Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy

In July 2025, the Victorian Premier announced the development of a new Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy (the strategy), a long-term water planning document required under the Water Act 1989.

The development of a new strategy has begun as part of wider drought assistance measures in recognition of the recent drought and dry conditions impacting much of western Victoria.

Water supports a range of economic, cultural, environmental and social values throughout western Victoria.

A new strategy provides an opportunity for the community, water sector agencies, Traditional Owners and stakeholders, such as farming and environmental groups to discuss and plan for the region’s water needs to support these values.

We also need to consider balancing our water resources to support these values as we progress to a warmer and drier future.

In recent years we have seen:

• dry seasonal conditions affecting different parts of western Victoria
• new policies such as Water is Life: Traditional Owner Access for Water Roadmap to develop outcomes to increase Traditional Owner management of water and waterways
• additional infrastructure to improve water availability and efficiency of water infrastructure systems and
• increased understanding of climate change impacts.

The new strategy will consider these factors and what actions can be taken to address them such as improved infrastructure, policies, or management arrangements. It will build on the actions and achievements of the 2011 Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy.

Details about the 2011 strategy can be found in this stocktake report:

The strategy will be developed through working closely with representatives of groups including Traditional Owner groups, agencies and community members in western Victoria to understand local perspectives and develop place-based approaches.

More information about the process is available here:

Community members will also be invited to contribute to the strategy’s development. Opportunities to input include providing a submission to the scoping paper and draft strategy when they are released in 2026 and 2027.

It is anticipated that the final strategy will be completed in late 2027.

If you want to learn more about the strategy and receive updates on progress, contact the SWS team: sws.team@deeca.vic.gov.au.

Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy Working Groups

Call to community members in western Victoria for expressions of interest to advise on future water management for the region.

DEECA is seeking community members with knowledge and experience in regional water management to participate in working groups to guide the development of the new Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy.

This includes people who represent the various types of rural water use as well as a geographic spread across western Victoria.

The working group is expected to meet approximately four to six times from mid-2026 to late 2027 and include representatives of regional peak bodies and the water sector.

Interested individuals should submit responses to the below expression of interest form. Submissions should include responses to the following:

• interests in becoming a working group member
• perspectives on key issues affecting water resources in western Victoria
• links with the community and ability to relay their interests and concerns
• ways to contribute to the working group
• water use (for example, urban, irrigation, stock and domestic) and locality.

Submissions are due by 16 March 2026 and can be sent by email to sws.team@deeca.vic.gov.au or by mail to:

ATTN: Western Sustainable Water Strategy Team
DEECA
PO Box 500
East Melbourne VIC 8002

For any enquiries, please email sws.team@deeca.vic.gov.au call customer service on 136 186.

Expression of interest form

Page last updated: 12/02/26