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Environment/Waste
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Water
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In 2003, Greater Dandenong was awarded the Milestone 1 ICLEI (International Council for Local Government Initiatives) Water Campaign™ Corporate and Community Award for its commitment towards sustainable water management. The Water Campaign™ provides a framework to review the current management of freshwater resources and how local government can contribute to the improved management of these resources within their own operations, across the municipality and the catchment. In completing milestone 1, Council produced a water inventory and forecast direct and indirect impacts on local water resources. Council's water bill audit, undertaken as part of milestone 1, saved $65,000 with ongoing savings of $4,284 per annum at no capital cost. Council is currently working towards achieving milestones 2 and 3, which involves the establishment of comprehensive targets and actions for conserving water and using it more efficiently. The 'Towards a Water Smart City' - Council's Sustainable Water Use Plan sets the strategic approach that Council will take to reduce the amount of potable water used within its own facilities and operations. Further work is still required for Council to fully complete milestones 2 & 3 of the Water Campaign™ including development of a plan to improve water quality and reduce community water use. top
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Greater Dandenong's Parks Department has implemented some innovative water management initiatives; including: - Using recycled water from the Eastern Treatment Plant to water street trees around the city
- Reducing annual garden beds - which are water intensive and require daily watering - by 40% during Summer
- Installing water efficient sprinklers
- Separately measuring water consumption on all sports fields
- Increasing mowing heights of lawns to decrease lawn water use and stress
Council has also introduced drought tolerant grasses on 20 sports fields including: Alex Nelson Reserve; Booth Reserve; Greaves Reserve; Mills Reserve; Noble Park Reserve; Police Paddocks and Shepley Oval. This initiative provides a saving up to 70% of water used to irrigate ovals which have been converted.
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Every year, Melbournians make about 100 million recreational visits to our rivers, creeks and streams. Approximately one-in-three Melbournians live within one kilometre of a waterway. The over-allocation of water for human use and consumption, coupled with unsustainable land management, has resulted in serious degradation of waterway environments.
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47% of rivers and creeks in Melbourne Water's operating area are classified as being in poor or very poor condition. Ongoing problems include the loss of biodiversity, algal blooms, higher turbidity, the spread of aquatic weeds, bed and bank erosion and diminishing wetland environments. Three main watercourses flow through the City of Greater Dandenong: Dandenong Creek, Mile Creek and Eumemmerring Creek. Yarraman Creek is also significant. To contribute to improved water quality, Council has installed four gross pollutent traps to key stormwater drains across the city. These traps are preventing rubbish entering the creek system. Their locations are:
Clow St, Dandenong
Kernot Crt, Noble Park North
Alamein St, Noble Park
Heatherton Rd (Mile Creek), Noble Park Further information on our creeks is available in the State of the Environment Report (link to document as per page 1) and Melbourne Water's "Melbourne's Rivers and Creeks 2004".
You can also download Greater Dandenong's Creeks and Corridors Strategy
It is estimated that more than 90% of the litter found on Victoria's beaches and waterways comes from suburban streets. The City of Greater Dandenong has installed four gross pollutant litter traps (two in Dandenong and one each in Springvale and Noble Park), which in total collect 10,000kg of litter annually. The traps prevents items such as cigarette butts, syringes, rotting vegetables, plastic bags, bottles, vegetation and thousands of other items from entering our creeks and finding their way to Port Phillip Bay.
Click here to find out more about Greater Dandenong's stormwater strategy
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| Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth and as such we must change our habits when it comes to how we use water. Each year the typical Melbourne home uses 270,000 litres of water- equal to about 5 average swimming pools. Savewater.com.au is Australia's leading source on water conservation. You will find information on Melbourne's current water storage levels on their website, as well as hundreds of tips on how you can save water in the home, garden, business or farm.
Melbourne Water's Conserve Water site allows you to calculate your household's water usage and provides plenty of tips along the way.
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Waterwatch Australia is a national water quality monitoring network that encourages all Australians to become involved and active in the protection and management of their waterways and catchments. The Waterwatch network is made up of individuals, community groups and school groups who undertake a variety of biological and habitat assessments and physical and chemical tests to build up a picture of the health of their waterways and catchments.
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The Greater Dandenong Environment Group, through funding from the City of Greater Dandenong, runs Waterwatch activities on the first Sunday of every month at the Dandenong Wetland (off Heatherton Road). See mini beasts and birds on alternating months. Parking at the front of Dandenong Basketball Stadium on South West corner, off Stud Road. Contact council's arks department for further details.
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The EPA provides the following tips to help protect our waterways: - Place your cigarette butts in the bin; don't drop them on the street.
- Put your litter in a bin or take it home. All litter dropped on the street follows the same path: through the storm water system, to our beaches and creeks.
- Compost or mulch leaves and grass clippings; don't leave them in the gutter.
- Don't allow paint, turps or cleaners to enter drains. EcoRecycle runs household chemical collections regularly.
- Wash your car on grass or at the carwash. Don't allow detergents to enter the gutter.
- Have building supplies delivered to your site. If left on the footpath, road or nature strip, the wind and rain will sweep pollutants into stormwater drains.
- When cutting bricks and pavers, do it over grassed areas or a container that collects sediment.
- Report litterers. If you see someone throwing litter from a car or other vehicle, report them to EPA's 24 hour toll free Litter Report Line on 1800 35 25 55.
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In Australia, a significant of domestic water use occurs in the garden. Most of this water is better quality than it needs to be - plants and soil do not require quality water that is fit for human consumption. To save water in the garden, consider the following:
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- Reduce your water consumption by following some water-saving tips
- Rainwater can be collected and used instead of tap water
- Grey water can be recycled and directed to the garden with care
Water-wise gardening is based on determining the needs of your garden, selecting appropriate plants and sound design practices. See South-East Water's water saving newletter. For information on collecting rainwater in a backyard tank to use on your garden, click here. Grey water refers to the water that is used and then discharged from household appliances, such as showers, dishwashers and washing machines. Recycling grey water onto your garden can save a substantial amount of water - a grey water trial carried out by Victoria University estimated water savings of between 32,000 litres and 57,000 litres per year. South East Water provides Household Grey water Reuse Guidelines. top
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The State Government is encouraging Water Smart Homes and Gardens by offering cash rebates for a range of water saving products - including rainwater tanks and grey water recycling systems.
Click here to find out more
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