Waterways Local Update 2015-16

Waterways Local Melbourne Water’s work to improve waterways and provide flood protection Update 2015-16 in the City of Melton.

Melbourne Water is responsible for 8,400 km of rivers and creeks, TREES 428 wetland treatment systems and more than 1,400 km of PLANTED ALONG regional drainage systems in the Port Phillip and Westernport region. TOOLERN CREEK This work is funded by the Waterways and Drainage Charge, which is paid by property owners and collected by water retailers on our behalf. $206,204 Within your local area, Melbourne Water cares for the following IN COMMUNITY waterways: FUNDING • Little Blind Creek • Toolern Creek • Werribee River • Eynesbury Creek 60 km • Kororoit Creek • Djerriwarrh Creek WEED CONTROL ALONG WATERWAYS Healthy waterways

Maintenance and new projects Each year we create and maintain healthy waterways by removing litter, debris and excess sediment. We remove and spray weeds, cut grass and plant native trees and shrubs.

What we have done Why

We plant native trees and shrubs along waterways to provide habitat for birds and animals. Revegetating waterways and replacing weeds 4 km Revegetation with native plants prevents erosion and improves water quality.

Introduced and noxious weeds can choke waterways and take over 60 km Weed control from plants that provide healthy habitats for birds and animals. Silt and sediment is removed for drainage and flood protection and to prevent pollution building up in our waterways. Excess silt 3 Sediment/ and sediment in waterways and wetlands can impact habitat for 803 m silt removal native plants and animals. Litter can have devastating consequences for native animals and plants living in waterways. Debris such as leaves and grass cuttings 3 litter/ can restrict the flow of water to cause floods and change the 463 m debris removal habitat for platypus and fish. Undertook work to control weeds and plant a section Began work to restore the creek by planting trees to establish of Toolern Creek, south of Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road cover along the treeless and eroded stretch of creek. Undertook work to control weeds and plant along Toolern Creek, south of Bridge Road in Melton This builds on previous work and removes woody weeds in the South down to the Werribee River creek that borders the Toolern Regional Park and new subdivisions.

Stormwater We work closely with Council and local communities to better manage stormwater to protect the environment, provide alternative water sources and improve the stormwater that flows into local waterways.

Through our Living Rivers program, we worked with Council and contributed $150,000 to projects that assist waterway health and create sustainable stormwater management solutions in your area. Find out more at melbournewater.com.au/livingrivers

Waterways Local Update 2015 –16 | 2 Environmental water We work with government agencies, councils, industries, landowners and the community to provide the allocated water needed in rivers to maintain healthy natural ecosystems.

What we have done Why Worked with the Victorian Environmental Water By releasing water from reservoirs and undertaking ecological Holder, City of Wyndham, Southern Rural Water studies to measure the benefits for water quality and fish, we and Friends groups to improve Werribee River improved the water environment of Werribee River. Worked with Western Water, City West Water, Provided environmental expertise to help plan water servicing Southern Rural Water, land developers, infrastructure options for growth areas. planners and government to improve flows in waterways

Monitoring and research We regularly undertake extensive monitoring, investigations and research to help us better understand how we can improve local waterways.

What we have done Why Undertook monthly water quality monitoring at Our water quality monitoring program is designed to assess one sites within your area. These tests measure: broad-scale, long-term trends in water quality (typically over eight to 10 years). We use this data to help identify pollution sources and • water temperature inform the community about local water quality. • dissolved oxygen • salinity (conductivity) • pH level • nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, Kjeldahl nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphorus and total phosphorus) • indicators of faecal contamination (E. coli) • metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc) Undertook fortnightly blue-green algae monitoring We monitor for blue-green algae because it can be a public at Navan Lake during the summer period. health risk to people and animals. If blue-green algae is detected, we follow state government guidance and erect warning signs, inform the public and continue to monitor the water until it clears. Improved the management of stormwater to We explored such things as using artificial wetlands and trees for protect our waterways filtration to better manage stormwater and rural land runoff. Investigated more effective methods for These investigations help us to revegetate, control weeds and desert revegetation and weed control along waterways ash, and manage pollution to improve the health of our waterways. Further explored integrated water management This work provides us with better understanding on how to manage multiple water sources more efficiently and effectively, with improved techniques in water biodiversity.

