Who does what in water

Water in our region is managed by multiple organisations. This page summarises the organisations involved and their key responsibilities in water management.

Despite our different roles, we all work together to responsibly manage our region’s water and protect our environment, catchments and waterways.

Download the Who Does What in Water brochure

Who to contact if you experience a water issue:

Gippsland Water

Our key tasks in water:

• Deliver fresh, clean drinking water to our customers (residential and businesses)
• Provide a wastewater service to customers (residential and businesses)
• Build and maintain water and wastewater infrastructure, such as pipelines and treatment plants
• Treat wastewater to minimise its impact on the environment
• Manage Moondarra Reservoir

We also manage:

• Gippsland Regional Organics, our organics recycling facility which converts waste into compost
• Gippsland Regional Agribusiness, which has 12 farming properties across our facilities.

Southern Rural Water

Key tasks in water:

• Authorise and regulate use of water from waterways, dams and bores for domestic and stock use, irrigation and commercial purposes
• Manage large reservoirs and surrounding recreation areas including Blue Rock Lake, Cowwarr Weir and Glenmaggie Weir
• Manage irrigation districts, including the Macalister Irrigation District (MID)
• Manage bulk entitlements for environmental water, power generation companies and raw (untreated) water for some regional and urban water corporations
• Issue licences to construct a dam or access to creek and river water on your property

For more information visit: Southern Rural Water

West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority

Key tasks in water:

• Waterway and floodplain management
• Development of regional catchment strategies and other natural resource management plans
• Delivering works to remove and control weeds in waterways, streambank stabilisation and protection, replanting native vegetation along waterways and fencing to exclude stock
• Manage and deliver water for the environment
• Provide advice to councils and community on planning matters in areas subject to flooding
• Issue permits for works on waterways
• Regulation of works on waterways and floodplains
• Providing advice about rural drainage

For more information visit: West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority\

Local Government

Key tasks in water:

• Manage stormwater in urban areas
• Manage public playing fields, parks and pools

For more information on your local council visit their website.

Agriculture Victoria

Key tasks in water:

• Promote efficient and responsible water use in agriculture
• Free irrigation system assessments
• Advice on irrigation systems
• Free water testing for salinity
• Information on farm plans and irrigation upgrades
• Pasture and crop advice under irrigation
• Assistance in making a water budget

For more information visit: Agriculture Victoria

Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria

Key tasks in water:

• Reduce pollution and waste in waterways and the broader environment
• Respond to pollution incidents in waterways
• Set water quality standards for policy and compliance
• Provide advice on meeting and exceeding environmental obligations
• Monitor aspects of aquatic environments to protect human health and environment
• Conduct research into marine and freshwater environments
• Advise business and industry on their environmental obligations

For more information visit: EPA Victoria

Traditional Owners

Key tasks in water:

• Represent the Traditional Owners of Gippsland in relation to all aspects of the Cultural Landscape including water
• Can help with Aboriginal Waterway Assessments and Cultural Heritage Assessments

For more information and to establish the Traditional Owner for each area visit:

• Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
• Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation

Victorian Environmental Water Holder

Key tasks in water:

• Primarily work with catchment management authorities (CMAs) and Melbourne Water, who lead the on-ground implementation of the environmental watering program, to determine the annual Seasonal Watering Plan
• Coordinate the planning and delivery of water for the environment in rivers and wetlands across Victoria, including Gippsland, to ensure the efficient and effective use of available water each year to achieve the best environmental outcomes.
• Collaborate with Victoria’s waterway, storage and land managers, as well as Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office and MDBA, to coordinate and achieve environmental outcomes from the delivery of all water.

For more information visit: Victorian Environmental Water Holder

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Key tasks in water:

• Strategic management of Victoria’s groundwater, catchments and waterways, infrastructure, water saving and re-use projects, flood management, governance and water legislation, in partnership with a network of government agencies and water authorities.

For more information visit: DEECA