National Water Account 2017

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Key findings

Climate and water

Water Accounting Statements

Supporting information

Region description

Reference information

Melbourne: Water access and use

Water rights, entitlements, allocations, and restrictions

Surface water rights

Figure S13 Surface water allocations and diversions in the Melbourne region for the years ending 30 June, from 2012–2017

• Surface water allocations for individual users and the urban system increased from the previous year, reflecting the increased surface water availability across the region.
• Total diversions to individual users (allocated and non-allocated) were less than last year, which could be attributed to the improved rainfall conditions that decreased users' reliance on water supplied directly from storages and rivers during the year.
• Actual diversions to the urban system were marginally less than last year.

Figure S14 Surface water availability (excludes volumes remaining in inter–region sources) and diversions in the Melbourne region for the years ending 30 June, from 2012–2017

• The combination of allocation, as well as carryover from the previous year, is a more accurate reflection of the region's total water availability, particularly for the urban system.
• Surface water availability for both individual users and the urban system in 2016–17 was the highest in 6 years.

Figure S15 Surface water allocation to individual users for each licence purpose

• 3% of the total surface water allocated is for individual users. These licences primarily relate to water diversions for irrigation scheme supply (see Figure R12 in 'Region description').

Groundwater rights

Figure S16 Groundwater allocation for key management areas in the 2016–17 year

• 37% of the allocations were in unincorporated areas across the region.
• 63% of the allocations were in designated groundwater management areas, primarily the Koo Wee Rup water supply protection area and the Nepean groundwater management area (see Figure R9 in 'Region description').

Figure S17 Groundwater allocations and extractions in the Melbourne region for the years ending 30 June, from 2012–2017

• Groundwater extraction for individual users decreased from last year due to the improved rainfall conditions and the increased surface water availability across the region.
• Allocations and extractions for the urban water system remained relatively unchanged. Urban supply generally changes little from year to year.

Figure S18 Groundwater allocation to individual users for each licence purpose

• More than 97% of the total groundwater allocated was for individual users. These licences primarily relate to water use for agricultural purposes.

Water access restrictions

• Restrictions were applied to diversions from many unregulated streams during the 2016–17 year (for more information, please refer to the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning monthly water reports).
• Announced allocations restrict water use in the Werribee irrigation system; high and low-reliability allocations during the year were 100% and 75% respectively.
• The three urban water retailers: Yarra Valley Water, South East Water and City West Water, and the regional authority: Western Water had Permanent Water Savings Rules in place during the year.
• For more information, refer to the Bureau of Meteorology's Water restriction website.

Water market activity

• Entitlement and allocation trades and lease (term transfers) of water shares, and temporary and permanent trade of take-and-use licences are allowed in the Melbourne region.
• Reported allocation trade for the 2016–17 year includes 5,000 ML transaction within Greater Yarra system for urban purposes.
• More information about water trading activities in the Melbourne region is available in Bureau's Water Market Dashboard and the Victorian Water Register.

Water use

Economic, social and cultural benefit

• Surface water and groundwater resources within the Melbourne region are used for urban water supply and irrigation scheme supply as well as for private water supply for purposes such as agriculture and industry.

Economic benefits

• For a summary of the water volumes allocated for various economic purposes within the region including the actual volumes abstracted, refer to Surface water rights and Groundwater rights above.

Social benefits

• Some of the strategies for managing water for social benefit in the region are established through Water saving permanent rules, saving water through incentives and rebate schemes, and actions to increase wastewater recycling and use of stormwater.
• Stock and domestic licences for surface water and groundwater basic rights allow the right-holders to abstract water to meet basic requirements for household and stock purposes.
• Urban water entitlements associated with surface water and groundwater allow water utilities to provide water for residential needs.

