Over the years Melbourne Water has fostered meaningful partnerships with our customers and community through existing grants in waterway and stormwater management.
The following projects showcase the broad variety of partnerships that Melbourne Water supports, and the community and environmental benefits.
An indicative list of the types of projects we can help fund is included in our Program Guidelines.
Rural Land Incentives
Achieving best practice through excluding livestock from waterways and farm dams
- Project overview
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Ken has worked with Melbourne Water for several years undertaking several projects to improve the health of waterways that flow into a Deep Creek. Ken's property is 41ha and has large tracts of remnant vegetation, there are a four dams on this property, one has been fenced out through the program.
Ken constructed approx. 875m of permanent electric rural fencing to exclude stock from the dams, drainage lines and remnant vegetation, helping to improve water quality and maintain dams integrity. Wet paddocks were fenced separately using landclass fencing to help manage soil and reduce pugging and erosion.
An off Stream Stock Watering System was installed consisting of a header tank, polypipe and stock troughs so that livestock don’t need to access the waterway or dams directly to drink. A reticulated water supply helps to protect water quality for the farm, and now allows Ken to manage the livestock and rotationally graze the animals around the farm with ease as water supply is no longer limiting. Rotational grazing also helps to improve groundcover and helps to reduce soil erosion. Water is pumped from a dam to the header tank which then is gravity fed to the troughs. A gravity reticulated system provides a controlled water flow to 4 troughs reducing water consumption.
Project included the engagement of a contractor to plant 720 plants to reduce erosion, increase biodiversity and to help with filtering of sediment and nutrients from the drainage lines and dams.
Whole farm planning and mapping
Amount funded: $1,545.50
- Project overview
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Landholders Kate and Peter moved to the property from the city and don't have any farming experience however are really keen to learn and adopt best practices. They decided to continue with a remarkable history of collaboration with Melbourne Water, where the whole property creek frontage was fenced.
The property was lacking internal/landclass fencing and there was only a small farm dam for stock watering which was pumped directly from Deep Creek. After the site assessment the project assessor recommended a 10 year action plan to enhance the waterway health and biodiversity protection. The plan included:
- Farm mapping: Land class fencing of environmentally sensitive and water sensitive areas, paddock locations
- Stocking rates (dry sheep equivalent) based on an average year identified
- A farm water supply and budget (how much water is required, where is it coming from i.e. tanks/creek, reticulation system mapped including header tank size and pipe size and location)
The whole farm plan enabled Kate and Peter to understand their properties physical features and how they would like to progress their revegetation and waterway protection away from the waterway and to set up paddocks based on slope and soil type which helps to reduce soil erosion and nutrient runoff. Landholders are already discussing with Melbourne Water future funding to implement actions and activities recommended in the whole farm plan.
Improving farm management and water runoff
Amount funded: $227,337 since 2010
- Project overview
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Glenn and Wendy manage a dairy farm on steep, sloping land in Gippsland. This means that when it rains, sediment and nutrients from land management activities can quickly wash into waterways. Over the last seven years, Glenn and Wendy, with assistance from Melbourne Water, have worked to improve on-farm management practices and the quality of runoff leaving their property.
The steep landscape on Glenn and Wendy’s property created areas which were difficult to manage and where they needed to exclude stock. Funding from Melbourne Water allowed them to fence these areas and revegetate gullies. This has improved stock management and allowed good ground cover to grow which minimises the risk of erosion and helps filter sediment and nutrients before they enter our waterways.
Glenn and Wendy also fenced off waterways and dams to improve bank stability, water quality and stock health. By removing some dams, they could direct excess surface water into waterways as environmental flow. In addition, they prevented stock from accessing other smaller dams until revegetation can establish. These dams now act as sediment traps and help improve downstream water quality.
One wet year, Glenn and many other farmers experienced landslips in the area. Giant Gippsland Earthworms, which are a threatened species were found at the bottom of the landslip. The earthworms need specific soil moisture conditions to survive, so Glenn’s farm took part in a revegetation trial to avoid planting around the earthworm colonies, or in areas upslope of them to retain soil moisture. The farmers used local plant species and carefully considered planting locations, providing further vegetation while avoiding impacts to the worm colonies.
