ENRC Inquiry into Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Submission by Melbourne Water 5 August 2011

Who is Melbourne Water?

Melbourne Water is a statutory corporation, fully owned by the Victorian Government. Melbourne Water is a water resource manager with three main areas of responsibility:

1. Provision of wholesale water and recycled water services to retail water businesses 2. Provision of wholesale sewerage services to retail water businesses 3. Provision of waterways and drainage services in the Port Phillip and Westernport region, which includes the greater Melbourne community.

Melbourne Water’s waterways and drainage responsibilities include providing river health, water quality, floodplain and regional drainage services across the region as outlined in the Water Act 1989 and our Statement of Obligations.

The Water Act 1989, in particular Part 6 Division 2, and Part 10, Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 gives Melbourne Water the authority to manage waterways, regional drainage and floodplain management services. Melbourne Water also has specific delegated Ministerial functions under the Water Act, including diversions management (the licensing of water extractions) and licensing of works by others on waterways.

In other regions, the responsibility for the provision of waterways and drainage services (river health and floodplain management) rests with the relevant Catchment Management Authority. Within the Port Phillip and Westernport region however, the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority does not have responsibility for the management of waterways and regional drainage and river health.

Melbourne Water’s Area of Responsibility and assets

Our area of responsibility covers the 12,800 square kilometre Port Phillip and Westernport region which includes the river basins of Werribee, Maribyrnong, Yarra and Bunyip with a significant portion of the catchment highly urbanised. A map of our region is shown at Figure 1 on page 3.

In our region, we manage approximately:

• 8,400 kilometres of rivers and creeks • 1,463 kilometres of drains • 195 kilometres of levees • 214 retarding basins • 22 pump stations • 305 constructed waterways treatment systems and wetlands • 299 monitoring stations on waterways and drains • 104 urban lakes.

How is Melbourne Water funded to undertake Waterways and Drainage Services?

Melbourne Water’s Waterways Group manages rivers and creeks and major drainage systems throughout the Port Phillip and Westernport region. The Group’s activities are funded via a Waterways and Drainage Charge which is levied on customers in the region. The charge appears on customer’s water bills and is collected by seven water retailers within the region on our behalf.

1 Doc Ref: MW submission to ENRC Enquiry into Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Aug11.doc Figure 1. Port Phillip and Westernport Region

2 Doc Ref: MW submission to ENRC Enquiry into Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Aug11.doc

The Essential Services Commission (ESC) regulates Melbourne Water’s prices for waterways and drainage services and endorses service commitments. The Waterways Operating Charter supports pricing submissions to the ESC.

Every five years, Melbourne Water must submit a Water Plan to the ESC outlining what activities we propose to undertake to manage waterways and drainage services across the region and the cost associated with this. The ESC then reviews the proposed programs and provides a determination on what price will be set for the five year period.

There is a Waterways and Drainage charge for properties within the urban growth boundary and a Waterways (only) charge for properties outside the urban growth boundary. This reflects the different level of services provided to urban and rural communities. There are also two special precept areas where charges are based on specific levels of service – Patterson River Precept Area and Koo Wee Rup and Longwarry Flood Protection District.

Funding for the five year period from 2008/09 to 2012/13 totals some $844 million. This is allocated to the following key activities:

• $11.6 million - community and stakeholder • $1751 million – managing waterway improvement • $9.8 million – managing environmental flows • $87.32 million – managing water quality • $179.63 million – flood and drainage management • $380.54 million – managing urban growth

Flood Management within the Region

Floods are a natural and inevitable event. We cannot always control them. Therefore, we must learn how we can live with them while minimizing risks to public health and safety, property and infrastructure.

As the regional drainage and floodplain management authority for the region Melbourne Water is responsible for the management and maintenance of numerous retarding basins, levee banks, pump stations and flood gates along with over 8,400 kilometres of rivers and creeks and 1463 kilometres of drains.

Commonwealth, State, regional and local authorities as well as local communities and individuals all have a vital role to play in flood management. The scope of flood management is described within the contact of three overlapping activity clusters: prevention, response and recovery – see Figure 2.

1 Includes funding for monitoring, investigations and research projects and some waterways community projects such as stream frontage management grants 2 Includes funding for monitoring, investigations and research projects 3 Includes funding for monitoring, investigations and research projects 4 Mainly funded by development industry rather than through waterways and drainage charge 3

Figure 2. Flood management activities in Victoria

Melbourne Water’s flood management functions include:

• Undertaking flood studies and flood mapping • Identifying flood affected land • Undertaken flood prevention works such as retarding basins, levees and pipe augmentation • Assisting the Bureau of Meteorology with flood forecasting and warning • Advising planning authorities regarding appropriate land use and development of flood affected areas through our role as a planning permit referral authority • Supporting community education and awareness programs • Planning regional drainage systems to ensure new urban development meet appropriate standards of flood protection and environmental performance • The ownership and maintenance of drainage assets where the catchment area is greater than 60 hectares • Assessment of planning permit applications to subdivide land or develop flood affected land

The Port Phillip and Westernport region faces significant flood management and drainage challenges that require a coordinated and collaborative approach by flood managers and the community.

There are currently more than 100,000 properties in the region that are known to be at risk from flooding from a 1 in 100 year ARI event of which 82,000 properties are at risk from flooding from overland flows. More than 40,000 of these properties contain buildings or dwellings that are at risk of flooding above floor level. On average, the damage caused by flooding in the region has been estimated to be $245 million each year.

In 2007 Melbourne Water published the Flood Management and Drainage Strategy for the Port Phillip and Westernport Region5. The strategy was prepared following discussions between government departments, councils, emergency service organisations, and other agencies about how we can improve the management of flood risk in the region.

The strategy recognised that we couldn’t construct required works to protect all properties in the region from flooding during large flood events due to a number of reasons including:

• It is not physically feasible to construct the required works • The multi-billion dollar cost and extreme disruption of such works • The time frame to build such expensive infrastructure would exceed the lifespan of the properties they attempt to protect.

However, the strategy recognised that although it’s not possible to make the region completely free from flooding, there are some flooding risks that we may decide are extreme and should be reduced or eliminated as a priority. The strategy proposed an accelerated program to identify and deal with extreme flood risks across the region.

As part of the strategy, Melbourne Water will continue to map flood affected areas and will sponsor research into the intangible social and human health impacts of floods to develop an improved flood risk assessment tool that takes these costs to account when determining flood risk priorities and responses.

Throughout the strategy there is broad recognition that no single organisation and no single approach can deliver an effective response to flood management issues.

While Melbourne Water and councils will continue to deploy engineering solutions to mitigate flood risks, it is recognised that this approach must be accompanied by a range of non-structural responses.

There are other tools that are equally effective and significantly less expensive, such as planning controls and public awareness programs that can be deployed immediately to assist in treating the residual and future flood risks. These tools will be developed in partnership with other flood managers.

In particular, the strategy recognises the importance and benefits of improved education in assisting the community prepare, respond and recover from floods.

Part of this focus on existing flood risks will also involve working with councils to develop local flood management plans, and working with the State Flood Policy Committee, Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner and other stakeholders to develop an integrated flood management planning framework. These plans will outline roles and responsibilities, set priorities, aims and goals, and establish work programs and targets to address flood management objectives identified in the strategy.

The strategy defines five flood management objectives and outlines actions that will be undertaken to achieve each objective and guide priorities and expenditure by Melbourne Water.

Objective 1 – Completing the knowledge base • Undertake and maintain flood mapping for the region taking into account climate change and urban consolidation • Update and maintain flood information for municipal planning schemes to ensure appropriate standards of flood protection for new development in flood affected areas

5 Internet link to copy of strategy – http://www.melbournewater.com.au/content/publications/reports/flood_management_and_drainage_strategy .asp

• Support collaborative research into the social and economic impacts of flooding.

Objective 2 – Potential long term future pressures on existing drainage systems • Work with DPCD and local government to understand impact of urban consolidation on runoff volumes and flood risk in existing urban areas • Develop flood risk management measures in partnership with other stakeholders that may include infrastructure upgrades, planning and building controls to limit imperviousness and stormwater capture and reuse • Support research programs to better understand impacts of climate change on flood and drainage management • Develop adaptable flood management programs to deal with changing rainfall patterns, rising sea levels, and storm surge.

Objective 3 – An agreed approach to managing existing regional flooding problems • Sponsor research and consult stakeholders to develop criteria to establish flood risk tolerability thresholds which take into account social flood impacts • Develop and implement a program to eliminate or reduce extreme flood risks

Objective 4 – Enhanced community education, flood awareness and preparation • Develop and implement a community flood education, awareness and preparedness program, including flood warning.

Objective 5 – Agreed responsibilities and improved collaboration between flood management agencies • Work with stakeholders to develop and implement an integrated flood management planning framework for the region • Provide technical and financial assistance to councils that have identified flood risk for the preparation and review of flood management plans.

In 2008 Melbourne Water embarked on a program of implementing the various actions contained within the Flood Management and Drainage Strategy. We have a long term objective (25 to 30 years) of reducing the flood risk for those waterways and drainage systems with an extreme flood risk.

In determining the flood risk we consider the consequences associated with the economic impacts, the public safety and the social impacts of flooding as outlined in Melbourne Water Flood Risk Assessment: How flood impacts are assessed in the Port Phillip and Westernport Region6.

Flood Monitoring within the Region

During a flood event, the key role of Melbourne Water is to minimize the impact of flooding (loss of life and property, disruption of services, etc) on the community and environmental and public assets. This role is supported by:

• Effective monitoring of rainfall and river levels and waterways and drainage system assets • Providing timely flood warnings, flood predictions, and/or flood advice to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), Victoria State Emergency Services (VICSES) and related agencies • Effective collaboration with associated organisations.

With regard to flood monitoring, Melbourne Water installs, operates and maintains telemetered rainfall and level gauging stations that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and includes over 200 real time monitoring sites measuring rainfall or river level

6 Link to risk assessment methodology – http://www.melbournewater.com.au/content/library/drainage_and_stormwater/flood_management/flood_risk s/Flood_Risk_Assessment_Summary.pdf

or a combination of both. Various alert and alarm levels are set up within the system for these stations to provide warnings of heavy rainfall and high water levels.

With regard to flood warnings and coordination with external organisations, by agreement with the BoM, Melbourne Water is responsible for providing BoM with flood predictions and flood warnings for the five major river systems within our area – Werribee, Maribyrnong, Yarra, Dandenong and Bunyip – and the four minor catchments of Kororoit Creek, Plenty River, Diamond Creek and Merri Creek. The BoM will then distribute these warnings to media, VICSES, Victoria Police and related organisations.

Melbourne Water uses the Unified River Basin Simulator (URBS) software to provide predicted river levels, initially based on rainfall predictions provided by BoM, and later with actual rainfall numbers from our monitoring network along with any further rainfall predictions provided by BoM.

A recent initiative has seen the establishment of a pilot flash flood warning system. The system uses existing monitoring sites and based on rainfall intensities or flows from existing structures sends text alert messages (SMS) to a pilot group of residents’ mobile phones indicating possible heavy rain that may lead to flash flooding. The alerts do not indicate that flooding is predicted to happen just that there is a significant rainfall event occurring. Flash flooding generally has very short lead times therefore the ability to provide effective warnings is limited. This pilot is to test both the use of our system for such warnings as well as the attitude of residents to receiving such messages.

Melbourne Water is a support agency for flood events.

Flood Management and Drainage Strategy Implementation

Steady progress is being made with implementation of all actions contained within the strategy. Of specific note is the work on objectives 3, 4 and 5 for which further details of progress is provided below.

Objective 3 – An agreed approach to managing existing regional flooding problems

An important first step in achieving this objective was the publication in October 2010 of the flood risk assessment document referred to previously in footnote 2.

Melbourne Water measures flood risk by determining the likelihood of a hazardous flood and the nature and severity of its consequences ie where is flooding most likely to occur, what sort of impacts would it have, and how much damage could a flood cause.

While the focus on flood risk assessment traditionally has been placed on economic consequences the strategy recognised the need to place equal emphasis on the social and safety impacts of flooding. This change in approach has been achieved in our Flood Risk Assessment Framework which gives equal consideration to all of these factors in the assessment of flood risks for the region.

Linked to this framework has been a significant increase in funding for implementation of flood protection works. Historically capital expenditure on flood protection works has been around $2 to $3 million annually. With the support of the Flood Management and Drainage Strategy this current Water Plan includes capital expenditure of some $85 million over the five year period for construction of flood protection works. This funding should help to achieve the Waterways Operating Charter commitment of reducing currently known extreme flood risk by 10% by 2013.

In addition to this new flood protection works Melbourne Water also spends around $17 million per annum maintaining and operating the drainage system. This equates to a further $85 million over the five year period of the Water Plan.

Objective 4 – Enhanced community education, flood awareness and preparation

In 2009 Melbourne Water entered into a partnership with the VICSES. The partnership recognised that there are significant benefits to be gained from working together to undertake community education and awareness within the region.

FloodSafe is a community education package designed and delivered by VICSES to educate communities about their local flood risks and how community members can prepare for and respond to flooding in their community. As a key element of the VICSES and Melbourne Water partnership FloodSafe will be delivered in areas at-risk of flooding as well as program elements designed to capture people who may travel through at-risk areas.

In addition to delivering the FloodSafe program it is acknowledged that the community should also be informed about preparing for storms, which are often associated with the occurrence of floods. VICSES has developed a StormSafe education program to raise community awareness regarding how to prepare for and respond to severe storms.

Through the VICSES and Melbourne Water partnership it has been agreed that StormSafe will be rolled out at the same time as the FloodSafe program.

These programs are delivered with funding and assistance from Melbourne Water.

The program will aim to capture communities at risk within the Port Phillip and Westernport Region (similar boundary to the VICSES Central Region).

The three Community Education Facilitators to be employed by VICSES with funding provided by Melbourne Water (including funding for program delivery), will each work in partnership with one of the emergency management officers already employed at VICSES Central Region.

VICSES as the control agency for flooding has an important role in educating communities about flooding, however, as yet has not received government funding to complete this role. VICSES is currently reliant on grant funding and partnerships with agencies such as Melbourne Water to undertake this role.

Objective 5 – Agreed responsibilities and improved collaboration between flood management agencies

Since 2008 Melbourne Water have been working with local government and VICSES to develop Flood Management Plans (FMPs) and Flood Emergency Plans. The strategy recognised a need for a more coordinated and integrated approach to dealing with flood risks within the region. Through the strategy we have been able to provide technical and financial assistance to councils with an identified flood risk for preparation and review of an FMP and FEP. Melbourne Water provides recourses to help facilitate the development of the plans.

FMPs improve collaboration, clarify roles and responsibilities, and describes, at a high level, council and Melbourne Water’s key flood management planning and management activities. It details the flood risks for the municipality, particularly identifying any ‘hot spots’ or problem areas and it also contains an improvement plan detailing actions required to address any key gaps identified in developing the plan. The action plan is reviewed annually for progress and will be revised every five years. Melbourne Water leads the development of the FMPs however it requires strong collaboration with both council and VICSES. A significant amount of flood intelligence is developed during the process through the collaborative workshop process adopted to prepare the FMPs.

An FEP brings together the resources of many agencies and the community to develop emergency management arrangements in relation to flood preparedness, response and recovery. An FEP relies heavily on the flood intelligence information derived from the

FMP. VICSES leads the development of the FEP however MW provides support during the process.

Although a formal integrated flood management planning framework has not yet been developed for the State the model being piloted within the Port Phillip and Westernport region provides a working example of what can be achieved.

a) Identifying best practice and emerging technology for flood mitigation and monitoring infrastructure

Melbourne Water is: • Currently piloting a ‘flash flood’ warning process for small urban stream (Brushy Creek) and an underground drain (Blackburn South Drain). Evaluation of this process will determine next steps; • Upgrading current Event Reporting Radio Telemetry System (ERRTS) telemetry devices proposed for implementation during Water Plan 3 (covering years 2013 to 2018). Current technology up to 15 years old; • Looking at remote cameras for fixed sites eg Police Road Retarding Basin, to help with flood intelligence gathering and system performance monitoring.

Melbourne Water has prepared two documents dealing with Flood Warning: • A Flood Warning Manual and a Flood Response Plan; • The Flood Warning Manual is a document used by Flood Warning Duty Officers and it is a live document. Being updated regularly as improved flood intelligence is gathered in response to rainfall events, not just major floods; • The Flood Response Plan is a GEMS document and is updated every one to two years. Version 6.4 was published in November 2009 and Version 6.5 was published in May 2011.

b) The management of levees across Victoria, including ownership, responsibility and maintenance on both public and private land

Melbourne Water manages over 214 retarding basins and over 195km of levees across Greater Melbourne. These basins and levees were constructed to protect the downstream and adjacent environment, people and property from flooding. Melbourne Water is currently developing a strategy to investigate current risk of each asset to enable prioritisation to implement risk reduction works.

Both of these asset classes are currently managed as per our Flood Control Structures Strategic Asset Management Plan7 (SAMP) implemented in 2010 which is reviewed every 2 years. Through this SAMP Melbourne Water has defined a level of service which includes having regard for the ANCOLD (Australian National Committee of Large Dams) guidelines and our inspection frequency which is based on the “Hazard” rating of each asset. This hazard rating is based on the predicted consequences if the asset was to fail.

All new retarding basins are being constructed, designed and managed as per the “Guidelines for the Design and Assessment of Retarding Basins 2010” contained in Melbourne Water’s Land Development Manual. These guidelines state that any retarding basin built for Melbourne Water by external parties must have regard for ANCOLD guidelines.

