Waterways of the West action plan implementation

Action 5.3 supports the delivery of coastal resilience planning along Port Philip Bay’s north-western shoreline, identifying effective adaption strategies and actions to mitigate the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels on natural systems.

Regional and Strategic Partnerships (RASP), formed under the Marine and Coastal Act (2018) Marine and Coastal Act 2018 issue relating to or affecting the marine and coastal environment.

Following Victoria’s Resilient Coast – Adapting for 2100+ Framework (marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au), the Port Philip Bay Western Shoreline RASP is responding to specific regional issues of climate  change and coastal hazard impacts on marine and coastal values of the project area, including the ecosystem adaptation needs of the areas internationally significant Ramsar-listed wetlands. The RASP area also holds a marine and coastal sanctuary and many other coastal parks and reserves.

The outcome  of the RASP project will be the development of an overarching Coastal Hazard Adaptation and Resilience Plan for the Port Philip Bay western shoreline by 2025/26. The Coastal Hazard and Resilience Plan is a long-term strategic plan that guides management, decision-making and investment across partners’ management areas.

The RASP was gazetted by the Minister for Environment in February 2024. This formalised the partnership between the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Parks Victoria, Hobson’s Bay City Council, Wyndham City Council, City of Greater Geelong, Melbourne Water, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, acting as lead agency.

The RASP boundary extends from Greenwich Reserve, Williamstown to Limeburners Bay (Hovells Creek estuary), Greater Geelong. It encompasses all Ramsar listed and significant coastal wetlands along the Port Phillip Bay western shoreline, extending roughly 5 kms inland and to a marine boundary in the bay of 10 meters deep (10m isobath).

Going forward, the partnership will draw on the learnings from other collaborative engagement processes, including the Cape to Cape Resilience RASP and the City of Greater Geelong’s Our Coast program. In 2024 the partnership will begin community and stakeholder engagement, deliver assessments of ecological, cultural, community & social, and economic values in the project area, and a coastal risk and vulnerability assessment.

The Lower Werribee Waterway Amenity Action Plan was awarded the 2023 Victorian Award of Excellence in the Land Management category of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Awards.

The Action Plan, launched in 2022, has been recognised by the Australia Institute for Landscape Architects for its transformative approach to shared leadership. The Awards recognise achievements in landscape planning, design and management projects across a variety of scale and sectors.

The jury commended the 'project team and partners on their leadership and transformative approach to co-designing this plan, which drew on the leadership and teachings of our First Nations custodians.'

Drawing on Bunurong and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners knowledge of how to care for Country, the Plan articulates a shared vision for improved amenity, cultural and environmental values, and enhanced community access and activation of the blue-green corridor.

This vision guided the implementation of the Amenity Action Plan in 2023 including:

• delivery of the “Meet me by the river’ guide
• ongoing planning and advocacy for a fully connected trail along Werribee River that will link to nearby trails
• cultural values assessments undertaken by both Bunurong and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners
• progress on a new signage strategy for the length of the river that will better support visitation, use and access
• advocacy for increased environmental flows through the Sustainable Water Strategy to also deliver cultural, recreational and amenity benefits
• community engagement and educational programs with local schools
• investment in increasing vegetation and work on widening of riparian strip along the river

The Jacksons Creek biik wurrdha Regional Parklands Plan 2022 was also awarded a citation in the same category at the awards.

Shorter-term

Action 1.1 ‘Living entity’ and ‘voice’ for Regional Catchment Strategy (RCS)

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Melbourne Water

Action 1.2 Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri aspirations in RCS planning

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Melbourne Water

Action 1.3 Support for Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri to express ‘voice of living entities’

• Status: Ongoing
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Where self-determined as a priority, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action will continue to support Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi wurrung Traditional Owners to express what being 'the voice of the living entities' is to them through policy and legislation. Examples include: the renewal of the Victorian Waterway Management Strategy (VWMS), which is being developed in partnership with Traditional Owners and will incorporate the living entity concept; and through the Pollution Prevention Taskforce (Action 7.1), Traditional Owners had the opportunity to ‘speak for the river’.