Improving the Health of Deep Creek
- Project overview
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Farmer David reckons he brokered a good deal when he swapped a hectare of problematic grazing land for a more efficient and reliable stock watering system.
David describes the area he fenced off as a weeping swamp spring that begins ‘bubbling up’ in June and remains wet until November. The land is prone to pugging and compaction (signs that the soil structure has been damaged) which prevents good pasture growth. Many animal health issues are also associated with grazing boggy areas, including becoming stuck or cast, and conditions such as mastitis in cattle, footrot in sheep and mud fever in horses.
An obstacle to fencing off the site, however, was that it contained a spring-fed dam that David’s cattle accessed for water. Fortunately, he had heard about the LCLW program via his neighbour and contacted Melbourne Water to see whether funding was available to install a new watering system.
The Melbourne Water Assessor who visited the property, confirmed that the swamp, which drains into Deep Creek, qualified for LCLW funding. If David fenced off and protected the swamp, Melbourne Water would pay for all the fencing materials and plants to revegetate the site. Melbourne Water would also pay for most of the costs of installing a watering system which, in David’s case, included two header tanks, three troughs, a pump and around one kilometre of poly piping.
David accepted the offer and has not looked back, saying that being able to move water around the property has transformed his whole-farm management.
“I’ve got four new paddocks, and a clean and reliable source of water,” he explains. “I can rotationally graze, which means better pasture, and on top of all that, I am keeping my stock safe.”
His view of the swamp, which is teeming with new growth as a result of being fenced off from stock and revegetated, has also been transformed. No longer a management headache, it is now a valuable farm asset. “It has purpose because it provides my stock with clean water, and it’s also very attractive. It has gone from having no biodiversity to having amazing growth - the gum trees are extraordinary.”
Improving Farm Management and Water Runoff
- Project overview
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Glenn and Wendy manage a dairy farm on steep, sloping land in Gippsland. This means that when it rains, sediment and nutrients from Land management activities can quickly wash into waterways.
Over the last several years, Glenn and Wendy, with assistance from Melbourne Water, have worked to improve on-farm management practices and the quality of runoff leaving their property.
Dairy farms such as Glenn and Wendy’s can generate large amounts of effluent, however they’ve identified that re-use of effluent can improve pasture growth and that the water component can help growth when conditions are dry. Glenn milks about 350 cows and already applies effluent by irrigation to about 60 hectares of pasture throughout the year. This helps minimise the risk of effluent runoff directly into waterways.
The steep landscape on Glenn and Wendy’s property creates areas which are difficult to manage and where they need to exclude stock. Funding from Melbourne Water helped them to fence these areas and revegetate the gullies.
This has improved their stock management and improved ground cover which minimises the risk of erosion and helps filter sediment and nutrients before they enter our waterways.
Glenn and Wendy also fenced off waterways and dams to improve bank stability, water quality and stock health. By removing some dams, they could direct excess surface water into waterways as environmental flow. Fenced dams prevented stock from access until revegetation established around smaller dams. These dams now act as sediment traps and help improve downstream water quality.
One wet year, Glenn and many other farmers experienced landslips on the steeper parts of the Westernport catchment. Giant Gippsland Earthworms, which are a threatened species, were found at the bottom of the landslip. The earthworms need very specific soil moisture conditions to survive, so Glenn’s farm took part in a revegetation trial to avoid planting around the earthworm colonies, or in areas upslope of them to retain soil moisture. The farmers use local plant species and carefully consider where they are going to plant in relation to soaks and springs around the earthworm colonies.
The trial has been successful in providing further vegetation while avoiding any impacts to the worm colonies which play an important role in keeping the soil healthy.
Improving the Health of Lang Lang River
- Project overview
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If you manage land along the Lang Lang River, you may be eligible for funding to improve your soil and nutrient management practices and boost farm productivity.
Participation in the LCLW Program has helped Robyn and Denis turn their plans for a more productive and easily managed property into reality.
The couple began working with Melbourne Water in 2004, when they were running their 93 hectare property, which is extremely hilly as a dairy farm. Cows and calves were regularly wandering into the Lang Lang River and, unable to negotiate the steep banks, ended up in the neighbour’s place. Some even drowned.