Since 2007 Melbourne Water has been investigating the risks associated with our retarding basins. This process has taken a four stage approach to identify retarding basin risk based on ANCOLD. These stages are:-

7 This is an internal Melbourne Water document intended for the use of Melbourne Water staff only, but could be made available for viewing by the ENRC Panel if required

1. Simplistic desktop assessment (to prioritise via first principles of dam breach) - Completed 2. Comprehensive consequence assessment (a detailed assessment which uses hydraulic modelling to create inundation maps to detail the population at risk and severity of damage and loss) – 18 Completed 3. Risk assessment (uses failure modes and likelihood to determine where the retarding basin sits within the standard risk profile and what can be done to reduce it) – 5 completed 4. Upgrades – 1 Basin at functional requirements

All the above steps have led to developing a strategy which has a robust methodology to identify and prioritise upgrade works.

Following the finalisation of the retarding basin risk assessment of 5 basins Melbourne Water began a risk assessment on a selected few of the levee banks at the beginning of 2011. The results of this assessment will feed into the Levee Bank Risk Management and Upgrade Strategy.

Currently Melbourne Water has commenced writing the two strategies (Retarding Basins and Levee Banks) to provide a direction to manage the business risk that these assets present.

c) Waterways management, including the nature and extent of vegetation clearing activities within waterways and their general maintenance

Melbourne Water undertakes proactive works to manage river health, such as vegetation establishment and weed control works, fish barrier removal works, and fencing of waterways. Although some of these works have the potential to have impacts on the hydraulic capacity of the waterways, in particular the vegetation establishment and weed control works, Melbourne Water actively considers this when planning on-ground works.

At a strategic level, we consider the requirements of each waterway for their hydraulic conveyance needs when planning actions for the Healthy Waterways Strategy in Melbourne Water’s Water Plan 3, which will cover the years 2013 to 2018 inclusive. Any areas where vegetation works are proposed in Water Plan 3 will be assessed for potential impacts on hydraulic capacity before projects are planned and if necessary, proposed works will be redirected or re-scoped to ensure hydraulic capacity is not compromised.

Internal liaison occurs at a project-level when individual projects are being planned and scoped to ensure that planned works would not have an adverse effect on the capacity of those waterways to convey flow or pose other risks. Projects are either re-scoped or not proceeded with if it is believed they would pose a risk.

Over the three financial years of 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10, Melbourne Water has undertaken extensive maintenance works on its waterways assets. Average amount spent for each of the three years is $22.6 million8; with costs ramping up as additional works are identified especially in the expanded region (refer Figure 1). Costs for 2009/10 alone were $31.9 million and this is expected to be equalled or exceeded in the remainder of the current Water Plan period covering years 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13.

Breadth of works undertaken include: vegetation management, grass management (Melbourne Water is a major land owner in the region, for example: drainage reserves, retarding basins, wetlands), debris and litter removal, desilting and dredging, bank stabilisation, fencing, maintenance of access roads and bushfire protection and support.

8 Includes some relatively minor expenditure on CCTV inspection of drains

d) Identifying those entities and individuals having ownership of waterways and the responsibility for their clearing and their maintenance

In the Port Phillip and Westernport region, Melbourne Water, as the waterway manager under the Water Act 1989, has responsibility for managing all waterways as defined under the Water Act, which includes their clearing and maintenance. There are a small number of reaches of waterways in the Port of Melbourne area that have been specifically excluded from Melbourne Water’s waterway management district under Section 188A(1) of the Water Act. There is therefore no waterway manager for these reaches of waterways. This exclusion from Melbourne Water’s waterway management district has no impact on Melbourne Water’s responsibility as the floodplain manager for the entire Port Phillip and Westernport region.

Similar to the Catchment Management Authorities in the rest of Victoria, Melbourne Water does not own the waterways in its region, as the waterways (bed and banks) are crown land vested in the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Melbourne Water is, however, a major landowner in the region. Melbourne Water owns land required for drainage reserves in built-up areas, retarding basins, wetlands, levees and etc.

e) The extent to which, if any, local knowledge of residents is employed in effecting waterways clearing and maintenance

Melbourne Water consults extensively via a number of mechanisms, including public forums, advisory committees, targeted workshops, faced to face discussions, by phone, email and by letter.

Local knowledge is gleaned during the preparation of strategies, including: • Healthy Waterways Strategy (latest version in preparation) • Flood Management and Drainage Strategy • Water Quality Strategy • Better Bays and Waterways Plan (a water quality improvement plan for the Port Phillip and Westernport region and bays) • Urban Development strategies • Land Development Manual.

These Strategies and Plans determine priorities for works and maintenance and provide a conduit for residents and stakeholders to have their say. They provide necessary background detail required for seeking funding through the Essential Services Commission.

Melbourne Water also has a number of local advisory committees for its special precept areas which provide direct input to works and maintenance, including the responsibility for setting priorities and costs which have a direct impact on the fees these residents pay to Melbourne Water.

Local advisory committees include: • Koo Wee Rup and Longwarry flood protection district Advisory Committee • Patterson Lakes Advisory Committee.

Melbourne Water has also set up a general advisory committee, the ‘Waterways Advisory Committee’, which comprises representatives from the community and stakeholders. The main function of this committee is to advise Melbourne Water on the preparation of the Waterways Operating Charter.

The Waterways Operating Charter is Melbourne Water’s commitment to our stakeholders and the community. It describes actions designed to improve the health, quality, amenity and understanding of our waterways, to manage environmental flow and water quality, provide an appropriate level of flood protection for communities, support sustainable development, and involve and engage the community. The Charter sets out long-term aims, 10-year goals, and specific targets and measures for the Melbourne Water Water Plan period 2008/09 to 2012/13.

The Operating Charter is independently audited each year to assess success in achieving targets. Part of the role of the Committee is to review the annual Operating Charter audit and provide feedback to the Melbourne Water Board.

A soft copy of the current Charter is attached to this submission. The Operating Charter for the period 2013/14 to 2017/18 is currently under preparation.

Melbourne Water has engaged VICSES to assist in educating the public on flood related issues and on what to expect in case of flooding.

Melbourne Water river health and maintenance staff engage directly with the local community on local projects to ensure local issues and conditions are understood. Melbourne Water also provides general enquiry phone lines that handle issues and pass them on in most cases directly to field staff for follow up and action.

Case Study of conflicting policy or when is a drain a waterway

The following is a case study illustrating the complex nature of waterway and floodplain management made even more difficult by conflicting state and federal government policies.

Bunyip Main Drain Environmental obligations versus flood mitigation

While the Bunyip Main Drain (BMD) was constructed over 100 years ago with the express purpose of draining the Koo Wee Rup Swamp to enable settlement, cropping and development, the drain has come to serve two essential (and opposing) functions over time.

The approach to maintenance over the past 20 – 30 years has resulted in the drain establishing some natural habitat and therefore has come to look less like an engineered drainage channel and more like a natural waterway environment.

As a result of this vegetation overgrowth and continual clearing and development of land in the area, the vegetation growing linearly along the Bunyip Main Drain is providing some of the last contiguous vegetation cover for EPBC-listed species, particularly the Southern Brown Bandicoot. As such, the BMD is actually serving several populations of the Southern Brown Bandicoot as an essential bit of habitat corridor linking habitat areas home to known populations of the bandicoot throughout the region.

In consultation with the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) regarding the pending works in two sections of the BMD, it has emerged that both DSEWPaC and DSE view the Bunyip Main Drain as one of the most significant linking corridors for the bandicoot in Victoria.

This means that there is an expectation that there would be significant revegetation of the BMD once works are completed to re-establish the corridor for the bandicoots.

However, as the BMD is actually a drain which has an increasingly important role in protecting the critical human interests for an growing developed area in the region, it is essential that the drain’s fundamental design flood protection functions are not

compromised by vegetation which would increase the roughness coefficient of future flood flows through the drain. Essentially, it would be viewed as unacceptable to Melbourne Water (and the local community) to increase the flooding risks along the drain by revegetating a large section of the drain’s banks. Pending the results of flood modelling and system performance assessment resulting from the February 2011 floods some sections of the BMD may need a degree of vegetation removal to ensure the design flow capacities are achieved. The ability to achieve this outcome may be compromised by the environmental controls.

Additionally, due to the extreme flood event of February 2011, there were significant landslips along the northern bank of the BMD in sections, and this has undermined the only sealed road linking the area for road traffic. This has resulted in a partial shut down of the road in this area, and further flooding may see the road completely washed out. As such, it is viewed by the local community as imperative that Melbourne Water conduct works to repair the BMD and reinstate this section of the road.

As a result of the landslips concern is being raised about the extent of vegetation required by DSEWPaC on the embankments and the structural integrity risk this presents particularly where levees are being established and maintained. The vegetation has potential to compromise the ability to thoroughly inspect the levees for emerging slips and weak points.

It is also being suggested that previously upgraded sections of the BMD drain immediately downstream of one of the proposed job sites which did remove significant amounts of vegetation may need further vegetation established to meet the environmental requirements. This is likely to compromise the design hydraulic performance of the BMD under Commonwealth EPBC legislation requirements.

Appendix 1

Recent Significant Rainfall Events within the Region

28 October to 5 November 2010

• A flood watch was issued by BoM on 28 October for Greater Melbourne catchments (covers Werribee, Maribyrnong, Yarra, Dandenong and Bunyip) Rainfall forecasts up to 75mm were predicted • Rainfall commenced on 29 October and continued until 1 November • Highest totals were from 9am 30 October to 9am 1 November of 115mm in Upper Yarra catchment • Minor to moderate flood warnings issued for Yarra River catchment. Dandenong Creek and Bunyip River catchments reached minor flood levels. • 26 flood warnings and 3 flood watches were released during this period • No reports of flood damage to Melbourne Water.

27 November to 1 December 2010

• Severe weather warning was issued by BoM on 24 November for many areas including Greater Melbourne based on a slow moving low pressure trough positioned over central Victoria and likely to impact on the following Saturday • Over three days in the western area around Macedon Ranges up to 145mm fell. Although not intense rainfall, 75 – 80mm fell on some gauges on 27 November and then again on 28 November. With already wet catchments from earlier rainfall high runoff was encountered. • Minor to moderate flooding occurred on the Werribee catchment. Minor flooding also occurred in the Yarra and Maribyrnong catchments • 26 flood warnings were issued • No reports of flood damage to Melbourne Water.

8 December to 12 December 2010

• Another low pressure trough passed across Melbourne on 8 December • Flood watches for Greater Melbourne were issued daily from 6 to 9 December • On 8 and 9 December heavy rainfall was recorded in the Upper Yarra catchment – 75mm falling at Mt Juliet and Maribyrnong River catchment – 60mm at several locations over the 48 hour period • 5 flood warnings were issued • Minor flooding resulted on the Maribyrnong and Yarra River systems • No flood damage reported to Melbourne Water.

20 December 2010

• General rainfall event occurred over the period 20 to 21 December resulting in some moderate rainfall totals in the Dandenong Creek and Bunyip River catchments • Rainfall totals over 48 hours were up to 90mm • 10 flood warnings were issued • No flood damage reported to Melbourne Water.

11 January to 14 January 2011

• A flood watch and severe weather warning were issued on 11 January for a broad slow moving trough which was passing Victoria with very humid unstable weather associated • Between 11 to 15 January high rainfall totals were recorded. Highest were Lancefield 233mm, Durdidwarrah – Stony Creek 225mm, and Mt Macedon 250mm

all in north west of region. Totals recorded in the Yarra, Dandenong and Westernport catchments were generally much lower. • Minor to moderate flood warnings were issued for the Maribyrnong River catchment. Minor flood warnings were also issued for the Dandenong and Yarra catchments • 22 flood warnings were issued • Only one building was affected above floor level, the Anglers Tavern on the banks of the Maribyrnong River, where the lounge on the lower level is the first floor to be affected (ARI of around 1-in-5 year floods the lounge).

4 February to 5 February 2011

• A flood watch was issued on Thursday 3 February for a potential storm event with 100mm likely across metro Melbourne and up to 150mm in the ranges. Refer to Figure 3 for rainfall totals. • On Friday 4 February at about 6pm a severe thunderstorm front crossed into Melbourne resulting in up to 180mm of rainfall. The two to four hour duration having the most intense volumes of up to 80mm. Some locations received up to 200mm over 14 hours. • Rainfall Annual Exceedance Probabilities (AEPs) exceeded 1% with some significantly higher than this. Wide spread localized flooding was experienced in many part of Melbourne with extreme flash flooding affecting many areas. • 30 flood warnings were issued across the Werribee, Yarra, Dandenong and Bunyip catchments. • Dandenong Creek reached moderate flood levels, just below major • Yarra River reached moderate flood levels in the upper and middle parts of the catchment • Bunyip River recorded its highest levels in 40 years and reached a major peak level of 7.33m at the Iona gauge • A pilot Flash Flood Warning system in high-risk areas generated approximately 50 SMS warning messages. These messages were communicated to the Brushy Creek, Blackburn and Southern Link Upgrade pilot groups. These messages were well received by the residents participating in the pilot trials. • Melbourne Water opened an incident room to manage the impacts of this event.

A sustained recovery effort has been required by Melbourne Water to address the impacts of this storm event with large numbers of people involved in activities that included:

• Asset condition inspection and assessment along with general clean-up of lower priority issues such as damaged fences and fallen trees. This is a consequence of the wide spread nature of the storm event however all critical issues affecting safety were addressed as a matter of priority. • A sustained effort was required in the Bangholme area around Springvale/Pillars/Soden Road area in order to drain the very low lying area. These efforts involved pumping flood water via 6 pumps for a three week period as well as clean out of many local drainage lines. This work was done in conjunction with the City of Greater Dandenong as much of the drainage problems were linked to local drainage system. • Collection of field data on flood levels across the region with additional field surveyors being engaged to assist with this activity • Responding to numerous issues raised by local MPs, Councils and residents that required investigation, meetings and site visits and response. Depending on the nature of the issue there has been a number of community information sessions run in conjunction with local government. • Detailed investigations into locations that suffered the more severe impacts have been undertaken to enable an understanding of what happened, why it happened and if there are options to reduce the consequences of such events if they were to be repeated. Priority locations covered by such investigations include Bunyip Main Drain in Koo Wee Rup area, Gardiners Creek/Rix Street Drain in Glen Iris, Smythes Drain in Bangholme area, and Koornang Road Drain in Ormond.

• Planning and design for the rehabilitation work required along a 200 metre section of Bunyip Main Drain as a consequence of the bank slumping is continuing. Road closures in the area have been required as a consequence of the slip which is causing inconvenience for local commuters. A number of discussions have been held with Cardinia Shire Council regarding the project to ensure that as well as repairing the drain, the road is repaired and opened in timely manner. Due to the complexity of the project design and approval processes are likely to take until August before construction work can commence. • At four locations along Gardiner’s Creek in Glen Iris, the bank has been eroded and undermined requiring urgent stabilisation. Up to 50 separate known erosion sites in this area are being monitored but are sufficiently stable not to require intervention at this stage.

24 hour rainfall totals within region for 5 February 2011

17

Page 1 of 1

Fw: ENRC Inquiry into Flood Mitigation Infrastructure - Melbourne Water submission Caroline Williams to: karen.taylor, ivan.zwart 05/08/2011 09:19 AM Show Details

From: "Phillip Neville" [[email protected]] Sent: 05/08/2011 08:14 AM ZE10 To: Cc: "Peter Rankin" Subject: ENRC Inquiry into Flood Mitigation Infrastructure - Melbourne Water submission

Dear Dr Williams

Attached for your consideration is Melbourne Water’s submission to assist the Committee’s inquiry following the 2010-2011 flood events.

Regards Phillip

Phillip Neville | Manager Floodplain Services, Waterways| Melbourne Water T: (03) 9235 2235| M: 0419 748 332| 100 Wellington Pde, East Melbourne, 3002 | PO Box 4342 Melbourne VIC 3001 | melbournewater.com.au Working together to ensure a sustainable water future.

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file://C:\Temp\notes35D55D\~web1663.htm 9/08/2011 Waterways Melbourne Water’s Operating Charter for waterway management in the Port Phillip & Westernport region 2008/09 to 2012/13 Contents

1 Foreword 4

2 Executive Summary 5

3 What is the Operating Charter 6

4 Waterways – the Past and the Present 8

5 The Port Phillip and Westernport Region 12 and Challenges

6 Our Focus Over the Next Five Years 15

7 Our Focus Areas:

7.1 Community and Stakeholder 18 Engagement and Involvement

7.2 Managing Waterways 24

7.3 Managing Environmental Flows 29

7.4 Managing Water Quality 33

7.5 Flood Management and Drainage 38

7.6 Managing Urban Growth 43

7.7 Monitoring, Investigations 48 and Research

8 Evaluations, Reporting and Review 54

Appendix 55

2 Thanks go to the Waterways Advisory Committee John Forrester members for their assistance in developing this President, Werribee Riverkeepers Operating Charter: Luisa MacMillan Professor Barry Hart – Chair Manager, Merri Creek Management Committee Director, Water Science Patrick O’Callaghan David Buntine Manager, Conservation Programs, Parks Victoria CEO, Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Graham Osborne Management Authority Member Pakenham, Victorian Farmers Federation Claude Cullino Dr. Paul Sinclair Director of City Development, Manningham City Council Director, Healthy Rivers Campaign, Environment Victoria Dr. Jane Doolan Adrian Vlok Executive Director, Department of Sustainability Urban Development Institute of Australia & Environment Tim Fisher Manager, Water & Catchment Unit, EPA Victoria Dr. Tim Fletcher Director, Institute of Sustainable Water Resources, Monash University

3 1 Foreword

Watts Falls at Maroondah Reservoir.

