Dam safety arrangements in Victoria

The Minister for Water has powers under the Water Act 1989 to regulate the construction, operation and safety of dams in Victoria. These powers apply to dams owned and managed by public entities such as water corporations, local government authorities and Parks Victoria, as well as private dams owned by farmers and hydro-power companies.

To help administer these powers, the Minister is supported by the Water and Catchments Group of DELWP, and the five Licensing Authorities (Goulburn Murray Water, Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water, Lower Murray Water, Melbourne Water and Southern Rural Water) which have delegated regulatory responsibilities for dam safety in Victoria.

The Strategic Framework for Dam Safety Regulation sets out Victoria's regulatory policies and practices.

Dam Safety Advisory Committee

The Dam Safety Advisory Committee provides specialist advice to DELWP on the regulation of dam safety.

The Committee members have been appointed based on their expertise in dam safety, asset/risk management, community relations/communications, economics/business management and water industry experience. They are:

  • Jim Keary, Committee Chairperson and Technical Management Specialist (Senior Fellow and former Managing Director, Hunter H20)
  • Bronwen Clark, Community Relations and Communications Specialist (Executive Officer of National Growth Areas Alliance and former Board member of Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water)
  • Charmaine Quick, Water Industry Representative (Managing Director, Goulburn-Murray Water)
  • David Watson, Asset and Risk Management Specialist (formerly of the Department of Department of Natural Resources and Environment)
  • Miles Hutchison, Better Regulation Victoria

Annual report

Terms of reference of the Dam Safety Advisory Committee can be found in the annual report.

Page last updated: 30/03/23