Waterways Local Update 2015 –16 | 3 Planning for future development

We plan for future development to ensure growing communities do not threaten local waterways. We also advise and assist new developments to ensure they do not increase flood risk.

What we have done Why

referrals for land To ensure proposed land subdivisions meet current standards 347 subdivisions reviewed for drainage and stormwater quality.

development 46 applications reviewed To make sure that growing communities don’t increase flood risk.

flood information To provide flood information to property owners and people 66 requests reviewed interested in purchasing or redeveloping property. applications for works near Melbourne Water assets and works such as bridges, shared pathways To ensure waterways, and the plants and animals that live there, 27 and jetties reviewed are protected from the potential impacts of building works.

stormwater connection To ensure waterways and the plants and animals that live there, are 21 applications reviewed protected from the potential impacts of construction works. Flood protection

While floods are natural and we can’t stop them all from occurring, we aim to minimise the damage they cause to people, places and communities. We manage the regional drainage system and work with Council, the Victorian State Emergency Service, the Bureau of Meteorology, property owners and developers to make sure flood information is up to date. We provide flood warning services, prepare flood response plans, and identify and construct new flood protection projects in areas with the greatest need.

What we have done Why Completed flood mapping of Kororoit Creek Updating our knowledge of flooding assists us to better Upper catchment, including the tributaries manage drains, assess flood risk and with planning scheme overlays.

Eleven volunteers in your area provide us with rainfall data by recording information from a rain gauge in their backyard. These figures and the data from our automated gauges, provides us with valuable rainfall information. Find out more at melbournewater.com.au/communityrainreaders

Waterways Local Update 2015 –16 | 4 Working with the community

The involvement of community groups, volunteers, land managers and farmers supports our management of local waterways and regional drainage systems. If you’d like more information about funding opportunities please call 131 722 or email [email protected]

Funding provided Grant For

Stream Private land owners and managers for works that protect or Frontage enhance riverbanks, such as weed control, fencing and planting $50,426 Management native trees. Volunteer and community groups for works that protect or enhance Community riverbanks on public land, raise awareness, and provide training and $54,387 Grants education to protect local waterways.

Corridors Councils and public land managers for projects such as weed $101,391 of Green control, fencing and creating management plans.

We also worked with the local community on several events and initiatives throughout the year.

Who we worked with What we did Friends of Toolern Creek Hosted a river health information stall at the Toolern Platypus Festival as part of the Platypus Census program. Pinkerton Landcare and Environment Group Worked with the group to pilot the platypus environmental DNA citizen science program. Friends of Melton Botanic Gardens Provided support for water quality monitoring. City of Melton Hosted a Council sponsored excursion to the Western Treatment Plant and provided information about the importance of local frogs at a planting day to create frog habitat. Participated in quarterly operation meetings with Council. Friends of Melton Botanic Gardens Assisted with developing local waterway management projects and build community capacity. Friends of Toolern Creek Toolern Vale Landcare Kororoit Creek Committee: Convened the committee to provide a forum for discussing issues and opportunities around managing waterways. Hobsons Bay City Council Melton City Council Parks Victoria Brimbank City Council Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek Friends of Kororoit Creek

Waterways Local Update 2015 –16 | 5 Waterwatch is a citizen science program that encourages communities to monitor platypus, frogs and waterbugs as well as the water quality of their local river or creeks. We empower our volunteers to collect data, protect the waterways environment and share their knowledge. Visit melbournewater.com.au/waterwatch or call 131 722 to find out more.