Melbourne Water has opened public consultation on a major upgrade to Cardinia Reservoir, inviting community feedback before detailed works begin on one of Victoria’s most strategically important water storages.
The consultation period runs until 26 April 2026 and will inform how the dam upgrade is delivered.
Built in the early 1970s, Cardinia Reservoir remains a critical component of Melbourne’s integrated water supply network. Water from the reservoir can be pumped to Silvan Reservoir and distributed across much of metropolitan Melbourne, transferred directly to the CBD and the Mornington Peninsula, or delivered via the desalination pipeline to customers of Westernport Water and South Gippsland Water.
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Why upgrade now?
The proposed works are designed to ensure the reservoir meets contemporary dam safety and engineering standards.
Planned measures include raising sections of the dam wall, upgrading internal filters, improving leakage monitoring and collection systems, installing new security fencing, renewing access tracks and enhancing park amenities.
Melbourne Water Executive General Manager, Service and Asset Lifecycle, Matt Daley, said the upgrade is part of a broader strategy to proactively manage ageing assets.
“Maintaining healthy, resilient reservoirs is vital to securing Melbourne’s water supply for generations to come. As industry standards evolve, we continue to invest in the critical infrastructure that keeps pace with our rapidly growing city,” Mr Daley said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with Cardinia continuing to operate throughout the works to avoid disruption to Melbourne’s supply.
Balancing safety and environment
A key challenge for the project will be managing environmental impacts within the surrounding parklands.
Access requirements mean that some removal of native vegetation will be unavoidable. Melbourne Water has reduced the proposed footprint by almost half and avoided areas identified as high ecological value. An Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation assessment is underway to ensure compliance with national requirements.
“We work hard to avoid native vegetation removal, wherever possible. For the Cardinia dam upgrade, we have reduced the amount of native vegetation to be removed by almost half, and avoided areas of high ecological value,” Mr Daley said.
To offset impacts, Melbourne Water plans to plant five hectares of carbon forest and revegetate approximately 40 hectares across the parklands, equivalent to around 26 AFL ovals.
The organisation is also working with Parks Victoria, the Victorian Government, the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and other agencies to manage biodiversity and cultural considerations.
While Cardinia Reservoir will remain operational during construction, the surrounding park and access roads will close for the duration of the works.