Melbourne: Water access and use
- 89% of the region's water allocations were for urban supply, primarily for residential use.
- Around 69% of the total water allocation was used in 2018–19, similar to last year.
For further information on water rights and water use within the Melbourne region during the year scroll down this page or click on the links below:
Water rights and use
Surface water rights
Figure S9 Surface water allocations and diversions in the Melbourne region for the years ending 30 June, from 2013–2019
- Surface water allocations for individual users and the urban system were similar to last year.
- Actual diversions to the urban system were 3% less than last year, which was influenced by the dry conditions and the decrease in surface water availability across the region.
- Total diversions to individual users (allocated and non-allocated) were similar to last year.
Groundwater rights
Figure S10 Groundwater allocation for
key management areas in the 2018–19 year
- Approximately half of the groundwater allocations were in designated groundwater management areas, primarily the Koo Wee Rup Water Supply Protection Area and the Nepean Groundwater Management Area (see Region description). The remainder were in unincorporated areas across the region.
- Most of the groundwater allocations in the region are associated with water use for agricultural purposes.
Figure S11 Groundwater allocations and extractions in the Melbourne region for the years ending 30 June, from 2013–2019
- Allocations and extractions for both individual users and the urban water system were similar to last year. Urban supply in particular has changed little over the last few years.
Water market activity
| Transaction type | Number of transactions | Volume (ML) |
| Surface water transactions | ||
| Entitlement trades | 59 | 533 |
| Allocation trades | 102 | 3,370 |
| Permanent trade of take-and-use licences | 22 | 1,934 |
| Temporary trade of take-and-use licences | 61 | 1,261 |
| Groundwater transactions | ||
| Permanent trade of take-and-use licences* | 42 | 1,030 |
| Temporary trade of take-and-use licences* | 42 | 1,086 |
* Excludes any trade within unincorporated areas
- 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.
- More information about water trading in the Melbourne region is available from the Bureau's Water Market Dashboard and the Victorian Water Register.
Cultural and environmental water
Cultural benefits
- In general, water regimes required to support cultural values are not quantitatively defined in water allocation plans; however, the cultural values are considered within the environmental water provisions.
- More information on cultural water requirements are provided in the Cultural water management section in the 'Region description'.
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
- The Victorian Environmental Water Holder holds three environmental water entitlements: Consolidated Yarra Environmental Entitlement 2006 (revised in July 2014), Tarago and Bunyip Rivers Environmental Entitlement 2009 (revised in June 2014), 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 year, environmental releases were made by Melbourne Water to meet the region's ecological objectives in the Yarra, Tarago, Maribyrnong and Werribee rivers (see below figure). The total volume of held environmental water delivered was 18,462 ML.
Figure S12 Delivery of held environmental water in each river
system within the Melbourne region
Bulk entitlements
- 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.
- 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 specified for the entitlement during the year, in particular the passing flows, are available in a report submitted by relevant bulk entitlement holders 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, must submit to the Victorian Minister for Water a report detailing its compliance with the plan during the year.
- For more information, these reports can be found on the Melbourne Water website.