Protecting and enhancing our environment is central to everything we do. The values of Traditional Owner groups also play a key role in our strategic direction. Explore our approach to environmental stewardship and the projects we're undertaking at Connect Coliban.
Our Environment and Sustainability Policy (PDF 274KB) outlines our approach to managing our activities and assets in a sustainable manner and meeting our general environmental duty requirements.
To see how we're planning for drought, climate change and population growth in our region, see water security.
A Healthy Coliban Catchment
North Central CMA and Coliban Water, together with Traditional Owners the Dja Dja Wurrung, are implementing a 20 year plan, ‘A Healthy Coliban Catchment’ project, to protect the upper section of the Coliban River and its long-term water supply, while boosting habitat connectivity, sustainable land use practices, and building cultural and lifestyle value across the region.
Find out more about A Healthy Coliban Catchment.
Under the Water Industry Act 1994, we are committed to delivering on the Statement of Obligations (Emission Reduction) (PDF 359KB)
The purpose of this Statement is to establish and specify the greenhouse gas emissions reduction and renewable electricity use obligations of water corporations.
We use an ecological vegetation class (EVC) system to map vegetation communities and their conservation status in areas we plan to work. If communities are endangered, we explore all possibilities to avoid affecting these areas.
The Coliban storages offer drought refuge for many fauna species. The arms of Lake Eppalock also offer wind protection and shallow water for wading and waterbirds.
But severe drought impacts on biodiversity, in particular, fish and any protocols used for fish kills, monitoring water quality, stratification and blackwater events.
Dams change the flow of rivers and can threaten the biodiversity of river banks. To understand the effects of developing our waterways, we participate in the Bulk Entitlement (BE) development process, led by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
As a water corporation, the Minister for Water issues Bulk Entitlements to give us the legal right to take and use water. We review Environmental Flow reports prepared by scientific panels to look at the effect dams and bulk entitlements have on each river system.
We manage 3 major supply reservoirs - the Upper Coliban, Lauriston and Malmsbury reservoirs - each contained in their own catchment. Our catchments are open, which means the land is privately managed by the rural community over many land titles.
We protect our regional water supplies through land management and community relationships outlined in our Drinking Water Storages and Land Management Plan (PDF 3.3MB).
We are working together with the North Central CMA and Traditional Owners the Dja Dja Wurrung, to implement a 20 year plan, ‘A Healthy Coliban Catchment’ project, to protect the upper section of the Coliban River and its long-term water supply, while boosting habitat connectivity, sustainable land use practices, and building cultural and lifestyle value across the region. Find out more here.
As part of our catchment protection policies, we have developed emergency management plans for dam safety and flood mitigation:
- Dam Safety Policy Statement (PDF 530KB)
- Dams Flood Mitigation Policy Statement (PDF 557KB)
You can read our Drought Preparedness Plan here.