Reforming the Water Act
We’re working hard to secure effective legislation that protects our rivers and gives us water security for the future.
Over the last few years, Environment Victoria has earned a reputation as a credible, respected and important stakeholder in Victorian water management and river health. As the state’s peak environment group, we bring a Victorian community river health perspective to policy reform and management practices. In 2010 – a state election year - we did some work with the Environment Defenders Office, looking at just how exactly the Victorian Water Act can be improved to ensure a fair share of total available water for our rivers. Next state election we’ll be keen to see how many of these amendments and principles are adopted by parties contesting the election – a litmus test of their commitment to rescuing our rivers.
Read more about how to bring the Victorian Water Act into the 21st Century
We also tap into the wealth of expertise and passion that is alive and well in local river champions across the state.
Learn more about our participation in a series of initiatives...
- We’re helping to shape the Victorian Government’s Sustainable Water Strategies for the western and Gippsland regions, with a focus on improving the health of rivers and wetlands by increasing water available to the environment. We’re also lobbying for greater efficiency and accountability in consumptive water use and for previously unaccounted water uses, such as farm dams and land use interceptions, to be included in the licensing framework.
- We’re participating in several national processes, such as the implementation of the National Water Initiative and the development of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. We’re working to bring state and federal governments closer together on water management issues. And we’re focused on establishing and meeting water recovery targets for northern Victorian rivers that will ensure their long-term health in a drying climate.
- We’re working with Commonwealth and Victorian environmental water holders to ensure that Victoria’s rivers and wetlands benefit fully from investment in water recovery. This includes timely and transparent reports on the delivery of environmental flows.
- We’re coordinating local volunteers to participate in the development and implementation of state water reform processes on Environment Victoria’s behalf.
- We’re contributing to the development of a Victorian Strategy for Healthy Rivers, Estuaries and Wetlands, with a focus on its key objective of ‘healthy rivers, streams and floodplains, which meet the environmental, economic, recreational and cultural needs of current and future generations’.
- We’re offering amendments to the Victorian Water Act and working to enhance the protection of the Environmental Water Reserve and establish an independent Environmental Water Holder.
- We work closely with other groups to coordinate our efforts, including the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Environment Defender’s Office, the Victorian National Parks Association, state and federal government departments and agencies, and Catchment Management Authorities. We also work with our affiliate groups and river champions, and regional groups from farmers, to environment groups and business.
Want more information?
Read Environment Victoria's Draft Vic Waterways strategy submission
Learn about the Engineering a Crisis in a Ramsar Wetland
You’ll want to stay up to date with this stuff. Check out the latest buzz below.
State adopting softer approach on land clearing
22 May 2013
Tom Arup, The Age
Unknown wonders: Barmah-Millewa forest
14 May 2013
Susan Lawler, The Conversation
Transport a winner, but others are not so happy
8 May 2013
ABC
Budget abandons outstanding environment election promises
7 May 2013
Merger puts 'fox in hen house'
11 April 2013
Peter Collins, Warrnambool Standard
DSE merger signals risk antiquated approach to environment will continue
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Today Premier Naphine announced the merger of the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Department of Primary Industry, as...
moreRecord demand for Basin water
3 April 2013
Lisa Kingsberry, ABC
Demand for water from the Murray-Darling Basin is the highest it has ever been at this time of year.
Phil Grahame, a water trader in Victoria's north-...
moreReport details murky
1 April 2013
Louis Nelson, Latrobe Valley Express
THE "lack of analysis" in a scientific report used to bolster Yallourn power station's application to increase water discharge from its open cut...
moreWater use soars after heatwave
14 March 2013
Jason Dowling, The Age
The water use records keep tumbling this year, with Melbourne recording another record in the past week.
With temperatures well into the...
moreChange of leadership offers chance to turn over new leaf on environment
Thursday, 7 March 2013
Environment Victoria is calling on Premier Denis Napthine to rethink the Baillieu government’s ‘scorched earth’...
more
Put your money where your mouth is
How you invest and manage your money can have a big impact on our environment. So why not take the Ethical Money Challenge, to ensure that your money is used to create the future you want?
So you’ve tried green cleaning, riding to work and eating green. You’re a real green...
more
Basin Plan implementation gets underway
For better or worse, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan became law in November 2012. After the many trials and tribulations that went into the plan’s creation, we are now in a different phase – ...
more
Duck hunting in Ramsar listed wetlands – is it a wise use?
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Significance is an international treaty that provides for the conservation and ‘wise use’ of wetlands and their resources. Its mission is "the...
more
Victoria’s rivers in 2013
We all know it’s been hot this summer. Records have been dropping like flies. But we may not have noticed that it has also been dry, and this is having a dramatic impact on flows in rivers across Victoria.
Right now, take a moment to reflect on what’s been achieved for the Murray
One of the first things I did for a Healthy Rivers campaign was to stand on the banks of the Yarra and hand out leaflets to commuters asking them to support their politicians in returning 500 gigalitres of water to the Murray River.
That was almost 10 years ago in 2003. Last week, at...
more- Victoria: green and growing |
- Water Security, Healthy Rivers: Our Vision for Melbourne |
- An Audit of Seven Environmental Bulk Entitlements – Recommended, Planned, and Actual Release of Environmental Water to Victoria’s Stressed Rivers |
- Submission to 2009 Biennial Assessment of progress in Implementation of the National Water Initiative |
- Environment Victoria’s submission to the draft Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy |
- Inquiry into Melbourne's Future Water Supply |
- Environment Victoria submission to Environment Effects Statement for the Victorian Desalination Project |
- Submission to the EPBC investigation of the Sugarloaf Pipeline |
- Environment Victoria submission to Project Impact Assessment of the Sugarloaf Pipeline Proposal |
- Submission to Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy Discussion Paper |