Who we are, what we do From cascading streams high The importance of this Operating Charter in the forested mountains and and its detailed commitment to long-term Melbourne Water manages Melbourne’s management of our waterways is water supply catchments, removes and treats rural areas to urban creeks and underscored by a number of pressures, most of Melbourne’s sewage, and manages wetlands and our major rivers including the continuing drought, potential rivers and creeks and major drainage and estuaries, waterways are climate change impacts, and expectations for systems throughout the Port Phillip and future growth throughout the Port Phillip Westernport region. the lifeblood of our landscape and Westernport region. and our community. Owned by the Victorian Government, In this context, long-term planning is critical Melbourne Water has an independent Board The Waterways Operating Charter is to ensure that our waterways remain healthy, of Directors responsible for governance Melbourne Water’s commitment to vital, and continue to contribute to our sense and the responsible Minister is the Minister our stakeholders and the community. of community wellbeing. for Water. We are a signifi cant business, It describes actions designed to managing approximately $8 billion in improve the health, quality, amenity We look forward to working closely with our water supply, sewerage and drainage assets. and understanding of our waterways, key stakeholders and the community to We manage our assets to protect and to manage environmental fl ow and water effectively carry out our waterways, drainage improve their environmental, social and quality, provide an appropriate level of and fl oodplain management responsibilities economic values. fl ood protection for communities, in the Port Phillip and Westernport region support sustainable development, and now and into the future. involve and engage the community. The Charter sets out long-term aims, Rob Skinner 10-year goals, and specifi c targets and Managing Director, Melbourne Water measures for 2008-2013. Chris Chesterfi eld The Operating Charter is centred on our General Manager Waterways, Melbourne continuing efforts to improve the Water environmental, social and economic values of our waterways and to enhance community connection to waterways.

4 2 Executive Summary

Deep Creek, Daraweit Guim.

The Waterways Operating Climate change appears to be altering rainfall For fl ood and drainage management, the patterns, reducing streamfl ow levels, creating long-term aim is to minimise all currently Charter is Melbourne Water’s more intense storms and associated fl ash known intolerable fl ooding risks to public commitment with our fl ooding. Whilst we have experienced a health and safety, property and infrastructure stakeholders and the community number of years of drought, we still need to and increase community understanding and for the management of plan and prepare for fl ood. We aim to meet preparedness for fl oods. multiple, and sometimes confl icting, needs waterways, drainage and For managing urban growth, the long-term in the work we do including dealing with the aims are to ensure urban development fl oodplains. competing interests of water resources for achieves appropriate standards of fl ood the environment, urban and agricultural use. The Charter outlines programs to improve protection, protects waterway health and is the health, water quality, amenity and We also need to improve our knowledge sensitive to other environmental and social understanding of our waterways, to manage base to better understand and respond to values, and deliver an effi cient service and environmental fl ows and urban development, expectations of the diverse range of provide accurate, timely and reliable provide an appropriate level of fl ood stakeholders and communities in the Port information to the development industry and protection for communities, and involve and Phillip and Westernport region. community. engage with stakeholders and the community. To respond to these challenges, the Operating For monitoring, investigations and Our waterways and fl oodplains are highly Charter sets out Melbourne Water’s research, the long-term aim is to build a valued by our communities attracting millions responsibilities, long-term aims and 10-year comprehensive knowledge base to improve of visits each year and supporting more than goals for the management of waterways, decision making and evaluation of progress. 1,800 species of native plants and 600 fl oodplains and regional drainage. It also To carry out our programs and meet the goals species of native animals. defi nes the works and services required to and targets outlined in this Operating achieve the Charter’s 10-year goals. The condition of our waterways and Charter, there will be an increased focus on fl oodplains are a refl ection of the behaviour For community and stakeholder working with stakeholders and showing and activities of people and businesses living engagement and involvement, the long- leadership in the management of waterways and working around them. Water quality has term aim is to build trust and strengthen from source to sea. We will deliver tangible improved signifi cantly since the 1970s and working relationships with key stakeholders results with on-ground works, improve remained relatively stable for the last ten and the community. our understanding and management of fl ood years despite increased pressure from For managing waterways, the long-term risks, and expand and strengthen our continued urban growth. Still more needs aim is to ensure Melbourne’s rivers and creeks knowledge base. to be done to manage the many challenges are healthy, with increased numbers of native This Operating Charter responds to the many we face. fi sh, platypus and plant life. challenges we face with the clear recognition Continued urbanisation requires us to try and For managing environmental fl ows, the that best results are achieved when agencies, balance the protection of environmental long-term aim is to ensure suffi cient industry, councils and the community work values and waterway health, while providing environmental fl ows to support river health together. an acceptable level of fl ood protection for and protect benefi cial uses of the waterways. development. For managing water quality, the long-term aim is to collaborate with others to achieve objectives for water quality in accordance with State environmental protection policies and targets set out in the Regional River Health Strategy and Waterways Water Quality Strategy. 5 3. What is the Operating Charter?

6 Photograph above: Yarra River at Southbank. The Victorian Government in How was the Operating What is the Waterways its Our Water Our Future action Charter developed? Advisory Committee? plan designated Melbourne Water The fi rst Operating Charter was prepared In 2002, the fi rst Waterways and Drainage as caretaker of river health with in 1999. Since then, there have been three Advisory Committee was established to responsibility for waterways, updates to the Operating Charter. update and revise the Waterways Operating drainage and fl oodplain This current version has been developed in Charter. In 2006, the newly named Waterways close consultation with the Waterways Advisory Committee was re-formed to better management, the management of Advisory Committee. refl ect the diversity of stakeholders and the Environmental Water Reserve, community groups that we work with. The Operating Charter is also consistent and water quality monitoring with the Government’s Our Water Our Future This Operating Charter has been developed throughout the Port Phillip and action plan. It draws priority actions, in close involvement with the Committee, Westernport region. programs and targets from the range of which: State, regional and Melbourne Water These roles are managed through the • reviews and provides advice on Melbourne strategies. These strategies have included Water’s waterway, drainage and fl oodplain Waterways Group, which works closely extensive stakeholder consultation and management services with other key groups in Melbourne Water additional views were gathered and responsible for water supply, sewerage, incorporated through regional stakeholder • reviews relevant operating policies, research and community engagement. and community events. management strategies and other issues relevant to effi cient and effective delivery The Waterways Operating Charter outlines State strategies include State environment of services Melbourne Water’s responsibilities and protection policies, the Central Region overall goals for the management of Sustainable Water Strategy and the Yarra River • advises Melbourne Water where required waterways, fl oodplains and regional drainage Action Plan. Regional strategies include the on the content of the Operating Charter. in the Port Phillip and Westernport region Port Phillip and Westernport Regional The Operating Charter is independently over the next fi ve years (2008 to 2013). Catchment Strategy and the Port Phillip and audited each year to assess success in It sets out how we will work with Westernport Regional River Health Strategy. achieving targets. Part of the role of the Government agencies, community, local Committee is to review the annual Operating The Operating Charter also integrates the councils, rural landholders, developers and Charter audit and provide feedback to the goals and targets of Melbourne Water’s other stakeholders to achieve these goals. Melbourne Water Board. internal strategies including the Waterways The Operating Charter sets out long-term Water Quality Strategy, Flood Management aims, 10-year goals, and fi ve-year targets, and Drainage Strategy, Waterways What is in this document which are independently audited each year. Stakeholder Engagement and This Operating Charter is divided into the The long-term aims remain relatively fi xed, Communications Framework, Development following key sections: while the ten-year goals may be adjusted Planning Strategy and Cultural Heritage as fi ve-year targets are achieved or new Strategy. These strategies have all been • Community and stakeholder engagement information and knowledge emerges. developed with targeted stakeholders and and involvement The Essential Services Commission regulates the Waterways Advisory Committee. • Managing waterways Melbourne Water, including the prices we In developing this Operating Charter, we • Managing environmental fl ows charge for our waterways and drainage took into account: services and endorsing service commitments. • Managing water quality The Operating Charter supports pricing • our experiences in implementing, • Flood and drainage management submissions to the Essential Services monitoring and reporting commitments • Managing urban growth Commission. in previous Operating Charters • Monitoring, investigations and research. The Operating Charter is required by • evaluation of previous work programs In each of these sections, information is Government under our Statement of • changes in the policy framework and provided under the following headings: Obligations and is independently audited strategic directions and reported each year to ensure • Our responsibilities – outlines our role Melbourne Water meets its obligations to • community attitudes and expectations and statutory responsibilities our stakeholders and the community. identifi ed through market research and other community engagement activities. • Setting our priorities – explains how work programs are developed and prioritised • Current status – describes the current condition or situation • Aims and goals – describes our long-term aims • Programs – describes each program and works to be undertaken. Includes fi ve-year performance targets to show progress towards long-term goals.

7 4. Waterways – the Past and the Present

Photograph above: Meeting place: A confluence of creeks in the upper Yarra 8 (photograph courtesy of Museum Victoria). From the time of European The Victorian River Health Strategy brought settlement until the 1970s, about the adoption of a risk-based approach Melbourne Water’s and supported a focus on protecting rivers in waterways were managed with good condition (as opposed to poor sustainability principles a strong engineering focus on condition) and investment priority based on Melbourne Water has developed fl ooding and providing drainage the highest environmental gain and sustainability principles to guide the community commitment for resources way we work. services in urban and fl ood-prone invested. Recently, the Victorian Government areas. Waterway and stormwater also established an Environmental Water Our commitment to sustainability management was about capturing Reserve for a number of rivers and creeks as will be demonstrated by: recognition of the environment’s own and conveying urban run-off to • protecting and conserving entitlement to water. local rivers and creeks or the bays. Melbourne’s water resources A number of other recent strategies have laid Often the lack of planning controls the foundations for the way we manage • protecting and improving the over urban development meant no waterways, drainage and fl oodplains for environment, including biodiversity provision was made for overland today and the future. • our leadership, scientifi c research, fl ows, increasing the risk of creativity and innovation fl ooding. In many urban areas, Our role as caretaker • ensuring responsible risk this approach did not give priority of river health management to environmental values of As caretaker of river health, we strive to: • sharing information and fostering waterways or environmental fl ows, collaborative working relationships or the principles of integrated • manage our rivers, creeks and drainage systems to improve waterway health and • maintaining long-term fi nancial catchment management. the wellbeing viability The new environmental awareness that of the community • contributing to the health of the emerged in Melbourne’s communities during • provide a safe level of fl ood protection for community the 1970s led to greater concern about the communities state of urban waterways and greater • demonstrating corporate social recognition of their contribution to open • show leadership and work collaboratively responsibility with stakeholders and the community space and amenity. • ensuring intergenerational equity The creation of EPA Victoria, diversion of all • provide opportunities for community by considering short-term and industrial waste to sewers, and extension of involvement to strengthen connections long-term implications in all the sewerage system to unsewered areas with waterways and encourage decision making delivered signifi cant improvements to water contribution to river and creek health quality. • providing an environment where • make long-term decisions based on the employees are encouraged to As water quality in our rivers and creeks has best available science by undertaking or achieve their full potential. improved and access opened up with new supporting collaborative research and an trail networks, there has been an increased extensive monitoring and investigations These principles guide decision demand for improving river health. The water program making processes and are evident in all Melbourne Water decisions and industry has undergone signifi cant changes • take an integrated and sustainable actions. in thinking about water quality and approach to our work by balancing social, catchment management as a result. economic and environmental outcomes Melbourne Water has responded by • evaluate our performance in a transparent developing a more holistic approach to manner that promotes our achievements managing waterways and considerably and identifi es areas for improvement. increasing expenditure on weed control, revegetation and habitat improvement to Our role as caretaker of river health will enhance environmental and social values continue to change and evolve to refl ect of waterways. increased knowledge of waterways and drainage infrastructure, changing community Over the last 10 years, improved expectations, the capacity of our management of urban stormwater has stakeholders and environmental issues such become a priority. New environmental as climate change and drought. standards have been developed and ‘drainage’ engineering has moved from conveyance and disposal to water sensitive urban design.

9 4 Waterways – the Past and the Present

Who manages our waterways? A number of Government agencies, organisations and community groups contribute to the management of waterways, drainage and fl oodplains. The diagram below shows the areas of responsibility of each of the agencies, organisations and community groups:

Stormwater management – Managing development – EPA Victoria, councils, industry Melbourne Water is a statutory and Melbourne Water work in referral authority and prepares partnership to improve the long-term strategies and schemes environmental management of to ensure all new urban stormwater and incorporate development meets fl ood water sensitive urban design. and environmental protection standards.

Regulating works on waterways – Cleaning up pollution spills – all works on waterways require approval Melbourne Water cleans up pollution from Melbourne Water to protect river spills in consultation with, or under health, the values of rivers and creeks and direction from, EPA Victoria (which is public safety. responsible for responding to pollution and providing a pollution ‘hotline’ service).

Managing river health – Melbourne Water is caretaker of river health in the Port Phillip and Westernport region – we manage rivers, creeks, estuaries, wetlands and fl oodplains, provide fl ood and drainage management, and monitor river health and undertake community involvement programs.

Diversions and farm dams – Melbourne Water Managing recreational manages river diversions and farm dams in the Yarra activities – Parks Victoria catchment, and lower sections of the Maribyrnong, manages recreational activities in Skeleton, Stony, Laverton, Kororoit catchments. Port Phillip Bay, Western Port and Southern Rural Water performs this role for surface the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers. and ground water in the rest of the region.

Managing impacts of agriculture – the Department of Primary Industries provides information and advice on improving agricultural practices to minimise impacts on river health. The Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority co-ordinate catchment management. Melbourne Water works in partnership with these agencies and landowners to encourage better land management practices to improve river health.

10 Statewide responsibilities Environmental protection – EPA Victoria develops environmental protection objectives, regulates discharges and develops policy. Statewide strategic planning – the Department of Sustainability and Environment develops Statewide overarching policy frameworks for river health and natural resource management.

Regional responsibilities Natural resources and catchment management – the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (CMA) sets the framework for co-ordination of natural resources in the region.

Managing fl ooding – Melbourne Maintaining drains – councils are Water is the Floodplain Management responsible for managing drainage Authority for the Port Phillip and systems servicing areas of generally less Westernport region. We map areas than 60 hectares; Melbourne Water is at risk of fl ooding and provide fl ood responsible for managing drainage warning advice. systems servicing areas generally greater than 60 hectares.

Streamside vegetation – Managing the port – Port of rehabilitation work is carried out Melbourne Corporation manages land by community groups and rural and water around the mouth of the landowners, often working in Yarra, and shipping channels and partnership with Melbourne Water fairways in Port Phillip Bay. and the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority. Melbourne Water also rehabilitates waterways.

11 5. The Port Phillip and Westernport Region and Challenges

12 Photograph above: Werribee River Melbourne Water’s operating Environmental values Social values area encompasses the entire There are approximately 8,000 kilometres The region is home to a diverse range of Port Phillip and Westernport of rivers and creeks in the region. The wide people, of whom many actively work to catchment region, and aligns with variety of landforms and ecosystems support improve rivers and creeks. Over 550 the Port Phillip and Westernport more than 1,800 species of native plants and volunteer community groups undertake 600 species of native animals. activities related to catchment and river Catchment Management and creek health. This commitment and Some 25% of the rivers and creeks in the Authority’s operating boundary. contribution is highly valued and our region are classed as being in excellent ability to engage these groups and other The 12,800 square kilometre and good condition, with 31% in moderate parts of the wider community are critical to condition and 44% in poor to very poor region covers the entire Werribee, our success. Maribyrnong, Yarra, Dandenong condition, (based on the Index of River Condition – see page 25). The urban rivers and creeks in the region are and Westernport catchments. important areas for recreation and a major River health is excellent in the upper It extends from high up in the contributor to community wellbeing and forested areas, but agricultural activities Melbourne’s ‘liveability’. Over 100 million Yarra Ranges, across to Ballan in and urbanisation have a signifi cant visits each year are made to waterways. the west, and from the detrimental effect on water quality and One in three Melburnians live within one overall river health. Water quality has Mornington Peninsula and Phillip kilometre of a river or creek. The region also improved considerably since the 1970s contains eight National Parks, six State Parks, Island to Lancefi eld in the north. and has generally remained constant over eight Marine Protected Areas and many the last 10 years. The water resources of the regional, metropolitan and local parks and region support a population of The region is fortunate to have protected conservation reserves. The Yarra River is the 3.8 million people as well as forested water supply catchments to the focus of many community events and north and east. These are managed by celebrations, including the three-day agriculture and other industry. Melbourne Water. The O’Shannassy Moomba festival, which attracts more than catchment is classed as an ‘Essentially 200,000 people per day each year. Natural Catchment’, while the Lerderderg Rivers and creeks continue be a vital part of Land use River and the upper reaches of the Yarra regional Aboriginal culture. Prior to European The catchment ranges from heavily modifi ed River are both classifi ed as ‘Heritage Rivers’. settlement, the region’s waterways provided urban and industrial areas in the lower Melbourne Water manages more than resources, meeting places, transport routes catchments, extensive farming activities and 900 wetlands, of which many have high and places of spiritual and community rural communities, and forested regions on biodiversity values and three are activity. Today the waterways and Aboriginal the region’s fringes. Annual gross value of internationally listed under the Ramsar way of life are very different, yet the rivers agricultural production exceeds $1 billion, Convention – the Edithvale Seaford wetlands, and creeks of the region remain an important from industries such as horticulture, dairying, Western Port and Port Phillip Bay (western part of community identity. A range of and viticulture. shoreline). European and Aboriginal heritage values exist About 23% of the region is urbanised. in the region’s waterways, including Dights Extensive clearing for agriculture and urban Falls on the Yarra and the Edithvale Seaford and industrial development has resulted in wetlands on the Mornington Peninsula. signifi cant loss of environmental values, with waterways providing important areas Figure 1: Melbourne Water’s Operating Area of remnant native vegetation and valuable urban community open space.

