Planning for our waterways

Melbourne’s population is growing, and by 2050, it is projected to exceed 8 million. As the city grows, protecting our waterways and natural environments for today’s residents and future generations is crucial.

The Planning for Waterways program takes a Melbourne-wide view to provide holistic protections to build a better environment, improving the quality of life for society and nature.

A key way to safeguard our waterways is to develop new planning protections.

It is proposed that the new planning protections will be implemented across 17 waterways:

• Cherry Creek
• Deep Creek
• Darebin Creek
• Edgars Creek
• Emu Creek
• Gardiners Creek
• Jacksons Creek
• Koonung Koonung Creek
• Kororoit Creek
• Maribyrnong River
• Merri Creek
• Moonee Ponds Creek
• Plenty River
• Skelton Creek
• Steele Creek
• Stony Creek
• Werribee River.

To find out more about how we are working to safeguard these waterways and tell us what you think about the proposed new protections visit Engage Victoria between 10 February and 16 March 2025.

The vision of the Planning for Waterways program is based on several years of detailed work on the Yarra River, the Waterways of the West and the Rivers of the Barwon. Experts in these areas have given advice to the Minister for Planning about the need to protect the waterways in a complete and thoughtful way.

The program also integrates with the Green Links grants program, managed by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

We are working with Traditional Owners of the lands over which these creeks and rivers run and recognise their deep connection to Country and the role they have in their preservation.

Page last updated: 10/02/25