Stream frontage management program: Melbourne Water

Stream Frontage Funding

If you own land that fronts onto a river or creek, you may be eligible for funding contributions from Melbourne Water to help you manage the land. Stream frontage management contributions are for work that protects or enhances riverbanks, such as weed control, fencing and planting native vegetation.

Find out if you are eligible and how to apply.

Who can apply

To be eligible, you must:

live in the Port Phillip and Westernport region, and
own freehold land that fronts onto a river or creek, or
manage crown land that fronts onto a river or creek (licensed through the Department of Sustainability and Environment)

We give preference to frontages of more than 50 metres, on important rivers and creeks. You can find a list of which rivers and creeks are considered important on page 79 (appendix 3) of the River Health Strategy:

Port Phillip and Westernport Regional River Health Strategy – appendices (PDF, 245kb)

We will also consider applications from landholders on other waterways in the region.

Urban areas

We will give your application preference if you own stream frontage land in an urban area, and your neighbouring landholders are interested in the program too.

What stream frontage funding contributions are for

Stream frontage management funding aims to improve and enhance riverbanks in order to protect river health.

The benefits to you include:

increasing your land value through improved landscapes and stable land
improving riverbed and bank stability
improving the productivity of farms, though better livestock and pasture management, and shelter for crops
increasing the amount of wildlife living in and near the river, creating healthy habitats and ecosystems
improving water quality

You will also get a Healthy Waterways sign when your project has successfully completed its first year.

If your project is long-term or will be completed in stages, we will consider providing ongoing funding.

Types of work we can fund

We contribute to a range of materials and works, including:

streamside fencing
weed control
setting up watering points for livestock away from rivers
new planting or revegetation
minor work to stabilise riverbanks
some ongoing maintenance

You could also apply for funding to cover the costs of:

technical advice
training and education

Fencing contributions

We offer higher funding contributions the further you agree to set back a fence from the top of the riverbank. The minimum average set-back we will fund is 10m.

We contribute the following percentages towards fencing costs, at these distances from the riverbank:

10m set-backs – we contribute 50%
15m set-backs – we contribute 65%
20m set-backs – we contribute 80%

How to apply

Please complete an expression of interest form and return it to us. We may need to hold your details on file until funding becomes available – this date varies each year.

Expression of interest form – stream frontage management program (PDF, 2MB)

Contact us

We recommend that you contact us for more information to help with your application.

Call 131 722 and ask for the river health team.

Send the river health team an email

What happens next?

We will send you an acknowledgement when we receive your application.

If you are eligible, we will contact you to arrange a site assessment. This allows us to discuss the project with you to develop it further, ensuring the work meets everyone’s requirements.

Your role

Depending on what your project involves, you may be required to:

organise contractors (if needed) to carry out the works
complete the works within the agreed time period – usually 12 or 18 months
fence off the waterway to the agreed set-back and keep fences and gates in good order
maintain new plantings
organise initial and follow-up weed control
keep livestock out of revegetated or regenerated areas
use sympathetic farm and land management practices - read more via the links in the 'elsewhere on the web' section on this page
continue to manage the land in the long term

Melbourne Water