13 5 The Port Phillip and Westernport Region and Challenges

Challenges for management Another challenge we face is servicing urban Platypus are an indicator of the development whilst trying to protect and Urban development health of rivers. Surveys conducted improve water quality. Our commitment to by Australian Platypus Conservancy ensuring opportunities for stakeholders and The population of the region is expected biologist Geoff Williams, show that the community to be involved in decision to increase by more than 800,000 people “Platypus are occurring in larger making poses another challenge in ensuring by 2030, with most of the increase occurring numbers along the Yarra in decision making is effi cient and timely. in Melbourne’s existing urban areas. Melbourne’s middle suburbs… with sightings in Fairfield and Kew.” The challenge for Melbourne Water will be to Working with our stakeholders and fi nd a balance between protecting existing the community environmental values and waterway health, while providing an acceptable level of fl ood The Port Phillip and Westernport region is protection and development of new and home to 3.8 million people and is composed existing urban areas. of a diverse range of communities and stakeholders. Working in partnership with Urban expansion also has the potential stakeholders and the community underpins to affect river water quality, with the all our work. Understanding and responding downstream effects concentrated in the to expectations of such a diverse range of estuaries and bays. There will be further communities poses a challenge, as does pressures on water resources and ensuring there are a range of techniques to environmental fl ows to meet increasing work together to ensure we achieve the best urban demands for water. results from our programs. Climate change Melbourne Water and CSIRO research has identifi ed likely climate change trends including increased average and summer temperatures, reduced rainfall, reduced stream fl ows, and more extreme events with more hot days, more dry days and increased rainfall intensity during storm events. This will make attainment of river health and fl ood protection objectives more challenging. Intense storms, with sudden, heavy and localised rainfall, may cause sewer overfl ows into waterways, or more frequent overland fl oods in some urban areas. Constant stress on our waterways and changes in the base fl ows in rivers and creeks due to reductions in overall rainfall and stream fl ow levels is likely to reduce the environmental health Knowledge gaps of our waterways. We have a comprehensive monitoring, investigations and research program and Managing fl ood risks hence a solid knowledge base to inform More than 100,000 properties in the region decision making. However, there will have been identifi ed as at risk from fl ooding always be knowledge gaps and uncertainty. in a 1-in-100-year storm. Some 20,000 of For example, there is uncertainty regarding these are affected by riverine fl ooding, and climate change and its implications for the remaining properties, many in older managing waterways, drainage and urban areas, are at risk of overland fl ooding fl oodplains. which occurs when high intensity rain events overwhelm the constructed drainage system It is essential that we continue our programs and excess stormwater travels overland to in the face of uncertainty, adopt a philosophy the nearest waterway. of learning as we implement our programs, and ensure we fi ll key gaps. With a forecast increase of over 500,000 new households between now and 2030, and Managing competing interests possible climate changes associated with In implementing our programs, we aim to global warming, the region faces signifi cant meet multiple and sometimes confl icting fl ood and drainage management challenges. needs. For example, it is a challenge to balance competing interests between securing healthy river fl ows as manager of the Environmental Water Reserve, and securing water supply for Melbourne.

14 6. Our Focus Over the Next Five Years

Photograph above: Plenty River’s headwaters in the forested hills north of Melbourne. 15 6 Our Focus Over the Next Five Years

Delivering integrated services Key directions Showing leadership and advocacy Integration of our activities is critical to We will show strong leadership and advocacy An integrated approach to waterway, in the management of rivers from source to effective management of waterways, drainage and fl oodplain management sea in a way that recognises the impact of drainage systems and fl oodplains. requires a focus on the complex links catchment activities, such as rural land Our projects and programs need to link between human activities within a management, on river health. We will support to each other to meet stakeholder and catchment, climate, water quality, the development of a policy and regulatory Melbourne Water priorities and deliver river health and community wellbeing. framework that leads to improved ‘multiple benefi ts’ for the environment To carry out the programs and meet the management of waterways and catchments. and community wellbeing. goals and targets outlined in this Operating We will make particular efforts to provide This is achieved by establishing shared Charter, there will be an increased focus on: leadership in the management of visions and goals (within and between environmental fl ows, fl ood risk and Working together with stakeholders Melbourne Water, communities and stormwater, and in community engagements, to build our knowledge and skills for stakeholders), through open and transparent and adoption of water sensitive urban design. better river health and community communication, and a commitment to outcomes working together to meet multiple needs. Delivery and on-ground outcomes We value the importance of local knowledge We have set ambitious but achievable We must also ensure that our services and and understanding community priorities targets and we will strive to effectively and programs respond to: in helping devise our long-term programs. effi ciently achieve these outcomes. • Government policy We will support and share resources with others, such as community groups, councils, Ensuring we are in a position to manage • regulation and legislation rural landholders, Government agencies future challenges and developers so we can all achieve our • community and stakeholder expectations We will adapt and embrace future common goals for improved river health, challenges that will affect our region, such as • industry trends and environmental factors drainage and fl oodplain management, and mitigating the impacts of urban development (such as drought). community well-being. and responding appropriately to A range of State and regional strategies We will continue to work with the Port environmental challenges such as climate (outlined in section 3) guide the delivery of Phillip and Westernport Catchment change and drought. integrated waterway services. Case studies Management Authority to collaboratively throughout this Operating Charter deliver improved community engagement, Managing fl ooding risks and improving demonstrate how we work in an integrated river, fl oodplain and drainage management our understanding way to achieve improvements to the services, and we value the Catchment We will change the way we respond to and environment and community wellbeing. Management Authority’s integrated manage fl ood risk. We will work to reach catchment management role. agreements with stakeholders and the Figure 2: Our integration model community on the way we do this and work to improve the community’s understanding of the impacts of fl ooding and preparedness for these natural events. R egu y la lic tio Strengthening our knowledge base Po lder Engage n t eho me an n tak nt a d We will undertake monitoring, investigations e S n L m d d e n n In g and research to inform our decision making r a v i e ty o s v i lv la o n e t and improve our knowledge of areas u i G m o m e n including estuaries and the potential impacts m Managing n o Managing t C Environmental of climate change on river health and fl ood Waterways Flows risk. We will develop our people, building our own and stakeholder capacity, and increase Monitoring, connectedness to our waterways. Investigations Managing & Research Managing Water Urban

s C Quality Growth r o o m t c m a f Flood u l n a Management t it y n and Drainage e a m n n d o s ir t v a n ke e h d ol n de s a r e nd xpe tre cta try tions Indus

16 Students from Blackburn Primary School at the Amphibian Research Centre in Werribee looking at frogs.

Long-term aims Funding to achieve our The next sections of the document outline how these resources will be allocated, and The long-term aims for the management of aims and goals the works programs that will be undertaken waterways, fl oodplains and drainage are: Our ambitious, but achievable, targets to meet our overall goals. • To build trust and strengthen working require signifi cant commitment and relationships with key stakeholders and resources. The fi gure below shows capital the community and operating expenditure allocated to each of the main work areas in this Operating • To ensure that Melbourne’s rivers and Charter over the next fi ve years. creeks are healthy, with increased numbers of native fi sh, platypus and Figure 3: Capital and Operating Expenditure plant life 2008/09 to 2012/13 ($ millions) • To ensure waterways are managed to ensure suffi cient environmental fl ows to support river health and protect benefi cial uses • In collaboration with others, to achieve objectives for water quality in accordance with State environmental protection policies and targets set out in the Regional River Health Strategy • To minimise all currently known intolerable fl ooding risks to public health and safety, property and infrastructure Community & stakeholder $13.7M and increase community understanding and preparedness for fl oods Managing waterway improvements $181M** Managing environmental flows $8.3M • To ensure urban development achieves Managing water quality $90M* appropriate standards of fl ood protection, protects waterway health and is sensitive Flood & drainage management $188M* to other environmental and social values Managing urban growth $398M of waterways * includes funding for monitoring, investigations • To deliver an effi cient service and provide and research projects (under Monitoring, accurate, timely and reliable information Investigations and Research section). to the development industry and community ** includes funding for monitoring, investigations and research projects and some waterways • To build a comprehensive knowledge base community projects such as stream frontage to improve decision making and management grants. evaluation of progress.

17 7.1 Community and Stakeholder Engagement and Involvement

Photograph above: students at the 18 Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands. Community and stakeholder Our responsibilities Current status engagement is a key part of Melbourne Water is the caretaker of river Over the years, Melbourne Water has worked Melbourne Water’s business health on behalf of communities that live on many partnership projects and programs and decision making process. and work in the Port Phillip and Westernport with a wide range of stakeholders and Through working in partnership region and a wide range of stakeholders. communities. The groups we work with are summarised in Table 1 on page 20. with others, we can achieve It is our responsibility to: Melbourne Water has established a number our shared goals for managing • understand community and stakeholder of partnerships and programs that inform expectations waterways, drainage and and help us to meet our goals and deliver fl oodplains. • provide opportunity for communities and river health and water quality programs. stakeholders to infl uence priorities and Over a 10 year period, we have undertaken Engaging community groups, programs detailed research to seek community views councils, rural landholders, • be open and accountable to communities on rivers and creeks. Government agencies, developers and stakeholders for services and Since 1996, Melbourne Water has provided performance and other key stakeholders adds grants to help private land owners improve to our knowledge, helps us • involve and engage communities and and protect waterways under the Steam understand and meet stakeholders in our programs. Frontage Management Program. Melbourne Water also runs the Community Grants expectations, and improves our We are also responsible for community and Program in partnership with the Port Phillip delivery of on-ground works. stakeholder priorities ascribed to Melbourne and Westernport Catchment Management We will build on existing Water in a range of policies and strategies, Authority to provide annual funding to assist such as the Regional River Health Strategy, programs and adopt new ways volunteer groups and public land managers Yarra River Action Plan, Waterways Water to improve and protect waterways. to engage and involve the Quality Strategy and Flood Management and community and other Drainage Strategy. We support a range of education programs for schools and community groups such as stakeholders. Our engagement programs help Melbourne the Port Phillip and Westernport Waterwatch Water meet objectives and determine and Frog Census programs. In 2005/06, priorities for waterways, drainage and Waterwatch involved more than 40,000 Aims and goals fl oodplain management by improving our people, conducted over 800 activities and understanding of stakeholder needs, social monitored more than 300 sites. Long-term aim expectations and changing community To build trust and strengthen working attitudes and behaviours. Melbourne Water has expanded its relationships with key stakeholders and the partnership programs to include the community. development industry through innovative Setting our priorities programs such as GreenBuilders. We also 10-year goal support major events, such as the Yarra River Our priorities for community and stakeholder Youth Conference, and place an increased To achieve a high level of community and engagement and involvement are directed by focus on understanding community stakeholder understanding and active the Waterways Stakeholder Engagement and perceptions and needs, in particular the participation in programs related to the Communications Framework. This Framework ‘Making Connections’ community networking health of the region’s rivers, water quality unites all associated engagement and events (see case study on page 22). and fl ooding. communications initiatives for waterways, drainage and fl oodplain management. We are creating new opportunities for It identifi es priority initiatives, and provides engagement in fl oodplain and drainage a co-ordinated program for delivery. management. We need to improve our understanding of fl ooding impacts on Priorities in the Framework are based on communities, and better address cultural existing commitments and priorities assigned heritage in our day to day work. We will to Melbourne Water in the range of strategies build on current programs and address and plans outlined above. These strategies our community’s request for a more open and plans have been developed in relationship with Melbourne Water and consultation with Government, councils and adopt new ways to engage and involve the community, and infl uenced by market community and other stakeholders. research and feedback from community events and surveys. Our Framework guides programs to ensure we are on track to achieve our 10-year goal of high levels of community and stakeholder understanding and active participation in programs related to the health of the region’s rivers, water quality and fl ooding.

19 7.1 Community and Stakeholder Engagement and Involvement

Students from Karoo Primary School help to plant along the banks of Ferny Creek at Ferntree Gully.

Table 1: Waterways stakeholders

Community People who directly or indirectly pay for services provided, and benefi t from the outcomes of those services.

Users People who live near, or undertake recreational or business activities on, drainage reserves, rivers, creeks, estuaries wetland or fl oodplains. Such people include local residents, farmers and other rural landholders, agricultural business owners and water diverters.

Education Schools and universities that provide opportunities for people to learn about waterways, and also provide specialist research and analysis.

Indigenous community The region is the country of the Woiworung (Maribyrnong, Dandenong, Yarra), Boonerwrung (Westernport) and Wathaurong (Werribee) communities.

Interest groups Environmental and community organisations such as Environment Victoria, advisory and co-ordinating committees, local conservation, Landcare and ‘Friends of’ groups that play a key role in engaging the community and liaising with Melbourne Water.

Industry groups Land developers, design and construction industries and other public utility providers undertaking infrastructure works that have direct impacts on waterways.

Councils Councils provide local drainage systems and regulate land use and management.

Research organisations Organisations such as eWater Cooperative Research Centre, Amphibian Research Centre, Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research and CSIRO who provide expertise and specialist research.

Other agencies Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, EPA Victoria, Department of Primary Industries, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Department of Human Services, Municipal Association of Victoria, Parks Victoria and the Central Coastal Board are involved in many important waterway, drainage and fl ood management issues.

Suppliers A wide variety of companies providing materials, goods and services to, or undertaking maintenance and construction work for, Melbourne Water.

Water supply Retail water businesses (City West Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water) to whom we supply companies water and with whom we have water supply agreements and other companies supplying water to other parts of our region, including Southern Rural Water and Westernport Water.

20 Frog Census Volunteers recording frogs Primary school students using Melbourne Water’s at Blackburn Lake Sanctuary Active Catchment Education (ACE) model.

Programs We will build on our existing program that Community and stakeholder measures and reports on community engagement To ensure we meet our long-term and satisfaction with waterways by incorporating We will provide diverse opportunities for 10-year goals, we will undertake the assessment of satisfaction with our involving community and other stakeholders in following programs over the next fi ve years. engagement processes. This information will planning and delivery of waterway programs. These activities align with the priorities help our understanding of community in the Waterways Stakeholder Engagement communication, engagement and Examples of consultation and involvement and Communications Framework. perceptions about waterways. opportunities include: Melbourne Water is committed to providing • obligations and responsibilities – such as Performance Target timely, informative and helpful responses to when producing development services issues or complaints raised by customers and schemes, or engaging with our diversions Goals and actions in the Waterways the community, in a transparent and customers Stakeholder Engagement and consistent manner. Our Enquiry Centre will Communications Framework will be • Developing strategies and plans – such as continue to provide information on drainage achieved and implemented. stream fl ow management plans or rates, fl ood levels, water quality information, waterway activity plans rainfall data, maintenance and other Measurement waterway issues. • Developing and implementing our Performance assessment will be based programs, projects and works – such as on an annual report of progress towards fl ood mitigation works, or managing the Performance Target targets and actions. Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands. 70% of community satisfaction with In partnership with the Port Phillip and waterways will be maintained, and a Westernport Catchment Management Communication mechanism to measure community and Authority, we will develop more effect Our communication programs will stakeholder satisfaction with our mechanisms to support community groups strengthen stakeholder and community engagement processes will be developed to protect and improve waterways. understanding of our role and responsibilities, and implemented. provide access to credible information, promote opportunities for involvement in Measurement Performance Target our work, and help foster a greater sense of connection between people and their Performance assessment will be based on Avenues for supporting community waterways. annual progress against the two activities. waterway management projects that support achievement of Regional River Projects designed to help us achieve these Health Strategy and Waterways Water goals include improving our communication Quality Strategy targets will be maintained of monitoring, investigation and research and diversifi ed. information through brochures, factsheets and websites. The successful ‘Our Yarra’ Measurement website model will be rolled out to other major catchments in the region, providing Performance assessment will be based on a valuable local information resource for an annual report on the number and community’s and stakeholders. diversity of community projects.

21 7.1 Community and Stakeholder Engagement and Involvement

Case study Strengthening our working relationships with stakeholders In 2006, Melbourne Water developed ‘Making Connections’ a new, catchment-based method for building on existing cooperative relationships, strengthening understanding and connection between people, and exploring new opportunities for working together to protect the health of catchments, waterways and the bays. ‘Making Connections’ signalled a change in our approach to stakeholder engagement, emphasising active listening, collaboration with our community stakeholders in waterway management, and building connections through personal relationships. Each event brings together a wide variety of people with an interest in waterways, representing community and environment groups, local government, schools and universities, private industry, rural landholders, and retail water companies. Ideas and actions generated at each event infl uence our planning, programs, on-ground works and partnerships, highlighting the value of community and stakeholder input. Outcomes from events to date highlight the importance of Melbourne Water: • building trust, demonstrating openness and transparency and following through on commitments • improving support and forming effective partnerships with community groups to get people involved and connected to waterways • continuously building knowledge and awareness of the health of waterways • clarifying roles and responsibilities around waterways. These events proved so successful in making connections and strengthening working relationships that a series of regular events across the region will now be held on an annual basis.

We will build on current programs to build Education and awareness Partnership projects trust and share information, and continually Melbourne Water will continue to build Through partnerships, we achieve our shared build and report on our understanding community knowledge and awareness of goals for managing waterways, drainage and of community needs and expectations. river health, water quality and fl ood fl oodplains, and work towards our long-term In addition to market research to measure management issues by delivering a goal of strengthening working relationships community needs and satisfaction, we will diversity of education programs. Examples with key stakeholders and the community. achieve these aims by undertaking activities include the Port Phillip and Westernport We will continue to support new and existing such as annual ‘Making Connections’ events Waterwatch and Frog Census, the new community and stakeholder initiatives to in each major catchment. Melbourne Water wetland discovery centre help manage waterways, drainage and at Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands, and tours of We will also improve our reporting on fl oodplains, and form effective partnerships our Western and Eastern Treatment Plants. waterways, by delivering an annual report to connect people with waterways. to stakeholders and the community on our We will improve signage of waterways To do this, we will encourage new and activities over that year. projects to raise awareness and ongoing partnerships between industry and understanding of rehabilitation works. One of the goals of Melbourne Water’s business groups as well as organisations such We will also improve education and Strategic Framework is to preserve and as Greening Australia and the Amphibian awareness through a range of tools promote Indigenous and European cultural Research Centre. Melbourne Water will including our Waterwatch trailer, Flood heritage. To reinforce our recognition of strengthen partnerships with landowners Explorer model and Active Catchment cultural heritage in our day-to-day work, through our River Health Incentive Programs Education stormwater model. Melbourne Water has developed a Cultural (see case study). Heritage Strategy. The strategy ensures all We will also undertake fl ood education We will strengthen our partnership with business activities and works on waterways and communications programs in the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment respect Indigenous and European values, conjunction with councils to increase Management Authority by supporting their and do not threaten the integrity and community understanding of fl ooding, fl agship projects such as Yarra for Life and values of sites and places with signifi cant how the impact of fl oods can be reduced, Grow West, and delivering a co-ordinated cultural heritage. and the Government’s fl ood response role grants and community support program for (see Flood Management and Drainage councils, Landcare and community groups. Performance Target section for more detail). Waterways Group activities will respect Indigenous and European values and follow guidelines set out in the Melbourne Water Cultural Heritage Strategy.

