Integrated Water Management Forums

Background

The Integrated Water Management Forums have been established across the state to identify, prioritise and oversee the implementation of collaborative water opportunities. The Forums bring together all organisations with an interest in water cycle, recognising that each has an important role to play in the management of our most vital resource.

Victoria's Integrated Water Management Forums have produced a Strategic Directions Statement that captures the regional context, shared vision and water-related outcomes for each of the Forum areas across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Each Strategic Directions Statement includes a list of integrated water management opportunities collaboratively developed by the Forum to bring local community views, values and priorities into practice through integrated water management.

Supporting IWM in Victoria

Since 2018 the Victorian Government has provided $65 million in funding for 165 priority IWM projects across the state that will improve regional water security, enhance waterway and landscape health, and build greater community connections to the environment. View project maps (PDF, 770.1 KB). Accessible versions (DOCX, 45.8 KB).

Metropolitan Melbourne

Dandenong

The inaugural Dandenong IWM Forum was convened in December 2017. The Forum area spans a diverse range of landscapes and includes catchments flowing into Port Phillip Bay from Port Melbourne to Point Nepean. The Dandenong Forum covers the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunurong peoples.

Dandenong Catchment IWM Plan Summary (PDF, 4.7 MB). Accessible version (DOCX, 350.4 KB)

Dandenong Strategic Directions Statement, September 2018 (PDF, 4.9 MB) or Accessible Version (DOCX, 3.0 MB)

Maribyrnong

The inaugural Maribyrnong IWM Forum was convened in November 2017. The Forum area encompasses some of Victoria’s most significant urban renewal precincts and suburban growth areas. The Maribyrnong Forum covers the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunurong peoples.

Maribyrnong IWM Plan Summary (PDF, 10.2 MB). Accessible version (DOCX, 348.1 KB)

Maribyrnong Strategic Direction Statement, September 2018 (PDF, 8.5 MB) or Accessible version (DOCX, 3.1 MB)

Yarra

The inaugural Yarra IWM Forum was convened in December 2017. The Forum area includes Victoria’s capital, Melbourne, and the Yarra River (Birrarung), one of Australia’s most iconic and culturally significant waterways. The Yarra Forum covers the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunurong peoples.

Yarra IWM Plan Summary (PDF, 5.7 MB). Accessible version (DOCX, 348.9 KB).

Yarra Strategic Directions Statement, September 2018 (PDF, 4.9 MB) or Accessible version (DOCX, 3.0 MB).

Werribee

The inaugural Werribee IWM Forum was convened in December 2017. The Forum area includes a major Australian food bowl and several of Victoria’s fastest urbanising greenfield areas. The Werribee Forum covers the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri, Wadawurrung and Bunurong peoples.

Werribee IWM Plan Summary (PDF, 6.6 MB). Accessible version (DOCX, 349.0 KB)

Werribee Strategic Directions Statement, September 2018 (PDF, 5.1 MB) or Accessible version (DOCX, 1.1 MB)

Western Port

The Western Port IWM Forum was the first IWM Forum convened in metropolitan Melbourne in November 2017 and is leading the way towards systematically embedding IWM across the region.

Westernport Catchment IWM Plan Summary (PDF, 5.1 MB). Accessible version (DOCX, 350.1 KB)

Western Port Strategic Directions Statement, September 2018 (PDF, 3.2 MB) or Accessible version (DOCX, 2.5 MB)

Regional Victoria

Regional Integrated Water Management Forums are generally defined by urban water corporation boundaries. Where possible they acknowledge and build on existing networks and forums. There are nine regional IWM Forums currently established in Victoria. These are the North East, East Gippsland, Gippsland and Goulburn Broken regions in Victoria’s east, as well as the Coliban, Central Highlands, Barwon, Great South Coast, and Wimmera regions in the west. An approach to establish a Swan Hill (Northern Mallee Lower) IWM Forum is currently being discussed with stakeholders.

There are nine regional IWM Forum Strategic Directions Statements.

Barwon

The Barwon IWM Forum drives a collaborative and integrated approach to water management that enables sustainable environmental, social, cultural and community prosperity in the fastest growing regional Victorian area.

• Barwon Strategic Directions Statement 2022 (PDF, 14.4 MB)
• Accessible version (DOCX, 1.9 MB)

• Barwon Strategic Directions Statement, 2018 (PDF, 6.7 MB)
• Accessible version (DOCX, 938.7 KB).

Central Highlands

The Central Highlands region prides itself as a leader in IWM whose stakeholders understand the collective benefits of IWM in terms of economic prosperity, environmental improvements and enhanced liveability through collaboration.

Central Highlights Strategic Directions Statement, November 2018 (PDF, 5.1 MB) or Accessible version (DOCX, 1.3 MB).

Coliban

Ensuring that our large cities and small regional towns have the resilience needed to be healthy, active and engaged communities is a long term goal of the Coliban IWM Forum.

Coliban Strategic Directions Statement, September 2018 (PDF, 4.2 MB) or Accessible version (DOCX, 1.4 MB).

East Gippsland

The East Gippsland IWM Forum was established in 2017 to guide the identification and implementation of IWM projects in the region. The Forum shares and incubates ideas on environmental, water and traditional owner issues.

East Gippsland Strategic Directions Statement, November 2018 (PDF, 4.3 MB) or Accessible version (DOCX, 2.0 MB).

Gippsland

The Gippsland forum region incorporates the services areas of Gippsland Water and South Gippsland Water. The goal is to support growth and resilience while conserving the unique natural landscapes of Gippsland.

Gippsland Strategic Directions Statement, April 2018 (PDF, 19.7 MB) or Accessible version (DOCX, 1.2 MB).

Goulburn Broken

The Goulburn Broken IWM Forum was convened in May 2017 and was the first established in the state to work together through sustainable water management to enhance the urban landscapes for our communities.

Goulburn Broken Strategic Directions Statement, September 2018 (PDF, 3.0 MB) or Accessible Version (DOCX, 1.5 MB)

Great South Coast

The Great South Coast IWM Forum was formed in June 2018 and quickly gained momentum, expanding on established relationships to set priorities and deliver IWM in the region and contributing to the resilience of the region’s environment, culture and economy.

Great South Coast Strategic Directions Statement, December 2019 (PDF, 5.6 MB) or Accessible version (DOCX, 1.1 MB).

North East