The Waterways of the West Annual Report updates the community on the progress towards delivering our waterways action plan.
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The Victorian Government released the Waterways of the West Action Plan in late 2021 to ensure Melbourne’s western waterways are healthy and thriving for future generations.
The Waterways of the West Annual Report updates the community on progress towards delivering the 9 Directions and 40 Actions that make up the Action Plan. These reports deliver on the Victorian Government’s commitment to update the community annually on implementation of the 5-year Action Plan.
The Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples have cared for this Country and its integrated waterways for millennia. The Action Plan recognises the waterways of the west as living and integrated natural entities, and Traditional Owners as having a unique role as a voice of the living entities on their Country.
A new community-led approach, the Action Plan is guided by a 50-year Waterways of the West Community Vision. The vision encourages agencies and community to walk together with the Traditional Owners of Melbourne’s West.
By bringing everyone throughout the region together, we move closer to realising the Waterways of the West community vision and delivering the beneficial outcomes we are collectively seeking for the health of our waterways.
How the 5-year action plan builds on the vision for the Waterways of the West
Figure 1: Waterways of the West implementation framework
How the 5-year action plan builds on the vision for the Waterways of the West
50-year Community vision
Guides policy makers, waterway and land managers and the community.
Shorter-term actions (2022-23)
Water actions
Actions address waterway health and amenity, and Traditional Owner involvement in waterway management
Land use planning actions
Actions address stronger land use planning and development controls
Standards to guard against inappropriate developent
Longer-term actions (2022-2026)
Water actions
Necessary changes to legislation and institutional arrangements
Further actions to address waterways health and amenity
Land use planning actions
Strengthen planning provisions for waterways
Embed the role of Traditional Owners in planning and management
Legacy outcomes
Waterways managed as living entities
Traditional Owners', their voices, and their values embedded in decision-making
Protection of waterway environemtn values
Increased community connection
Waterway amenity meets community expectations
Better land use planning integration in waterway management
How the 5-year action plan builds on the vision for the Waterways of the West
Figure 1: Waterways of the West implementation framework
Overview of progress in 2024
Highlights of 2024 include:
Funding supported a First Nations resource to work with the Chain of Ponds Collaboration, to enhance cultural heritage values and Traditional Owner aspirations along Moonee Moonee/Moonee Ponds Creek. See Action 2.2 in the Waterways of the West Action Plan.
Supported the recently established Maribyrnong River and Waterways Association to build on community and Traditional Owner connection with the Maribyrnong catchment. This included rolling out the Water Think Tank Series and a collaboration with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Corporation, via the Yiagilang Ngarrngatj Research Unit, to explore the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of waterways in the Maribyrnong catchment. See Action 2.2.
The City of Wyndham, supported by a Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Iconic Urban Waterways grant, completed a concept design for improved landscape outcomes and on-water access at Bungies Hole, which is located in a bend of the Wirribi Yaluk/Werribee River behind Chirnside Park. See Action 4.2.
Commencement of the Adapt West – Shaping our Shores project, to deliver a Coastal Hazard Adaptation and Resilience Plan for the region, guided by the Port Phillip Bay Western Shoreline Regional and Strategic Partnership. See Action 5.3.
Funding secured in the 2024-25 State Budget to progress pollution prevention initiatives. See Action 7.2.
Targeted investment in community driven collaborations and activities across the Waterways of the West, such as Melbourne Water’s Growing Waterway Knowledge and Engagement in the West. This project resulted in 11 community engagement and capacity building events between 2022 and 2024. Annual Grow West Community Planting Days attracted almost 300 volunteers and involved another 300 people in associated events and workshops, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and school groups. See Actions 8.1 and 8.2.
For more detailed information on delivery of actions in the Waterways of the West Action Plan, please see the 2024 annual report:
The Action Plan outlines 9 Directions and 40 Actions that aim to deliver results across a 5-year period. Most short-term actions were delivered and reported on in the 2022 and 2023 annual reports.
Table 1: Status of actions across Action Plan directions
Direction
Delivered actions
Ongoing actions
Actions in progress
Actions in planning
Direction 1: Recognise the Waterways of the West as living and integrated natural entities and the Traditional Owners as the 'voice of these living entities'
2
1
1
2
Direction 2: Embed Traditional Owners' values in planning and decision-making for waterways
2
2
1
2
Direction 3: Strengthen planning policy and controls for waterways
2
0
2
1
Direction 4: Improve waterway amenity to meet community expectations
2
0
3
0
Direction 5: Better protection of the region's wetland values
2
0
1
1
Direction 6: Identify opportunities to meet environmental and cultural water needs
1
0
1
0
Direction 7: Protect the Waterways of the West from pollution
1
0
2
0
Direction 8: Increase community connection, education and participation
4
0
1
0
Direction 9: Ensure accountability and transparency for Action Plan delivery
0
1
2
0
Total
16
4
14
6
Looking ahead
The Waterways of the West Action Plan enters the fourth year of its five-year implementation timeframe in 2025. Some actions for the year ahead include:
Statewide engagement with Traditional Owners to develop and test legislative and policy approaches to recognise waterways as ‘living entities’ and their Traditional Owners as a unique ‘voice’ of those entities (Direction 1).
