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.
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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.
Green programs to be axed
Wednesday, 3 May 2012
Josh Gordon, The Age
The looming carbon tax will be used by the Baillieu government to justify scrapping a raft of state environmental programs as part of a push to end duplication between the Commonwealth...
moreBaillieu govt slashes environment department budget
Tuesday, 2 May 2012
Climate Spectator
The Victorian government has taken the axe to funding for its environment department, with the division the hardest hit by a tough budget.
All up, $130.6...
moreClimate, land, biodiversity face biggest cuts
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Adam Morton, The Age
Spending on environmental programs will be cut by $130.6 million next financial year - the biggest reduction for any department.
The cuts to the Department of...
moreVic budget shuns environment: green group
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
9 News
The Victorian budget failed to improve the government's track record on the environment, critics say.
Environment Victoria described the budget as disappointing and said the...
moreBudget continues Baillieu Government’s record of environmental failure
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Environment Victoria has described today State budget as “deeply disappointing” and said it continues the Baillieu Government’s record of...
moreBaillieu Government’s new approach to water planning hits the spot
Monday, 23 April 2012
Environment Victoria has welcomed the forward-thinking approach to urban water management taken in the Living Melbourne, Living Victoria Implementation Plan released by...
moreScientists condemn Murray-Darling draft as misleading
Thursday, 5 April 2012
David Wroe, The Age
The Wentworth Group of scientists has condemned the draft plan to save the Murray-...
moreNew poll finds Victorians want clean energy action. Is Premier Baillieu listening?
Friday, 9 March 2012
A new survey of attitudes on the environment has found that most Victorians believe the state government has a responsibility to reduce greenhouse pollution....
moreFlood inquiry barking up the wrong tree
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Environment Victoria today said that the state’s river systems are in danger of being decimated by the Baillieu Government’s proposal to clear river-side vegetation and resurrect failed...
moreBaillieu wants $380 from Canberra for river projects
Friday, 2 March 2012
Tom Arup, The Age
Victoria has demanded $380 million in federal funding for environmental works in the Murray-Darling, as it begins to outline its wish list under plans to reform...
more
Time to put pen to paper
for Murray submissions!
It’s hard to believe but the 20 week consultation period on the draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan is coming to a close – submissions are due on Monday, 16 April. So for all of us who’ve been procrastinating (including me!) this is...
more
2011
a year in the life of the Healthy Rivers campaign
And what a year it’s been! I came back to work in January in the midst of some of the biggest floods Victoria has ever seen. My first appointment was a trip to Bendigo to present to the a target="_blank" href="http...
more
Here's to a Christmas
without dead fish
A little over a year ago, the beach town of Anglesea had dead fish floating down its river.
While some people pointed the finger at the Alcoa's coal...
more
What will the Basin Plan deliver
for the Goulburn River?
The Goulburn River provides more water for use in Victoria than any other river except the mighty Murray itself. In 2009/10 a whopping 974 billion litres was...
more
All about yabbies
Environment Victoria volunteer Kaye Cleary takes a look below the surface
Where are our yabbies going and are they getting smaller? Do you have childhood memories of sitting in the shade by the waters edge, pulling out yabbies; big monsters, fat-tailed mums-to-be, and...
more- Summit calls for green makeover for 1 million Victorian homes |
- Water Security, Healthy Rivers: Our Vision for Melbourne |
- New Report: Water Security, Healthy Rivers |
- An Audit of Seven Environmental Bulk Entitlements – Recommended, Planned, and Actual Release of Environmental Water to Victoria’s Stressed Rivers |
- Environmental flows audit shows the gaps between promises and performance |
- 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 |
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Standing on the banks of the Maribyrnong River, there is a good chance that you might see the slim, blade-like hull of a rowing boat slicing its way through the calm currents...
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