Sustainability
We’ve assessed our key sustainability topics - including social, environmental, cultural, economic and human rights – using international and Australian frameworks to inform our business strategy.
Our sustainability approach is shaped by our 2030 Strategy which is guided by the principle of honouring and healing Country and focused on 3 strategic pillars – customer, community and the environment.
We’re committed to ensuring our customers and community have access to affordable, safe and reliable water and sewerage services – a basic human right. In the face of challenges like climate change, environmental degradation and social inequality, we’ll continue to deliver these services and respond quickly when things go wrong. We’re committed to keeping bills affordable and supporting customers experiencing vulnerability to ensure everyone can access our services regardless of their capacity to pay.
Our customers and partners value our role in helping to shape resilient and prosperous communities and promote human rights, social inclusion and equity. Engaging and connecting communities – listening, learning and responding – is a crucial part of our strategy. Water conservation is a critical part of how we ensure a secure water future, alongside production of alternative water sources.
We need to shift from a potential future of severe climate change scenarios and nature being degraded, to one where ecosystems and native species thrive. We will play our part in achieving this by taking action to avoid, reduce and offset the greenhouse gases we produce through our operations and the electricity we use. We’re working to embrace a circular economy and reduce the emissions produced by our suppliers, partners, employees and customers. And we’re playing our role in halting nature loss and protecting and restoring precious ecosystems and enabling First Peoples to care for Country in a self-determined way, while learning from and adopting their wisdoms in our own approaches. We will also work with our partners to influence this shift beyond own our operations.
We rely on a healthy environment to deliver our services and recognise the need to innovate to adapt to ecological challenges. Our commitment to acting for a cleaner, greener and healthier Melbourne includes tackling climate change and zeroing in on emissions. We set an ambitious target to be net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions from 1 July 2025 for the 2025-26 financial year. We’re proud to announce we’re on track to meet our target through our approach, which includes transforming food waste into clean green energy. You can read more about our journey to net zero here.
People are the heart of what we do. By focusing on an engaged, high-performing workforce and people-first safety and wellbeing approaches, we will be better placed to achieve our strategic outcomes. We will continue to build our inclusive and equitable working environment, through a workforce that more closely reflects the diverse communities we serve.
We’re proud to be the first water corporation in Australia to sign up to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to drive action for a fairer and more sustainable world.
We report Yarra Valley Water’s performance and aspirations in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and human rights. Our Communication on Progress is reported each year through our Annual Report, which outlines our sustainability commitments and outcomes, and how we're advancing the SDGs and United Nations Global Compact Principles.
The SDGs and UN Global Compact Principles provide global context for our 2030 Strategy, and how to achieve our purpose and commitments.
Other sustainability initiatives
Climate Resilience Plan
Climate change poses a significant threat to the economy, long-term water availability and the liveability of our community. Australia’s water resources are expected to face increasing pressure from drought and extreme weather events in the coming decades. This means we need to develop strategies that protect and optimise these limited resources.
Climate change will also put pressure on the delivery of high-quality water and sewerage services in the future. Our priority is to ensure that our services are resilient to climate change, drought and population growth.
Our 5-year Climate Resilience Plan includes a roadmap for how we’ll tackle climate change and adapt to a hotter, drier climate. It outlines how we’ll reach our goal to be net zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions for the 2025-26 financial year. We know that successful delivery of this plan relies on strong partnerships—both within the water sector and beyond.
Modern Slavery Statement
We believe all workers should be treated with dignity and respect and we recognise each person's rights to freedom, justice and fair work conditions.
Yarra Valley Water recognises that modern slavery practices are a serious violation of human rights. We do not tolerate any form of modern slavery in our business or supply chain.
Our annual statement, as required under the Modern Slavery Act 2018 details actions we've taken to understand and address modern slavery risks in our business, operations and supply chain.