Melbourne Water helped them fence off and revegetate their entire river frontage, which made managing the farm far easier. In 2010, encouraged by their success, Robyn and Denis partnered with Melbourne Water again, embarking on a major farm restructure to fence off and revegetate their drainage lines and gullies. This included building a new laneway to avoid crossing a gully that was impassable in winter with either a tractor or an All Terrain Vehicle.
The last of the gullies were planted out in 2019 and the couple, who are now running red Angus beef cattle, are thrilled with the outcomes. Robyn appreciates having a much safer and more efficient work environment, while Denis loves the shade and the shelter from the harsh westerlies offered by the plantations.
Other benefits include less pugging (“great for growing grass”), reduced erosion and the feel-good factor of seeing clean water running into the river. The trees “make the place look a lot tidier” and are encouraging a multitude of birds to the area, including a newly-arrived pair of wedge-tailed eagles.
The couple are responsible for ongoing maintenance, including weed control, but Denis says that “the program works both ways and we have no qualms about having to do that”. Nor is he worried about the land that is no longer available for grazing.
“We may have lost a few acres, but we have more than made up for it in other ways,” he says. “We’ve gained shade, shelter and warmth for the cattle, animals don’t get lost in the river and we don’t risk getting bogged in the gully.”
“We would not be here today with the improvements we have made to the farm if it wasn’t for the help offered by Melbourne Water,” says Robyn. “We had the big picture, but we could never have afforded to do it without them.”
Improving the Health of Emu Creek
- Project overview
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Long-term beef farmers, Leal and Tim have seen much change on and around their property. Among the most positive, is the condition of Emu Creek, which – thanks to the couple’s hard work and perseverance – has gone from being a bare slash in the landscape to a 4.5 kilometre ribbon of shade, shelter and native habitat.
Their ‘incredible adventure’ began in the 1990s when they decided to fence off all the Emu Creek frontage on a 283 hectare parcel of land they manage. Although it was common practice to give stock free access to waterways, the couple could see the damage their cattle were doing to the health of the creek. They could also see the potential benefits of fencing off the area, including easier and safer stock management and, over time, shade and shelter for their cattle.
Not long after Tim and Leal began working on their frontage, they became one of the first participants in Melbourne Water’s Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways (LCLW) program and received funding for revegetation work (including much-needed tree guards). In addition, Melbourne Water was able to offer considerable assistance with weed control
“Melbourne Water were masterful with their weed control,” says Leal, describing how contractors even abseiled down cliffs to access hard to reach places. They were also open to her requests to retain some non-invasive exotic trees as they provided valuable shade for the cattle.
Getting and keeping the weeds under control gave native species the opportunity to regenerate, but Tim and Leal have still needed to do an enormous amount of planting - and replanting! “I can’t even begin to say how many thousands of plants we have put in the ground,” says Leal.
Tim and Leal say their hard work has been worth it. “The cattle benefit from the shade and the windbreak has made a huge difference for both stock and humans,” says Leal. “And it’s so gratifying to see how much the creek has improved the landscape.”
Tim and Leal also delight in the amount of wildlife that is relishing the healthy habitat they have helped create. “We have platypus, which is very special, and have seen wedge-tailed eagles nesting along the creek, as well as lots of wrens and peregrine falcons.”
Waterways Management Incentives
Stream frontage revegetation
Amount funded: $10,138.70
- Project overview
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Landholders Maree and Kevin have received funding from Melbourne Water since 2016 to undertake waterway health activities such as revegetation and weed control . The previous owners had cattle running on a spring located on their property which runs for about 200 metres of frontage of Menzies Creek.
This most recent grant was different from the previous ones because after a lot of grazing pressure from deer and wallabies, landholders wanted to try some larger guards to protect the Mountain Ash eucalypts that they are trying to reinstate back into the landscape. Maree and Kevin contributed funding to bolster the funding of the 10 initial larger guards Melbourne Water provided.
500 plants were planted across the whole of the 200m frontage where the landscape is very steep. Unfortunately, due to the terrain conditions the installation of deer exclusion fencing has not been feasible.
