Wetlands - A Technical Report to inform the Healthy Waterways Strategy Mid-term Review

Sep 14, 2026

Technical report supporting the Healthy Waterways Strategy mid-term review for Melbourne Water. The document synthesizes evaluation findings across wetland values, conditions, and performance objectives, covering monitoring methods and limitations. It reviews progress on management actions and decision-making influences, and presents recommendations for science inquiry. The report further evaluates wetland frogs, fish, threatened species case studies, wetland birds including bird monitoring approaches, and wetland vegetation value and conditions based on collected data.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages210

Reading Time8 h 49 min

AccessFree to download

Glossary of terms and abbreviations

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

1. Summary

2. Overview of wetlands and wetland values

2.1 Healthy Waterway Strategy wetlands

2.2 Values and conditions

2.3 Performance objectives

2.4 Monitoring wetland values and condition

2.5 Limitations

3. Summary of current management actions and progess

3.1 Progress towards performance objectives

3.2 Influencing decision making

3.3 Recommendations for consideration in Science Inquiry

4. Wetland frogs and fish evaluation

4.1 eDNA sampling program for wetland frogs and fish

4.2 Sub-catchment scale frog assessment

4.3 Threatened species case studies

4.4 Recommendations for consideration in Science Inquiry

5. Wetland birds

5.1 Background

5.2 KEQ 3a To what extent are key values on the target trajectory?

5.3 Results and discussion

5.4 KEQ 3b What other spatial and temporal trends and patterns for key values are of significance for implementation?

5.5 Factors affecting Wetland Bird Index scores

5.6 Wetland Bird Index assessment

5.7 Review of Healthy Waterways Strategy wetland bird monitoring and evaluation approach

6. Wetland vegetation value

6.1 Monitoring outline

6.2 What has been achieved

7. Wetland conditions

7.1 Monitoring outline

7.2 What has been achieved

i Wetlands A Technical Report to inform the Healthy Waterways Strategy Mid-term Review ii This Technical Report has been developed for Melbourne Water as part of the Healthy Waterways Strategy Mid-term Review through a collective effort with many organisations and individuals. In particular, Melbourne Water thanks: Report contributors: Sharyn Rossrakesh, Will Steele, Karen White, Belinda Lovell and Rhys Coleman Evaluation Panel: Michelle Dickson (chair), Tamara Boyd, Leon Metzeling and Ian Rutherfurd Data provision: the many community volunteers and staff of Birdlife Australia for the enormous regional bird database we can now utilise to track wetland bird community responses. Cite this report as: Melbourne Water (2023), Wetlands: A Technical Report to inform the Healthy Waterways Strategy Mid-term Review. Melbourne Water, Docklands, Victoria, Australia. Front page image credit: Will Steele This page image credit: Karen White Table of Contents Glossary of terms and abbreviations .................................................................................................................. v [Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners ............................................................................................................. vi](Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners ............................................................................................................. vi) [1](1). Summary ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 2. Overview of wetlands and wetland values ......................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Healthy Waterway Strategy wetlands .........................................................................................................6 2.2 Values and conditions ..................................................................................................................................9 2.3 Performance objectives .............................................................................................................................14 2.4 Monitoring wetland values and condition .................................................................................................15 2.5 Limitations ..................................................................................................................................................21 3. Summary of current management actions and progess .................................................................................. 21 3.1 Progress towards performance objectives ................................................................................................21 3.2 Influencing decision making.......................................................................................................................23 3.3 Recommendations for consideration in Science Inquiry ...........................................................................25 4. Wetland frogs and fish evaluation ................................................................................................................... 27 4.1 eDNA sampling program for wetland frogs and fish..................................................................................27 4.2 Sub-catchment scale frog assessment .......................................................................................................31 4.3 Threatened species case studies ..............................................................................................................34 4.4 Recommendations for consideration in Science Inquiry ...........................................................................39 5. Wetland birds ...................................................................................................................

FAQs

What is the purpose of this Wetlands technical report?

It supports Melbourne Water’s Healthy Waterways Strategy mid-term review by providing evaluated information on wetland values, conditions, monitoring, and progress.

Which wetland components are evaluated in the report?

The report evaluates wetland values and conditions and includes specific evaluation sections for wetland frogs and fish, wetland birds, wetland vegetation value, and wetland conditions.

How does the report assess wetland frogs and fish?

It covers an eDNA sampling program for wetland frogs and fish and includes sub-catchment scale frog assessment, along with threatened species case studies.

How are wetland birds monitored and assessed?

It reviews results for key evaluation questions, explains factors affecting Wetland Bird Index scores, and includes an assessment of the Wetland Bird Index and a review of the monitoring and evaluation approach.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Sophia Brooks