Integrated Water Management

A collaborative approach to water management

Integrated Water Management (IWM) is a holistic and collaborative approach to the way we plan for and manage all elements of the water cycle.

IWM considers how the delivery of water, wastewater and stormwater services can contribute to water security, public and environmental health and urban amenity. It fundamentally shifts the way water, land use planning and urban development opportunities are understood and undertaken in Victoria.

In a time of climate change and increasing urbanisation it’s vital we work together to consider all water sources to service the community.

Metro Commitment Statement

In May 2026, all of Melbourne's local councils came together with the Victorian Government and the water sector to commit to make the smartest planning choices and decisions in water management.

The resulting commitment statement affirms a shared focus by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action along with the Department of Transport and Planning, local government, water corporations and Traditional Owners to recognise the many dependencies of water management and seek solutions that maximise benefits. Together these partners can create projects that protect ecosystems, enhance liveability and deliver lasting benefits across metropolitan Melbourne.

Integrated Water Management Framework for Victoria

In 2017, we created a framework to help the government, the water sector and the community work together to better plan, manage and deliver water in Victoria’s towns and cities.

Our goal is to deliver greater community value. The framework shows how we can do this through consistent and strategic collaboration within the water sector – including water corporations, local governments and catchment management authorities – and through their links with organisations involved in land use planning. The approach in the framework works with and feeds into existing water and land planning processes.

This is the first time in Australia that the systematic application of collaborative integrated water management has been designed and promoted at a state-wide scale and the Victorian Government is working with the water sector to implement it.

Read the framework

Implementing IWM planning

Over 2017 - 2025, DEECA has made significant progress towards implementing IWM planning across Melbourne and regional Victoria in collaboration with key partners. This includes:

• Bringing together over 100 organisations to collaboratively plan and deliver water related liveability outcomes through the IWM forums.
• Co-funding 176 strategic and capital projects throughout the state, totalling more than $72.8 million in investment from DEECA to support resilient cities and towns.
• Saving around 1 billion litres of drinking water a year through IWM program capital funding.

In November 2025, the previous Minister for Water, Minister Tierney, announced the launch of the $24 million IWM Grant Program for the 2025-2028 period.

Integrated Water Management Forums

Central to the framework are the IWM Forums established across Victoria.

These forums facilitate collaborative water planning and management to maintain and enhance the liveability, prosperity and resiliency of Victoria’s cities and towns.

A shared responsibility

IWM is an evolving process that seeks to coordinate and balance many views and interests in the water sector around common goals and agreed outcomes.

IWM forum partners include water corporations, catchment management authorities, local government and state government, other government departments and agencies, Traditional Owners and the community.

Our continued success through collaboration rests on our shared vision to achieve greater environmental, social, cultural and economic benefits through an IWM approach.

Other IWM focused organisations and resources include:

• CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
• Clearwater
• How to grow an urban forest

Page last updated: 29/05/26