Water Stewardship

This is your opportunity to be at the forefront of Water Stewardship in Western Port and develop a Site Water Stewardship Plan. We will provide you with assistance to develop a Plan and the training necessary.

Please note – currently, we are not taking on new sites for Water Stewardship but are working hard to secure funding to be able to. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in Water Stewardship and we will put you on a waiting list for the next round. We are continuing to support our current network of Water Stewards and are offering the chance to review and update plans and assist in leveraging funding for actions where needed.

The Western Port Biosphere has established the first regional recognition program in the water stewardship framework and is being considered as a model for other programs in Europe, the US and China – read more.

Find out how to become a Water Steward

 

What is Water Stewardship?

Water Stewardship is a form of water management which can be externally accredited. It builds on existing works and planning that a site manager has already undertaken, or can be developed from scratch, and is easily implemented.

The Alliance for Water Stewardship has been developing a global water stewardship system since the Millennium Drought. The system is based on:

  • an international water stewardship standard against which participating organisations can be assessed;
  • a credible verification program for assessing participating companies and organisations, and;
  • a brand and recognition system that encourages and rewards participation in improved water management practices.​

With funding over 3 years from Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and support from our partners Inghams Enterprises, The Alliance for Water Stewardship, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, South East Water and Port Phillips & Western Port CMA, water stewardship is intended to achieve four outcomes:

  • Sustainable water balance (the quantity of water available);
  • Good water quality;
  • Healthy important water related areas, and;
  • Good water governance.​

Aims

Our aims for the Biosphere Water Stewardship Program are to:

  • Improve the water quality and ecology of local waterways;
  • Improve water security for water users within the Biosphere;
  • Improve and maintain the ecological conditions of significant receiving waters; for example, Ramsar wetlands, within the Biosphere.​

Our Water Stewards

We congratulate the following landholders, businesses and organisations who have committed to the Biosphere’s Water Stewardship Program. The program helps participants to improve water management on their properties and to positively influence local waterways.

We would love you to join the water stewardship program. Contact our Water Stewardship Project Officer, Lance Lloyd: [email protected], (03) 5979 2167 for more information.

Balcombe/Devilbend Creek Catchment

  • The Garden Vineyard
  • Woodleigh School (Penbank Campus)

Bass River Catchment

  • Bass Coast Farm

Cardinia Creek Catchment

  • Dewhurst Farm
  • Harewood

Hastings North Catchment

  • Rain, Hayne & Shine Farmyard
  • St Joseph’s Primary School
  • St Mary’s Primary School

Langwarrin Creek Catchment

  • Allnuts Farm
  • Moonlit Sanctuary
  • Quilly Park

Merricks – Hastings South Catchment

  • Coolart Wetlands and Homestead
  • Lord Somers Camp
  • Somers Camp
  • Luxton Park

Phillip Island

  • Newhaven College

Sweetwater Creek Catchment

  • Woodleigh School (Minimbah Campus)

​Watson Creek Catchment

  • Bembridge Golf Course
  • Freshfield Alpacas
  • Inghams Enterprises
  • Parnham Farms
  • Peninsula Fresh Organics
  • Somerville Secondary College
  • Sorenson’s
  • TGA Australia Nursery
  • Westerfield
  • Woodleigh School (Senior Campus)
  • Bayside Christian College

Plus

  • Diggers Nursery, Dromana
  • The Revillaging Project, Boneo
  • The Uncommon Folk collective

Elements of a Site Water Stewardship Plan

Drivers for establishing a Site Water Stewardship Plan

  • Water scarcity;
  • Water quality;
  • Ecosystem health;
  • Social equality or licence or operate.

More information

Building a Water Stewardship Community in Western Port

Become a Water Steward

Case Study: Inghams – an example of good water stewardship practice

​Watson Creek Catchment

Be Water Smart!

Publications & Resources: Water Stewardship

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PO Box 261, Hastings VIC 3915
Australia
Ph: (03) 5979 2167

Photography credits: J Harrison (eastern curlew).
Unless otherwise stated all content, including the logo, are copyright © Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation Ltd.
The content and logo must not be used without the Foundation’s written consent.