Sustainability Report 2006/07Who we are
Melbourne Water is a water resource manager owned by the Victorian Government.
We manage Melbourne’s water supply catchments, remove and treat most of Melbourne’s sewage, and manage rivers and creeks and major drainage systems throughout the Port Phillip and Westernport region.
Our people have diverse skills and expertise and we place a high priority on building strong partnerships and relationships with the community and all our other stakeholders.
We are responsible for managing $8.7 billion of water supply, sewerage and drainage assets, as well as natural assets such as rivers and creeks. These assets service 3.4 million people in an area spanning 12,800 square kilometres.
Who we work with
An independent Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of Melbourne Water. During 2007/08, the following Ministers were responsible for Melbourne Water. The Honourable John Thwaites was Minister for Water, Environment and Climate Change until 29 July 2007, the Honourable John Brumby was Minister for Water, Environment and Climate Change from 30 June 2007 to 2 August 2007, and the Honourable Tim Holding was Minister for Water from 3 August 2007.
EPA Victoria and the Department of Human Services regulate the environmental and public health aspects of our business.
The Essential Services Commission regulates prices and monitors service performance. We work across several arms of the Victorian Government, including the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Department of Treasury and Finance.
Our customers include the metropolitan retail water businesses – City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water – other water authorities, councils, land developers and businesses that divert river water.
We work with a wide range of partners including the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, the Municipal Association of Victoria, Sustainability Victoria and universities. Research organisations, such as the CSIRO and Cooperative Research Centres, engineering consultants and contractors who carry out tasks ranging from inspecting and maintaining assets to catchment surveillance and litter removal, also assist us to achieve our objectives.
We are involved with a wide range of community stakeholders including ‘Friends of’, Landcare, resident and environment groups, advisory bodies, rural landowners and the education sector.
