Since MCMC was incorporated in 1989 there have been a number of reviews undertaken of its role. Each have made specific recommendations which are outlined on this page.

Northern Waterways Coordination Review

This review was commissioned in 1996 by a reference group of agencies brought together by Melbourne Water to examine the most appropriate structures to coordinate management of Melbourne's 4 northern waterways - Moonee Ponds, Merri and Darebin Creeks and the Plenty River. Consultants Carol Kunert and George Wright were commissioned to review the inter-agency coordination arrangements for the management and development of waterways in the north of Melbourne.

The consultants interviewed about 74 people from local and state government, from existing coordinating bodies, community interest groups and members of the public. Over 30 people attended local waterway meetings. A diverse range of views were expressed, the most frequent being:

• support the grass-roots level of involvement
• improve communication between public bodies and the community
• avoid bureaucracy
• increase coordination
• don't lose the gains already made by waterway groups
• limit the number of meetings everyone has to attend
• ensure arrangements are cost efficient.

Six options were considered during the study, ranging from maintaining the current arrangements to establishment of a regional coordinating body and amalgamation of the existing bodies. According to the consultants, significant savings could have been made by amalgamating the existing waterway coordination bodies (although no financial analysis appears to have been done to justify this statement). However the amalgamation option was rejected because municipalities and participants in the community forums were concerned that an amalgamated body would not be able to address local issues.

The final report was circulated in 1997 by Melbourne Water. The key outcomes were:

1. Develop four separate local waterway coordination bodies to undertake on-ground works and to coordinate the efforts of local people, councils and local works undertaken by public bodies. (Continue the current arrangements for Merri and Darebin Creeks. Additional coordinating activities should be subsumed within existing groups where additional areas within catchments are added or where new activities are proposed)
2. Fund the position of a coordinator for Moonee Ponds Creek to facilitate the Moonee Ponds Creek Association achieve its objectives and coordinate implementation of the Concept Plan.
3. Broaden the focus of the local waterway coordination bodies to the whole catchment, over time and as resources permit. This particularly applies to Darebin Creek and Moonee Ponds Creek.
4. Encourage the formation of a local waterway coordination body for the Plenty River, building on the strengths of the existing coordination arrangements for the Lower Plenty.
5. Ensure representation of local waterway coordination bodies on the regional body [see 9 below].
6. Establish clear procedures for tendering for works by local waterway coordination bodies.
7. Clarify the role of Melbourne Water on the committee of the Moonee Ponds Creek Association
8. Continue to extend invitation to the City of Whittlesea for representation on the Darebin Creek Coordinating Committee.
9. Develop a regional coordination body to coordinate regional planning and inter-catchment activities for the Northern Waterways.
10. The Northern Waterways Coordination Review Reference Group use the findings of this review as a basis for further discussion which will resolve the funding and role of the regional body.

This report essentially endorsed the role of MCMC, and has resulted in the establishment of the Moonee Ponds Creek Coordination Committee and the consolidation of the Darebin Creek Management Committee, generally along the lines of MCMC. No catchment group has been established for the Plenty River at this stage, possibly because most of the frontage to the Plenty River is owned by the State Government or private landowners rather than by municipalities. No regional coordination body has been formed.

MCMC's Review currently underway

Action MCO3 in the Merri Creek and Environs Strategy is for MCMC and member organisations to conduct a triennial review of management coordination structures to supply information to members about the achievement of agreed objectives, the continuing relevance of objectives, and any necessary re-setting of priorities and objectives. MCMC commenced a review of this nature in 2001, with a consultation exercise with member groups and other stakeholders. The report of this review, entitled MCMC 2001 Review Final Stakeholder Consultation Outcomes Report found that MCMC was a recognised pioneer which had achieved significant outcomes and was a repository of invaluable knowledge, experience and skills. However the consultant found that in reviewing the issues from the consultations, it was clear that there were a number of fundamental organisational issues to address in order for MCMC to move forward confidently into the future. The report's recommendations were:

1. Review primary purposes to ensure relevance and currency
2. Determine direction, focus and priorities and document in a three-year strategic plan
3. Address the relationship between membership and revenue
4. Review member participation
5. Review and simplify membership structure and rules
6. Stakeholder communication and management strategy implemented
7. MCMC structure be reviewed in context of strategic directions

Recommendation 1 is currently being implemented, after consultants were engaged to undertake this work. Generally speaking the sorts of things MCMC has been doing have been supported, however the way this has been expressed will be significantly changed.