28 August 2025

Read a summary of results below, or download the full report:

How we engaged

Our comprehensive engagement program featured a wide variety of activities, designed to connect with the many people across the catchment. These were held online, in person and in the community, and included:

  • 1 online map activity
  • 4 in-person events
  • 3 Community Partnership Panels
  • 7 small group discussions.

This approach helped us hear from a broad and diverse range of locals and stakeholders.

What we heard

We asked you about the places and features you value within your local environment and community.

In total we received 533 contributions collected online and at our in-person engagement events. These results are summarised below, with individual comments available to view on our online map.

Summary

What you value

Icon of house
Dwellings
36% (242 contributions)

Homes, businesses and other properties

Icon of park bench
Recreation
17% (118 contributions)

Parks, playgrounds, walking and cycling paths, fishing spots

Infrastructure
10% (66 contributions)

Roads, public transport, hospitals, bridges, power

Water assets
7% (50 contributions)

Maribyrnong River, ponds, water quality, dams

Biodiversity
7% (49 contributions)

Fish, birds and trees

Community and culture
5% (36 contributions)

Community meeting places, places of worship, schools

Cultural heritage
2% (13 contributions)

Scar trees, sacred sites or other sites of significance for First Peoples or Traditional Owners

Historic heritage
2% (12 contributions)

Heritage buildings or other sites of historic significance

Additionally, 13% (89 contributions) featured other locations, features or topics that did not belong to the categories above.

What we heard

Many people shared deep connections to places that hold emotional and personal significance like homes, businesses, schools, and places of worship, and a strong desire to protect them from future floods. There was particular interest in how these places, especially homes, could be made more flood-resilient.

“My home - mitigation needs to protect homes first and keep people safe.”
“An important area for our community, it's a meeting point, an intersection, a thoroughfare and a destination.”

We heard about the area's history of flooding and the lasting impacts of the October 2022 flood, especially the financial and psychological toll. Many also shared ongoing concerns about safety and security in the lower catchment.

“It is our property and was affected by flooding including catching debris from the fast moving water.”
“We've seen good progress in native plantings etc along the river in recent years - the flooding was pretty devastating to a lot of that progress and vegetation zones.”

Recreation places throughout the catchment are important parts of daily life for community members, whether it’s for exercise, how they commute or a place where they can meet with friends and family. People expressed a strong desire to see these spaces cared for, protected and enhanced as part of future flood mitigation efforts.

“Enjoying walking around the river and enjoying the river amenity.”
“Used by the entire community for walking, playing commuting.”
“This is a lovely walking/cycle track which provides connection to nature in a built-up area.”

The community expressed an appreciation for the natural environment throughout the catchment and the importance of protecting or improving biodiversity through the implementation of flood mitigation options.

“Valuable habitat that is essential for native fauna and flora.”
“Beautiful connection to the natural environment.”
“Waa Creek, this is a vital home for frogs and yabbies.”

The high proportion of comments in the lower catchment shows just how much these areas have felt the impacts of past flooding events, including the October 2022 flood, and the importance of protecting them.

"We were flooded in 2022, Rivervue Retirement Village."
"Our entire house flooded. All of Oakland street flooded."

Several submissions included a wide variety of suggestions for flood mitigation options. These have been collated and added to the long list of mitigation options that will be assessed as part of Phase 2 of the study.

“A retarding basin upstream and levee banks would help to mitigate flood damage.”
“Retarding basin to flow into Steele creek.”

View all contributions

What’s next

Thank you to everyone who participated in Phase 1 of the study. The insights you shared have given us a clear roadmap for what matters most.

Your feedback will now be translated into detailed assessments and a transparent evaluation framework. These tools will help us screen and score every flood mitigation option against the values you told us are critical.

The next stage of community consultation will commence in late 2025 and will involve:

  • sharing the evaluation criteria and long-list of potential flood mitigation options
  • additional community engagement to gather feedback on the long-list of flood mitigation options.

We will continue to keep you updated via this website. Please select ‘follow’ at the top of the page receive emails on our progress.

Share your feedback

As we plan for Phase 2 engagement, we’d appreciate your feedback on our engagement to date. Help us understand any areas for improvement or changes to make by completing our engagement survey.

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