Development of a new Victorian Waterway Management Strategy is underway in partnership with Traditional Owners, catchment management authorities and other key stakeholders, with input from the broader Victorian community (Direction 4).
Adapt West projects are undertaking further engagement with community and partners as it progresses towards developing a Coastal Hazard Adaptation and Resilience Plan (Direction 5).
Launching new potential pollution prevention initiatives, guided by analysis of existing projects and research on pollution and litter in our waterways (Direction 7).
Further investment in Victoria’s urban waterway care and restoration through the $10 million Green Links Grants Program.
Case studies
Collaboration delivers amenity outcomes along the Lower Wirribi Yaluk/Werribee River
Direction 4: Improve waterway amenity to meet community expectations
The Lower Werribee Waterway Amenity Action Plan continues delivering amenity improvements along the Wirribi Yaluk/Werribee River.
A new multi-use platform for recreational water activities on the Lower Wirribi/Werribee was opened in 2024. The platform, a stepped rock terrace, is designed to be used for launching kayaks and fishing on the west bank of the river in the Werribee River Park, creating an additional launch place upstream of the mouth of the river.
This platform is a joint initiative of Melbourne Water, Wyndham City Council, Parks Victoria, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and DEECA.
The project provides a new access point to the River Red Gums Nature Walk which runs through the adjacent woodland, and is complemented by revegetation works funded under the Green Links program. These works improve visitor accessibility and experience, and increase community connection and appreciation of the river and surrounds.
The project works recognise and celebrate the cultural values of the Lower Wirribi Yaluk/ Werribee River for the Bunurong and Wadawurrung peoples. Work on an overarching experience framework and signage will also foster greater awareness of cultural knowledge and history.
Further upriver, Wyndham City Council will be undertaking a river access and crossing feasibility study at the Davis Creek Confluence. This work is funded by a grant from DEECA.
Traditional Owner Engagement with community in the Maribyrnong and Werribee Catchments
Action 8.1 Community engagement about Traditional Owner culture and values
Landcare, environmental groups, school students and community members from the Maribyrnong and Werribee catchments have had a unique opportunity to join Traditional Owners on-Country as part of a DEECA funded program of cultural awareness education.
Highlights of the program over the last 2 years have included:
cultural heritage tours on-Country with Wadawurrung of Little River, the You Yangs and local urban waterways
Bunurong cultural safety sessions held at the Hobson Bay Wetlands Centre
a Wurundjeri led cultural education session in Melbourne
cultural events held by Landcare groups including Brisbane Ranges Landcare Group, Werribee River Association, Eynesbury Landcare Group, Little River Community Landcare and a walk and talk at Little River Primary School
a bus tour on International Rural Women’s Day visited Derrimut Grassland Reserve and Werribee Mansion to discuss indigenous management of Country and protecting small patches of remnant grasslands and wildflowers within an urban landscape
a tour of the Little River Catchment with Landcare leaders and Wadawurrung for scoping of future collaboration opportunities.
Feedback shows that participants grew their understanding of First Nations culture and the experience of First Nations peoples since colonisation.
The funding also supported Wadawurrung Traditional Owners to produce a video to highlight and share cultural knowledge of waterways, biodiversity, and land (dja) and sea (warre) Country, that is being used at the Western Treatment Plant as an educational tool.
More material on Wadawurrung cultural values and heritage is being developed to create a resource for agencies and community groups on the importance of cultural heritage assessments as part of natural resource management projects.
Wadawurrung tour of You Yangs November 2023
Source: Melbourne Water
Previous annual reports
This annual report captures and reflects actions delivered and progressed in the second year of the action plan.
In 2023, the Waterways of the West Action Plan delivery milestones include:
A Waterways of the West Pollution Task Force recommendation report finalised and presented to DEECA.
Implementation of the Lower Werribee Waterway Amenity Action Plan underway including progress on the K Road Cliffs Masterplan, a Cultural Values Assessments undertaken by both Bunurong and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, and the launch of the ‘Meet me by the River’ Guide.
Engagement with Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Traditional Owners on the development of a discussion paper on ‘Waterways as living entities and Traditional Owners as their voice’.
The Department of Transport and Planning continuing to progress urban planning actions outlined in the Action Plan and ran a series of workshops with Local Government Authorities, Traditional Owners and community organisations.
You can read the full 2023 Annual Report for more information, including highlighted case studies of the work to date.