Longer-term

Action 1.4 Wider engagement with Traditional Owners about ‘living entity’ and ‘voice’

• Status: In progress
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Development of a discussion paper on ‘Waterways as living entities and Traditional Owners as their voice’ is underway. This discussion paper will test a proposed legislative mechanism to enshrine these concepts in legislation with Traditional Owners, waterway managers, community and other stakeholders statewide throughout 2024 (noting that this is also Outcome 1 in Water is Life: Traditional Owner access to Water roadmap).

Action 1.5 Investigate legislation for ‘living entity’ and ‘voice’ concepts

• Status: Planned
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Subject to discussion paper engagement outcomes (see Action 1.4) and consistent with the commitments in Water is Life: Traditional Owner access to Water Roadmap, consultation will be held on proposed legislative mechanisms.

Action 1.6 Traditional Owner preamble for possible legislation

• Status: Planned
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Subject to Actions 1.4 and 1.5.

Shorter-term

Action 2.1 Embed connections to Country in RCS

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Melbourne Water

Action 2.2 Partnerships to implement ‘voice’ on Country

• Status: Ongoing
• Led by: Melbourne Water

Melbourne Water will continue to partner with Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi wurrung to deliver outcomes on Country, including implementing the ‘voice of the living entities’. The timing and delivery of this action will be guided by partnerships and a self-determined approach with each of the Traditional Owner groups and Water is Life.

Action 2.3 Support for Jacksons Creek Regional Parklands cultural values study

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Longer-term

Action 2.4 Jacksons Creek Planning Partnership

• Status: Planned
• Led by: Department of Transport and Planning and Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Subject to funding, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action will partner with Wurundjeri Woi wurrung to deliver a pilot Jacksons Creek Planning Partnership, to embed cultural mapping values that inform future protections and form part of the broader Jacksons Creek Regional Parklands Master Plan.

Action 2.5 Traditional Owner values and knowledge in land use planning

• Status: Planned
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action & Department of Transport and Planning

Subject to available funding, both Departments will investigate potential amendments to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the planning policy framework to embed Traditional Owners and their values. This will include development of tools to support agencies, Traditional Owner groups and planning practitioners to implement any amendments to the Act and the planning policy framework.

Action 2.6 RCS reporting Traditional Owner aspirations

• Status: Planned
• Led by: Melbourne Water

Melbourne Water has committed to work with Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi wurrung to include in mid- and end of term RCS reporting an assessment by the Traditional Owners of RCS activities that give effect to Traditional Owners’ aspirations and Country plans. The mid-term review is expected to take place in 2025.

Action 2.7 Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Healthy Waterway Strategy partnership

• Status: Planned
• Led by: Melbourne Water

Regular discussions and on Country meetings are taking place with Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi wurrung Traditional Owners in preparation of review of the 2018 Healthy Waterways Strategy.

Shorter-term

Action 3.1 Stronger planning policy and guidance

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Department of Transport and Planning

Action 3.2 Interim landscape and environmental controls for key waterways

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Department of Transport and Planning

Longer-term

Action 3.3 Interim built-form controls for key waterways

• Status: Planned
• Led by: Department of Transport and Planning

The Department of Transport and Planning has conducted background studies to support stronger built-form planning controls for Mirrangbamurn / Maribyrnong River, Moonee Moonee / Moonee Ponds Creek and Wirribi Yaluk / Werribee Rivers.

Action 3.4 Planning controls for additional waterways

• Status: In progress
• Led by: Department of Transport and Planning

The Department of Transport and Planning is currently investigating planning controls for the Mirrangbamurn / Maribyrnong River, Moonee Moonee / Moonee Ponds Creek and Wirribi Yaluk / Werribee River beyond the urban growth boundary, as well Cherry Creek, Stony Creek and Jacksons Creek.

This work complements the Government’s commitment to delivering planning controls across 14 waterways in Melbourne to protect their landscape, environmental and cultural characteristics through the Planning Controls for Waterways program.

Action 3.5 Review of interim planning controls

• Status: Planned
• Led by: Department of Transport and Planning

Review is planned to occur in 2025-26.