Cultural benefits

• In general, water regimes required to support cultural values are not quantitatively defined in allocation plans; however, the cultural values are considered within the environmental water provisions.
• Under the Victorian Water Act 1989 (the Water Act), traditional owner group entities have the right to take and use water for a range of needs without holding a water access licence.
• The rights include accessing water for personal, domestic, and non-commercial communal purposes such as the manufacture of traditional artefacts, hunting, fishing, gathering, and recreational, cultural and ceremonial purposes.

Environmental benefit

Environmental water management scenarios

• In the Melbourne region, environmental water is provided according to the scenarios: held environmental water, planned and partly regulated surface water, and planned and unregulated surface water.

Environmental entitlements: held environmental water

• During the 2016–17 year, Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) held three environmental water entitlements: Consolidated Yarra Environmental Entitlement 2006 (revised in July 2014), Tarago and Bunyip Rivers Environmental Entitlement 2009, and Werribee River Environmental Entitlement 2011.
• These entitlements prescribe environmental flow regimes in respective rivers including the characteristics of recommended environmental flows for the river reaches.
• During the 2016–17 year, Melbourne Water delivered 17 separate environmental flows in the Yarra, Tarago, Maribyrnong and Werribee rivers, delivering approximately 25,000 ML of held environmental water to improve river health and meet ecological objectives (Figure S19).

Figure S19 Delivery of held environmental water during the 2016–17 year in the Melbourne region

• In the Yarra River system, five releases of environmental water totalling 21,544 ML were made to allow the migration of Australian Grayling (Prototroctes maraena), improve water quality and improve access to breeding and feeding habitat by macroinvertebrates, platypus and fish.

• In the Maribyrnong River system, three releases totalling 304 ML were made to improve water quality and improve small rapids habitats in the upper reaches. 
• In both Yarra and Maribyrnong river systems, movement opportunities for small native fish were also provided in the upper reaches of the river, and small rapids and pool habitats were refreshed in the middle reaches for improved macroinvertebrate, platypus and fish habitats. 
• In the Tarago River system, three releases totalling 1,952 ML were made to maintain water quality, provide habitat for River Blackfish, platypus and macroinvertebrates and support spawning of Australian Grayling.
• In the Werribee River system, six releases totalling 1,179 ML were made to provide and improve frog and macroinvertebrate habitat in Coimadai Creek near Bacchus Marsh and promote fish migration and improve water quality in the lower reaches through Werribee.

Bulk entitlements: planned partly regulated surface water

• In the Melbourne region, bulk entitlements with the provisions for planned partly regulated surface water are: Southern Rural Water's bulk entitlement to the Maribyrnong River, Western Water's bulk entitlement to the Maribyrnong River, and Melbourne Water's bulk entitlement to the Maribyrnong, Bunyip and Tarago rivers.
• Details of compliance with the conditions specified for the entitlement, in particular the passing flows, during the year is available in a report submitted by relevant bulk entitlement holder to the Victorian Minister for Water (this information is also typically contained in the responsible holder's annual report).
• For more information on specific release and passing flow requirements for each of these entitlements, refer to the Victorian Water Register.

Bulk entitlements: planned unregulated surface water

• In the Melbourne region, bulk entitlements with the provisions for planned unregulated surface water are: Southern Rural Water's bulk entitlement to the Werribee system for irrigation, Melbourne Water's bulk entitlement to the Yarra River, and Western Water's bulk entitlements to various sources in the Maribyrnong catchment and in the Werribee system.
• Details of compliance with the conditions of the entitlement, in particular the passing flows, during the year are available in a report submitted by relevant bulk entitlement holder to the Victorian Minister for Water (this information is also typically contained in the responsible holder's annual report).

Streamflow management plans: planned unregulated surface water

• In accordance with section 32C of the Water Act, Melbourne Water, which administers streamflow management plans (SFMP), must submit to the Victorian Minister for Water a report detailing its compliance with the SFMP during the year.
• Compliance with maintaining environmental flows was reported for all SFMPs in the 2016–17 year.
• For more information, these reports can be found on the Melbourne Water website.