Melbourne is one of only two cities in the world with drinking water that primarily comes from protected catchments. Most of these catchments have limited public access, producing very clean water that needs little treatment, and is therefore cheaper to supply.
Stay informed
Thanks for sharing what’s important to you about Silvan Reservoir and the area. Consultation has now closed, but you can follow this page for updates.
What’s
happening
The existing 15 kilometre chain mesh fence around the Silvan Reservoir is damaged in places. To continue protecting the water in the reservoir, we’ll be installing:
- a new high-security fence to replace the old one, similar to the high-security fence at Melbourne Airport
- provision CCTV and intruder detection devices at some locations (a future project).
The new high-security fence will also ensure we meet our obligations to protect Australia’s critical infrastructure.
More information
Do you have a question about the project? Browse our frequently asked questions or submit yours below, and a member of the team will reply to you shortly.
FAQs
Fence installation
- Why do you need to replace the fence around Silvan Reservoir?
- Will the fence be installed in the same place as the existing fence?
- What sort of fence will be installed?
- Will you need to remove or trim existing vegetation?
Access to the surrounding area
- Is Melbourne Water aware of plans to build a shared path along Monbulk Road?
- Will wildlife be able to cross the fence safely?
- Why does the fence need to be so far from the reservoir? Why can't we access the bushland surrounding Silvan Reservoir?
- Why can't I access Silvan Reservoir directly?