FAQs

The Melbourne Hill Road Drainage project is a major infrastructure project to improve the drainage around Melbourne Hill Road and to increase the level of stormwater flooding protection to properties. It spans approximately 35 hectares and includes large residential properties and a commercial precinct which extends from Houghton - Melbourne Hill Road to Heidelberg - Warrandyte Road.

The Melbourne Hill Road drainage upgrade will construct a new drainage system through the Melbourne Hill Road catchments, covering approximately 35 hectares of residential area.

The project originated in response to a severe flooding event (in 2011) that impacted residential and commercial properties in the area. An upgraded drainage system will help direct stormwater into underground drains, reducing the risk of future flooding events in the area.

The upgrade aims to:

• Improve flood protection, pedestrian safety, and road safety while maintaining current roadside parking.
• Divert water flows to underground drains to reduce uncontrolled surface water and impact on properties and structures.
• Minimise visual impacts, preserving trees and the green wedge aesthetic of the area. 

The project will be delivered in stages, including a period of early works plus two construction phases.

Early works
Completed in 2022, this included the construction of new drainage in front and within 16 Lorraine Avenue, Warrandyte.

Phase 1
Completed in 2024, this phase installed a new drainage system within the road reserve.

Phase 2
Beginning in late 2025, this phase will install a new drainage system within property easements.

All properties within the catchment area will be provided with a point to connect their private drainage to the new system. 

The project will fund the connection between the council drain and a private property drain if the property drain meets the following conditions:

• is within five metres of the new Council drain
• has sufficient slope to meet the new pipe
• can be easily located.

If the property's drainage does not meet these criteria, the property owner will be responsible for the cost of adjusting their private drainage system. 

We'll cover the cost to reinstate any existing assets or features that are disturbed during construction. This includes paved areas, retaining walls, fences, trees, and grassed areas. We’ll do our best to reinstate the assets as close to their original appearance as possible.

We’ll do our best to retain as many trees as possible throughout the works. 

We’ll be informed about the type and number of trees through a detailed arborist assessment completed for the project. For any trees that require removal, we’ll follow the planning permit conditions, including revegetation requirements.

We’ll consult with individual property owners about replacement plants to reinstate trees that were removed for the construction. Reinstatement will be limited to semi-mature trees up to 1.5 metres in height when planting. 

Yes, we will be required to temporarily close sections of the road and driveways to allow for construction, such as ground excavation to install pits and pipes. However, a traffic management plan will be in place to ensure the safety of all road users.

In some locations where there is significant excavation and heavy machinery involved, a full road closure may be implemented for the safety of road and driveway users. This will allow the work to be completed more efficiently and quickly.

An easement refers to a section of land registered on a property title that Council may need to access for constructing, inspecting, maintaining, or renewing an asset, such as a drain. The creation of an easement does not alter the ownership of the land. It is crucial that easements remain accessible. 

The Local Government Act 2020 authorises Councils to purchase, or compulsorily compulsory acquire any land that is necessary for them to carry out their duties under the Act.  

The formal process for easement acquisition is specified under the provisions of the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986. We have engaged independent land valuers as part of this process for the Melbourne Hill Road catchment drainage project. 

In the first instance, easement acquisition plans will be prepared for each property in the catchment that is proposed to have an easement. These plans will include the dimensions and location of the proposed easement for individual properties. 

Affected property owners will receive a copy of this plan, along with more detailed information on the acquisition process. 

Following this, we will need to arrange for independent surveyors to peg out one side of the easement to assist discussions about the impact of the proposed works and reinstatement requirements

We are in the process of identifying the exact locations for the necessary easements. Once these have been determined, we’ll reach out to all affected property owners.

The Melbourne Hill Road catchment already has easements over private properties, but most of these are currently in favour of Yarra Valley Water. Many of these existing easements are not wide enough in certain locations to accommodate a new drainage system. In other situations, the existing easements are not properly placed, which may necessitate the creation of new easements.

This project is funded by our Capital Works Program.