Smart technologies helping to protect our waterways

Melbourne Water is helping to improve waterway health alongside Diamond Creek with smart Bigbelly solar bins – to track litter waste before it travels into our precious waterways.

Melbourne Water has partnered with Nillumbik Council to install smart Bigbelly solar bins along Diamond Creek as part of the Waterwatch Platypus Program to reduce waste overflow and windblown litter into the nearby waterway.

There are currently smart solar bins installed along Diamond Creek, with more planned for the warmer months. Diamond Creek supports a high proportion of threatened fauna species, with approximately 60 species listed as threatened in Victoria and 17 listed as threatened in Australia.

This includes an important population of the threatened platypus as well as some of the only populations of Eltham Copper Butterfly and a variety of bird species such as Powerful Owl, and Barking Owl and the Regent Honeyeater.  

Household litter is becoming a serious threat for platypus populations due to the possibility of entanglement in items such as plastic rings, fishing lines and hair ties which can lead to platypus drowning.

Melbourne Water, Waterwatch Coordinator, Naomi Dart said “Platypus can thrive in waterways close to humans, so it is essential we learn to stop littering in our waterways.”

Three billion pieces of litter wash into Melbourne’s waterways through stormwater drains every year. Melbourne Water’s Waterwatch Playtpus Program aims to raise awareness about the issue of litter and empowers individuals with knowledge to make more sustainable decisions to drive change.

Melbourne Water is working with schools, community groups, local government, and industry partners to support healthy waterways with recently installed smart Bigbelly solar bins along Diamond Creek to help prevent waste overflow and windblown litter into the nearby waterway.

“If everyone works together, we can protect our beautiful waterways and ecosystems for future generations,” Ms Dart said.

“All Victoria’s native wildlife is precious - our commitment in protecting greater Melbourne’s water quality and unique biodiversity is about taking critical steps to build resilience in our natural environment so platypus habitats can thrive, not just survive.”

The centrepiece of this commitment is the Healthy Waterways Strategy bringing together an integrated framework to make our rivers and creeks healthier, improving precious native habitat and helping secure a future of our waterways.

Media contact
Sandra Aloi, Senior Media Advisor
 0417 894 115
 [email protected]