Council's water action plans
Council's two main strategies dealing with sustainable water management are the Watershed Strategy (2005) and Stormwater Management Plan (2001). These strategies aim to reduce water consumption, increase water reuse and improve water quality in Moreland's waterways.
Watershed Strategy
Council’s Watershed Strategy has targets and actions that:
- reduce water use in Council facilities and in the wider community
- increase water reuse, and
- improve water quality in Moreland's creeks.
Stormwater Management Plan
Council’s Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) indentifies:
- the value of waterways within Moreland
- the main threats contributing to poor water quality, and
- strategies to protect and enhance water quality.
Integrated Water Management Plan
In 2009, Council is reviewing the Watershed Strategy and the Stormwater Management Plan with a view to rethink the way we manage water in Moreland. As part of this process Council is developing an Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP) that will reflect the current needs of the community and Council in managing its water resources.
In recent years, significant changes have impacted how the community and Council manage our water resources. These changes include:
- Climate change and water restrictions - the continued decline in levels of Melbourne's water storages resulted in more water restrictions. The impact of water restrictions means that Council needed to change the way it manages its parks, sports grounds and swimming pools.
- New approaches to sustainable water management - with increasing pressure on our water supplies and on water quality in our waterways, Council began to explore more holistic ways of managing the urban water cycle which combines stormwater treatment, the use of alternative water sources and the more efficient use of potable water supplies.
As part of the development of the Integrated Water Management Plan, Council will consult with the community in 2009 to make sure the Plan reflects the needs of the Moreland community in sustainably managing our water resources.
