Water and Waterways in Melton
Water is essential for life. It sustains our communities, supports local ecosystems, and powers our economy. In Melton, our waterways are part of the Werribee Catchment and include the Werribee River and its tributaries—Djerriwarrh, Arnold, Toolern, Yangardook, Ryans, and Little Blind Creeks. Kororoit Creek flows from Toolern Vale through Caroline Springs into Port Phillip Bay. Healthy waterways, such as rivers, creeks and wetlands provide clean drinking water, habitat for native plants and animals, and beautiful spaces for recreation and wellbeing.
These waterways provide habitat for native wildlife, including frogs, wetland birds, and even platypus, which have been spotted in Toolern Creek. They also offer beautiful places for walking, birdwatching, and connecting with nature. They also reduce flood risks and improve our climate resilience.
The Melton Reservoir (also known as Exford Weir) is part of the Werribee River system and is managed by Southern Rural Water. It supplies water to the Werribee Irrigation District and is a popular spot for recreation.
In Melton, our water resources are under pressure from climate change, population growth, and pollution. The City of Melton is an area of low rainfall so conserving water is important.
How You Can Help Protect Our Waterways
Small actions make a big difference. You can help by:
At home
- Fix leaking taps and toilets. Just one drip can waste thousands of litres of water a year.
- Use water-efficient appliances and fixtures like low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets.
- Limit showers to four minutes and only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.
- Collect rainwater in tanks for garden use.
- Washing your car on the lawn or at a commercial car wash to prevent detergents entering stormwater drains.
In the garden
- Choose native, drought-tolerant plants that need less water and support local biodiversity - Melton Sustainable Gardening booklet(PDF, 9MB)
- Mulch garden beds to reduce evaporation and improve soil health.
- Water early in the morning or late evening to minimise evaporation.
- Cover pools and spas to reduce water loss.
- Installing a raingarden to filter runoff and support native plants.
On your property
- Fence off waterways and wetlands to prevent damage from livestock.
- Plant native vegetation along creek banks to reduce erosion and filter runoff.
- Avoid using fertilisers and pesticides near waterway.
- Control invasive weeds and pests.
In the community
- Participate in local Friends of or community group action to help restore and protect natural areas.
- Participate in citizen science programs such as Frog Census.
- Not removing trees in public open space, not only is this damaging to the waterways and environment, but it is also prohibited and you may be fined - Environment and the Law.
- Picking up litter and disposing of waste responsibly so it doesn’t end up in our waterways.
- Keeping dogs on leads near waterways to protect wildlife.
Integrated Water Management (IWM)
Water is critical for the liveability of our City, the health of our ecosystems and the prosperity of our communities.
As the City of Melton grows, there will be corresponding pressures on the water cycle through increased demands on drinking water supplies and increased urban stormwater runoff from hard surfaces.
To respond to these challenges of urbanisation, the impacts of climate change and our obligations to manage stormwater responsibly, Melton City Council has developed an Integrated Water Management Plan(PDF, 33MB) that seeks to achieve the greatest social, economic and environmental benefits for the community.
What is Integrated Water Management (IWM):
Integrated water management (IWM) is a planning approach that brings together all elements of the water cycle and land use planning to achieve optimal social, economic and environmental outcomes. It considers land use planning and water together to ensure that the challenges of population growth and an uncertain climate can be addressed while continuing to make the City of Melton a great place to live, work and recreate.
What the Plan seeks to achieve:
Council interacts with the water cycle both directly through the management of public assets, as well as indirectly through working with community and other stakeholders including government and non-government organisations. Realising the Plan will require direct action as well as advocacy approaches and collaboration with stakeholders such as other tiers of government, water retailers, neighbouring councils, and the community. The Plan is designed to bring together departments within Council to improve collaboration on water related projects as well as supporting stronger links between Council, community and external stakeholders.
The Plan sets out targets and actions for the period 2018-2028 to meet the objectives of the plan that have been developed through internal and external consultation. The three objectives are:
- Reduced reliance on potable (drinking) water
- Healthy waterways and wetlands
- Valued landscapes that are connected and accessible
A progress report on the plan will be available in 2026 here.
Werribee Catchment Integrated Water Management Plan
The City of Melton is located within the Werribee Catchment. The Werribee catchment is a unique part of Victoria’s landscape – one of Victoria’s driest catchments and witnessing rapid urban and regional development. More than ever, water needs to be at the centre of the land-use planning process to protect the natural character of the region, including its nationally significant irrigation districts, and the backbone of Werribee: the Werribee River.
The Werribee Catchment Integrated Water Management Plan: Actions for Delivery can be found here(PDF, 12MB). It is one of five plans for Metropolitan Melbourne (i.e. Dandenong, Maribyrnong, Werribee, Western Port and the Yarra). Collectively, these are referred to as ‘Catchment scale IWM Plans: Actions for Delivery’. Each plan includes outcome-focused actions at a range of scales, which are complementary and reinforcing, to improve the resilience, liveability and sustainability of our urban areas and the environment. The priority actions in this plan, combined with locally important projects, and new actions that will be identified in the future, are all part of how we will deliver our catchment and regional targets.
Werribee River Shared Trail Strategy
The Werribee River Shared Trail Strategy is intended to provide a highly significant, long-term planning and design strategy aimed at the establishment of a regionally significant open space and recreational corridor along the Werribee River between Melton and Werribee.
The Strategy is intended to deliver a comprehensive, well-informed and visionary plan which will enable State Government Agencies, Melton City and Wyndham City to progressively establish a new open space corridor which will provide a natural, cultural and recreational focus for current and future residents of this rapidly expanding area of metropolitan Melbourne.
Read the full strategy.(PDF, 81MB)
Waterwatch
Community Waterwatch Groups
Citizen Science supports community members, local environment groups and landowners to test the water quality in local streams. Citizen Science provides equipment and teaches people how to do the testing and has staff to support the groups and answer questions. You can learn about good and not so good water bugs, local frogs and how to bird watch.
If you would like to find out more about local waterwatch groups please contact Council's Environmental Education Officer on 03 9747 7200.
Waterwatch for Schools
Melbourne Water Education has educational programs including resources for teachers.
For more information, contact our Environmental Education Officer on 03 9747 7200.