Merri Creek Management Committee

Details

SECTION 3 - Surface Waters, Creeks and Wetlands

Agency

Key Water Policy Documents

DSE (Dept. of Sustainability and Environment)
  • Our Water Our Future
  • Victorian River Health Strategy
    		•

    EPA (Environment Protection Authority)
  • State Environmental Protection Policies (SEPPs)
  • Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plans
  • Better Bays and Waterways (Water Quality Improvement Plan) in progress
    		•

    PPWCMA (Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Management Authority)
  • Port Phillip and Western Port Regional Catchment Strategy 2004-2009
  • Port Phillip and Westernport Regional River Health Strategy 2007
    		•

    Melbourne Water
  • Merri Creek Waterway Management Activity Plan Final Draft 2003
  • Waterways Operating Charter 2006
  • Port Phillip and Westernport Regional River Health Strategy 2007
  • Regional River Health Strategy Addendum 2008
  • Better Bays and Waterways (Water Quality Improvement Plan) in progress
  • Drainage Schemes
  • Yarra River Action Plan
  • Floodplain Management Strategy (in development)
    		•

    Councils
  • Stormwater Management Plans
  • Water Plans
    		•

    Table 9 - Summary of key water policy documents

    This section includes chapters:

    3.1 Stream Morphology, Drainage, and Flood Management

    3.2 Water Quality and Stream Health

    3.3 Aquatic Flora, Fauna and Wetlands


    Background

    Water flowing in Merri Creek comes from its tributary creeks and drains, and ultimately from their catchments. Merri Creek and its tributaries within the Merri catchment are shown on Map 4.

    Agency roles and responsibilities are summarized in the Introduction, and key water policy documents are shown in Table 9

    Water Sensitive Urban Design is mentioned in many places in this section and is described in the box below.

     

    Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

    WSUD is a developing body of principles and practices involving integration of water cycle management into urban planning and design. Water cycle management includes the management of drinking water, stormwater run-off, waterway health, sewage treatment and water re-cycling.

    In relation to stormwater, WSUD key principles include:

    • Protection of natural systems
    • Integration of stormwater treatment into the landscape
    • Improvement of the quality of water draining from the urban environment
    • Reducing runoff and peak flows especially from urban development
    • Adding value while minimising development cost

    Melbourne Water advocates WSUD and provides developers with financial incentives for implementation. Integrated water cycle management is now a requirement for residential subdivisions under Clause 56 of the state planning policy framework.

     

     

     

     

     

    Login