Shorter-term

Action 4.1 Waterway amenity values in RCS

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Melbourne Water

Action 4.2 Develop a Lower Werribee Waterway Amenity Action Plan

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Melbourne Water

Action 4.3 Waterway amenity advocacy

• Status: In progress
• Led by: Melbourne Water

Melbourne Water has continued to lead the implementation of the Healthy Waterways Strategy in the West with many actions contributing to both environmental and amenity outcomes. Amenity value mapping of waterways for the RCS is now complete and supports more detailed and strategic amenity planning outcomes such as seen in the development of the Lower Werribee Waterways Amenity Action Plan.

Melbourne Water has also commenced the process for a renewal of Waterway Corridors: Guidelines for areas within the Port Phillip and Westernport Region.

Melbourne Water is working with the Department of Transport and Planning to support improved outcomes for amenity along waterways through the Planning Controls for Waterways program which delivering planning controls across 14 waterways in Melbourne to protect their landscape, environmental and cultural characteristics .

Longer-term

Action 4.4 Melbourne Water statement of obligations to reflect amenity role

• Status: In progress
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Melbourne Water is progressing the investigation of options for expanding its amenity advocacy role. An updated Statement of Obligations for water corporations including Melbourne Water is expected to be released in 2024.

Action 4.5 Victorian Waterway Management Strategy – urban waterway values

• Status: In progress
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

The new Victorian Waterway Management Strategy is due to be released in 2025. Work is underway on a chapter outlining urban waterway values and priorities.

Shorter-term

Action 5.1 Wetland mapping data update

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Action 5.2 RCS wetland mapping

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Melbourne Water

Longer-term

Action 5.3 Adaptation strategies for western shoreline wetlands of Port Phillip Bay

• Status: In progress
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

The Port Phillip Bay western shoreline Regional and Strategic Partnership was gazetted by the Minister for Environment in February 2024.

See Implementation in Focus - Port Philip Bay western shoreline Regional and Strategic Partnership (RASP).

Action 5.4 Western shoreline wetlands master plan

• Status: Planned
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Master plan to follow Port Phillip Bay western shoreline RASP development (Action 5.3)

Shorter-term

Action 6.1 Funding for Traditional Owner cultural water assessment priorities

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Longer-term

Action 6.2 Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy water options for environment and culture

• Status: In progress
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

The Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy (CGRSWS), released in September 2022, includes commitments to returning an additional 10 GL to Wirribi Yaluk / Werribee River and 7GL to Mirrangbamurn / Maribyrnong River over the next 10 years.

Short-term environmental water commitments for Wirribi Yaluk / Werribee River have been progressed through water savings from the Macalister Irrigation District and Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District projects. Long-term commitments are dependent on the Werribee system reconfiguration, for which water resource modelling to identify system configuration options has occurred. Design and costing for this work is expected to conclude in early 2024.

Initial investigations are underway regarding use and/or trade of unused water in the Maribyrnong system for use as environmental water.

Catchment-scale Integrated Water Management Plans for Werribee and Maribyrnong catchment to increase use of recycled water, treated stormwater and rainwater have been finalised, as are the associated Actions Plans  (released in April 2024). All Plans are available at IWM forums (water.vic.gov.au).

Shorter-term

Action 7.1 Pollution prevention taskforce

• Status: Delivered
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) & Environmental Protection Authority Victoria (EPA).

The Waterways of the West Pollution Prevention Taskforce was a collaborative approach to strengthen implementation of the general environmental duty (GED) in the industrial precincts of the Waterways of the West. The taskforce completed its investigations in late 2022.

There were five broad recommendations of the taskforce to build on EPA’s existing regulatory tools and the general environmental duty provision of the Environment Protection Act 2017. These related to:

• improving business awareness of and compliance with their obligations
• building on Traditional Owner connections to Country to promote protection of Country
• strengthening water quality and pollution data arrangements within and between agencies
• leveraging community education and citizen science programs
• supporting industry to improve environment protection practices, including recognising excellence in stormwater management on businesses’ premises.

The taskforce provided high-level estimates of the implementation costs of its recommendations and, where possible, identified potential sources of funding to support delivery.

Coinciding with its leadership of the taskforce, EPA conducted several preventative inspection campaigns in areas of the inner-west in 2022, including around Kororoit Creek and Cherry Creek. The campaigns aimed to raise awareness among small to medium businesses and ensure compliance with their obligations under the Environment Protection Act 2017. This was part of a state-wide focus on the protection of local waterways.

