In 2022, the Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy was replaced by the Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy.
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in Greater Ballarat. Per capita water use in Ballarat fell from an average 501 L a person a day in the 1990s to 250 L in 2010–11, a 50% reduction.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: July 2011
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in Greater Ballarat. The Ballarat District Water Supply System Strategic Plan 2011-2060 outlines previous, current and future demand reduction strategies.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action helped to better manage water security for Greater Ballarat. After evaluating water supply substitution options for Lake Wendouree, in 2006 the Victorian Government allocated $7 million for water substitution, which began in the same year.
The strategy resulted in reservoir water being substituted with an additional 1.9 GL on average a year from stormwater harvesting, recycling and diversions.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: 2005 to 2011
The action maximised flexibility for water sharing. The Cosgrave – White Swan interconnection was completed in late 2006, to allow access to Central Highlands Water’s then unused entitlement.
It enabled an additional supply of 495 ML to the Ballarat system in 2006–07 and 345 ML in 2007–08.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: 2006
The action maximised flexibility for water sharing. The Newlyn Reservoir — White Swan interconnection was completed in October 2017 to transfer unused entitlement in Newlyn directly into White Swan via the Cosgrave – White Swan interconnection.
It enabled an additional supply of 200 ML to the Ballarat system in 2007–08.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: October 2007
The action maximised flexibility for water sharing. The Ballarat–Goulburn interconnection was completed ahead of schedule in May 2008.
By the end of 2015–16, the pipeline had contributed more than 22 GL to the Ballarat system.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: May 2008
The action helped to better manage water security for Greater Ballarat. The Cardigan Aquifer project was completed in July 2007 and provided 2,200 ML to the Ballarat system in 2007–08, including water to substitute for river water in Lake Wendouree.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: July 2007
The action helped protect and improve river health. In 1980, the Moorabool River was diverted around the Batesford limestone quarry near Fyansford, and a concrete-lined diversion channelled was installed to reroute the river and stop water infiltration.
Despite these works, water still seeped into the quarry and was pumped directly out into Corio Bay.
In June 2011, an agreement was reached to return this treated water to the river.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Partly achieved
Delivery period: June 2011
The action helped protect and improve river health. The Moorabool River Environmental Entitlement 2010 provides a 11.9% inflow and storage capacity share in Lal Lal Reservoir.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: October 2010
DELWP are undertaking further investigations into the cost-benefit of the voluntary buy-back of unregulated licences program to recover water for the environment.
Further investigations are underway by DELWP to determine water recovery options.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Partly achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in Greater Geelong. Per capita water use in Geelong fell in the mid-2000s from a 40-year average of about 470 L a person a day to about 270 L, a 42% reduction.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: March 2012
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in Greater Geelong.
The Barwon Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 to 2062 outlines previous, current and future demand reduction strategies.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action contributed to reducing system losses and improved water quality. Reconstruction of sections of the two channels was completed in 2016.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: 2016
The action helped to better manage water security for the Geelong Region.
The Northern Water Plant, built adjacent to the Shell Refinery, provides the refinery with up to 2 GL of recycled water a year, reducing Geelong’s demand for drinking water and reducing the volume of water discharged to the ocean.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: April 2013
Barwon Water completed its Aquifer Storage and Recovery research program to investigate options for storage and recovery.
The volumes in the CRSWS of 2,700 ML/y by 2030 and 12,500 ML/y in 2055 will need to be reviewed and not automatically carried forward to the next SWS.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: March 2012
The Newlingrook groundwater feasibility study concluded the option was costly and lacked community support. The Melbourne to Geelong Pipeline was successfully constructed as an Our Water Our Future initiative in 2007, reducing the need to identify new water sources.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: December 2012
The action ensured a reliable and safe water supply to increase water supply options for Greater Geelong. Barwon Water was granted an entitlement to access Anglesea groundwater in 2009.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: June 2009
The Dewing Creek diversion weir was reinstated.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: No date available
Treated groundwater outflows from the Fyansford quarry were modified to discharge via the lower Moorabool benefiting the lower Barwon (1,700 ML).