Measurement Performance assessment will be based on assessing projects to ensure Cultural Heritage Strategy guidelines have been followed.

22 Tree planting to improve river health

Case study Melbourne Water’s river health incentive programs Our grants programs are co-ordinated with other grants programs in the region including the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority’s Community Grants Program. These programs fund affordable, non-technical works that can be easily implemented to improve river health. They help individuals, community groups and agencies carry out river health projects, develop practical skills and create partnerships. River Health Incentive Programs include the: • Stream Frontage Management Program, which was originally a rural based program but expanded during 2005/06 to assist urban landholders with stream protection works • Corridors of Green Program, which helps local government and other agencies responsible for public land with a waterway frontage • Community Grants Program, which helps community groups work on publicly managed land with a waterway frontage • Go for Green, which provides funding for managers of golf courses and other sports facilities that have a waterway frontage. During the 10 years to June 2006, the Stream Frontage Management Program allocated over 2,300 grants totalling $5,779,000. Works include planting 870,000 trees and shrubs and installing 567 kilometres of fencing. Melbourne Water also provides grants to community volunteer groups such as ‘Friends of’ and Landcare for revegetation projects, establishment of indigenous nurseries and revegetation equipment.

23 7.2 Managing Waterways

24 Photograph above: Watts River. Melbourne Water works in Our responsibilities Setting our priorities partnership with landholders, Melbourne Water is the caretaker of river Priorities for the protection and rehabilitation Government agencies, industry health and designated waterway manager of rivers, creeks, estuaries, fl oodplains and and the wider community to for the Port Phillip and Westernport region. wetlands are based on the Port Phillip and protect and improve over 8000 In collaboration with others, we are Westernport Regional River Health Strategy – responsible for achieving healthy rivers, a strategy produced in close consultation kilometres of rivers, creeks, creeks, estuaries, wetlands and fl oodplains with Government, councils, community and estuaries and fl oodplains and a that meet the environmental, economic, indigenous stakeholders and endorsed by the number of wetlands in the Port recreational and cultural needs of current Minister in 2006. Phillip and Westernport region. and future generations. The strategy contains broad priorities for We are responsible, in conjunction with rivers and creeks in the region to achieve our the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment long-term aim of making Melbourne’s rivers Aims and goals Management Authority, community and and creeks healthy, with increased numbers other stakeholders, for developing and of native fi sh, platypus and plant life. Long-term aim implementing the Port Phillip and The strategy aligns with the State-wide To ensure that Melbourne’s rivers and creeks Westernport Regional River Health Strategy. philosophy of protecting existing high value are healthy, with increased numbers of native To be reviewed by 2012, the strategy rivers and creeks that are in good condition fi sh, platypus and plant life. includes a range of targets for managing the and improvement of rivers and creeks in riparian zone, aquatic habitat, channel form, areas where there is: 10-year goals water quality, stream fl ows, recreation, • highest environmental and community To have 50% of rivers and creeks in good or heritage values and estuaries and fl oodplains. gain for resources invested excellent condition by 2015 (as measured by As a “Protection Agency” under the the Index of River Condition). • community commitment towards long- Environment Protection Act 1970, another term improvement of river health. The 10-year resource condition targets responsibility is responding to pollution identifi ed in the Regional River Health incidents and blue-green algal outbreaks on It also acknowledges that in highly modifi ed rivers and creeks in urban areas, the potential Strategy (shown on page 25) will help us waterways. This role is carried out in to achieve environmental improvements is assess progress towards long-term goals. conjunction with other agencies including EPA Victoria, the Department of limited. In these waterways, the principal aim Sustainability and Environment and Parks of programs is to protect or improve social or Victoria. amenity values in line with community expectations. Managing risks to public safety and public and private assets (eg roads and bridges) is also given priority in expenditure. • Broad priorities in the Regional River Health Strategy have been translated into a program of works to ensure we are on track to meeting our 10-year goal of having 50% of rivers and creeks in good or excellent condition by 2015.

Table 2: 10-year resource condition targets from the Port Phillip & Westernport Regional River Health Strategy. These targets are used to measure the outcomes of river health actions to show progress towards our 10-year goal.

10 Year Resource Target Area Condition Target

Length of rivers and creeks in excellent or good IRC condition 3,500 km

Number of high value river reaches meeting environmental fl ow objectives 5

Length of river showing improvement in streamside condition 3,600 km

Length of river with improvement in IRC physical form sub-index rating 3,400 km

Improvement in IRC aquatic life sub-index rating 2,800 km

Increase in river length made accessible for fi sh movement 1,500 km

Kilometres of Ecologically Healthy Rivers reaches maintained 1,300 km

Percentage of monitoring sites meeting SEPP objectives or regional targets 80% established through the SEPP “Waters of Victoria” risk assessment process

25 7.2 Managing Waterways

Little River in the Yarra River at Fairfield Boathouse, Brisbane Ranges. Studley Park.

Current status Figure 4: Condition Summary – Index of River Programs Condition for the Port Phillip & Westernport Many attributes combine to make up the Region (Regional River Health Strategy 2006) The Port Phillip and Westernport condition of rivers and creeks. Melbourne Regional River Health Strategy Water rates the environmental condition of The strategy contains broad priorities for rivers and creeks using a compound indicator rivers and creeks in the region to achieve our called the Index of River Condition (IRC) long-term aims of making Melbourne’s rivers (based on the Index of Stream Condition, and creeks healthy, with increased numbers developed by the Department of of native fi sh, platypus and plant life. Sustainability and Environment for rural More specifi cally, the strategy includes: rivers and creeks). • a common vision for river and creek management in the region The Index of River Condition combines the • a fi ve year blueprint for agencies and scores for fi ve major waterway attributes communities to work together to improve including physical form, streamside zone, rivers and creeks hydrology, water quality and aquatic life. • broad priorities for rivers and creeks It is a numerical score that translates into a • regional goals and targets for river health rating of excellent, good, moderate, poor or ff[() Priority waterways programs include: waterways in the region has been undertaken over many years, and a summary of results Df[\iXk\*( • working with stakeholders and the is following. Gffi*+ community to manage practices that affect the health of rivers and creeks M\ipgffi(' • undertaking works programs to improve or create habitat, stabilise channels and improve water quality Some 25% of waterways assessed are in • undertaking planning, monitoring, good or excellent condition, and our 10-year investigations and research to improve goal is to increase this to 50% of waterways. our knowledge and understanding of the Some 31% are in moderate condition and health of rivers and improving fl ow 44% are in poor to very poor condition • ensuring land development planning (see Figure 3). Generally, the pattern is a protects and enhances rivers and creeks. gradual decline from the headwaters of the catchment to the sea, as land use changes from forest to rural to urban, refl ecting the Performance Target impact of people and activities in the The Port Phillip and Westernport Regional catchment. Condition deteriorates River Health Strategy will be reviewed by progressively downstream as a result of 2012, in accordance with Department of runoff from urban and agricultural land, Sustainability and Environment guidelines. weeds, bed and bank erosion, loss of instream habitat, barriers to fi sh migration and Measurement modifi ed fl ows. Performance assessment will be based on evaluating progress towards this target.

26 Case study Big improvement for Little Yarra Re-introducing old tree trunks into the stream bed, installing a fi sh ladder, involving local farmers and replacing willows with native vegetation have resulted in signifi cant improvements for the Little Yarra River. Rising in mountain ash forests in the Yarra Ranges above Warburton, the Little Yarra passes through rural areas to join the Yarra River below Yarra Junction. Its upper sections are in good to excellent condition, supporting a variety of signifi cant fl ora and fauna species, good water quality and a diversity of streamside and in-stream habitats. Melbourne Water identifi ed the Little Yarra River as a waterway in good condition that would benefi t from a series of integrated rehabilitation works designed to lift its condition to excellent. Rehabilitation works in 2003 re-introduced old tree trunks into the upper reaches to improve in-stream habitat. These works have been extended with the recent completion of a fi shway to help fi sh migrate, and the involvement of local farmers through the Steam Frontage Management Program which assists landholders to fence off waterways from stock and to replant banks with native vegetation. In the middle and lower reaches removal of willows and other weeds, and revegetation provide further water quality and habitat improvements.

Waterways management programs It is important that our rehabilitated Performance Target Waterway management works include waterways, and waterways in good condition, rehabilitation works to improve condition, are maintained and protected. Maintenance Five-year implementation targets and maintenance works to protect and maintain of waterways is carried out to ensure: regional priorities set out in the Regional River Health Strategy will be achieved. condition and regulation of activities to • the condition of the river or creek system minimise impacts on waterways. does not deteriorate Measurement Waterway rehabilitation works involve the • assets are protected Performance assessment will be based on integration of specifi c waterway actions such • adequate measures are taken to ensure evaluating the extent to which the as weed removal, streamside revegetation, public safety removing of fi sh barriers and bed and bank approved program is achieved each year • normal obligations such as fi re prevention stabilisation along a waterway or section of and contribution made to the achievement works and shared fencing costs are met. waterway. of resource condition targets set by the Specifi c maintenance activities include Regional River Health Strategy. Not only are rehabilitation works co-ordinated replacement of fencing, signage, minor and integrated to deliver maximum results for stabilisation works, weed control, repairs to river health, the location, timing and nature of structures, and removal of rubbish and silt. rehabilitation programs takes into account the The maintenance program is implemented environmental and social values of the in consultation with landowners, local waterway being rehabilitated. residents and other stakeholders. For waterways in good or excellent condition We regulate activities on waterways to work in rural and forested areas, this means towards our long-term aim of having healthy rehabilitation aims to re-create a natural state. rivers and creeks. All works on waterways In contrast, for highly urbanised systems require Melbourne Water’s approval so that where catchment pressures are severe, conditions to protect the values of rivers or rehabilitation projects emphasise social values. creeks are added to development application The Regional River Health Strategy includes approvals where these are not apparent in waterway rehabilitation implementation the original development application. This targets to help measure progress towards our ensures that acceptable standards are applied 10-year goal of 50% of waterways being in to protect rivers and creeks, irrespective of good or excellent condition. land ownership and other considerations. All instances of known unauthorised works affecting rivers and creeks will be investigated and remedial action will be sought where necessary.

27 7.2 Managing Waterways

River health planning Incident response Waterway plans help translate priorities in Melbourne Water manages an all-hours the Regional River Health Strategy into a incident response capability to minimise: program of works by identifying specifi c • potential damage to property or the rehabilitation works along a waterway or environment section of waterway required to improve condition. They are developed in consultation • danger to the health or well-being of the with councils, key government agencies and community. other local stakeholders such as ‘Friends of’ groups, and are used to co-ordinate Incidents can include fl ooding, asset failures, rehabilitation works. pollution spills, major fi res, fi sh kills and blue-green algae outbreaks. Roles and Waterway plans are developed for rivers and responsibilities in relation to river and creek creeks where: pollution incidents are detailed in an agreement between EPA Victoria, Parks • there is a high environmental or social Victoria and Melbourne Water. value (as identifi ed in the Regional River Health Strategy) Roles and responsibilities for response to blue-green algae outbreaks are agreed with • there is an opportunity to work with the the Department of Sustainability and community or where a specifi c need Environment. Melbourne Water is responsible arises for more detailed planning. for testing all incidences of algal blooms. Plans are revised twice over their 15-year Generally, if a severe bloom occurs, life to review progress, reassess priorities Melbourne Water will notify all interested and consider new requirements and changes parties (including government agencies, local in stakeholder needs and expectations. councils and diverters), erect warning signs A key part of the review process is to where the bloom is occurring and intensify monitor implementation of the sampling to monitor the bloom. recommendations in the original plans, and Successful delivery of the service depends to update the actions in light of progress on having appropriate contingency plans towards our 10-year goal of having 50% or and response protocols in place, regular rivers and creeks in good or excellent refresher training for staff, and periodic condition. testing of communications and other associated systems. Performance Target Waterway plans for rivers of high social Performance Target and environmental value will be prepared Incident response training will be provided to meet the implementation targets in the for all personnel involved in incident Regional River Health Strategy, and will be management. reviewed twice over their 15-year life. Measurement Measurement Performance will be assessed each year by Performance assessment will be based on reference to Melbourne Water’s records of evaluating progress towards this target. completed training.

Performance Target All incidents that require a response will be managed promptly and in accordance with Melbourne Water procedures.

Measurement Performance will be assessed each year by reference to Melbourne Water’s records of performance in responding to incidents.

28 7.3 Managing Environmental Flows

Photograph above: Yarra River at Warburton. 29 7.3 Managing Environmental Flows

Melbourne Water works in Our responsibilities Setting our priorities partnership with Government As the caretaker of river health and the Our priorities for management of agencies, industries, landowners Environmental Water Reserve manager, environmental fl ows and diversions align and the community to manage Melbourne Water has a critical role in with our long-term aims of supporting river environmental fl ows for river managing the Environmental Water Reserve health and protecting benefi cial uses, and are to meet our long-term aim of ensuring guided by a range of documents that have health and to support benefi cial suffi cient environmental fl ows to support had extensive consultation with community, uses. The challenge we face is river health and benefi cial uses water users and government stakeholders. of waterways. how to manage environmental Priorities are primarily based on the Our fl ows given competing demands Melbourne Water has a dual water supply Water Our Future action plan and the Central for water, particularly when a and waterway management responsibility, Region Sustainable Water Strategy. which represents a unique opportunity to The Our Water Our Future action plan reduction in stream fl ows is tackle management of the Environmental identifi es nine rivers in the Port Phillip and anticipated with climate change. Water Reserve in the Port Phillip and Westernport region that require streamfl ow Westernport region. Together, the collective management plans to manage environmental expertise of water supply hydrologists and fl ows by 2009. Melbourne Water is Aims and goals environmental planners are a powerful tool responsible for developing streamfl ow to fi nd solutions to managing this reserve management plans in the Yarra catchment Long-term aim of water. Waterways are managed to ensure suffi cient (eight plans) with the streamfl ow environmental fl ows to support river health Management of licensed private diverters is management plan for the upper reaches of and protect benefi cial uses. an important aspect of managing the fl ow the Maribyrnong River to be developed by and ecological health of rivers and creeks. Southern Rural Water. Diverted water is primarily used for 10-year goal The Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy agricultural, industrial, commercial and Signifi cant progress is made towards identifi ed the Werribee, Maribyrnong, Tarago domestic and stock purposes. Melbourne implementing Environmental Water Reserve and Yarra rivers as high priorities for Water manages river diversions by licensing recommendations of the Central Region enhanced Environmental Water Reserves for extractions and farm dams in accordance Sustainable Water Strategy and Our Water river basins because they are considered by with the Water Act 1989. The licensing Our Future action plan. Government to be fully allocated. As the system protects river health and ensures that Environmental Water Reserve manager, scarce resources are shared equitably Melbourne Water gives this initiative priority. between farmers, other water users and the environment. Priorities from these two strategies have been incorporated into the Regional River We are responsible for managing Health Strategy and translated into a approximately 2,000 diverters in the Yarra program of works. Consistent with the catchment, parts of the lower Maribyrnong strategy, priority is also given to protecting and in some creeks in western catchments, rivers that may not be currently fl ow- with a total annual licensed volume of stressed. 45,000 megalitres. Southern Rural Water is licensing manager for surface water and groundwater in the remainder of the Port Phillip and Westernport region. Melbourne Water, as the licensing authority, is also responsible for developing streamfl ow management plans, bulk entitlements and local management rules in these catchments. This is done in conjunction with stakeholders so that waterways are managed to ensure suffi cient environmental fl ows for river health and their benefi cial uses.

30 Yarra River at Warburton.

Case study Yarra River Environmental Water Reserve The 270 kilometre long Yarra River runs through forested, rural and urban areas, and provides 60% of Melbourne’s water supply. Major storages and other diversion structures have harvested an average of 290 gigalitres of water each year over the last 10 years. This equates to between 50-60% of the river’s natural stream fl ow. The Yarra River has always had a portion of water set aside to maintain environmental fl ows, but through development of the Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy, the Yarra was granted a legal entitlement to this Environmental Water Reserve, called the Yarra Environmental Entitlement 2006. It sets aside 17 gigalitres of stored water for release to help meet minimum fl ows requirements at six points along the Yarra River. With this legal entitlement, the needs of the environment are now considered equally alongside the need for diversions for water supply, farming and other agricultural businesses. To arrive at the amount of 17 gigalitres, environmental fl ow scientists combined technical research with local knowledge of river behaviour provided by river users and other members of the local community. Detailed modelling ensured that this amount achieved environmental outcomes for the Yarra, as well as allowing the river to meet its water supply demand under a range of different climate conditions. This was a signifi cant achievement for the environment, as this volume of water can now be used solely for providing the maximum benefi t to the environment. This may be used to provide fl ushing fl ows after a dry period to help fi sh movement or to trigger fi sh spawning. The community, local councils, government agencies and other stakeholders have been involved in discussions of how to use this Environmental Water Reserve. Proposals include releasing high priority fl ows at the end of every summer and winter, as well as more opportunistic releases that mimic nature by matching volumes of water released from dams with those fl owing in each day.

