Area: 13 000 km² Population: 3.4 million

This region’s 8 000 km of rivers and creeks are highly valued environmental and recreational assets for 3.4 million urban and rural residents and many tourists.

There has been significant improvement in recent years, but almost half of these waterways remain in poor condition.

The Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and Melbourne Water are working to ensure our rivers and creeks are healthy with increased numbers of native fish, platypus and plants.

The Port Phillip and Westernport Regional Catchment Strategy and Regional River Health Strategy help water authorities, councils and community groups to improve our rivers and creeks.

Regional River Health Strategy

The Port Phillip and Westernport Regional River Health Strategy was developed by Melbourne Water in consultation with the Port Phillip and Westernport CMA, their local community and key stakeholders. It is an umbrella strategy that sets priorities and direction for the protection and enhancement of rivers.

The Port Phillip and Westernport Regional River Health Strategy identifies river health related objectives, activities and targets for rivers located within the Maribyrnong, Werribee, Bunyip and Yarra river basins.

For more information visit Melbourne Water Website: Rivers and Creeks Reports.

Yarra River Action Plan

The Yarra River Action Plan: Securing water quality for a healthy future sets priorities for managing water quality in the Yarra, from its source to the sea.

The Plan supports the Victorian Government's Our Water Our Future action plan, outlining projects that will meet the challenge of managing water quality in the Yarra River over the long-term.

A copy of the action plan and the background report is available at the Our Yarra website.

Large Scale River Restoration Project

Restoring the Werribee River

The Restoring the Werribee River project incorporates a number of activities including river habitat improvement works in the Lower Werribee River, development of a Lower Werribee Waterway Plan, and a study into the impact the Lower Werribee River and estuary flows have on fish spawning and recruitment. The project will also continue work on enhancement of the environmental water reserve.

CMA contact details

Port Phillip & Westernport CMA and Melbourne Water

Melbourne Water:
Website: www.melbournewater.com.au
Phone: 131 722

Port Phillip and Westernport CMA:
Website: www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 8781 7900