Part of the treated discharge from the Ballarat South Wastewater Treatment Plant was released as environmental flows into Leigh Creek and the Barwon (2,000 ML) plus a 1 GL transfer of water to the environment was completed in 2018 as a result of supply augmentations for Geelong.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: 2018
The action helped protect and improve river health. Recycled water is being discharged into the Barwon system. 28,091 ML was discharged in 2013–14 and 27,507 ML in 2014–15.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The intention of this action was to protect and improve river health. The creation of the Upper Barwon River Environmental Entitlement 2018 was completed in April 2018.
It provides a long-term average of 1 GL a year of water for the environment through a 3.8% share of inflows and 2 GL storage capacity share of West Barwon Reservoir.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in the inner west. Between 2003–04 and 2015–16, drinking water consumption per person decreased by 27%, despite rapid population growth in the area.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: July 2017
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in the inner west.
The Western Water Urban Water Strategy 2017 outlines previous, current and future demand reduction strategies.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action helped to reduce the risk of shortfalls. In 2016–17, the number of properties with recycled water services grew by 4% over the previous year, mostly in new developments around Melton and Sunbury.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action helped to reduce the risk of shortfalls. Between the 2012 and 2017 financial years, Western Water increased its production of recycled water from 7,544 ML to 12,170 ML, and increased the use of this water from 56% to 72%.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action contributed to greater consideration of recycled water for environmental flows in other strategies.
The Western Water Urban Water Strategy 2017 includes a medium-term action — SA20 — to investigate the feasibility of delivering a benefit through the substitution of river water for treated wastewater.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Partly achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action maximised flexibility for water sharing and ensured a reliable, safe water supply. Western Water made connections to the Melbourne system in 2004 and has an entitlement — in Bulk Entitlement (Greater Yarra System - Thomson River Pool Western Water) Order 2014 — to 18,250 ML in the Melbourne system.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Partly achieved
Delivery period: 2004, June 2014
This action was explored and water was temporarily made available to Western Water to meet critical demand. A reduced catchment yield has changed the viability of the transfer. DEWLP continues to explore the best options for allocation of the remaining water from Merrimu Reservoir.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Not yet achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action ensured a reliable, safe water supply. The Romsey-Lancefield bore field was completed in 2013 and supplied 10% of Romsey's drinking water in the 2014 financial year.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: November 2013
This action was to help secure water supplies for Western Water. Action MR1 in the Western Water Urban Water Strategy 2017 is to continue to pursue the purchase of additional entitlements from Pykes Creek Reservoir to supplement alternate supplies from the Melbourne system.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Not yet achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action ensured reliable and safe water supply. The increased storage was provided by access to groundwater (see action 4.25).
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: November 2013
The intention of this action was to protect and improve river health.
The Werribee River Environmental Entitlement 2014 provides a 10% share of inflows into Lake Merrimu to be used to improve environmental outcomes in the Werribee River. Actions are ongoing for other water recovery options.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Partly achieved
Delivery period: May 2014, ongoing
Three of the five construction phases are funded for completion with an agreed one-third of verified water savings going to the environment. DELWP and Southern Rural Water are continuing to pursue other opportunities for funding the remaining construction stages.
Implementation of the Werribee Irrigation District Modernisation project has commenced.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Not yet achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action helped protect and improve river health. Recycled water is now supplied to the Werribee Park Tourist Precinct: in the 2017 financial year, Melbourne Water supplied the precinct with 121 ML.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action helped protect and improve river health. The Werribee River Environmental Entitlement was created in 2014. Environmental flows in the Werribee system consist of a share of flow rather than a held entitlement.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: May 2014
This action is recommitted through Water for Victoria action 3.5.
