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Melbourne Water

Melbourne's water
storages are currently

64.8%

February 2009 Bushfires

Some rain since the 2009 fires has helped some of Melbourne's waterways and catchments start their gradual recovery. It has encouraged vegetation (like grass) to grow and this natural barrier has helped reduce the amount of ash and sediment entering rivers and creeks.

There remains no impact on water quality as a result of the bushfires.

We are continuing our recovery efforts within water supply catchments damaged by the fires.

Our work is focusing on:

  • stabilising soil
  • opening roads
  • assessing waterways and damage to assets
  • constructing and repairing infrastructure, and
  • protecting the quality of our water.

Stabilising soil in Maroondah catchment

Water supply catchments

Around 30% of Melbourne's catchments have had some degree of bushfire damage. Most of this is in the O'Shannassy and Maroondah catchments.

Our two most important water storage catchments - the Upper Yarra and Thomson - were protected and largely unaffected by bushfires.

We have assessed the infrastructure damaged by the bushfires within these catchment areas and have prioritised the works to repair or replace assets.

See also:

Protecting waterways in Maroondah catchment

Drinking water quality

There remains no impact to drinking water quality as a result of the bushfires. Over the next 6 months we will reduce the risk of water quality issues through:

  • rehabilitation work to reduce erosion and sediment runoff; and
  • increased monitoring of water quality.

The Melbourne catchment assessment work by the Burnt Area Emergency Recovery teams, made up of experts from the United States, has helped guide our rehabilitation program.

Waterway health

Around 940 km of waterways were affected by the bushfires. About:

  • 16.5% of the Yarra River catchment was burnt, and
  • 8% of the Western Port (includes Bunyip/Tarago).

We have identified actions to support the recovery plan for waterways affected by bushfires across the affected areas.

We are working closely with relevant agencies to co-ordinate recovery works.

See also:

Get involved in the recovery - Waterwatch Melbourne

Join our autumn frog census program which will focus on bushfire-affected areas.

Waterwatch support is available to help communities monitor the health of their rivers and creeks and document and publicise the results.

We are also working with Waterwatch Melbourne to develop a monitoring plan for fire-affected catchments.

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