delivery

Tarago Environmental Entitlement

Werribee Environmental Entitlement

Yarra Environmental Entitlement

Major waterways and channels

Major reservoirs and dams

MaribyrnongCatchment

MaribyrnongCatchment

WerribeeCatchmentWerribee

Catchment

Yarra CatchmentYarra Catchment

Western PortCatchment

Western PortCatchment

DandenongCatchmentDandenongCatchment


Figure 4.3 Potential groundwater dependent ecosystems in the Melbourne Water region, including vegetation, waterways and wetlands

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.

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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

The focus of this program is on large-scale opportunities for environmental benefit with a whole-of-region scope. 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 stakeholdersDepartment 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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4.10 Diversions 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 diversionsMelbourne 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 diversionsEffective 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.


> 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 stakeholdersDiversion licenceholders and individual landholders in the Yarra and lower Maribyrnong and Werribee systems, local government, environmental groups, Southern Rural Water, DEPI.

TARgeTDiversions 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.

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