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Other works and initiatives

  • We did not meet our target for the 2006 Waterways Operating Charter, which requires 100% compliance. Two of the 38 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were not met. One target related to communications and education programs, where programs for 2006/07 were delayed due to the focus on the worsening drought conditions. The other target related to the Cultural Heritage Strategy with the Board considering further stakeholder consultation before finalising the strategy. A new Charter was developed to cover the period 2008-2013. This document sets out how we will work with government agencies, community, councils, rural landholders, developers and other stakeholders to manage waterways, drainage and floodplains.
  • The Melbourne Water-hosted Clearwater capacity-building program for sustainable urban water management offered 24 courses in 2006/07, up from seven the previous year. The number of councils, private sector and higher education participants increased from 205 to 770.
  • Melbourne Water conducts monthly water quality monitoring at 136 sites along Melbourne’s rivers and creeks. In 2007, this network was increased from 73 sites mostly to incorporate waterways in the extended operating area. We also established a long-term ecological monitoring network, which incorporates routine aquatic macroinvertebrate (water bugs) surveys in autumn and spring to measure trends in the biological health of waterways.
  • Stormwater offsets are financial contributions paid by developers to Melbourne Water for regional water quality works undertaken across the Port Phillip and Westernport catchment to offset pollution loads not treated within specific developments. This year, we collected $2.2 million from developers to fund offset measures designed to remove 2756 kilograms of nitrogen per year from stormwater inflows to the bays. Several projects have begun to offset these loads including a reuse wetland in Footscray Park, Footscray, a wetland on Tanti Creek, Mornington, and a stormwater reuse project at the Waverley Public Golf Course.
  • Melbourne Water worked with councils in the Port Phillip and Westernport region to implement Sustainable Neighbourhoods provisions introduced by the Department of Sustainability and Environment in October 2006. These provisions require new residential subdivisions to meet stormwater quality targets within each subdivision through water sensitive urban design.