Maribyrnong STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS STATEMENT SEPTEMBER 2018 Integrated Water Management Forums Acknowledgement of Victoria’s Aboriginal communities The Victorian Government proudly acknowledges Victoria's Aboriginal communities and their rich culture and pays its respects to their Elders past and present. The government also recognises the intrinsic connection of Traditional Owners to Country and acknowledges their contribution to the management of land, water and resources. We acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s fi rst peoples and as the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and water on which we rely. We recognise and value the ongoing contribution of Aboriginal people and communities to Victorian life and how this enriches us. We embrace the spirit of reconciliation, working towards the equality of outcomes and ensuring an equal voice. © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2018 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria as author. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs or branding, including the Victorian Coat of Arms, the Victorian Government logo and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) logo. To view a copy of this licence, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Printed by Finsbury Green, Melbourne ISSN 2209-8216 – Print format ISSN 2209-8224 – Online (pdf/word) format Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without fl aw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please telephone the DELWP Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or email [email protected] or via the National Relay Service on 133 677, www.relayservice.com.au. This document is also available on the internet at www.delwp.vic.gov.au Cover photograph Maribyrnong River, Moonee Valley. Photographer: Christian Pearson Integrated Water Management is a collaborative approach to water planning and management that brings together organisations with an interest in all aspects of the water cycle. It has the potential to provide greater value to our communities by identifying and leveraging opportunities to optimise outcomes. Contents Foreword 1 Acknowledgements 2 Chapter 1 The way forward 3 Introduction 4 Overview 4 What is a Strategic Directions Statement? 4 Enduring collaboration 5 How we’re working together 5 Recognising Aboriginal values in water planning and management 5 Guiding principles for collaboration 6 Chapter 2 IWM in the region 7 Regional context 8 Population 8 Climate change 10 Vision and strategic outcomes 11 Collaboration to develop the shared vision and strategic outcome areas 11 Strategic outcomes for IWM 12 The case for IWM in the Maribyrnong catchment 14 Chapter 3 IWM opportunities 19 Priority Portfolio 20 Impact of IWM opportunities on the Forum’s strategic outcomes 21 IWM opportunities: An overview of projects and strategies 22 Priority Portfolio of IWM opportunities 26 Strategic enablers to put IWM into practice 37 Success stories 38 Continued success through collaboration 40 Appendix 42 Additional IWM opportunities in the Maribyrnong catchment 42 Glossary of terms 43 Foreword We are witnessing an historic transformation of the Maribyrnong catchment as more people choose to live, work and visit this vibrant and beautiful region of Victoria. With urban and regional development Integrated water management is As we look forward to beginning the moving swiftly to accommodate not a straightforward process of next phase of this transformational population growth, we too must change, but the benefi ts derived work, I want to sincerely thank move swiftly to work together to from our collective eff orts far the Forum Members and their protect and enhance the natural outweigh the challenges. organisations for contributing their character of the region, most notably considerable experience, skill and the treasured Maribyrnong River, a Together we have refl ected on, time to the development of this unique environment and resource with reviewed and committed to a breadth major blueprint for change in of opportunities in water and land use strong natural and cultural heritage the Maribyrnong catchment. planning, each of which position water signifi cance that provides benefi ts at the heart of community health and to Melbourne’s growing western and wellbeing. As we learn to adapt to a northern suburbs, as well as rural changing climate, these collaborative areas of the upper catchment. endeavours will help our communities Lydia Wilson The Maribyrnong Integrated Water sustainably grow and thrive for a Chair of the Maribyrnong IWM Forum Management Forum brings together more prosperous future. many dedicated and forward- I am delighted to present the looking water industry stakeholders, inaugural Strategic Directions Traditional Owners and Local Statement for the Maribyrnong IWM Government representatives to ensure Forum, the culmination of exceptional our opportunities for continued commitment and hard work of our prosperity don’t come at a cost Forum Members to plan, manage to our iconic natural environments. and deliver water services across this diverse region in a more effi cient and innovative way than we’ve ever done before. Maribyrnong Strategic Directions Statement 1 Acknowledgements The inaugural Maribyrnong The Forum Area encompasses some IWM Forum acknowledges these of Victoria’s most signifi cant urban Traditional Owners as traditional Integrated Water renewal precincts and greenfi eld custodians who have managed land Management Forum was growth areas currently under and water sustainably over thousands convened in Melbourne development. Preservation and of generations and maintain an active in November 2017 with management of the region’s remaining connection to Country. native landscapes will have a positive subsequent Forums impact on the long term health and The Maribyrnong Integrated Water meeting throughout security of the region’s waterways. Management Strategic Directions Statement has been developed by 2018 to discuss and The Forum Area covers the traditional the Maribyrnong Integrated Water prioritise integrated lands of the Kulin Nation, including Management Forum. Members of this water planning and the Wurundjeri people. The Forum Forum include the Chief Executive Area is abundant in Aboriginal cultural Offi cers and Managing Directors management in the sites with a majority of these found of the following organisations: Maribyrnong Forum Area. near waterways. The Maribyrnong 2 Maribyrnong Strategic Directions Statement Chapter 1 The way forward An unprecedented opportunity to progress water cycle planning and management in Victoria through collaboration. Cycling along the Maribyrnong River. Courtesy: Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Introduction Overview The urban water cycle in the Maribyrnong catchment is overseen Integrated Water The Maribyrnong catchment and managed by several agencies. Management encompasses fertile agricultural lands, Enhanced communication and natural grasslands and woodlands collaboration is required to IWM is a collaborative and densely populated urban ensure plans and investments approach to water planning areas. The extent and density of are optimised to enable shared and management that brings urban development across Greater community outcomes. together organisations with Metropolitan Melbourne is impacting an interest in all aspects of on the health of waterways entering This approach is Integrated Water the water cycle. It has the the Maribyrnong River and Port Management (IWM). A central premise potential to provide greater Phillip Bay. Balancing the needs of IWM is the overall acceptance value to our communities by and function of the water cycle that achieving urban liveability and identifying and leveraging as urban development increases resilience is a shared responsibility. opportunities to optimise is a complex challenge requiring The Integrated Water Management outcomes. careful management. Framework for Victoria 2017 is The region’s water sector, local designed to help local governments, governments and Traditional Owners water corporations, catchment What is a Strategic are working collaboratively to plan management authorities, Traditional Directions Statement? and deliver projects and strategies Owners and other organisations work that will enhance the resilience together to ensure that the water This Strategic Directions Statement and liveability of the Maribyrnong cycle effi ciently contributes to the (SDS) articulates the regional catchment and deliver enduring region’s liveability, with communities context, shared vision and environmental, economic and social at the centre of decision-making. water-related outcomes for benefi ts to local communities. the Maribyrnong catchment. To assist with this, IWM Forums have Through ongoing engagement been established across the state with their communities, these It includes a prioritised list of to identify, prioritise and oversee organisations have heard that IWM opportunities developed in the implementation of critical