The Living Victoria Ministerial Advisory Council has released the final report into the future of Melbourne’s water.

 

"We now have a substantial reform process ahead of us to overhaul the urban water system and place a greater focus on local solutions instead of costly, large-scale infrastructure such as desalination,” Victoria’s Water Minister Peter Walsh said.

 

"These reforms will drive generational change in the way Melbourne uses rainwater, stormwater and recycled water and provide Victoria's next major water augmentation.

 

"Fit-for-purpose solutions to re-use stormwater and recycled water will reduce the pressure on our potable water supply by providing water for non-drinking purposes," Mr Walsh said.

 

The Victorian Government has outlined the formation of the Offie for Living Victoria (OLV) as a cross-government agency aimed at cutting red tape and driving integration of water and urban planning.

 

 

In the first 12 months, OLV will focus on integrated water planning, including the development of integrated water cycle plans for inner Melbourne and the city's four main growth areas.

 

"It will also prepare a regulatory impact statement for building controls to improve the water performance of new buildings and amend the Victorian Planning Provisions to improve stormwater management."

Also outlined in the report is:

 

  • seek ways to give water customers greater control over their water bills by providing more tariff choices;
  • develop investment guidelines to better reflect the value that the community places on urban amenity and the environment;
  • work with local government and the water authorities on approaches to extend Melbourne Water's stormwater licensing arrangements to cover all government-owned stormwater infrastructure;
  • release sewer mining guidelines to increase investment in wastewater re-use; and
  • cut red tape to increase the use of alternative water sources and reduce pressure on catchment and desalinated water.

 

More information can be found here