Melbourne Water

Updates for Diverters

Water Diverters Update - Summer 2006/07

STREAMFLOW ALERT!!

All licence holders will be aware of the extremely dry conditions over recent months. Rainfall is well below average, with more rain occurring in January-February this year than received in the normally wetter months of August - September. Year to date rainfall for Upper Yarra area is just 494mm while in the west things are even drier with just 298mm at Keilor. The Bureau of Meteorology long-term forecast suggests continued lower than average rainfall conditions are likely ahead.

The extremely dry conditions have led to a serious lack of flow in nearly all of our waterways and streams, impacting on both water users and the environment. Environmental flows are necessary to maintain waterway health. When a waterway deteriorates because it is flow stressed, the quality and supply of water for our homes, farms and businesses suffers. Considerable alterations to flow have the potential to bring about consequences such as fish deaths, algal blooms and increases in salinity.

As a result of the very low flow conditions, pumping bans have already come into force on a large number of waterway catchments. Dam owners reliant on winter and spring rains to fill their dams have not been able to do so this season and many will commence the irrigation season with insufficient water held in storage. Those agricultural businesses that rely solely on river and stream flows for their watering needs will face significant hardship as the extended drought conditions continue.

All active water users should carefully consider their irrigation needs in the months ahead. Irrigated areas should be reduced substantially unless sufficient water is held in storage or alternative water supplies are available. Licence holders should monitor closely the status of water availability in their catchment and comply with any restrictions or bans that are in force.

Melbourne Water staff will be conducting continued inspections across the season and action will be taken against those found taking water inappropriately during ban periods.

The tables below highlight the catchments where Bans or Restrictions on diverting water apply as at 6 October 2006.. The current status of all waterways is available here. For diverters unsure of which catchment your local waterway is grouped under for restrictions or bans, Table 3 (below) has been provided to assist.

Table 1. Catchments Banned from diverting water. Snapshot on 6 October 2006..

Diamond Creek	Mullum Mullum Creek	Wandin Yallock Creek
Hoddles Creek	Pauls Creek	Watts River
Kororoit Creek	Plenty River	Woori Yallock Creek
Maribyrnong River	Steels/Dixons Creek

Table 2. Catchments Restricted from diverting water. Snapshot on 6 October 2006.

Yarra River

Table 3. Waterway & Catchment listing

Creek	Catchment	Creek	Catchment
Armstrong Creek	Yarra River	Little Stringybark Creek	Stringybark Creek
Arthurs Creek	Diamond Creek	Log Creek	Stringybark Creek
Avonleigh Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Lone Star Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Badger Creek	Yarra River	Lyre Bird Gully Creek	Olinda Creek
Barrier Creek	Little Yarra River	Lyrebird Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Big Pats Creek	Yarra River	Macclesfield Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Blackleather Creek	Hoddles Creek	McCrae Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Blake Creek	Little Yarra River	McMahons Creek	Yarra River
Bob Mann Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Menzies Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Boggy Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Merlynston Creek	Merri Creek
Boggy Creek - Healesville	Yarra River	Meyers Creek	Watts River
Boys Camp Creek	Little Yarra River	Micks Creek	Watts River
Britannia Creek	Little Yarra River	Mississippi Creek	Yarra River
Bruces Creek	Plenty River	Nathania Springs Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Brushy Creek	Yarra River	New Chum Creek	Watts River
Cassells Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Pancake Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Cement Creek	Yarra River	Perrins Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Central Creek	Merri Creek	Peters Creek	Diamond Creek
Chirnside Park Drain	Yarra River	Platts Creek	Yarra River
Club Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Rich Creek	Olinda Creek
Cockatoo Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Rocky Creek	Yarra River
Condon Creek	Little Yarra River	Rundells Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Dee River	Yarra River	Running Creek	Diamond Creek
Desmond Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Sassafras Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Dixons Creek	Steels Creek	Scotchmans Creek	Yarra River
Don Creek	Yarra River	Scrubby Creek	Plenty River
Donnellys Creek	Watts River	Sheepstation Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Edgars Creek	Merri Creek	Shepherd Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Emerald Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Slaty Creek	Little Yarra River
Ferndale Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Stoney Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Fir Tree Creek	Little Yarra River	Stony Creek	Yarra River
Flannigans Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Ti Tree Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Four Mile Creek	Yarra River	Tomahawk Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Frenchmans Creek	Little Yarra River	Red Shirt Gully Creek	Diamond Creek
Gembrook Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Watsons Creek	Watsons Creek
Grace Burn Creek	Watts River	Wattle Creek	Woori Yallock Creek
Hackett Creek	Little Yarra River	Westbreen Creek	Monee Ponds Creek
Hansen Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Wet Lead Creek	Hoddles Creek
Ida Roy Creek	Woori Yallock Creek	Wild Cattle Creek	Wandin Yallock Creek
Kobecke Creek	Little Yarra River	Wild Dog Creek	Wandin Yallock Creek
Learmonth Creek	Little Yarra River	Wombat Creek	Hoddles Creek
Little Mick Creek	Yarra River	Ythan Creek	Yarra River

It is important to remember that it is your responsibility to check the restriction or ban status of your catchment before taking water. Check online or call 131 722 at any time. Diverters seeking additional information from Melbourne Water, should contact Steve Hosking, Phil Biasi or Tim Donovan on 9712 2227.

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