Longer-term

Action 7.2 Priority pollution prevention projects

• Status: Planned
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) & Environmental Protection Authority Victoria.

The longer-term commitment of the Action Plan is to undertake actions proposed by the Pollution Prevention Taskforce. DEECA are currently considering the recommendations developed by the Taskforce and are reviewing funding and partnerships options pending the outcomes of the 2024/25 budget.

Action 7.3 Implementation of place-based stormwater objectives

• Status: In progress
• Led by: Melbourne Water

Melbourne Water has committed funding to deliver the first stages of the Sunbury Stormwater Harvesting Scheme (2021-2026). The scheme is currently in design and delivery phase. This scheme will harvest approx. 3.8 GL of excess stormwater from the Sunbury growth area to protect and prevent further degradation of Emu and Jacksons Creeks by 2050. It will be a smart network of approximately 36 stormwater harvesting wetlands, pumps, pipelines, and storages, which has been designed to enable flexibility with supplying multiple end-use options.

Melbourne Water is also leading a project to investigate the potential to harvest up to 80% of new stormwater from the Melton Growth Area. The Werribee Reconfiguration Project - Melton Stormwater Harvesting to Merrimu Reservoir, is also investigating further options to build a pipeline from Melton Reservoir to Merrimu Reservoir to transfer the harvested stormwater from Melton Growth Area and Bacchus Marsh to use for fit-for-purpose end uses. Stage 1 of the Melton scheme is expected to save 1.5 Gl/year of stormwater from the Melton Growth area. This project is in the business case in development stage.

Shorter-term

Action 8.1 Community engagement about Traditional Owner culture and values

• Status: In progress
• Led by: Melbourne Water

Community engagement and cultural awareness programs for community groups with Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi wurrung Traditional Owners has commenced and will continue through to May 2024. The program includes cultural heritage training and on Country site visits with all Traditional Owners, as well as the production of a Wadawurrung specific cultural heritage and cultural values short film.

Action 8.2 Community engagement strategy, including CALD

• Status: Delivered
• Led by: Melbourne Water

This project has seen increased community participation, stewardship and capacity to value and take action to improve waterways achieved through several activities.

In partnership with the Werribee River Association, Melbourne Water’s CALD Engagement Programhas delivered over 50 community engagement events, over 20 urban walks, four events with Traditional Owners and hosted combined Landcare and Waterwatch meetings. In targeting local CALD communities, the program opens up opportunity for education, participation and an enhanced connection to the natural environment.

The Growing Waterway Knowledge and Engagement in the West Project has run nine events to date. The Grow West project received further funding under the Green Links Grants Program in February 2024. This will fund further events, including a community planting day in July 2024. By its end it is estimated that over 600 people will have engaged with the project since it started.

Action 8.3 CALD engagement toolkit

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Action 8.4 Community Vision inclusion in RCS

• Status: Delivered in 2022
• Led by: Melbourne Water.

Longer-term

Action 8.5 Community Vision inclusion in Healthy Waterway Strategy programs

• Status: In progress
• Led by: Melbourne Water

The mid-term review of the Healthy Waterways Strategy is scheduled to be completed by mid-2024. The co-designed catchment programs for the Wirribi Yaluk / Werribee and the Mirrangbamurn / Maribyrnong River catchments will be amended to include the Waterways of the West community vision.

Shorter-term

Action 9.1 Annual implementation report

• Status: Ongoing
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

The first Annual report was published in April 2023, this report is for the second year of implementation March 2023 – February 2024.

Longer-term

Action 9.2 Final review of implementation

• Status: In progress
• Led by: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Implementation frameworks have been developed.

Action 9.3 Waterway condition reporting through Healthy Waterways Strategy

• Status: In progress
• Led by: Melbourne Water

The Healthy Waterways Strategy annual report for 2023 and mid-term review will be released in 2024. Melbourne Water will provide an assessment of waterway performance objectives, values and condition in the Werribee and Maribyrnong catchments that will provide insights on the impact of the Action Plan, Healthy Waterways Strategy, and other initiatives.