Plans for Melbourne's future water management released (media release)
Want to see what Melbourne’s water future looks like?
City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water and Western Water released their Urban Water Strategies today, along with the Melbourne Water System Strategy by Melbourne Water. These strategies identify the actions needed to ensure water availability for Melbourne and surrounding growth areas like Melton and Sunbury over the next 50 years.
The Melbourne Water System Strategy and associated Urban Water Strategies outline how water corporations will manage the significant challenges of ongoing population growth and urbanisation in our changing and variable climate. Current projections suggest over the next 50 years, the demand for water in Melbourne and the surrounding region could almost double, while annual flows from our major water supply catchments could decrease by more than 40 per cent.
The strategies align with Water for Victoria, the State Government’s long term plan for managing our precious water resources and will help to deliver the policies objectives.
The Water for a Future-Thriving Melbourne document, has also been released which provides an easy to understand overview of future demand on the water supply system in Melbourne and also identifies the common actions in each of the strategies to manage that demand.
These strategies:
- identify actions to help ensure reliable water supplies continue to be provided for customers and the community over the long term
- focus on ongoing engagement with our customers, including our indigenous communities
- maximise the benefits provided by the water grid and markets
- encourage efficient water use
- make the most of diverse sources of water like rainwater, stormwater and recycled water
- improve environmental and resource efficiency outcomes from sewage management
- focus on maintaining affordability for customers
To find out more about your local water corporation’s Urban Water Strategy or the Melbourne Water System Strategy visit:
www.citywestwater.com.au
www.yvw.com.au
www.southeastwater.com.au
www.melbournewater.com.au
www.westernwater.com.au
Quotes to be attributed to City West Water’s Managing Director, David Ryan
“Water is a key part of our communities. As well as drinking, cooking and bathing, it also plays a critical role in keeping our parks and gardens green, helps to keep our rivers clean and the animals and plants that depend on them healthy.”
“We have worked together as an industry to find ways to meet the challenges and opportunities for water management that affect the whole of Melbourne. The strategies clearly outline the actions we will take to achieve the best outcomes for our individual communities and Melbourne more broadly.”