Sustainability Report 2006/07Overview
The Port Phillip and Westernport region is diverse, taking in the large metropolitan areas of Melbourne, major agricultural districts, extensive protected catchment and natural areas, and environmentally significant wetlands.
The region covers 12,800 square kilometres, and is home to about 3.4 million people. The 8400 kilometres of rivers and creeks are vitally important natural assets.
The health of the bays and waterways in the Port Phillip and Westernport region are impacted by human activities. Continued growth of the population of Melbourne and surrounding areas, urban development, changing agricultural practices and climate change present new challenges for protecting and improving the condition of our waterways and bays.
With the population expected to increase by 850,000 people over the next 25 years, our role is to work with local communities, councils, river health managers and other stakeholders to protect and restore bays and waterways, manage development, provide effective drainage services and an appropriate level of flood protection.
In 2006/07, we delivered $38 million of infrastructure works including drainage, waterway protection, wetlands and pipes and channels, to service growth.
With our waterways and drainage boundary expanded by an additional 5000 square kilometres to include most of the Port Phillip and Westernport catchment, we developed our knowledge and relationships in these extended areas during the year.
For example, we carried out waterway investigations in the upper Maribyrnong, Little River and Bass River catchments, and Mornington Peninsula, investigated development services schemes (previously known as drainage schemes) and consulted with councils, the community and other stakeholders (see Our relationships).