Fence installation

• Why do you need to replace the fence around Silvan Reservoir?

• Melbourne is one of the few cities globally where drinking water primarily comes from protected catchments, which provide some of the cleanest water with minimal treatment.

  Silvan Reservoir, classified as the highest category protected catchment, is now at risk due to its aging and compromised fence line.

  To safeguard this vital resource and meet our obligations to protect critical infrastructure, we must replace the current fence with a high-security barrier. This upgrade will significantly enhance our security, ensuring we continue delivering top-quality water without the need for extensive and costly treatment.

  For more information on water quality, visit our website to read about why Melbourne’s water tastes so great.

• Will the fence be installed in the same place as the existing fence?

• Yes. There may be some small adjustments (where we can avoid existing trees for example).

• What sort of fence will be installed?

• Melbourne Water is carefully evaluating fencing options that balance security, environmental considerations, and aesthetics. One option under review is 358 weld mesh fencing, widely used in a variety of institutions, including schools. This fencing provides a robust physical barrier while ensuring clear visibility—critical for maintaining safety and security. It allows staff, security personnel, and the public to monitor activity in and around the catchment without obstruction.

  The open design of the mesh fence—characterised by its tightly spaced wires—prevents climbing and tampering, while still offering an unobstructed view. This balance between security and visibility is ideal for our catchments and educational settings, where situational awareness and security are essential, and a welcoming, open environment is preferred over solid, opaque barriers.

• Will you need to remove or trim existing vegetation?

• Yes. A qualified arborist will determine if any vegetation that needs to be trimmed or removed. Our aim is to minimise vegetation removal. The fence needs a cleared zone on both sides of the fence for the fence to be effective in keeping the reservoir secure from unauthorised entry. Trees hanging over the fence, or growing too close to the fence will be trimmed or removed.

Access to the surrounding area

• I​s Melbourne Water aware of plans to build a shared path along Monbulk Road?

• We are aware of a long-held community desire for a shared path along Monbulk Road. In response the project team for the Silvan Reservoir High Security Fence project have met with Council and the MADCOW community group to discuss a possible future path. To date, Council has no firm plans or funding for a shared path along Monbulk Road.

  Melbourne Water is currently in the initial design phase of the Silvan High Security Fence project and will continue to work with Council to assess the viability of accommodating a path. In some areas, where the path would be located, there is considerable conflict between Melbourne Water assets, native vegetation and the roadway. These factors will also be considered in any decision.

• Will wildlife be able to cross the fence safely?

• We are working with a specialist to advise Melbourne Water on ways to enhance fauna crossings through the new fence.

  While we are still in the initial design stages to determine the nature of the fencing used, we do not intend to use razor/barbed wire.

  
  

• Why does the fence need to be so far from the reservoir? Why can't we access the bushland surrounding Silvan Reservoir?

• The land around the reservoir provides a further protective buffer to keep the drinking water reservoir protected.

• Why can't I access Silvan Reservoir directly?

• There is very limited public access to our protected catchments which protect the water quality at its source, meaning this water needs very little treatment. Melbourne’s protected catchments provide the majority of our drinking water.

  We protect our catchments through regular security patrols, CCTV and supplementary surveillance technology. Unauthorised access and activities within our protected catchments may be subject to a fine or prosecuted under the Water Act 1989 (Vic).

Water supply

• What are you protecting the water from?

• Every activity in a protected catchment poses a major risk to our drinking water supply. These include:

  • untreatable pathogens carried by humans, livestock and pest animals
  • contamination from camping and toileting
  • poo or urine from pets
  • sediment from disturbing soil around the catchment
  • rubbish left behind
  • pollutants carried by shoes or bike tyres
  • disease from animal carcasses
  • bushfires.
• What happens if there is a bushfire?

• Bushfires in our catchments impact the quality and quantity of our water. If ash or sediment is washed into a reservoir, we need to wait until the debris settles. We take preventative action to avoid bushfires in our catchments, including grass cutting, removal of excess storm debris, strategic planned burns, maintaining fire breaks and working closely with our catchment management partners.

• Where does the water from Silvan Reservoir go?

• Melbourne's water can be transferred all around the city to ensure continued water supply. Water from Silvan Reservoir can supply most parts of metropolitan Melbourne, and can store water transferred from Upper Yarra, O'Shannassy and Thomson Reservoirs. Silvan Reservoir typically services suburbs spanning from Emerald to Somerton and as far west as St Albans and Werribee.