Waterways Local Update 2015-16

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

Melbourne Water is responsible for 8,400 km of rivers and creeks, 126 km 428 wetland treatment systems and more than 1,400 km of WEED CONTROL regional drainage systems in the Port Phillip and Westernport region. ALONG WATERWAYS This work is funded by the Waterways and Drainage Charge, which is paid by property owners and collected by water retailers on our behalf. IMPROVED Within your local area, Melbourne Water cares for the following QUALITY, QUANTITY AND waterways: FLOWS IN WATERWAYS • Lang Lang River • Bunyip River PLATYPUS • Aarat Creek • Cardinia Creek SURVEYS IN CARDINIA CREEK

Image: Cora Lynn, Nine Mile Road, Bunyip 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 6 km Revegetation with native plants prevents erosion and improves water quality.

Introduced and noxious weeds can choke waterways and take over 126 km Weed control from plants that provide healthy habitats for birds 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 30 m debris removal habitat for platypus and fish. Stabilised the banks of the Little Lang Lang This project helps prevent further erosion threatening the bridge River at Pooles Road in Lang Lang East at Pooles Road.

Undertook a number of vegetation These projects aimed to improve the habitat for birds and management projects along Toomuc Creek the amenity of the Toomuc Creek corridor.

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

What we have done Why Contributed to designing and building a cascading Improves stormwater quality before it enters the nearby raingarden biofilter at Tiffany Close in Pakenham Kennedy Creek and adds to the amenity of the landscape. Helped fund building activities that aim to reduce Protects the health of rivers and creeks, and improves water the sediment into Truganowan Lake (Emerald Lake) quality by reducing the quantity of stormwater that flows into and further improve Cockatoo Creek local waterways. Provided funding to investigate water sensitive design Addresses stormwater runoff entering Toomuc Creek and reduces options at the Shire of Cardinia Operations Depot the ammount of stormwater flowing into local waterways to improve water quality and the health of rivers and creeks.

Through our Living Rivers program, we worked with Council and contributed $105,000 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 rural landholders in the Better management of water and soil on properties helps improve Woori Yallock area to improve waterways the quality, amount and timing of 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 21 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) Annual platypus surveys in Cardinia Creek Improved knowledge of platypus population health and distribution allows us to nurture this important species. Undertook fish surveys along the fish passage The surveys helped assess the upstream and downstream passage in Cardinia Creek of fish along Patterson River. Construct a new swimming passage for fish in This work helps to increase fish numbers in the creek by providing Cardinia Deep Creek greater passage for fish to swim upstream and downstream of the creek. Macroinvertebrate surveys in Toomuc Creek These surveys improve our knowledge of the waterway’s condition and how it changes. Monitored sediment along Deep Creek, Cardinia This monitoring improves our knowledge of contaminants Creek and its estuary and the Bunyip River estuary and guides our management of the waterways. Undertook a Westernport environment research Gaining a better understanding of the area helps protect the health program with Council of the Westernport catchment. 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 518 subdivisions reviewed for drainage and stormwater quality.

development 218 applications reviewed To make sure that growing communities don’t increase flood risk.

flood information To provide flood information to property owners and people 178 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, 36 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 15 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 Worked with stakeholders to review plans and Ensure proposed works will not impact the floodplain, path of hydraulic reports to assist with removing the level over-land flow, assets and waterways, and that the project is crossing on the Caulfield-Dandenong line and 5APA feasible, safe and possible for community use. Gas Pipeline between Pakenham and Koo Wee Rup Undertook drainage investigations in Koo Wee Rup Helps to guide flood improvement works and provide flood protection.

Waterways Local Update 2015 –16 | 4 Nine 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

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 $96,060 Management native trees. Volunteer and community groups for works that protect or enhance Community riverbanks on public land, raise awareness, and provide training and $81,080 Grants education to protect local waterways. Landholders in specific catchments for projects that reduce the Rural Land amount of sediment and nutrients entering waterways from $32,163 Program agricultural land.

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

Who we worked with What we did Local community Hosted a platypus and frog information session in Cockatoo. CESAR Cardinia Environment Coalition Worked together to manage invasive plants and animals within sixty hectares of the Cannibal Creek catchment. Friends of Cockatoo Creek Provided Waterbug Census monitoring support and resources. Beaconsfield Pistol Club Supported the club to prevent and control weeds at Cardinia Retarding Basin, and revegetate areas using plants from the list of indigenous plants to the area. Cannibal Creek Landcare Provided water quality monitoring support. Toomuc Valley Landcare Lang Lang Monitoring Group

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.