Waterways of the West Annual Report 2022

Werribee River Association community engagement. (Credit Werribee River Association)

Overview

This Annual Report updates the community on progress towards delivery of the Waterways of the West Action Plan. It reflects the first year of implementation.

The Action Plan recognises the Waterways of the West as living and integrated natural entities. The region includes the Maribyrnong (Mirrangbamurn) and Werribee (Wirribi Yaluk) catchments. The action plan considers the region's:

• rivers
• creeks
• wetlands
• waterway landscapes.

The plan recognises the Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi wurrung Traditional Owners as 'voices of the living entities' on their Country. It is a new community-led approach to help protect iconic waterways in Melbourne’s west for generations to come.

The Action Plan identifies 9 directions and 40 actions. Short-term actions aim to deliver results within the first year of implementation. The Government has committed to delivering longer-term actions within 5 years, subject to funding.

Collaboration and partnership

Each action lists a responsible lead organisation. Delivery of the Action Plan also needs strong collaboration and partnership. Our partnerships are guided by a self-determination approach with Bunurong, Wadawurrung, and Wurundjeri Woi wurrung Traditional Owners.

The Action Plan is also linked with recent Victorian Government policies, including:

• Rivers of the Barwon (Barre Warre Yulluk) Action Plan
• Water is Life – Traditional Owner Access to Water Roadmap
• Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy

The Waterways of the West Community Vision is also significant. The Vision encourages agencies and community to walk together with the Traditional Owners of the Waterways of the West.

Action plan implementation for 2022

In 2022, the Action Plan delivered:

• stronger planning controls to help protect waterways and the liveability of our suburbs
• a Pollution Prevention Taskforce involving pollution experts, Melbourne Water, Traditional Owners and local government
• a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) engagement toolkit to help connect communities with their waterways
• stronger partnerships with Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Traditional Owners.

For a snapshot of progress up to February 2023, please see our action updates. You can also read the full 2022 annual report for more information, including highlighted case studies of the work to date.

Waterways of the West Annual Report (PDF, 2.2 MB)

Waterways of the West Annual Report (Accessible) (DOCX, 82.6 KB)