We manage the taking of surface water from rivers, creeks and dams in the Yarra River, Lower Maribyrnong River and Western tributary catchments. This water is used for a variety of agricultural, industrial, commercial and domestic purposes.
We also issue stormwater harvesting licences for those who wish to take stormwater from one of our waterways or drains.
Licence types
- Unregulated waterways: water irrigation licences in the Yarra catchment, Stony Creek, Kororoit Creek, Laverton Creek and Skeleton Creek are for supply of water from unregulated streams
- Regulated waterways: water irrigation licences from the Maribyrnong River are for water supplied from a regulated river system via releases made to the river from Rosslynne Reservoir at Gisborne
- Stormwater harvesting: you will need a stormwater harvesting licence to harvest any quantity of stormwater from a waterway, drain, channel or asset controlled by Melbourne Water.
Charges from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027
| Unregulated waterways | Charge ($) |
|---|---|
| Licence service fee (all licence types) ($ per annum) | 342.87 |
| Power generation licence ($ per kilowatt) | 30.77 |
| Volume charge ($ per ML) | |
| All months licence | 44.97 |
| On-stream winter-fill | 22.64 |
| Off-stream winter-fill | 22.64 |
| Licenced farm dam | 22.64 |
| Non consumptive | 2.83 |
| Works operating licences | |
| Hazardous dam ($ per annum) | 130.89 |
| General ($ per annum) | 77.31 |
| Regulated waterways | Charge ($) |
|---|---|
| Licence service fee (all licence types)($ per annum) | 342.87 |
| Volume charge ($ per ML) | |
| All months licence | 94.15 |
| Off-stream winter-fill | 22.64 |
| Stormwater harvesting | Charge ($) |
|---|---|
| Licence service fees ($ per annum) | 342.87 |
| Volume charge ($ per ML) | |
| All months licence | 44.97 |
| Application fees | Charge ($) |
|---|---|
| Transfer - Sale of Land | 414.72 |
| Amalgamation, subdivision (existing licences) | 543.44 |
| Minor amendment (e.g. add/remove parcel, party or existing entity ) |
157.28 |
| Transfer - downstream trade | 915.33 |
| Transfer - upstream trade | 1,351.59 |
| Transfer - repeat trade application | 200.19 |
| New licence - stormwater | 1,494.60 |
| New licence - non consumptive/power generation |
915.33 |
| Additional charge where irrigation and drainage plan required | 357.49 |
| Works licence - amendment (e.g. pump replacement) | 486.24 |
| New works construction licence - dam/stormwater | 1,036.93 |
| New works construction licence - pump only | 815.18 |
| Re-issue - failure to renew - domestic & stock | 235.92 |
| Re-issue - failure to renew - all licences | 357.49 |
| Re-issue - following revocation | 1,887.91 |
| Copy of record | 71.46 |
| Application to renew | 414.72 |
| Land information statement | 142.95 |
Our prices and price paths for a five year period commencing 1 July 2026 were reviewed through a public process across 2025 and 2026, where the Essential Services Commission:
- completed extensive analysis of our 2026 Price Submission, which set out the proposed revenue to meet the expected costs to deliver planned capital works programs and service standards for the forecast volumes for each prescribed service
- reviewed capital and operating expenditure for prudency and efficiency
- reviewed forecast demand and proposed tariff and charge structures
- consulted with stakeholders, including a review of submissions made by interested parties.
The Essential Services Commission determined our final prices and price paths in its Melbourne Water Price Determination that covers our five-year regulatory period from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2031. For prices for services not approved by the Essential Services Commission, we calculate prices to recover the cost of providing the service and will be calculated as the aggregate of:
- direct third party or contractor invoice cost;
- direct marginal internal costs including labour, materials and transport costs
- fair contribution to overheads
Metering charges
All new licences must be metered at the applicant's cost, which varies according to the size of the irrigation meter needed. For more information:
