Waverley Road Retarding Basin Spillway Upgrade

We're upgrading the Waverley Road retarding basin spillway, located next to Scotchmans Creek Trail in Mount Waverley, to ensure a safe drainage system and to reduce the risk of flooding to surrounding homes.

Rain, storms and floods are a natural part of life in Melbourne, but they can have a big impact of way of life. That’s why at Melbourne Water, we manage a complex system of drainage across the city and plan for the impacts of stormwater on our iconic rivers, creeks and bays. The Waverley Road retarding basin spillway is an important part of the system that ensures rainfall is carried safely away from built up areas and into rivers and creeks, minimising the risk of flooding to the surrounding area.

About the project

Since the early 1960s the Waverley Road retarding basin has played an important function in protecting the local area during and storm and flood events. Melbourne Water manages more than 200 retarding basins.

What to expect

While Melbourne Water makes every effort to minimise disruption to the community, during works you may notice:

Increased vehicle and truck movements in and out of Oxford Street, Lawrence Road and Regent Street.
Potential diversion of Scotchmans Creek Trail around the retarding basin.
General construction impacts to residents, such as dust, noise and path closures.
Some vegetation will need to be trimmed or removed so that our crew and machinery can access the site. Any vegetation removed will be reinstated at the end of the works.

Please note there will be no disruption to your water services during these works.

We thank you for your patience and understanding while we undertake these important works.

Bridge repair

The pedestrian bridge at the Waverley Road Retarding Basin is an important link, providing community access to and from the Scotchmans Creek Trail. We are repairing the bridge to keep it safe now and in the future. The bridge will be temporarily closed to all visitors and cyclists while we get to work.

Bridge closed temporarily Community bulletin about the temporary closure of the pedestrian bridge at Waverley Road retarding basin. PDF|361.66 KB

October 2024

Contract awarded.

December 2024

Site establishment and access track created.

January 2025

Construction commences on the spillway. Works will be completed in several different stages. Removal the existing concrete slabs that make up the spillway with the help of a 250-tonne crane. The spillway will then be re-built and the crane removed from site.

November 2025

Works completed on site. Once all works have been completed, we will begin to demobilise from site and will commence reinstatement.

December 2025

Site demobilisation and reinstatement.

Contact us

We will continue to communicate with residents as the project progresses about upcoming impacts via letters and door knocks. For more information about this project, please call 1800 960 977.

We will make every effort to minimise the impact of these works on the local community and the environment and we thank you for your patience while we complete these important works.

Last updated:

8 July 2025