31 7.3 Managing Environmental Flows

Current status Bulk water abstractions from rivers are managed under Bulk Entitlement Agreements Performance Target Flows are a key component of overall river that are negotiated with the Department of health. Variation in fl ow from natural Sustainability and Environment on the basis An environmental fl ows study for all patterns is a major risk to rivers and creeks of the environmental fl ow requirements of major rivers and creeks will be completed in the region. Several rivers such as the Yarra, the rivers in question. Bulk entitlements by 2013. Werribee, Maribyrnong and Tarago are contain requirements to release water to the considered fl ow-stressed. environment and set limits to volumes of Measurement water that can be taken from the An Environmental Water Reserve is the Performance will be assessed by environment. The environment may also environment’s legal share of water. It can be reference to the number of completed receive its own Environmental Entitlement held as a volume in storage for release to a environmental fl ow studies. (equivalent to a bulk entitlement) which river, or it can be a share of fl ow in a river allows water to be stored and released in that is protected from water harvesting. dams to achieve the maximum The Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy environmental benefi t. Performance Target enhanced the Environmental Water Reserve Streamfl ow management plans collectively A program to improve environmental of the Werribee River (additional 6,000 govern streamfl ow diversions by individual fl ows in major rivers and creeks that megalitres), Maribyrnong River (additional license holders, such as farmers, to ensure currently do not meet agreed scientifi c 3,000 megalitres), Tarago River (additional that environmental fl ows are protected. fl ow objectives to: 3,000 megalitres) and Yarra River (additional These plans are developed by community 17,000 megalitres). We are currently in • enhance existing Environmental Water consultative committees that include progress toward meeting our 10-year goal Reserves, and licence holders. of implementing these Environmental Water • build the capacity of water managers to Reserve recommendations. The Yarra For minor unregulated creeks where the meet their Environmental Water Environmental Entitlement was granted in preparation of streamfl ow management Reserve obligations 2006 as the fi rst step to implementing these plans is not justifi ed, local management proposals. rules establish minimum environmental will be developed and implemented. fl ow requirements and ensure that water Six of the eight streamfl ow management extraction does not exceed historic or Measurement plans identifi ed in the Our Water Our Future sustainable levels. action plan have been completed in Performance assessment will be based on conjunction with community committees, and We will work with the community and a report against the agreed program. plans for Woori Yallock Creek and the Little other agencies and water managers to meet Yarra and Don rivers will soon be prepared. Environmental Water Reserve outcomes The Essential Services Commission has and achieve our 10-year goal by: One of our challenges is over-allocation developed a Rural Water Customer Service of water resources that diminishes natural • investigating the environmental water Code. Water businesses are required to fl ow regimes to the point where rivers are requirements of priority rivers in the Port comply with the code when providing fl ow-stressed. Another challenge for us is Phillip and Westernport region regulated supply services or granting increasing urbanisation that is likely to diversions licences to customers. • participating in negotiations to convert increase run-off and change the pattern of Melbourne Water complies with customer- fl ows in rivers. These impacts are likely these requirements into legally protected Environmental Water Reserves in bulk related standards and procedures set out in to be exacerbated in the future with more the Code by developing and complying with intense storms and overall reduced rainfall entitlements, stream fl ow management plans and local rules our own customer charter, which sets out from climate change, and a increased approved service standards. demand for water from growing populations. • helping deliver Environmental Water These factors present signifi cant challenges Reserves to the environment each year to the establishment of environmental fl ows. and monitor environmental outcomes. Performance Target In urban areas, it may also be possible to Diversions will be managed in accordance Programs harvest stormwater for reuse through the with rules specifi ed in stream fl ow Central Sustainable Water Strategy management plans, local management There are three ways we manage recommendation of investigating ways to rules or drought response plans, and to environmental fl ows to lead us to our long- achieve more sustainable urban meet the service requirements in term goal of having suffi cient environmental development. This may reduce the impacts Melbourne Water’s Customer Charter for fl ows to support river health and benefi cial of urbanisation on stream fl ows, and provide Diversion Services. uses of waterways. These processes all associated water quality benefi ts. Part of include consultation with water users, our investigations will include developing Measurement Government stakeholders and other a program to identify and quantify interested parties. They are: Performance will be based on annual opportunities for sustainable harvesting reports in accordance with the • placing conditions on bulk water of urban stormwater. Performance Reporting Framework for entitlements granted to water authorities Rural Businesses as developed by the Essential Services Commission. • preparing stream fl ow management plans • preparing local management rules.

32 7.4 Managing Water Quality

Photograph above: Litter trap in the Yarra River. 33 7.4 Managing Water Quality

All human activities in the Port Our responsibilities The actions outlined in the Waterways Water Quality Strategy are based on: Phillip and Westernport region Melbourne Water, in collaboration with have varying degrees of impact others, is responsible for undertaking and • analysis of Melbourne Water’s obligations on water quality. Melbourne co-ordinating regional water quality • assessment of water quality threats to Water works in collaboration programs to meet water quality targets in the environmental, social and economic the Regional River Health Strategy. with others to improve the values of our waterways and bays quality of stormwater and As a Protection Agency under the • use of models to investigate the impact Environment Protection Act 1970, Melbourne of potential management actions catchment run-off. While much Water is required to take action to help focus is rightly placed on the achieve water quality objectives for • cost effectiveness and triple bottom line impact of urban areas, individual waterways, in line with assessment of management actions. Government State environment protection stormwater run-off from rural policies. areas also has a signifi cant Current status Melbourne Water is also responsible for Water quality in urban rivers and creeks impact on water quality. planning and co-ordinating programs in the has improved signifi cantly since the 1970s. Meeting community expectations Yarra River Action Plan, with assistance from This improvement is primarily due to the Yarra Co-ordinating Committee. for water quality improvement industrial waste being diverted from rivers in the face of continued and creeks into the sewerage system, and urbanisation and catchment Setting our priorities the introduction of large-scale sewerage services in Melbourne’s developed areas. pressures is a major challenge. Our priorities are guided by our long-term aim of working in collaboration with others In the past 10 years, water quality has to achieve objectives for water quality, and generally been maintained in the face of Aims and goals are based on: increasing urbanisation, population growth and intensifi cation of agriculture. However, Long-term aim • the Yarra River Action Plan, which identifi es while pollution from industrial discharges, In collaboration with others, to achieve priority actions to improve the health of waste disposal and unsewered urban areas objectives for water quality in accordance the Yarra River has declined, urban stormwater run-off has with State environmental protection policies • the Port Phillip and Westernport Regional increased as Melbourne has grown. and targets set out in the Regional River Catchment Strategy and Regional River Despite our past successes, our rivers and Health Strategy and Waterways Water Quality Health Strategy, which identify water Strategy. creeks do not fully meet State environment quality targets and a program of action protection policy requirements, and to meet these targets 10-year goal attainment of targets for nutrients and several heavy metals is low in both rural In collaboration with others, protect and • the Port Phillip Bay Environmental and urban waterways. Similarly, attainment improve water quality to signifi cantly Management Plan, which sets a target of objectives for E. coli, which is an indicator counteract the effects of growth in greater to reduce nitrogen loads to the bay by of the likely presence of pathogens, is also Melbourne and achieve a net reduction in 500 tonnes per year by 2010. low in both urban and rural areas. This poses pollutant loads for the Port Phillip and • State environment protection policies, a risk to recreational uses and values Westernport region. which identify water quality objectives associated with our waterways. for rivers, creeks and bays to protect benefi cial uses and defi ne programs to Water quality deterioration is greatest in meet these objectives urban waterways. The majority of diffuse nitrogen loads to both Port Phillip Bay and • Council stormwater management plans, Western Port are generated from urban which improve the quality of run-off areas, followed by pasture and cropping on entering rivers and creeks or affecting non-irrigated land. In Port Phillip Bay beaches. catchments, urban areas make up 27% of the land use but contribute over 70% of Melbourne Water’s Waterways Water Quality pollutant loads (73% of nitrogen and 77% Strategy integrates all responsibilities of suspended solids). A different pattern is allocated to Melbourne Water in the above observed for the Westernport catchment policies and strategies and translates them where agricultural land uses dominate and into an integrated water quality program. represent the largest source of nutrients The Strategy has been developed as part and suspended solids. of the Better Bays and Waterways plan of action being undertaken by EPA Victoria and Melbourne Water. This plans for improved water quality in the rivers and bays of the region and has a wide consultation process.

34 Raingarden to treat stormwater at the Federation Square carpark.

Earlier approaches to managing water quality Equipping industry, local government Performance Target involved a focus on engineering and end-of- and communities to manage water pipe solutions. In recent years, a move to a quality (capacity building) 70% of councils will improve their ability more integrated approach and focus on As all activities that occur in the catchment to deliver sustainable urban water working in partnerships has enabled us to affect water quality, no single agency can management by 2013. progress towards our 10-year goal of undertake all the necessary activities on its mitigating the impacts of urban growth and own. Progress towards State environment Measurement achieving a net reduction in pollutant loads protection policy objectives and water from 2001. Collaborating with others will Performance will be assessed by reference quality targets will only be achieved through continue to be a vital part of our programs. to records of council needs analysis scores the delivery of collaborative programs via State agencies, local government, industry each year and assess progress and rural landholders. The capacity of Programs industry and local government to deliver best Melbourne Water works in collaboration with practice stormwater management has been Performance Target others to improve the quality of stormwater identifi ed as a key barrier to the adoption of and catchment runoff and protect waterways sustainable practices. 10 training modules will be delivered and bays in accordance with Government under the Clearwater Program each year, Melbourne Water will play a leadership role with assistance from Melbourne Water. objectives and targets. This is achieved by: in building the capacity of business and local government to deliver best practice water • working with stakeholders and the Measurement quality management. community to manage practices that impact on waterway and bay water We will support the Clearwater capacity Performance will be assessed by reference quality building program for industry and local to records of training modules completed government. The capacity building program each year. • undertaking works to improve stormwater uses a range of creative tools and approaches quality and rural runoff entering to deliver tailored, professionally-based waterways and bays education and training to local government Performance Target and industry professionals on sustainable • ensuring development and management urban water management. 10,000 rain gardens will be built with the of land is planned to protect waterway community by 2013. and bay water quality. Melbourne Water will assess councils’ performance through a needs analysis process. In addition, Melbourne Water will Measurement assist councils to develop local Performance will be assessed by annual implementation targets for pollutants, fl ows progress towards the target of achieving and percentage of impervious surfaces and 10,000 rain gardens by 2013. encourage their integration into the review of stormwater management plans. Melbourne Water will build community capacity through programs that encourage the installation of raingardens. Programs will support the construction of raingardens on private lots and community venues, and building raingardens in schools with a supporting education program. 35 7.4 Managing Water Quality 7.4 Managing Water Quality

Regional Water Quality program Rural land management Performance Target The Regional Water Quality program involves Some 60% of Melbourne Water’s operating creating regional wetlands, installation of Eight pollution hotspots will be addressed area comprises rural land. Run-off from rural water sensitive urban design features, and by 2013. land contributes to poor water quality and the investigation and elimination of point is a signifi cant source of nitrogen that source toxicants. This targeted program will Measurement enters Port Phillip Bay and Western Port. result in immediate gains in reducing An improvement in water quality in rural pollutant loads, and work toward our Performance will be assessed by a review waterways is required to meet our long-term 10-year goal of reducing net pollutant loads. of the number of pollution hotspots goal of achieving objectives for water quality addressed each year. We will continue to construct wetland and our 10-year goal of reducing pollutant systems that are designed to remove an loads from 2001 levels. average of 10 tonnes of nitrogen from Planning for improved water quality Melbourne Water will work with the stormwater for each year of the program, Planning for improved water quality includes Department of Primary Industries, the Port which began in 2000 and will run to 2010. preparation of the Better Bays and Waterways Phillip and Westernport Catchment We will also fulfi l Melbourne Water’s plan and planning for urban development Management Authority and rural industries obligations to local government stormwater (see Managing Urban Growth section for to develop and implement a rural land management plans. more detail). management program. This program will Melbourne Water’s Stormwater Quality Offsets encourage the adoption of agricultural best EPA Victoria and Melbourne Water have Strategy encourages developers to achieve management practices to improve water entered into a joint agreement to develop a best practice stormwater quality treatment quality. Where feasible and cost effective, regional Better Bays and Waterways plan for objectives in new housing developments treatment facilities such as regional wetlands Port Phillip Bay, Western Port and the rivers using at source treatments. If developers will also be installed. and creeks of the Port Phillip and choose not to include treatment in the Westernport region. With funding support development they are required to pay from the Australian Government’s Coastal Performance Target fi nancial contribution to offset their pollution Catchments Initiative, this project represents loads and contribute towards regional A program to manage run-off in rural areas a signifi cant investment in water quality treatment elsewhere in the catchment. will be developed and implemented. planning and improvement. This includes, for example, Melbourne Water constructing a regional wetland. The Better Bays and Waterways plan will Measurement A local government on-ground program integrate current water quality activities with new ideas to frame water quality Performance assessment will be based of works will reduce stormwater pollutants on evaluating the effi cacy of the program (E.coli, heavy metals and nutrients) by improvements for the region’s major rivers, at engaging priority farming sectors in supporting local government to implement creeks, estuaries and bays. One of the tasks is the targeted sub-management units and water sensitive urban design features in to assess the impact of future urban growth, built-up areas. Design features include bio which contributes knowledge to our 10-year delivering sustained practice change retention basins, tree pits, rain gardens, goal of signifi cantly counteracting the effects through the implementation of selected litter traps and grassed drainage areas. of this growth on water quality. Actions and agricultural best management practices. Melbourne Water will adopt a partnership targets to improve water quality will be model developed through the Yarra River developed, and assigned to the responsible Action Plan to support local government in Government agency. integrating stormwater treatment into council capital works programs. Performance Target Point sources of pollution (toxicants and Project manage the development of and pathogens) originating from industry discharges and illegal connections contribute implement programs assigned to to poor water quality. This program will Melbourne Water from the Better Bays and identify, investigate and eliminate known Waterways plan. point sources. If the source cannot be found, Melbourne Water will use toxicant traps Measurement and other structural measures to minimise Performance assessment will be based on or eliminate impacts on water quality. evaluating progress towards the Better Bays and Waterways contract work plan. Performance Target Implementation targets in the Regional River Health Strategy and Waterways Water Quality Strategy for local government on-ground works and regional water quality treatment will be achieved.

Measurement Performance assessment will be based on evaluating the extent to which contribution is made to targets in the Waterways Water Quality Strategy.

36 Case study Raingardens the beginning of a tree-roots revolution Thirsty trees inspired the residents of Acland Street, South Yarra, to join forces with Melbourne Water in a project that improves streetscapes, saves trees and water, reduces pollution and improves drainage. Stormwater run-off from Acland Street’s driveways, pavements and road surfaces has been directed into raingardens built around the base of each tree. The raingardens’ soil and plant roots help fi lter pollutants like oils, metals and litter, before the stormwater is drained away. This provides a sustainable watering and feeding system for the trees as well as improving the quality of stormwater entering local waterways and the Bay. Working with Melbourne Water, several councils including Kingston and Yarra have developed similar projects, and it is hoped that this approach could become part of regular street upgrades. Stormwater is now being fed around the base of trees planted in Little Bourke Street in the city to help to reduce pollution entering the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay. And by 2013, Melbourne Water aims to build community and council capacity by providing support for the construction of 10,000 rain gardens across Melbourne. To raise further awareness about the links between river health, urban design, and stormwater management, Melbourne Water has also introduced a Raingardens in Schools scheme. Richmond Primary School students have joined in by planting three raingardens to collect and fi lter the stormwater run-off from school buildings.

Tree-pit raingarden in Acland Street, South Yarra.

37 7.5 Flood Management and Drainage

Photograph above: Flooding along Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, January 2004. 38 Like droughts, fl oods are a natural Our responsibilities Current status event and Melbourne Water Melbourne Water is the Floodplain Melbourne has a long history of fl ooding. cannot remove all fl ood risks. We Management Authority for the Port Phillip Flooding can be classifi ed into two main strive to minimise intolerable and Westernport Region. We are types: riverine and overland fl ows. fl ood risks, raise community responsible for managing drainage systems in catchments generally greater than Riverine fl ooding occurs when water awareness and understanding of 60 hectares, and local Councils are spreads out from a creek or river with large fl ooding, and to engage the responsible for drainage systems in catchments. This form of fl ooding has been catchments generally less than 60 hectares. recognised in most planning decisions for community, local councils and many years. As a consequence, most of the other stakeholders in discussion We operate a fl ood-warning network on larger waterways have fl oodplains set aside about appropriate levels of fl ood major rivers and creeks, undertake fl ood risk as open space, such as parks and golf courses protection. mapping, maintain drainage and fl ood to minimise damage costs and threats to protection infrastructure, and implement public safety. fl ood-risk awareness education programs. Overland fl ooding occurs when localised Aims and goals Flood protection is also achieved through the stormwater fl ows from intense rainfall events planning and provision of infrastructure to exceed the capacity of underground drains, Long-term aim service urban growth and placing conditions and travel overland fi nding the lowest path To minimise all currently known intolerable on new development (see Managing Urban to the nearest waterway. This type of fl ooding risks to public health and safety, Growth section for more detail). property and infrastructure and increase fl ooding occurs mainly in urban areas community understanding and preparedness developed prior to the 1970s when for fl oods Setting our priorities subdivision drainage standards in Melbourne did not make adequate provision for overland In the past, priorities for addressing existing 10-year goals fl ow paths. fl ood risk have been largely based on cost- • Implement fl ood protection measures to effectiveness in reducing the risk of damage There are an estimated 100,000 properties reduce currently known intolerable fl ood to property as well as risks to public safety. in the region that are at risk of fl ooding in risks by 30% by 2018 The recent rates of expenditure on mitigation a 1-in-100-year storm. Some 20% of these • Implement a community fl ood awareness works are making little impact on the are at risk of riverine fl ooding which occurs currently identifi ed fl ooding risks and even if and preparation program infrequently in response to a major storm it was physically feasible to construct all the event. In contrast, almost every year there is • Support the preparation of Municipal required works, it would costs billions of Emergency Management Plans to ensure dollars to protect all properties in the region. a thunderstorm across the region that causes local government and communities have localised fl ooding affecting a number of the adequate understanding of fl ood risks Our recently developed Flood Management approximately 80,000 properties exposed to and are well prepared for fl ood events, and Drainage Strategy proposes we alter overland fl ows. and fl ood mitigation actions are our approach to the management of fl ood More than 40,000 properties at risk of co-ordinated with Melbourne Water. risk to include understanding of the impacts of fl ooding and the concept of intolerable fl ooding contain buildings or dwellings that fl ood risk, as well as improved education, would be at risk of fl ooding above fl oor level. awareness and preparedness for fl ooding However, fl ood mapping of the whole region events. is not complete, and the number of affected The strategy contains broad actions that will properties and associated fl ood risks are guide our priorities and expenditures over the likely to be higher than this. next fi ve years. These will ensure we are on Melbourne Water builds, operates and track to achieving our long-term aims of maintains infrastructure to contain, minimising all currently known intolerable detain and convey stormwater or fl oods. fl ooding risks to public health and safety, property and infrastructure, and increasing The average annual damage caused by all community understanding and preparedness types of fl ooding in the region has been for fl oods. estimated to be as high as $245 million. There are additional intangible impacts on Existing drainage and fl ood protection community health and wellbeing, which infrastructure is managed to ensure that are not well understood or quantifi ed. critical assets are always replaced or Improvements need to be made to increase rehabilitated before they fail, and priority awareness and preparedness for fl oods, and is given to those with high failure consequences. response strategies put in place for when fl ooding does occur.

39 7.5 Flood Management and Drainage

Riverine flooding after heavy rains in February 2005

Programs Improving fl ood education, This will help achieve our 10-year goal to awareness and preparation ensure that fl ood mitigation actions are Flood mitigation A signifi cant gap exists in community co-ordinated with Melbourne Water, and, when fl ooding does occur, local government Building new drainage infrastructure to better awareness of fl ood risks which increases protect properties from fl ooding reduces the vulnerability and impacts of fl ooding. and communities have adequate number of vulnerable properties, but is very understanding of fl ood risks and are well expensive and potentially disruptive to the Melbourne Water is working with other prepared for fl ood events. community in existing urban areas. Further agencies, such as councils and the Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES) to work to assess the cost of fl ood damage, both Performance Target direct (building and contents) and indirect contribute to our 10-year goal of developing (disruption, trauma, loss of income etc) is programs to increase the community’s All councils in the Port Phillip and required to determine the potential benefi t of fl ood awareness and preparation. Westernport region will have Flood expenditure on fl ood mitigation projects. Better understanding of how communities Management Plans in place by 2013. We will work with councils, the community are affected by fl ooding will improve the and other stakeholders to: effectiveness of the awareness campaign Measurement • identify and understand fl ood risks and as well as ensuring that social impacts are Performance will be assessed by reference the impact they have on people and considered in priority setting for fl ood to the number of Flood Management Plans property mitigation. in place each year to 2013. • develop a program to eliminate or reduce these risks to tolerable levels • manage residual risks through improved Performance Target community awareness, planning and preparedness. A fl ood awareness and preparation program in partnership with the VICSES Our long-term aim is to minimise all and councils will be developed and currently known intolerable fl ooding risks implemented. to public health and safety, property and infrastructure in the Port Phillip and Measurement Westernport region. This target will ensure we are on track to meeting our 10-year Performance will be assessed by reference goal of reducing 30% of currently known to annual reports on implementation of intolerable fl ood risks by 2018. the program.

Performance Target Collaboration between fl ood management agencies is essential for co-ordinating fl ood 10% of currently known intolerable fl ood management activities. Melbourne Water is risks will be reduced by 2013. working with councils who have fl ooding issues to develop and review their Municipal Measurement Emergency Management Plans. These plans Performance will be assessed by progress provide a local focus for integrating fl ood towards the 2013 target. planning, prevention, preparedness and response activities.

40 Strong floodwaters damage the Darebin Creek footbridge, February 2005.

Flood-warning system Flood and tidal mapping Performance Target The Bureau of Meteorology (the Bureau) Understanding the extent of fl ood risks is has statutory responsibility for issuing fl ood Initial notifi cation and subsequent forecast necessary to prioritise fl ood mitigation warnings throughout Australia. Melbourne information will be provided to the Bureau works, fl ood warning and emergency Water operates an on-line, 24-hour a day of Meteorology for all notifi able events on response and recovery programs. rainfall and streamfl ow monitoring stipulated waterways. Melbourne will undertake ongoing fl ood network to contribute to understanding the extent and tidal mapping for the Port Phillip hydrologic capabilities of our system’s Measurement and Westernport region that takes into fl oodplain, drainage, drought and Performance assessment will be based on account potential long-term pressures on the environmental fl ow functions. This data the percentage of notifi able events on existing drainage system created by urban enables us to provide warnings of where stipulated waterways for which accurate consolidation and climate change. and when a fl ood will occur. This work initial notifi cation and subsequent updates supports one of our 10-year goals of local were provided to the Bureau in a timely This information is used to establish planning government and communities being prepared manner. scheme overlays that will ensure appropriate for fl ood events. standards of fl ood protection are achieved for new development in fl ood-prone areas. When fl ooding occurs, Melbourne Water The information also contributes to setting provides the Bureau with predicted times and our priorities for our fl ood protection areas likely to be fl ooded, so that formal program to enable achievement of our long- warnings can be issued to relevant agencies term aim and 10-year goal of reducing and the community. intolerable fl ooding risks. By agreement with the Bureau, Melbourne Water’s fl ood-warning system relates to the Performance Target Yarra, Maribyrnong, Plenty, Werribee and Bunyip rivers and the Dandenong, Diamond, A program to undertake local fl ood extent Kororoit and Merri creeks. and tidal mapping will be developed and implemented. At these locations, locally determined fl ood levels are set to classify the fl ows as minor, Measurement moderate or major. Flood effects above each height refl ect the category of fl ooding. Performance assessment will be based on A ‘notifi able event’ is any event during which an annual report of progress towards the level or fl ow for minor fl ooding is likely targets and actions. to be met or exceeded on the above rivers and creeks.

41 7.5 Flood Management and Drainage 7.5 Flood Management and Drainage

Case study Sk8park fl ood protection Melbourne Water and the City of Frankston pulled off a gnarly move that drew cheers from local skateboarders with the construction of Australia’s second largest skate park as part of fl ood mitigation measures. And it’s not just skaties who are amped; local residents and Frankston central business district traders and business owners benefi t from improved fl ood protection. Melbourne Water has been investigating the Kananook Creek catchment in Frankston since 2002 in an effort to improve protection for more than 400 buildings at risk of fl ooding above fl oor level. An effective way to reduce fl ood risk is to retard fl oodwaters upstream, allowing time for waters in the lower catchment to drain away. However fl oodwater retarding basins are created in areas of open space such as parks or sports grounds. And because parks are highly prized community assets, adding fl ood mitigation functions requires extensive community consultation. Melbourne Water investigations identifi ed creation of a new retarding basin in Samuel Sherlock Reserve as part of a range of fl ood mitigation measures. At about the same time, the City of Frankston applied to Melbourne Water for planning permission to construct a skate park. Collaboration between council offi cers and Melbourne Water resulted in a radical plan to integrate the skate park into the embankment of the proposed Samuel Sherlock Reserve retarding basin. With a contribution of $142,000 from Melbourne Water the new concrete skating area forms part of the retarding basin embankment, putting Frankston on the map for skate fans right across Australia.

Keeping our built assets in The current condition of the system is good condition satisfactory considering age and historical Melbourne Water manages drainage construction methods. Most issues with infrastructure with a replacement value of structural condition relate to the very old around $2.7 billion. This includes brick drains and some concrete drains built underground pipes, retarding basins, before 1960. These are being monitored, spillways, levee banks, pump stations, tidal refurbished or replaced as required to gates, fl oodgates and constructed wetlands. minimise risk of failure. When assets need to We will maintain and operate these assets be replaced, they may be upgraded to to ensure they perform as designed. conform to current standards or to further reduce fl ood risk where this is cost effective. There should be no increase in the number of vulnerable properties, or damage done by fl oods as a result of system deterioration or Performance Target malfunction. Built assets require effective There will be no instances of asset maintenance over the full asset life cycle to structural failure that result in signifi cant remain fully operational and to meet public fl ooding, damage, disruption or personal health, safety and environmental injury. requirements. Measurement Performance assessment will be based on reviewing the details contained in Melbourne Water’s records relating to incident notifi cation and response.

42 7.6 Managing Urban Growth

Photograph above: Residential development along Kororit Creek at Deer Park. 43 7.6 Managing Urban Growth

Traditionally urban drainage Our responsibilities Incorporating new fl ood information into systems were designed to move local planning schemes and updating property Melbourne Water as the regional drainage information statements is prioritised by: stormwater run-off as quickly as and fl oodplain authority under the Water Act 1989 and statutory referral authority is • availability of new fl ood mapping possible, and took little account information of environmental values, water responsible for ensuring urban development achieves appropriate standards of fl ood • the scale and benefi t of individual quality issues, or river health. protection, protects waterway health and is amendments The challenge Melbourne Water faces is to sensitive to other environmental and social • council planning priorities and resource strike a balance between the need to provide values of waterways. availability. an appropriate safe level of fl ood protection, Under the Water Act, we have a statutory while providing infrastructure in new obligation to provide information in regard to growth areas that can protect water quality possible limitations of the use of a property Current status and the environment and contribute to due to its proximity to a waterway or Melbourne Water is working on over 160 community wellbeing. drainage infrastructure, or being located within a fl ood risk area. Information is active strategies and schemes to service urban included in property information statements. growth. Since the mid 1990s, we have worked Aims and goals to incorporate higher levels of stormwater We are responsible for preparing strategies treatment and environmental protection in Long-term aims and schemes to identify the infrastructure our schemes – now, approximately 25% of • Ensure urban development achieves needed to service urban development. the cost of infrastructure in new areas is for appropriate standards of fl ood protection, The provision of fl ood information to local protecting waterways and water quality. protects waterway health and is sensitive councils is also an important aspect of our This has helped maintain water quality over to other environmental and social values role as the regional drainage and fl oodplain the past 10 years in the face of urban growth. of waterways management authority. This information In 2005/06, some $42 million was invested • Deliver an effi cient service and provide ensures that appropriate referrals are made in new infrastructure to service growth, accurate, timely and reliable information from councils when development such as pipelines, wetlands, retarding basins to the development industry and applications are processed. and fl oodways. Most of this infrastructure was community. funded by developer contributions collected through development services schemes. 10-year goals Setting our priorities The Melbourne 2030 Strategy plans to • Improve transparency and streamlining Investment in infrastructure to service increase development densities in existing and facilitate improved access to growth is determined by the rate of urban areas to accommodate the majority of information for the development industry, development. Priorities are set out in anticipated population growth. New or community and other interested parties Melbourne Water’s Development Planning upgraded infrastructure will be needed to Strategy and Program. The implementation • Ensure appropriate standards of fl ood service redevelopment in some areas. and review of schemes for the provision of protection and environmental infrastructure to service urban development A major program of planning scheme performance are consistently and is determined by: amendments and property information equitably achieved for all urban statement updates incorporates the results of development • predictions of population growth extensive fl ood level surveys that began in • Benefi t the local community through • designation of land for growth in 1998 and has recently been completed. With the provision of drainage and waterway Melbourne 2030 updated fl ood risk information provided by assets that integrate with the urban Melbourne Water, the retail water companies infrastructure and open space • land re-zoning issue more than 160,000 property information statements each year to the community. • Achieve improved sustainability of urban • development activity. development by implementing water The strategy and program takes into Melbourne Water processes more than sensitive urban design and facilitating consideration the Melbourne 2030 Strategy, 24,000 town planning referrals, applications increased stormwater reuse Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy on for development agreements, fl ood level sustainable water use, and the Regional River requests and related items of business per • Manage the potential impacts of year, and all referrals are monitored to ensure increasing redevelopment activity on Health Strategy on managing the impact of urban growth on river health and the they are dealt with within prescribed levels of fl ood protection service in timeframes. We liaise with land developers, established areas of Melbourne Waterways Water Quality Strategy. The Development Planning Strategy and councils, consultants and the community. • Find cost-effective strategies for servicing Program also sets out actions to improve An independent review of customer service growth that minimize impacts on housing our systems and processes to meet our long- delivery with councils and developers placed affordability. term aim of delivering an effi cient service us ahead of comparable agencies and and providing accurate, timely and reliable authorities, and found that our delivery of information to the development industry developer services is solid and satisfaction and community. levels are high.

44 Case study Transforming drains into urban creeks brings rewards for community, environment and developers New urban development in Keysborough has transformed unattractive open drains into beautiful urban waterways that improve water quality and provide valuable open space and community connections with their local waterway. At the heart of this remarkable transformation is Melbourne Water’s Hailebury Development Services Scheme, which brought together the community, council, developers and other stakeholders to discuss urban development within the City of Greater Dandenong. Melbourne Water produces and reviews Development Services Schemes to manage engineering, environmental and fi nancial aspects of infrastructure to service and to ensure new urban development meets appropriate standards for fl ood protection, water quality, waterway health and amenity. The Hailebury scheme covered proposed development of 245 hectares of land in Keysborough, in Melbourne’s south-east, and involved wide consultation with local landowners and community groups, council, Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, the Department of Sustainability and Environment and EPA Victoria. Melbourne Water worked closely with the City of Greater Dandenong and developers to remodel the straight-edge and unattractive Edithvale Road Main Drain and Sheltons Drain West Branch, which cut through the proposed development. These drains have been transformed into urban waterways; their previously utilitarian straight lines now meander, streamside walking trails and landscaping provide open spaces, and wetlands, retarding basins, litter traps and silt traps, help create habitat, manage fl oods and improve water quality. The developers and Melbourne Water funded the necessary infrastructure such as pipelines, retarding basins and wetlands. Developers actually received a refund when it was found the development works proved to be cheaper than originally expected.

45 7.6 Managing Urban Growth

Programs Referrals and implementing fl ood Providing updated fl ood information protection standards to councils and community Development and redevelopment Providing ready and obvious access to New fl ood risk information in a catchment is service schemes fl ood-risk information is the most effi cient generated when: way of achieving our long-term aim of Melbourne Water prepares two types of • previously unmapped waterways and ensuring urban development achieves schemes to service urban growth – drains are mapped for fl ood risk development services schemes in greenfi eld appropriate standards of fl ood protection, areas and redevelopment services schemes protects waterway health and is sensitive • changes occur within the catchment such in existing urban areas. These ensure that to other environmental and social values. as development, new infrastructure such urban development does not adversely This information is made available through: as reservoirs, roads or railways affect levels of fl ood protection, river health • Victorian Planning Provisions, which or stormwater quality. • fl ood mitigation works are implemented. contain a land use zone and three overlay Development Services Schemes provide the controls designed to indicate fl ood- Understanding current fl ood risk information orderly provision of infrastructure in growth related permit requirements in municipal and the effect developments have on areas such as underground drains, overland planning schemes fl oodplains is crucial to good property fl ow paths, retarding basins, wetlands and development planning and decision-making, stormwater treatment measures, and specify • Property Information Statements, which especially for people contemplating property the appropriate treatment and protection are issued on application by the water purchases. authorities and contain detailed fl ood risk of rivers and creeks and any related sites We will continue to input information from of signifi cance. In smaller developments information, provided by Melbourne Water, for individual properties. fl ood mapping (see Flood Management outside of development services schemes, and Drainage section for more information), these outcomes are achieved through use As a statutory referral authority, we will asset information and geographic of development consent conditions. continue to assess planning permit information databases onto a system Redevelopment Services Schemes ensure that applications to develop land in fl ood-prone accessed by retail water companies to ensure redevelopment in existing urban areas are areas and place appropriate conditions on this latest information is included on properly serviced. Infrastructure may need development to achieve our 10-year goal of property information statements. upgrading to ensure increased run-off created ensuring appropriate standards of fl ood Similarly, new fl ood risk information needs to by a higher density of development does not protection and environmental performance reduce existing levels of fl ood protection. are consistently and equitably achieved for feed into planning scheme amendments in a all urban development. timely manner. Once new fl ood information A program of preparing schemes is being is available, Melbourne Water provides implemented to ensure we meet our 10-year In redeveloping areas, we will continue to updated fl ood risk information to councils for goals that: reduce fl ood risk by requiring fl oor levels of input into planning schemes. • urban growth is properly serviced all new or replacement dwellings or • schemes are cost-effective and minimize commercial premises to be set above the impacts on housing affordability level of local fl ooding. Performance Target • waterway and stormwater assets All fl ood-related property information integrate with the urban infrastructure Performance Target statement updates will be completed and open space within one month of Melbourne Water • urban development is sustainable by All new development will comply with receiving notifi cation of a change in the implementing water sensitive urban fl ood protection standards. relevant circumstances. design and facilitating increased stormwater reuse. Measurement Measurement Implementation of schemes is funded by Performance assessment will be based on Performance assessment will be based on fi nancial contributions from land developers in a random audit of referred permits to comparing records of incoming update accordance with principles agreed with industry ensure appropriate fl ood protection requirements, such as subdivisions, revised and described in the publication Principles for standards have been applied. fl ood level data or fl ood mitigation Provision of Waterway and Drainage Services for Urban Growth (Melbourne Water 2007). projects, with the records of updates Consultation with all interested parties such as completed. councils, landowners and agencies, including Performance Target VicRoads, occurs before works begin. Statutory and agreed industry response Performance Target times will be achieved for all development Performance Target referrals. Councils will be provided with any updated Development and redevelopment fl ood information for their municipality for strategies will be prepared, implemented Measurement inclusion in council planning schemes on an annual basis. and reviewed according to the Performance will be assessed each year development planning program. by reference to Melbourne Water’s Measurement records of response times for the above Measurement transaction types. Performance assessment will be based on Performance will be assessed by reference reviewing annual information provided to to annual reports on implementation of the councils. program and records of schemes reviewed.

