More than 200 volunteers rolled up their sleeves at the iconic 1000 Steps in Darley on Sunday, planting and watering 3,500 native seedlings to help restore habitat and improve biodiversity west of Melbourne.

Melbourne Water has launched a new stage of a major upgrade at the Maroondah Reservoir, the third of a five-stage program to increase the amount of water delivered from the reservoir to Greater Melbourne by 20 per cent.

Melbourne Water, in partnership with Manningham Council, is rehabilitating a section of the Birrarung (Yarra River) in Warrandyte to repair riverbank erosion and protect native habitat, including for platypus.

Melbourne Water crews are still working to clean up a hydrocarbon spill that was first found in Kananook Creek on Wednesday, 5 August. There are positive signs that the amount of material in the waterway is reducing.