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Statement of Corporate Intent

About us

Melbourne Water is owned by the Victorian Government. We manage Melbourne’s water supply catchments, remove and treat most of Melbourne’s sewage, and manage rivers, creeks and major drainage systems in the Melbourne region. We are a significant business managing $8.7 billion (replacement asset value) of natural and built assets.

Our people have diverse skills and expertise and we place a high priority on building strong partnerships and relationships with the community and all our other stakeholders. Our customers include the metropolitan retail water businesses, other water authorities, local councils and the land development industry.

Governance

The governance of Melbourne Water is undertaken via an independent Board of Directors. The Board operates under the provisions of the Melbourne Water Corporation Act 1992 (Vic) and reports annually to Minister and Treasurer. From 1 July 1997, the Board will operate under the provisions of the Water Act 1989.

Vision

Our vision is working together to ensure a sustainable water future.

Our commitment to sustainability will be demonstrated by:

  • Protecting and conserving Melbourne’s water resources
  • Protecting and improving the environment, including biodiversity
  • Our leadership, scientific research, creativity and innovation
  • Ensuring responsible risk management
  • Sharing information and fostering collaborative working arrangements
  • Maintaining long-term financial viability
  • Contributing to the health of the community
  • Demonstrating corporate social responsibility ensuring intergenerational equity by considering both short term and long term implications in all decision making
  • Providing an environment where employees are encouraged to achieve their full potential

Our values

  • We recognise that we achieve more by working collaboratively
  • We behave with integrity
  • We attain excellence through creativity and innovation
  • We celebrate our achievements and learn from our experiences
  • We work with openness, transparency and accountability.

Initiatives to support the achievement of our vision are outlined under our strategic priority areas:

  • Water Resources
  • Public Health
  • Natural Environment
  • Financial Viability
  • Infrastructure
  • Our People
  • Relationships – Customer, Stakeholder, Community

Service responsibilities

As manager of the water resources available to supply Melbourne, Melbourne Water’s role integrates the management of the total water resource across the water cycle, including provision of:

  • Water to the three metropolitan retail water businesses and two non-metropolitan water authorities (Western Water and Gippsland Water)
  • Sewerage services to the three metropolitan retail water businesses
  • Waterway services, including drainage management, waterway management and water quality protection to the greater Melbourne metropolitan area. Melbourne Water also administers diversion licences for the Yarra and Maribyrnong catchments
  • Recycled water services to metropolitan retail water businesses and rural water authorities.

Scale of activities

Melbourne Water manages about $8.7 billion (replacement value) in water supply, sewerage, drainage and recycled water assets that service an area of more than 12,800 square kilometres. The assets comprise:

  • 156,756 hectares of protected water supply catchments
  • 44 water treatment plants and two major wastewater treatment plants
  • 18 water and 13 wastewater pumping stations
  • 1,242 kilometres of water mains and 387 kilometres of wastewater mains and channels
  • 1,362 kilometres of drains and 8,000 kilometres of waterways.

Who we work with

EPA Victoria and the Department of Human Services regulate the environmental and public health aspects of our business. The Essential Services Commission regulates prices and monitors service performance. We work across several arms of the Victorian Government, including the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Department of Treasury and Finance.

Our customers include the metropolitan retail water businesses – City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water – other water authorities, local councils, land developers and businesses that divert river water.

We work with a wide range of partners including the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Victoria and The University of Melbourne. Research organisations, such as the CSIRO and Cooperative Research Centres, engineering consultants, and contractors who carry out tasks ranging from inspecting and maintaining assets to catchment surveillance and litter removal, also assist us to achieve our objectives.

We are involved with a wide range of community stakeholders including “Friends of”, Landcare, resident and environment groups, advisory bodies, rural landowners and the education sector.

Statutory requirements

Melbourne Water is committed to meeting statutory and environmental and health regulations, including:

  • Complying with EPA Victoria discharge licences issued for the Eastern and Western treatment plants and other related agreements or understandings
  • Achieving drinking water quality and supply standards specified in the bulk water supply contracts between Melbourne Water and City West Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water and other water authorities, including Southern Rural Water, Western Water and Gippsland Water
  • Complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003, Health Fluoridation Act 1973
  • Complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 and regulations.

Business policies

Melbourne Water has policies covering its key responsibilities and obligations including environment, public health, community, employees, occupational health and safety, risk management, accounting, legal and commercial.