Watermap 2020
Moreland’s integrated water management plan for 2014-20
Moreland is proud to embrace a comprehensive and progressive approach to integrated water cycle management through Watermap 2020 (PDF 3Mb).
Water in all forms is a precious resource and must be used appropriately. Watermap 2020 sets Council’s strategic direction for the sustainable management of water resources in Merri-bek, with the ambition for Merri-bek to become a “water sensitive city” – a healthy, green, productive and resilient city.
This vision requires a collaborative effort and commitment from residents, businesses, community groups, all levels of government and many others across our community. This plan shows how we can continue to create high quality public spaces and landscapes and provide the water security essential for community health and economic prosperity.
Targets – Council leading by example
Watermap 2020 sets ambitious goals through five operational targets:
1. Reducing Council’s total potable water usage by 30 per cent from 2001 levels, through:
- 30ML/a of community sports field or open space irrigation water to be reuse water from local stormwater harvesting infrastructure by 2020 and sourcing additional alternative “fit for purpose” water supplies to the above where feasible
- Improve community sports ground irrigation efficiency to 75 per cent for 100 per cent of class A sports fields and irrigated parks by 2020
- All Council facilities to have best practice fittings, appliances and toilets and rainwater tanks installed where possible.
2. Treat 11 per cent of Council’s stormwater catchments to best practice by 2020
3. Implement water sensitive urban design into all Council capital works projects
4. Advocate integrated water cycle management to and on behalf of the community
5. All new residential developments of greater than 2 dwellings and non-residential developments greater than 100m² to incorporate best practice water efficient fittings, water reuse and/or recycling and stormwater management.
And two Community targets:
- 25 per cent reduction in community potable water consumption from 2001 baseline consumption to 10.1GL/a by 2020
- 50 per cent of Merri-bek households have an installed rainwater tank by 2020. 25 per cent of Merri-bek households have an on-lot stormwater treatment raingarden or other stormwater treatment mechanism by 2020.
Implementation
Watermap 2020 also includes a clear implementation plan, identifying specific projects which contribute towards more efficient use of water resources, protection and enhancement of our waterways and wetlands and mitigating flood risk and damage.
Support for community action to reduce community potable water consumption and increase the number of households with an installed rainwater tank is also a key area for ongoing action.
What Council is doing
Council is already undertaking a number of projects to achieve the Watermap 2020 targets including:
- Completed construction of the Sewell Reserve and Charles Mutton Reserve stormwater harvesting systems, supplying in total up to 18ML of treated stormwater for community sports field irrigation each year and commenced investigations to identify a third stormwater harvesting opportunity within Merri-bek
- Undertaking feasibility studies into opportunities for implementing water sensitive urban design across Merri-bek
- Commencing a trial project in conjunction with Melbourne Water to improve water efficiency and stormwater management within the Merri-bek community
- In conjunction with Melbourne University, investigating and trialing passively irrigated street tree infrastructure to promote better street tree health and survival while also providing a stormwater quality benefit
- Incorporating water sensitive urban design into urban design projects including tree pits within the Wilson Avenue development
For further information on the projects that Council has implemented, see protecting our waterways.
How you can participate
- Collect rainwater and use it to flush your toilet, wash clothes and water the garden
- Construct a raingarden in your backyard and connect roof down pipes or the overflow pipe from your rainwater tank. Visit Melbourne Water for more information on raingardens.
- Ensure that grass clippings and garden waste are not blown into the street as these materials can be carried by stormwater into our creeks. Leaves and vegetation from your garden not only block drains, the rotting organic matter can also pollute rivers and creeks by disturbing the natural chemical balance.
- Reduce the amount of fertiliser that you apply to your garden. Do not apply fertiliser if rain is forecast within the next two days.
- Avoid overfilling your rubbish bins as waste material can fall from overfull bins during collection and can be carried by stormwater into our creeks.
- If building or renovating, ensure that sand and other construction materials are contained within the property and are not washed onto the road or disposed of into stormwater drains.
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