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Melbourne Water, in partnership with the Australian Government, University of Melbourne, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Yarra Ranges Council and South East Water, is rolling out a first-of-its-kind ‘smart water’ project in Melbourne’s outer east to help to reverse the critical decline of platypus by actively managing stormwater and flows in Monbulk Creek.
With $4 million from the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, plus Victorian Government support, we’re installing a network of connected rainwater tanks across suburban backyards and public reserves along Monbulk Creek.
Sensors in the creek, tanks and adjacent urban lakes relay real-time water level data to inform remotely operated water releases. Tanks and lakes release stored water to maintain minimum creek flows during dry periods.
Ahead of heavy rain, tanks empty to capture incoming stormwater runoff from rooftops, slowing peak flows in the creek, reducing bank erosion and lowering local flood risk in the catchment.
The platypus is a unique and iconic mammal that occupies many of our local waterways, including near the city of Melbourne. Still impacts such as habitat loss and fragmentation, urban stormwater and climate change have pushed their numbers to vulnerable levels across Victoria. Monbulk Creek hosts the last platypus populations in the Dandenong Creek catchment in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne.
Without intervention, low summer flows reduce food availability and sudden high flows in wet weather during spring-summer threaten young in their burrows.
“This real-time, adaptive approach means we can fine-tune creek flows for platypus all year round,” said Rhys Coleman, Melbourne Water Manager of Waterways & Wetlands Research.
“It’s an exciting demonstration of how cutting-edge technology can deliver healthier waterways and empower local households to play a greater role as custodians of their creek.”
The project is currently in stage two, where new pipes are being installed at key points along Monbulk Creek at Belgrave Lake. Eventually, these pipes will connect to the new ‘smart’ tanks.
Participating households receive a tank at no cost, along with hands-on guidance on harnessing rainwater for household use (e.g. toilet flushing), which helps reduce mains consumption and bills.
“Through this partnership, we’re not only giving platypus a fighting chance, but also forging stronger connections between communities and their local waterways,” said Coleman.
This work forms part of the statewide Platy Patch project, jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, the Victorian Government, and Melbourne Water, under the guidance of the Arthur Rylah Institute.
The Monbulk Creek Smart Water Network is delivered in collaboration with Melbourne Water, the University of Melbourne, Yarra Ranges Council and South East Water, and is supported through a partnership with the Australian Research Council.