The Healthy Waterways Strategy for the Melbourne Water catchments is expected to be released in 2018 and may include consideration of updated flow studies for key catchments such as the Maribyrnong, with proposed water recovery targets.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Not yet achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
Actions such as transferring water from Rosslynne Reservoir to the environment should be reviewed pending updated flow studies.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Not yet achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
DELWP are undertaking further investigations into the cost-benefit of the voluntary buy-back of unregulated licences program to recover water for the environment.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Not yet achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
Actions such as transferring water from Baringo Creek to the environment should be reviewed pending updated flow studies.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Not yet achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in Greater Melbourne. In 2016–17, per capita residential water consumption in Melbourne was 161 L a person a day and total water consumption was 1,170 ML, compared to 1,475 ML at the peak of consumption in 1997. This equates to a 26% reduction in water use.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: July 2015
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in Greater Melbourne. The Victorian Government continued to emphasise the importance of efficient use of water around the house and garden through the purchase and installation of rainwater tanks through the new Living Victoria Water Rebate Program (1 July 2012 to 30 June 2015).
Target 155 was first introduced during the Millennium Drought, was replaced with other water-saving initiatives when it ended and was reactivated in March 2016.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action contributed to more-efficient residential water use in Greater Melbourne, where consumption fell from 188 L per person a day in 2006–07 to 161 L in 2016–17.
Water conservation and efficiency initiatives included the Living Victoria Water Rebate Program and showerhead exchange schemes. Cities and towns across Victoria also had water restrictions.
The 2017 Melbourne Water System Strategy also includes water-efficiency initiatives. Non-residential water conservation and efficiency initiatives included the Schools Water Efficiency Program and the WaterMAP program.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action contributed to ongoing investments in efficiency and to reduce system losses. Melbourne's water retailers continue to invest in leak detection and investigation programs. For example, in 2014–15 Yarra Valley Water program saved 4 GL and South East Water saved 767 ML.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in Greater Melbourne. Outcomes for this action are reported under action 3.13.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in Greater Melbourne. Melbourne Water installed remote-access data loggers on many diverter customers’ water meters.
Uses for the data include checking compliance with restrictions and bans, and irrigators can use it to manage farm irrigation.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: 2010
The action helped to reduce the risk of shortfalls. The region’s water companies report annually on recycled water, stormwater and dual-pipe initiatives. For example, in 2014–15 Melbourne Water issued 38 stormwater harvesting licences totalling 2,008 ML, and it delivered 46.6 ML of recycled water for non-drinking purposes.
In 2012, an estimated 28% of Melbourne households had rainwater tanks. Melbourne Water’s Stormwater Strategy 2013–18 notes actions to manage and harvest stormwater.
Melbourne Water is currently reviewing the strategy.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action helped to reduce the risk of shortfalls and ensured a reliable and safe water supply. A formal committee was not established. However, the task is assessed as complete as the region’s water companies have pursued local reuse and recycling initiatives related to local water sources.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action helped to reduce the risk of shortfalls. Outcomes for this action are reported under actions 3.21, 3.24 and 3.27.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Date not available
The action helped protect and improve river health. All rivers in the Central Region have PCVs, and bulk entitlements include provisions for passing flows. The Yarra Environmental Entitlement 2006 entitles the environment to 17 GL a year.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action helped protect and improve river health. The Yarra Environmental Entitlement 2006 entitles the environment to 17 GL a year.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: October 2006
An initial mapping and high-level prioritisation of billabongs in Melbourne Water's region was completed in 2012.
In 2013, a more-detailed report was completed on four, high-priority billabong sites.
Billabong watering is now a priority watering action to achieve environmental objectives in the Yarra system. Melbourne Water also waters floodplain wetlands. For example, in 2014 water for the environment was delivered to the Yering Backswamp via the Maroondah Aqueduct.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: July 2015
The action helped protect and improve river health.