46 Making information more accessible Melbourne Water will continue to liaise widely with councils, land developers and other stakeholders in planning to service urban growth. We will improve transparency and access to scheme information for the development industry, community and other interested parties, in line with our ten-year goal. To do this, Melbourne Water will work in partnership with the Government and other stakeholders involved in the Victorian planning system to explore opportunities to streamline development referrals and planning control processes. We will also continue to make information available and support ‘self-service’ access to web-based Land Development Manuals to help developers with enquiries and design work. Urban development on the Patterson River Performance Target A plan for improving transparency, streamlining and facilitating improved Case study access to information for the development industry and community will be established and implemented. ATLAS – integrating and improving development responses Measurement A computer-based job tracking system helps Melbourne Water to deliver Performance will be assessed on progress integrated and co-ordinated responses to land development applications towards this target. and associated queries. ATLAS was comprehensively updated in November 2006 to help process around 24,000 development applications, information requests and enquiries every year. Town planning and building permits, requests for feasibility advice, and enquiries about fl ood levels are just some of the transactions processed by ATLAS using a pre-defi ned set of business rules and queries. The system then identifi es issues of concern and also highlights applications that require input or advice from other teams within Melbourne Water on issues such as river health, asset management and water quality. It co-ordinates responses from all parts of the organisation who advise of development referrals, and automates responses including calculation of developer contributions where applicable. By providing an integrated response to land development applications, Melbourne Water aims to streamline the approval process and ensure there is a consistent approach to assessing developments in areas of fl ood risk.

47 7.7 Monitoring, Investigations and Research

48 Photograph above: Macroinvertebrate sampling. Monitoring, investigations and Our responsibilities Setting our priorities research into rivers, creeks, As caretaker of river health and designated Our priorities are guided by our long-term wetlands, fl oodplains, estuaries waterway manager, we are responsible aim, which is to build a comprehensive and the bays provides information for water quality monitoring throughout knowledge base to improve decision-making to support our activities and the Port Phillip and Westernport region. and evaluation of progress. They are based This function is performed through an on responsibilities assigned to Melbourne report on progress to agreement with EPA Victoria. Water in the range of State, regional and Government, stakeholders and Melbourne Water strategies and plans, We are responsible for implementing outlined previously. the community. monitoring, investigations and research priorities ascribed to Melbourne Water in These strategies contain broad priorities Aims and goals a range of policies and strategies, such as that are translated into program of works the Regional River Health Strategy, State via an annual consultative workshop with Long-term aim environment protection policies, Yarra River Melbourne Water people and external To build a comprehensive knowledge base Action Plan, Central Region Sustainable Water stakeholders. We also ensure they conform on waterways, drainage and fl oodplains to Strategy, Waterways Water Quality Strategy to the Research and Development improve decision making and evaluation and Flood Management and Drainage Management and Approval Process, and of progress. Strategy. align with Melbourne Water’s strategic framework. Programs are selected based on Monitoring, investigations and research 10-year goals criteria that include: provides information necessary for To undertake monitoring, investigations Melbourne Water to make decisions and • gaps in our knowledge and research on rivers, creeks, wetlands, manage a broad range of issues associated fl oodplains, estuaries and bays in order to: • waterways or key species that are priority with our role as waterway, drainage and areas in strategies • better understand their condition fl oodplain manager. • emerging threats • measure progress towards management Monitoring provides data about the targets condition of waterways and other assets. • programs that meet multi-business needs Melbourne Water has an extensive network • identify and understand threatening • programs that are considered urgent for processes of monitoring sites across the region. Real- time rainfall and stream fl ow monitoring environmental, social, economic or • improve effectiveness of management data helps support our role as fl oodplain political reasons activities manager and provides timely fl ood warnings. • programs that support development of • inform Government, community Targeted investigations and research improved management techniques – such and stakeholders. programs increase our knowledge and as weeds, water sensitive urban design, understanding of waterways, fl oodplain habitat improvement. and drainage management, and help ensure Requests from EPA Victoria for Melbourne that on-ground works such as waterway Water to undertake specifi c investigation on rehabilitation or water sensitive urban design its behalf are also given priority in are delivering desired results. expenditure. By undertaking monitoring, investigations and research in a co-ordinated fashion that responds to priorities set out in policies and strategies, Melbourne Water has access to accurate data necessary to meet regional waterways, fl oodplain and drainage responsibilities and deliver long-term improvements.

49 7.7 Monitoring, Investigations and Research

Current status We will continue to monitor rainfall and Research streamfl ow data at 180 sites in the Port We will continue to undertake collaborative Over the past 30 years, Melbourne Water Phillip and Westernport region and collect research to improve our knowledge base to has developed a network of river health daily rainfall observations from 360 volunteer meet our 10-year goal of improving the monitoring sites. This program has been rain gauge operators. This data supports a effectiveness of management activities. through a number of recent reviews and range of uses including: An important part of the program is ongoing updated recently in response to the Regional • preparation of fl ood warnings partnerships with the eWater Cooperative River Health Strategy, Yarra River Action Plan Research Centre, University of Melbourne and Better Bays and Waterways plan. • estimation of storm recurrence intervals (including the Centre for Environmental Monitoring has now improved with the and fl ood fl ow modelling Stress and Adaptation Research) Monash introduction of additional monitoring sites, University (including the Institute of bringing the total to over 130 across the • preparation of streamfl ow management plans, and monitoring and reporting Sustainable Water Resources), CSIRO and the Port Phillip and Westernport region, and Cooperative Research Centre for Australian expansion of the E.coli monitoring program. environmental fl ows and Environmental Water Reserve compliance Weed Management. Research and investigation programs have A broad range of programs will carried out continued to evolve in response to new • managing river and creek diversions and over the next fi ve years, including knowledge gaps and acknowledgement of drought response collaborative research into likely impacts of future challenges. Research has now expanded • input into reporting the Index of River climate change on waterway, drainage and through partnerships with eWater Cooperative Condition for rivers and creeks. fl oodplain management, the impacts Research Centre that allows us to capture new of urbanisation on stream ecology, and challenges, such as climate change. Data collected on an hourly, daily, weekly and methods of urban stormwater treatment. monthly basis is accessible on Melbourne Our programs have also improved through This is complemented by a range of specifi c Water’s website. Detailed hydrographic data, an increased focus on assessing the effect projects outlined in this section. of management actions and improved including historical records, are made communication of results, with the available to external parties on a fee for introduction of the ‘Our Yarra’ website. service basis. Performance Target A program of research into river health, Programs Performance Target environmental and recreational water 95% of telemetered data achieves Quality quality and fl ood management will be To ensure we meet our 10-year goals, implemented. we are undertaking the following programs Code of “1” within 30 days of collection, of activities over the next fi ve years. and all external requests for data will be met within 10 working days. Measurement Monitoring and investigations Performance assessment will be based on We will continue to undertake a range of Measurement an annual report of progress towards monitoring and investigations to understand targets and actions. the condition of our rivers and creeks. Performance assessment will be based on This information detects changes over time, records of the quality of telemetric data and delivers information that is the basis for and response times for data collection and Our marine environments are highly valued management decisions and tracking progress external requests. by our communities. Estuaries play an towards meeting management targets. important role as a link between freshwater and marine systems, and possess high We have an extensive monitoring network. ecological, social and recreational values. Monitoring and investigations programs include water quality, streamfl ows, aquatic As caretaker of river health, Melbourne Water life, fi sh, mosquitos, threatened and fl agship recognises the need for an increased focus species, weeds, sediments, litter, physical on the link between catchment, input drains, stream condition, and faecal contamination. streams and the estuarine and marine receiving environment. More detailed investigations on priority rivers identifi ed in the Regional River Health The 1996 Port Phillip Bay Environmental Strategy will be undertaken to assess Study had a signifi cant impact on ecological health and identify local sources of management programs and targets for Port pollution, and inform rehabilitation programs. Phillip Bay. A similar study is required for Western Port and our major estuaries to gather necessary data to make effective Performance Target management decisions. A program of monitoring and investigation programs on river health, environmental Performance Target and recreational water quality and fl ood management will be implemented. Melbourne Water will help initiate and implement a Western Port environmental Measurement study.

Performance assessment will be based on Measurement an annual report of progress towards targets and actions. Performance assessment will be based on an annual statement of progress.

50 Fish surveying along Stony Creek

Considerable work has been undertaken by Understanding threats Our rivers are popular with kayakers, rowers, Melbourne Water to improve understanding River health programs are designed to tackle cyclists, walkers and fi shers. Little is known of the environmental aspects of waterways. the most signifi cant threats to river health. of threats to the recreational values of our We are now placing an increased focus on Toxicants have been found to pose a major waterways. understanding social aspects associated with threat to river health. However, improved The major focus over the next fi ve years will waterways and our programs. knowledge on the sources of toxicants and be on working in partnership with EPA their effect on aquatic life is required to Melbourne Water’s Flood Management and Victoria and the Department of Human improve management. Services to improve understanding of public Drainage Strategy identifi es a need for health risks associated with river water research into the social impacts of fl ooding. Heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons quality. A range of programs will be are common pollutants in waterways and This research would assess the effectiveness undertaken to improve our understanding. of fl ood awareness activities, defi ne tolerable bays that receive runoff from urban areas and intolerable fl ood risks, and possible and roads. This form of pollution affects a We will establish regular monitoring of willingness to pay for mitigation measures. substantial proportion of ecosystems in contaminants in fi sh from Melbourne’s urban streams and wetlands, and freshwater and estuarine waters to improve accumulates in sediments and aquatic our understanding of levels of chemical Performance Target organisms. residues in fi sh, and any restrictions on the suitability of fi sh for human consumption. A program of social research on the Melbourne Water will develop and intangible impacts of fl ooding will be implement a program to better understand We will extend the YarraWatch network of developed and implemented. the signifi cant contributing land uses of faecal monitoring sites to other areas in the herbicides and pesticides, whether aquatic region with high recreational values, and Measurement ecosystems are being stressed by these improve techniques for tracking sources of chemicals, and to identify specifi c chemicals faecal contamination. Performance assessment will be based on of concern so that management responses More detailed investigations into rivers that an annual report of progress towards may be implemented. support a range of recreational activities, targets and actions. such as the lower Yarra, will develop an Performance Target understanding of managing public health risks associated with recreation use of A monitoring program for pesticides, waterways. herbicides, metals and hydrocarbons will be implemented. Performance Target Measurement Risks to public health associated with the recreational use of waterways will be Performance assessment will be based on assessed. an annual statement of progress against the program’s aims and objectives. Measurement Performance will be assessed on progress towards targets in the Regional River Health Strategy and Waterways Water Quality Strategy.

51 7.7 Monitoring, Investigations and Research

At Melbourne Water day at Museum Victoria, Tracking platypus along Cardinia Creek children can have a close look at water creatures. with the Australian Platypus Conservancy

Improving effectiveness of our Melbourne Water has invested signifi cantly in Informing government, community management activities improving river condition as measured by the and stakeholders Gathering new knowledge from monitoring, Index of River Condition (see Managing Sharing knowledge and fi ndings of our investigations and research is essential for Waterways section for more information). To monitoring, investigations and research effective waterway management activities. ensure these actions are delivering their informs Government, community and other desired improvements, and to help support stakeholders, builds capacity and encourages The Yarra River was one of eight rivers our review of the Regional River Health involvement to work towards meeting goals. granted an Environmental Water Reserve in Strategy within the next fi ve years, a new Market research has shown that the the Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy monitoring and research program will provide community is eager for knowledge about (see Managing Environmental Flows section feedback on improvements to waterway their local rivers and creeks. for more detail). We will establish a Yarra condition that result from specifi c stream- River trial monitoring program in conjunction work projects. Activities to communicate our work will be with EPA Victoria and the Department delivered through the Waterways Stakeholder of Sustainability and Environment. The By tracking changes to riparian and channel Engagement and Communications Framework program will measure changes in characteristics before and several years after (see Community and Stakeholder environmental fl ow indicators resulting from works, the program aims to determine the Engagement and Involvement section for improved environmental fl ows. extent of stream condition improvement, any more information). Over the next fi ve years, this monitoring obstacles to improvements and management program will be rolled out to other rivers in responses required to meet our 10-year the region that have been allocated an targets of 50% of rivers being in good or Environmental Water Reserve. excellent condition.

Performance Target Five sites will be assessed for effectiveness of rehabilitation works each year.

Measurement Performance will be assessed on completion of collection of agreed Index of River Condition metrics at fi ve stream works sites each year.

52 Case study Improving our knowledge of toxicants The last 30 years have seen signifi cant improvement in water quality in the Yarra and Maribyrnong estuaries, encouraging increased community activities such as fi shing and boating. Increased community involvement has resulted in greater awareness of possible contamination of water, sediment and biota in the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers, due to a long history of industrial development along these waterways. More recently the community has sought additional information about whether fi sh caught from the lower reaches of these waterways are suitable for human consumption. Following on from a preliminary study undertaken by Melbourne Water and EPA Victoria in 2005, a more detailed study in 2006 focusing on fi sh, including eels, caught in the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers estuary was collaboratively undertaken by EPA Victoria, Melbourne Water and the Port of Melbourne Authority. The aim of the study was to provide the community with better information about contaminant concentrations in recreationally caught fi sh. Bream, mulloway, mullet and eels collected from the Yarra and Maribyrnong estuaries were tested for a wide range of organic contaminants and heavy metals. An expert panel of specialist public health toxicologists, food standards experts, environmental chemists and fi sheries biologists assessed the data and the Department of Human Services confi rmed previous advice limiting regular consumption of fi sh and eels caught in these estuaries. Future Melbourne Water research and investigations will identify major sources and types of contaminants, and ongoing monitoring will highlight toxicant changes in sediments and fi sh over time to assess the success of management action.

53 8 Evaluation, Reporting and Review

This Operating Charter establishes a We report and evaluate our performance blueprint for Melbourne Water’s against the Port Phillip & Westernport management of waterways, drainage and Regional Catchment Strategy and Regional fl oodplains for the fi ve-year life of Melbourne River Health Strategy every year, to the Board Water’s Water Plan (2008/09 to 20012/13). of Melbourne Water and the Department of Sustainability and Environment. The Board of Melbourne Water is accountable for our commitments to the We also produce a community and aims and targets presented in this stakeholder report each year which sets out Operating Charter. To ensure we meet our our achievements and progress towards commitments, the Board receives regular Operating Charter targets, highlights people, progress reports. programs, and on-ground works, and recognises the efforts of volunteers and other In addition, we are committed to stakeholders in meeting those targets. undertaking an annual report of performance against the commitments set out in this Charter. This is carried out by an independent auditor at the end of each fi nancial year, and the results are published on Melbourne Water’s website. Detailed records and compliance audit fi ndings are subject to an annual overview by the Waterways Advisory Committee. The Essential Services Commission regulates Melbourne Water, including the prices we charge for our rivers and drainage services. It also monitors our service commitments against targets detailed in our Water Plan. These targets are consistent with those represented in this Operating Charter. Melbourne Water’s Water Plan will be reviewed again in 2013 to ensure funds are committed to, and spent on, priority projects.

54 Appendix – Regulatory and Legislative Framework

The Water Industry Act 1994 requires The Environment Protection Act 1970 provides Melbourne Water to have a Statement of principles for environmental protection, Obligations, which in turn requires the State Environment Protection Policies, development and implementation of an industrial waste policies, scheduling premises, Operating Charter that sets out licensing and/or works approvals. These responsibilities, goals and programs. instruments impose various conditions, objectives, improvement actions and The Our Water Our Future action plan monitoring for compliance that are relevant (released in June 2004 and formally gazetted to waterway management including water in November 2005) extended Melbourne quality and environmental fl ows. Water’s waterway management boundary by almost 5000 square kilometres to cover At a Commonwealth level, relevant the whole Port Phillip and Westernport obligations under the Environment Protection region. It assigns Melbourne Water as the and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 relate authority responsible for waterway, regional to matters of national signifi cance including drainage and fl oodplain management, as well lists of species, communities requiring as being the caretaker of river health. protection and processes that threaten fl ora/ fauna. The Water Act 1989, in particular Part 6 Division 2, and Part 10, Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 gives Melbourne Water the authority to manage waterways, regional drainage and fl oodplain management services. The Act describes the powers, functions, rights and responsibilities of Melbourne Water, and defi nes the area in which we operate. Melbourne Water also has specifi c delegated Ministerial functions under the Water Act, including diversion management and licensing of works by others on waterways. The Planning and Environment Act 1987 (clause 55), requires planning permit applications to subdivide land or to develop fl ood prone land to be referred to Melbourne Water.

55 Melbourne Water 100 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne PO Box 4342 Melbourne Victoria 3001 Telephone 131 722 Facsimile 03 9235 7200 melbournewater.com.au Published June 2009. ISBN 978-1-921603-37-2 (print) ISBN 978-1-921603-38-9 (web) © Copyright July 2009 Melbourne Water. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, photocopied or otherwise dealt with without the prior written permission.

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