Water and waterways
You can enjoy many stream paths and stream side reserves in the City of Melton. The municipality is within the Werribee Catchment. The main river is the Werribee River which runs through Werribee Gorge. Tributaries of the Werribee River in the City of Melton are Djerriwarrh, Arnold, Toolern, Yangardook, Ryans and Little Blind Creeks. The Kororoit Creek flows from Toolern Vale through Caroline Springs then directly into Port Philip Bay.
The Melton Reservoir, which is also known as the Exford Weir (part of the Werribee River), is used for recreation and is managed by Southern Rural Water. Melton Reservoir also supplies the Werribee Irrigation District downstream for vegetable growing.
Get involved with Citizen Science or Frog Census and learn more about local frog species. You can also go bird watching and enjoy Wetland Birds. Platypus have been seen in several locations in the City of Melton including the Toolern Creek. Several community groups are also involved in Citizen Science, testing local streams for water quality.
You can help the health of local streams (and Port Philip Bay) by:
- not removing trees
- picking up litter
- washing your car on the lawn or at a proper car wash
- having a raingarden
- keeping your dog on a lead near streams and lakes
The City of Melton is an area of low rainfall so conserving water is important. Please contact your water supply authority to find out the current water restrictions and other information on using water.
Several areas of the City of Melton are supplied with recycled water though a third (purple) pipe. Water in purple pipes should not be drunk.
Western Water has a Water Treatment plant at Surbiton Park that can be visited by arrangement.
Information about water tanks and grey water recycling can be obtained by contacting our City, Environment & Sustainability team on 9747 7200.
Water is critical for the liveability of our City, the health of our ecosystems and the prosperity of our communities.
As the City of Melton grows, there will be corresponding pressures on the water cycle through increased demands on drinking water supplies and increased urban stormwater runoff.
To respond to these challenges of urbanisation, as well as the impacts of climate change, Melton City Council has developed an Integrated Water Management Plan(PDF, 33MB) that seeks to achieve the greatest social, economic and environmental benefits for the community.
What is Integrated Water Management (IWM):
Integrated water management (IWM) is a planning approach that brings together all elements of the water cycle and land use planning to achieve optimal social, economic and environmental outcomes. It considers land use planning and water together to ensure that the challenges of population growth and an uncertain climate can be addressed while continuing to make the City of Melton a great place to live, work and recreate.
What the Plan seeks to achieve:
Council interacts with the water cycle both directly through the management of public assets, as well as indirectly through working with community and other stakeholders including government and non-government organisations. Realising the Plan will require direct action as well as advocacy approaches and collaboration with stakeholders such as other tiers of government, water retailers, neighbouring councils, and the community. The Plan is designed to bring together departments within Council to improve collaboration on water related projects as well as supporting stronger links between Council, community and external stakeholders.
The Plan sets out targets and actions for the period 2018-2028 to meet the objectives of the plan that have been developed through internal and external consultation. The three objectives are:
- Reduced reliance on potable (drinking) water
- Healthy waterways and wetlands
- Valued landscapes that are connected and accessible
The Werribee River Shared Trail Strategy is intended to provide a highly significant, long-term planning and design strategy aimed at the establishment of a regionally significant open space and recreational corridor along the Werribee River between Melton and Werribee.
The Strategy is intended to deliver a comprehensive, well-informed and visionary plan which will enable State Government Agencies, Melton City and Wyndham City to progressively establish a new open space corridor which will provide a natural, cultural and recreational focus for current and future residents of this rapidly expanding area of metropolitan Melbourne.
Read the full strategy.(PDF, 30MB)