The Tarago and Bunyip Environmental Entitlement 2009 provides 3 GL of storage and 10.3 % share of flows.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: March 2009
The action helped protect and improve river health. The outcome for this action is reported under action 4.41.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: March 2009
The environmental flow determination for the Bunyip / Tarago rivers was completed in 2007.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: April 2007
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in West Gippsland. The Gippsland Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 noted progress made on all five actions relating to efficiency in the previous strategy.
The Gippsland Water Urban Water Strategy 2017 includes ongoing efficiency actions.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: 2007, ongoing
The action contributed to greater consideration of industry efficiency targets in other strategies.
The Gippsland Water Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 reported progress on its commitment to work with industry to achieve a 15% saving in water use by 2020.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: 2012
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in West Gippsland.
Gippsland Water has installed an electric pump at Blue Rock Reservoir and continues to implement conservation and efficiency measures.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action helped to reduce the risk of shortfalls. The Gippsland Water Factory, which started operating in January 2013, treats up to 35 ML of wastewater a day from nine towns in central Gippsland, serving the needs of more than 48,000 domestic customers and 300 local businesses.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: January 2013
The action helped to reduce the risk of shortfalls. Gippsland Water has a total share of Blue Rock Lake of 17.08% in the Bulk Entitlement (Gippsland Water - Blue Rock) Conversion Order 1997.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: 2010
The action helped protect and improve river health. The Blue Rock Environmental Entitlement 2013 provides a 9.45% inflow and storage capacity share equivalent to a modelled, annual, long-term average of 10 GL.
This action was achieved through the Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: July 2013
The outcome for this action is reported under action 4.47.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: July 2013
This action was achieved through the Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: 2014
The action helped protect and improve river health. The Macalister River target has been exceeded with 12,460 ML of high-reliability water and 6,229 ML of low-reliability water transferred to the environment through the Macalister River Environmental Entitlement 2010.
The Thomson River water recovery target has not been met and has been transferred to the Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy.
A 2017 amendment to the Bulk entitlement (Thomson River-Environment) Order 2005 provides an additional 8 GL a year for the environment through a 3.9% share of inflows and additional 8 GL of storage capacity in Thomson Reservoir.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: May 2017
Modernisation of the Macalister Irrigation District is continuing, and water savings sourced from the Macalister modernisation projects have been used to deliver environmental benefits. Information about completed and progressing projects can be found on the Southern Rural Water website.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in Western Port. Westernport Water has reduced per capita water use since the 1990s by 47%.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Date not available
The action contributed to more-efficient water use in Western Port. Westernport Water’s water conservation and efficiency measures implemented since 2006 include permanent water-saving rules, community education, water audits and rebate programs. The Westernport Water Urban Water Strategy 2017 includes conservation and efficiency actions, including leakage detection and education and community awareness programs.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Ongoing
The action helped to reduce the risk of shortfalls. The Phillip Island Recycled Water Scheme was commissioned in 2012. Reuse of water from the Cowes Wastewater Treatment Plant increased from 3% in 2011–12 to 5% in 2014–15.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: 2012, ongoing
The action ensured reliable and safe water supply. The Candowie Reservoir upgrade was completed in 2013 and has a bulk water entitlement of 1 GL to the Melbourne system — the Bulk Entitlement (Greater Yarra System - Thomson Pool - Westernport Water) Order 2014.
The Corinella Aquifer is included in the supply system. The Bass River to Candowie interconnection has been completed and supplies established from the Corinella Aquifer. These augmentations were brought forward in the face of worsening drought conditions.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Over several years
The action ensured reliable and safe water supply. The Candowie Reservoir was upgraded in in 2013. Westernport Water has access to 1 GL of water in the Melbourne system — the Bulk Entitlement (Greater Yarra System - Thomson Pool - Westernport Water) Order 2014.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved
Delivery period: Over several years
Page last updated: 30/10/23