1 July 2011
Chance for Community Comment on a Future Water Strategy for Melbourne
Comprehensive review of permanent water saving rules and water restrictions also kicks off
Starting 1 July 2011 the government-owned metropolitan Melbourne water businesses - City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water and Melbourne Water - are kicking off an extensive community engagement effort to support the development of a Water Supply & Demand Strategy and to obtain feedback on a rethink of water restrictions and permanent water saving rules.
The Water Supply & Demand Strategy (WSDS) is a 50 year strategy to balance the supply of water to meet Melbourne’s residential, business and environmental needs. The strategy is reviewed every five years and the next review is due by March 2012.
In March, Water Minister Peter Walsh announced that the Coalition Government would conduct a comprehensive, statewide review of drought response and permanent water saving plans that would include comprehensive community engagement to give people a say on future rules and to identify areas for improvement. This review is currently underway and the governmentowned water businesses are now seeking community feedback.
“We want to take the time to engage with and listen to the community and key stakeholders before making any changes to the way we manage water,” explained Mr Cameron FitzGerald, Project Director of the Water Supply & Demand Strategy project team on behalf of the four government-owned metropolitan water businesses. “We need to carefully consider current and future water supply sources and balance the need to remain water efficient with what is practical and acceptable to both residential and business customers in Melbourne.”
“The community’s views are important and will be considered when shaping the new restrictions or permanent water saving rules and as we develop our approach to long term water management,” added Mr FitzGerald.
Obtaining community feedback
For more information about the development of the Melbourne WSDS, the restrictions review or to participate in the online forums, visit Let's Talk Water Melbourne. Here, people will have an opportunity to say how they value water, what they think worked or didn’t work during the most recent period of water restrictions and how they feel about permanent water saving rules.
Timing
Discussions with key stakeholders started in June. The community engagement online forum is available starting 1 July and will be open for several months. Feedback will be analysed in late August and a proposed approach developed during September and October. A new set of draft water restrictions and Permanent Water Saving Rules will be published in late 2011, with the community being offered four weeks to provide more detailed feedback on the proposed approach. A draft WSDS will also be published in late 2011 and will be available to for comment prior to its finalisation in March 2012. The consultation period will be advertised and the draft will be available on the Melbourne water authorities’ websites so that the public can review and provide comment.
For more information about current water restrictions visit Office of Water or contact your water business.
City West Water
South East Water
Yarra Valley Water
Melbourne Water
Department of Sustainability and Environment
Media contact: Lou Simonetta on 0412 292 344
Water Supply Demand Strategy for Melbourne
Ground Floor 43 Agnes St
East Melbourne, Vic 3002 Australia