Water Quality Programs
We work with our stakeholders to improve and mainstream sustainable stormwater management practices.
- An integrated approach
- Building capacity with businesses and councils
- Stormwater management plans
- Water quality treatment systems
- Improving the region’s water quality
- Tackling stormwater in the lower Yarra
- The Lower Yarra Litter Strategy
An integrated approach
Best practice in the environmental management of stormwater run-off requires an integrated approach involving:
- Use of legal planning controls over development and use of land
- Regulation of land uses (e.g. building sites and industry) through state and local laws
- Operational programs (e.g. enforcement of regulations, street cleaning)
- Management of infrastructure, maintenance and construction activities (e.g. roads)
- Infrastructure designed to capture or treat polluted run-off (e.g. litter traps)
- Awareness and education.
Building capacity with businesses and councils
We have an important role to play in building the capacity of business and councils so that we all deliver best practice stormwater management.
We helped initiate and are a key supporter of Clearwater – a capacity-building program for industry and councils. We will continue to contribute knowledge, experience and resources to support this important program.
Clearwater develops and implements education and training for people in industry, councils and Victorian Government agencies. It is also an information exchange.
We are currently managing the Water Sensitive Urban Design component of the Clearwater program. 'Water Sensitive Urban Design: Engineering Processes for Stormwater Management' is a technical manual developed through this involvement. The manual provides standards for the design, construction and maintenance of water sensitive design technologies. We also support a wide range of research to improve our knowledge and understanding of urban water systems.
Rural landowners involved with our Stream Frontage Management Program are also offered educational opportunities through the Clearwater program. Training in best-practice ‘whole of property’ and waterway management allows landowners to assess and manage their impacts on river health, including water quality.
More information:
Stormwater management plans
Stormwater quality is managed through a memorandum of understanding between:
- EPA Victoria
- Municipal Association of Victoria
- Melbourne Water.
The responsibilities and costs for stormwater quality management are shared between Melbourne Water and councils through this agreement.
We help councils prepare and implement Stormwater Management Plans, and have assigned $10 million over four years (2005/06 to 2008/09) to help put these plans in place. The plans identify actions for the council and for Melbourne Water, and other initiatives that could improve the quality of run-off entering rivers and creeks or affecting beaches.
All councils within our waterways and drainage boundary have successfully completed these plans. We are now:
- Working with councils on our actions from these plans
- Encouraging and helping councils to implement their actions
- Exploring other joint projects.
Councils have identified risk issues such as leaks from septic tanks through their plans. Strategies to manage domestic wastewater have been trialled in an attempt to reduce pollution from septic tanks.
In our new extended boundary areas, we will undertake an assessment of council Stormwater Management Plans and identify their priority actions. We will then look at ways of building this information into our program of managing stormwater run-off.
Water quality treatment systems
Litter traps, sedimentation ponds and constructed wetlands are examples of water quality treatment systems, reducing pollutants in run-off. The priority issue of nitrogen inputs to Port Phillip Bay is addressed by much of the funds allocated to these systems over the next 10 years.
Water sensitive urban design, financed by developers, incorporates these features in new developments. In older areas that have already developed, we put systems in place through our capital works program. We also support councils to implement water sensitive urban design.
Improving the region’s water quality
The Better Bays and Waterways Plan is a five year plan to further improve water quality in the Port Phillip and Western Port region.
Tackling stormwater in the lower Yarra
The Lower Yarra is under stress because of population growth and urban development, and the behaviour and activities of people living around the river.
The Yarra River Action Plan (PDF 3.7mb) identified key projects to improve water quality in the Yarra catchment.
Water quality in the Lower Yarra is poor due to:
- Urban stormwater
- Litter
- Faecal contamination.
A three-year multi-million dollar Stormwater Quality Action Plan has been started to improve water quality in the Lower Yarra and provide leadership in stormwater management. Activities will involve:
- Trialling toxicant traps
- Implementing council Stormwater Management Plans
- Initiating water sensitive urban design projects to treat stormwater run-off
- Building stormwater management skills and knowledge for councils and industry.
The Lower Yarra Litter Strategy
Overview
The Lower Yarra Litter Strategy (LYLS) is a partnership between local and state government. Its aim is to reduce the amount of litter entering the Lower Yarra River and improve water quality in the Yarra catchment.
Who is involved?
As well as these partners, LYLS projects engage with traders groups, local community groups, and the general public.
For further information about the Lower Yarra Litter Strategy, please contact Phil Edwards - phil.edwards@melbournewater.com.au Ph: (03) 9235 2524
Overall objective:
Reduce litter by 5% in the Yarra River by 2009 compared to 2007 levels*.
Supplementary objectives:
Litter hotspots
Review location profile recommendations at identified litter hotspots from the Lower Yarra Litter Strategy Benchmarking Litter Hotspots report.
Priority issues
Reach a target of 51% of smokers binning their cigarette butts in the Lower Yarra area.
Partnerships and commitment
All LYLS partner organisations to maintain commitment to the litter prevention through policies, planning, projects and resources.
The approach
The LYLS approach combines both state and local resources, knowledge and responsibilities. The Strategy encourages an integrated regional approach to litter management. It includes best practice litter prevention projects that incorporate education, infrastructure and enforcement. All projects aim to prevent litter rather than clean it up after it has happened.
Click to view full size map in a new window
A comprehensive study of litter hotspots in the Lower Yarra region has identified priority locations and the most common forms of litter found on our streets. The primary hotspots in each council are:
- City of Boroondara
- Glenferrie Road Hawthorn
- Camberwell Junction
- Glenferrie Road Malvern
- Kew Junction
- City of Stonnington
- Chapel Street & Toorak Road
- Chapel Street & Commercial Road
- Chapel Street & Dandenong Road
- City of Melbourne
- CBD west
- Queen Victoria Market
- Melbourne CBD
- Lygon Street and Melbourne University
- City of Yarra
- Brunswick and Smith Streets
- Victoria Street Richmond
- Bridge Road Richmond
- Swan Street Richmond
*Summary Clean Communities Assessment Tool scores are reported in the 2007 Benchmarking Litter Hotspots study for the Lower Yarra Litter Strategy.
Case studies
Case studies allow us to learn from each other. They provide information on key lessons learned, successes and challenges, and can be used to develop future projects.
See how these case studies can help you:
- Arts Precinct Green Star Business Program
- Chinatown Laneways Project
- Chapel Street Getting Greener Project
- Queen Victoria Market Project
Downloads
You will need Adobe Acrobat to access the above PDF documents. 