The Water Risks in the Upper Moorabool and Upper Maribrynong Catchment is a study that aims to identify cultural, environmental, social and economic values in the upper Moorabool and upper Maribyrnong catchments, investigate water risks, and identify opportunities to support the sustainable management of limited water resources, now and into the future.
This project forms part of the implementation plan of the Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy, giving effect to Action 4-13: Review of water resource risks in small, dry, peri-urban catchments. The Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy was developed with the intent to secure the region’s long-term water supplies to protect jobs, farms, ecosystems, communities, and the cultural values of Traditional Owners in the region. The Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy has identified that water resources within peri-urban catchments are facing increasing pressure from small-scale agriculture and changing land use, with increasing urban and semi-rural development, against the backdrop of a changing climate.
The review will involve desktop research, stakeholder engagement and hydrologic modelling to determine existing water dependent values and the risks those values face. This information will be used in a risk assessment to provide insight into the most vulnerable aspects of water dependent values in the catchments, and feed into an informed investigation around opportunities and improvements.
An important element of this project is the guidance, perspectives, and information that can be acquired from key stakeholders within the catchment. Communications and engagement activities will involve active participation from members of various stakeholder groups throughout the duration of the project to inform and guide the project (as shown below in Figure 1). This will formally take place via a Stakeholder Reference Group, who will meet six times at key milestone stages throughout the project.
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Project map
Figure 1 Project Map
Information gathered through the engagement activities and the data and gap analysis will inform modelling, aimed at quantifying impacts of water usage and climate change within the catchments. The hydrologic modelling task will involve a review of existing models and reflect updated information about current water usage, farm dam volumes and spatial variability and projected growth areas in the catchment. The data collection and landholder engagement will provide important insights for input and validation to this stage.
Once the values have been determined, and the modelling is complete, the two streams will come together to identify the risks posed in the two catchments, and options identified to mitigate these risks. This will help provide Southern Rural Water with opportunities to best manage the current and potential future water resource risks they face.
The project, which is being delivered by Southern Rural Water, is funded via the Victorian Government. The project is to be delivered by Alluvium Consulting and Hydrology and Risk Consulting, in collaboration with Southern Rural Water and the Stakeholder Reference Group.