Managing drainage
Key points
- Different authorities look after different drainage and stormwater assets.
- Our drain maintenance works are done mainly to clear blockages that could result in flooding of roads or properties.
- The drainage network includes open drains and underground pipes and pits.
- The road drainage network consists of 'runoff', which is the water flowing from the surface of the road into the drainage network.
- Please report any issues with drainage using the online form below.
Who manages my drainage
Depending on where you’re located and what the issue is, different authorities or people may be responsible for the drainage and flood management in your area.
This may include:
- Melbourne Water- water authority who manages stormwater, drainage, floodplains and waterways
- Cardinia Shire Council - local road authority who oversees local drainage
- You – as a private property owner, you have a responsibility to manage and maintain your private drainage systems
- Department of Transport and Planning - road authority
- South East Water – water service authority
- Victorian Emergency Services - emergency management for flooding events
Managing drainage on private property
It’s important that property owners understand local flood risks, prepare for flooding and maintain their own drainage systems.
Property owners are responsible for:
- stormwater infrastructure within the property boundary
- household drainage
- stormwater connections
- making sure that the drainage system is clear. This includes all pipes up to, and including, the connection into the legal point of discharge.
Every property has an approved point of discharge (APD), which is the designated point where stormwater enters the main drainage system. Issues beyond this point are handled by the asset owner being either Council, the Department of Transport and Planning or Melbourne Water.
You are responsible for stormwater runoff from your property until it reaches the main drainage system, even if it passes through public land or a neighbour’s property.
Tips for managing drainage and waterlogging on your property
There are various ways that you, as a resident, can plan for and respond to the potential impacts of flooding. Council provides detailed emergency management guidance on our Preparing for floods and storms webpage.
One way to manage the impacts of floodwater on your property is to improve property-level drainage and reduce waterlogging.
Property owners, residents and tenants can manage stormwater, improve drainage, and reduce waterlogging by:
- Inspecting roof gutters regularly
- Installing a rainwater tank
- Constructing raised garden beds
- Installing a rain garden
- Replace impermeable surfaces with porous materials
- Maintain tour septic system through regular inspections and pumping it every 3-5 years
- Reduce septic tank load
- Switch to sewerage - If possible, consider switching from an onsite septic tank to the sewerage system. Contact your relevant water authority for more information about how to make the swtich.
Resources for private property owners
How Council manages local drainage
Council is responsible for:
- managing stormwater at the local or precinct level in local roads and landscapes.
- upholding and enforcing planning schemes. As the planning authority, Council applies building and planning controls on developments to address and mitigate flooding risk.
- community support during storm and flood recovery
- the barrel drain and associated pits in the road reserve or within formal drainage easements.
Understand how we're managing flood risk in relation to climate change
Our Drainage Works Program
Maintaining roadside drains is a vital part of our unsealed road maintenance works, as keeping the roads as dry as possible is vital for their condition and performance.
The key reason for road issues (in both sealed and unsealed roads) is the presence of water on the road. This is because water finds its way into the tiny holes between the rocks in the road pavement. Then, when a vehicle drives on the road, it causes larger holes to form and erodes surrounding rock and dirt.
Grass or vegetation in drains
Grass or vegetation growing along or in surface drains is used to help manage water run-off and erosion. In steep areas, vegetation and grasses are used to slow down the speed of the water run-off to limit erosion to the area.
When we clear a surface drain, sections of the drain may be left with vegetation intact. This is intentional; it not only preserves flora and fauna but assists with sediment control.
If you would like to use the material removed from the surface drainage system, call us on 1300 787 624. Please note that material will only be supplied following authorisation from one of our town planning officers.
Melbourne Water
Melbourne Water manages drainage and is responsible for flood for most of the Port Philip and Westernport regions.
Melbourne Water is responsible for:
- Regional drainage (large drains, stormwater infrastructure, Bunyip River, Cardinia Creek, Deep Creek and other carrier drains within the Koo Wee Rup Longwarry Flood Protection District and surrounds)
- Floodplain and waterway management
- Contributing to the protection and improvement of waterway health across greater Melbourne.
- Responding to service impacts regarding water supply and severage systems
- Regional and coastal flood mapping and modelling
- Flood advice for new land use and development