Melbourne Water's waterways and drainage boundary has been extended by more than 5,000 square kilometres to cover the majority of the Port Phillip and Westernport catchments as part of the Victorian Government's Our Water Our Future action plan.
This change aims to improve the health of rivers and creeks in areas where there was previously no waterways, drainage and flooding manager. The new arrangements will also result in better flood protection and regional drainage, improved river health and water quality. More than 8,000 km of rivers and creeks, 1,300 km of drains and 109 wetlands, stormwater retarding basins and urban lakes will now be managed.
To fund activities in the new boundary area, Melbourne Water has introduced a waterways charge which will be levied on approximately 55,000 properties in Western Water's region starting from July 2008.
For 2008/09 the charges are:
Residential properties inside the urban growth boundary $62.08
Commercial properties inside the urban growth boundary $81.38
Properties outside the urban growth boundary $38.89
In our region, Western Water is collecting the charge on behalf of Melbourne Water.
For more information, please visit www.melbournewater.com.au/waterwayscharge
Or telephone Western Water on 1800 805 301.