Integrated water management program
Amount funded: $105,818.284
- Project overview
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Janette and Andrew own a grazing property in Almurta with frontage to the Bass River. Integrated water management has been a key feature in the development of this property. Surface water management and waterway management integrated with sustainable farming practices improves the condition of waterways on the property and reduces the risk of sediment and nutrient flowing into waterways. Fencing all the waterways has created a network of re vegetation linking areas of bushland, wet swamp areas, planted areas of agroforestry and paddocks with multi species pasture. The increased benefits for stock, landholder and biodiversity are amazing.
The projects involved several activities:- fencing along waterways and dams
- Reticulated water supply installation
- Re vegetation (3500 plants) of waterways using species that can tolerate wet ground conditions
- Contribution for new crossings to facilitate fencing of waterways
- Assistance with developing a surface water management plan which was a key factor for developing Integrated water management on the farm
Dole Reserve stormwater harvesting wetland
Recipient: City of Darebin (completed December 2023)
Amount funded: $ 1,786,648 (completed October 2020)
- Project overview
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Construction of a 1500 m2 wetland with 2.8 ML capacity of underground storage tanks to irrigate seven sports ovals, improve climate resilience and improve stormwater quality to the receiving waterways.
This project has two key outcomes: building capacity in council, as well as construction of a wetland and stormwater harvesting system.
The history of this project started with council employing a WSUD engineer to a position co-funded by Melbourne Water, now fully funded by Darebin City Council. This role focused mainly on completing WSUD planning referrals and auditing small-scale WSUD assets such as tree pits and rain gardens.
Darebin City Council had identified ten potential sites to construct wetlands in its 2017 Stormwater Prioritisation Report. To build the experience and knowledge required to progress these projects, Council decided to embark on the delivery of one large-scale WSUD asset. Dole Reserve was chosen due to the high potential impact in reducing potable water consumption by using stormwater to irrigate seven sports ovals at this site. This project is also a great opportunity to increase the level of engagement and education about WSUD projects and water quality to residents and visitors.
Outcomes expected:
- Once completed, the Dole Reserve wetland is expected to harvest 37.8 GL and infiltrate 10.7 GL of stormwater each year.
- The wetland will increase connectivity and quality of habitat for the endangered frog species that are in decline in the Darebin Creek.
- The site upgrade will lead to increased walking and cycling connectivity with 560 m2 of new footpath and new elevated boardwalk boosting community connection, recreation and amenity.
- The project will contribute significantly to achieving the ‘City of Darebin Council Action Plan 2017 – 2021’ potable water reduction targets and ’Darebin Watershed Strategy 2015-2025’ nitrogen removal reduction targets.
- The project will build capacity within Darebin City Council and assist business continuity in the delivery of future WSUD projects.
Integrated water management strategy and action plan
Recipient: City of Whittlesea (Completed June 2021)
Amount funded: $157,300
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Under Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways, Melbourne Water continues supporting councils’ capacity building and planning in WSUD and IWM by funding projects that support staff training as well as the development of local strategies and policy and practice tools.
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Partnering with Whittlesea City Council, we co-funded several projects that led to the creation of the municipal-scale Integrated Water Management (IWM) strategy ‘Whittlesea Water For All – Our Water Strategy 2020-2030’ and associated action plan.
The strategy was developed with input from both community and institutional stakeholders, including through a community survey, a series of workshops, and a community reference panel. Whittlesea benchmarked their progress against the strategy using the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities’ Index and Transitions Dynamics Framework.
A WSUD asset condition report was also conducted as a part of the project. This activity evaluated selected council-owned assets and validated their condition. This provided council with an understanding of current asset condition and supported development of a good plan for maintenance and correction works for the capital works program for the coming years.
Stormwater modelling training was delivered to 15 staff to build further capacity in assessment of development applications. The audience included representatives from
Planning, Engineering, Design, Delivery and Sustainable Environment.This body of work was undertaken with support from several projects co-funded by Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways, including:
- WSUD Asset Condition Audit
- WSUD Education and Compliance Officer
- Stormwater Harvesting Condition and Performance Audit
- Local planning policy implementation and capacity building
- Production of IWM Guidelines (In progress)