Community consultation opens on Cardinia dam upgrade
Melbourne Water has opened community consultation on a major upgrade at Cardinia Reservoir, running through to 26 April 2026. This is an important opportunity for the community to help shape how the upgrade is delivered.
Cardinia Reservoir, built in the early 1970s, remains one of Victoria’s most important water infrastructure assets and a vital water source for Melbourne’s south-east.
Water from Cardinia Reservoir can be pumped to the Silvan Reservoir and then transferred to most of the city, or the water can be transferred directly from the reservoir to the CBD and throughout the Peninsula. Cardinia water is also regularly transferred via the Desalination Pipeline to supply communities serviced by Westernport Water and South Gippsland Water.
The upgrade will help the reservoir meet modern safety and engineering standards. Works include raising sections of the dam walls, upgrading filters, improving leakage monitoring and collection systems, installing new security fencing, renewing access tracks, and enhancing park amenities. These works will ensure the reservoir continues to operate safely and reliably into the future.
Melbourne Water Executive General Manager Service and Asset Lifecycle, Matt Daley, said the upgrade reflects Melbourne Water’s commitment to proactively managing and protecting the city’s drinking water supply.
“Maintaining healthy, resilient reservoirs is vital to securing Melbourne’s water supply for generations to come. As industry standards evolve, we continue to invest in the critical infrastructure that keeps pace with our rapidly growing city,” said Daley.
A key focus of the upgrade is minimising environmental impacts, particularly around the removal of native vegetation to allow access and space for the works. Melbourne Water is supporting an Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation assessment to ensure the project meets national environmental requirements.
“We work hard to avoid native vegetation removal, wherever possible. For the Cardinia dam upgrade, we have reduced the amount of native vegetation to be removed by almost half, and avoided areas of high ecological value,” added Daley.
To protect native wildlife and biodiversity during project delivery, Melbourne Water continues to work with Parks Victoria, the Victorian Government, the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, and other agencies and community groups.
Melbourne Water is revegetating other areas of the park, including planting five hectares of carbon forest and 40 hectares of vegetation around the parklands, the equivalent of around 26 AFL ovals altogether.
Construction of the upgrade is scheduled to begin in 2027. During construction, the Reservoir Park and access roads will remain closed to the public.
Cardinia Reservoir will continue to operate throughout the works, ensuring uninterrupted water supply for Melbourne.
For more project information and to provide your feedback, visit: https://letstalk.melbournewater.com.au/cardinia-dam-upgrade
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