The Victorian Government is driving change to deliver better water services, improved local environments and increased liveability in Melbourne and Victoria’s regional cities.

The Government's commitment for urban water is outlined in the Living Melbourne, Living Victoria Plan for Water, which articulates the following key aims for Victoria’s future water supplies:

• Establish Victoria as a world leader in liveable cities and integrated water cycle management with a visionary plan to make our urban landscapes more sustainable and liveable.
• Drive generational change in how Melbourne uses rainwater, stormwater and recycled water to provide better water service and reduce Victoria’s footprint with regard to energy and water use.
• Drive integrated projects and developments in Melbourne and regional cities to use stormwater, rainwater and recycled water to provide Victoria’s next major water augmentation.  This water will be used to replace drinking water for non-drinking purposes, such as for sporting ovals, streetscapes, urban parks and gardens, water features and third piping systems in homes.

The concept of integrated water cycle management, illustrated in the animation below, is central to the Government's Plan for Water.

A key commitment from the Plan for Water was the establishment of a Ministerial Advisory Council made up of leading experts to provide independent advice to government on the key changes needed to achieve the governments aims for urban water.  The MAC's initial advice to government was outlined in the Living Melbourne, Living Victoria Roadmap, and its final recommendations are detailed in the Living Melbourne, Living Victoria Implementation Plan.

For further information please visit the Ministerial Advisory Council.

The Plan for Water also committed to establishing the Leading the Way – Living Victoria fund to support locally based integrated water cycle management and water sensitive urban design projects across the community.

For further information about specific actions arising from the Plan for Water and the Ministerial Advisory Council’s recommendations please visit Government Response for information.