Building our resilience through water management

Water is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of our community and the liveability of Manningham.

Southern Australia is forecast to receive less annual rainfall on average in coming years. This will reduce water availability from water supply catchments. Water demand is also expected to increase as our City grows.

Yet, our changing climate is also expected to bring greater intensity rainfall events, increasing our flood risk and periods of low rainfall with increased drought risk.

We’re working on various flood and stormwater management initiatives to build a more resilient and liveable Manningham.

Part of this work includes developing a draft Integrated Water Management Strategy. It will respond to emerging water challenges and identify opportunities to adapt to a more water constrained future.

Earlier this year, we invited the community to take part in Manningham’s Water Future survey. Thank you to those of you who shared how you use and conserve water and why it’s important to you.

Your responses paint a picture of a community that strongly values the Birrarung (the Yarra River) and our creeks, our environment and wildlife.

The top three reasons why the Birrarung (Yarra River) and Manningham creeks and lakes are important to survey respondents were:

  1. They provide wildlife habitat and support biodiversity.
  2. Promote connections with nature to support mental health and wellbeing..
  3. Assist with cooling during hot weather and improve neighbourhood liveability.


You also told us some of the ways you’re already taking action to build our resilience and conserve water.

  • 98% of respondents use front load washing machines, use dual flush toilets or only run washing machines with full loads.
  • 41% of respondents use rainwater collected from private roofs for watering gardens, toilet flushing, carwashing and other uses.
  • More than 85% of respondents also support the use of alternative water sources for garden watering, toilet flushing and laundry purposes.


These opportunities will be a key focus of the draft Integrated Water Management Strategy, which will be available for public exhibition in mid-2024.

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