Maribyrnong system

Waterway manager

Storage manager

Environmental Water Holder

Not applicable

Traditional Owners

Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation - statutory authority for the management of Aboriginal heritage values and culture, under the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.

Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation - statutory authority for the management of Aboriginal heritage values and culture, under the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.

System overview

The Maribyrnong catchment is located to the northwest of Melbourne. The main waterways in the catchment are Jacksons Creek, which flows southeast from Mount Macedon, and Deep Creek, which flows south from Lancefield. These tributaries join at Keilor North to form Mirrangbamurn (Maribyrnong River), which flows south to join Birrarung (Yarra River) at Yarraville before flowing into Port Phillip Bay.

Rosslynne Reservoir is in the upper reaches of Jacksons Creek near Gisborne and is the only major storage in the Maribyrnong catchment. The reservoir has a maximum release capacity of 20 ML per day in ideal conditions, which significantly constrains the environmental outcomes that can be achieved in the Maribyrnong system. Water for the environment is primarily used to support environmental outcomes in Jacksons Creek between Rosslynne Reservoir and the confluence with Riddles Creek (that is, delivery of water for the environment to reach 6). Jacksons Creek is a known groundwater-dependent ecosystem on the national Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Atlas and a priority groundwater-dependent ecosystem in the Melbourne Water groundwater-dependent ecosystem program. This means environmental components in the system rely on groundwater at least some of the time.

The VEWH does not hold an environmental entitlement in the Maribyrnong system, and it relies on opportunistic, temporary trade to meet demands. Melbourne Water (as diversion manager) and the VEWH work with local diversion licence holders to purchase unused water when it is available to support environmental outcomes. This arrangement is negotiated each year, is subject to water availability in the bulk entitlement and storage capacity, and only occurs with all parties’ agreement.