Caring for land and the environment are at the heart of Melbourne Water ideology every day
It might be Landcare week, but for Melbourne Water every week is, thanks to its ongoing commitment to the restoration, enhancement and protection of the environment, benefitting the community and native wildlife on the land and off.
Helping to position itself as an environmental leader, Melbourne Water is the service provider for the Regional Land Partnerships program – which falls under the National Landcare Program - in the Port Phillip and Western Port region. It delivers a range of projects and services, funded by the Australian Government, that support the protection, conservation and rehabilitation of Australia’s natural environment and drives sustainable land and agricultural management practices.
The National Landcare Program is a key part of the Australian Government’s commitment to natural resource management. In July 2018, the Federal Government allocated $7.7 million to the Port Phillip and Western Port region, with projects delivered by Melbourne Water over a five year period as the now Catchment Management Authority (CMA), and as part of its Regional Catchment Strategy (RCS).
“Our waterways, wetlands, forested parks and ranges, and wildlife are facing growing pressures from the likes of climate change and increased population, it’s our responsibility to protect, revitalise, regenerate, revegetate, protect and enhance for the benefit of our communities now and for generations to come,” Anna Lucas, Melbourne Water’s Senior Manager Waterways Biodiversity and Environment said.
“Working together with the Australian Government, Traditional Owners, state and local government, water industry stakeholders and engaged community groups will ensure they thrive. We’re committed to achieving this.”
Some of the recent projects that Melbourne Water - and its project partners - have actioned for the Australian Government help to rejuvenate and revegetate many important waterways and landscapes in our region. These aim to protect and enhance wildlife, flora, fauna and soil, and to preserve the environment today and for generations to come. Recently completed projects include:
Ramsar wetlands
Worked to protect the ecological character of the Western Port and Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Ramsar sites through the management of invasive pest plants and animals, improving wetlands’ hydrological regimes, and controlling access to sensitive wetland habitats.
French Island wildlife safe haven
Aiming to create a safe haven for native wildlife, considerable progress has been made eradicating introduced predators from French Island.
Smart Farming for Western Port
This protects the condition of soil, biodiversity and vegetation, with a particular focus on soil carbon, across various agricultural landscapes.
Port Phillip Community Shellfish Reef
Has developed environmental stewardship and fisheries science literacy within the local recreational fishing community, and installed a new shellfish reef at Mornington in the east of Port Phillip Bay.
Reel Big Fish - Western Port
Has improved fisheries habitat by restoring critical estuarine vegetation communities throughout Western Port. This has been achieved by restoring mangrove forests at priority locations, and contributes to an increase in suitable habitat for recreational fish species.
Securing a future for Leadbeaters Possum
Designed to secure a future for the lowland Leadbeaters Possum by re-establishing habitat at the Upper Yarra Treatment Plant, as well as securing local and climate adjusted seed for future revegetation projects. It aims to increase plant propagation capacity to ensure future habitat restoration needs can be met.
Eltham Copper Butterfly Habitat Restoration
Aims to enhance and protect the fragmented habitat of the Eltham Copper Butterfly, across Melbourne’s north-east, by raising community awareness and undertaking weeding, revegetation and fencing conservation work.
The Port Phillip and Western Port Regional Catchment Strategy (RCS) is Melbourne Water’s overarching plan for how land, water and biodiversity is protected and enhanced across the Port Phillip and Westernport region.
It broadly describes these management activities, highlights the connections between them, and identifies targets for the future health and resilience of the region’s environment.
An addendum to the RCS is the Natural Resource Management Plan (NRM Plan) for our region, which identifies the priority assets of national concern in our region for management. All projects delivered with federal funding are derived from this.
The strategy is intended to foster integration, efficiency and effectiveness. Its development and coordination is managed by Melbourne Water in collaboration and consultation with Traditional Owners and regional agencies, organisations, groups and communities.
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