In Melbourne, water is essential to our way of life. That’s why at Melbourne Water, we are exploring new ways to safely offer our Yan Yean Reservoir as open space to community, providing opportunities to exercise, relax, socialise and connect with nature.

Yan Yean Reservoir and catchment is located in one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Australia. By 2040 the population is expected to increase by more than 60 percent, welcoming more than 8,000 new residents per year.

The site has been a hub for community recreation since the 1900s and we want to make sure it remains a valued community space into the future.

Water supply will remain the main function of Yan Yean Reservoir. Melbourne Water recognises the importance of ensuring appropriate infrastructure and management actions are in place to accommodate increases in future visitation and ensure the site’s long-term protection.

We are exploring additional opportunities for community use through the Yan Yean Future Directions Plan, which is consistent with the Victorian Government’s Water for Victoria strategy.

Consistent with Victorian Government policy directions and our organisational vision, Melbourne Water has undertaken assessments of its reservoirs to identify potential opportunities to provide additional public access for community open space and recreation.

Assessments show that, provided any additional access and recreation is carefully planned and managed to protect water quality, the treatment plant upgrades that have been delivered at Yan Yean to service our growing population make it safe to provide additional recreational opportunities for the community while maintaining and supplying high-quality drinking water to Melburnians.

For many other reservoir sites, additional recreation would require a substantial upgrade to the treatment processes, and the additional costs for treatment upgrades may outweigh the benefits for the community.

Early engagement with key stakeholders focused on the publicly accessible Yan Yean Reservoir Park, as well as the broader catchment land and reservoir water body which are currently closed for public access.

In addition to observational data from operational staff and multiple site visits, a number of site investigations have informed the draft Yan Yean Visitor Experience Future Directions Plan including:

• Yan Yean Reservoir Catchment Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Values Assessment: to identify existing cultural values/recommended protective actions 
• Melbourne Water Revitalising Yan Yean Reservoir – Community Consultation: to test the vision/guiding principles and identify what the community values about Yan Yean Reservoir Park. 
• Traffic Impact Assessment Report: to understand traffic circulation patterns and car parking capacity at the site and test proposed changes. 
• Environmental eDNA Assessment: to identify the site’s aquatic and bird species.  
• Environmental Risk Assessment: to determine the potential for proposed activities and infrastructure to adversely impact environmental values, including threatened species, and recommend actions.

Yes, Tarago Reservoir is also being considered as a potential location to increase recreational opportunities for the community.

For many other reservoir sites, additional recreation would require a substantial upgrade to the treatment processes, and the additional costs for treatment upgrades may outweigh the benefits for the community.

As such, opportunities for recreation at other reservoirs beyond Yan Yean and Tarago are not currently being pursued by Melbourne Water.

If additional recreation and access is enabled at Yan Yean this may require new facilities or infrastructure to ensure activities can happen in a way that is safe and protects existing values.

After we hear from the community about the types of activities that are of interest in the future, we can consider if these activities can be enabled and what facilities are required to support them.

Protecting water quality is our highest priority. We will continue to appropriately manage water quality risks through upgraded water treatment facilities and appropriate limitations on the types and extent of recreational activities allowed.

You will notice enhancements to the existing Yan Yean Reservoir Park undertaken by Parks Victoria as part of the Urban Parks Active Wellbeing Program. You can find out more about these on the Parks Victoria website.

While no formal decision has been made, the draft Yan Yean Visitor Experience Future Directions Plan identifies new initiatives that are supported by the project partners for further investigation and feasibility testing.

Once the final Future Directions Plan is endorsed, Melbourne Water will prioritise what works in Phase 1 of this report will be nominated as Stage 1 for delivery and secure funding.

Once funding is secured, we will undertake additional investigations and feasibility testing and complete detailed design for Stage 1.

Implementation of Stage 1 works is likely to commence within 2 years of the final Future Directions Plan being endorsed, and may take up to 12 months to complete.

Note: Timing to implement future stages is yet to be determined.

The draft Yan Yean Visitor Experience Future Directions Plan will be published on Let’s Talk in December 2025. Community engagement will commence in February 2025. 

The draft Yan Yean Visitor Experience Future Directions Plan recommends upgrades to Yan Yean Reservoir Park, including five distinct visitor areas within the site: 

• Park Entry and Valve House Picnic Area 
• Playground Picnic Area 
• Yan Yean Bluff Visitor Area 
• Caretakers Picnic Area 
• Red Hill Picnic Area. 

Recreational opportunities to be considered include new and upgraded: 

• walking trails and cycling connections 
• picnic/BBQ/gathering spaces and playground facilities 
• cultural interpretation/education 
• upgraded park entry, improved access and parking 
• upgraded toilet facilities and upgraded/repurposed Caretakers Cottage 
• revegetation and habitat enhancement, wetland restoration, bird hides, multiple lookouts/viewing areas with water views. 

Some recreational opportunities need further investigation. Project partners do not support making any decision on shoreline fishing, on-water fishing or on-water boating until more detailed risk and feasibility assessments have been completed.

This is to ensure that environmental, cultural, social and heritage values can be protected and the required water quality standards can be met.

Petrol powered boating, swimming, camping, horse riding and mountain biking are not supported since they pose a risk to water quality, safety, flora and fauna, as well as conflict with other park uses. 

If additional recreational activities are introduced, Melbourne Water will ensure appropriate water quality protection measures are in place to minimise any impacts to water quality.

Yes, the Future Directions Plan includes a range of initiatives to improve traffic circulation, parking and safety within the site.

Some of these initiatives include:

• road widening
• resurfacing degraded road pavements
• improved signage
• better line marking
• a new carpark within the Caretakers Picnic Area.

Yes, work is being organised now to make sure the Caretakers Cottage can continue being used as an important community meeting place into the future.

The Future Directions Plan also recommends adaptive re-use of the building that is appropriate with its heritage value.

Potential opportunities, subject to further feasibility testing, may include:

• community use
• office and administration for asset managers
• commercial activation.

Swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, together with other high-impact activities such as motorised craft, and camping will not be allowed at Yan Yean Reservoir as they pose a risk to water quality and other values.

If additional recreational activities are introduced, Melbourne Water will ensure appropriate water quality protection measures are in place to minimise any impacts on water quality.

Melbourne Water has undertaken detailed assessments to ensure all costs, benefits, and risks of potential additional recreation at Yan Yean Reservoir are well understood.

Protecting the quality of the water we supply is still our highest priority.

If additional recreation is enabled at Yan Yean, we will continue to appropriately manage water quality risks through upgraded water treatment facilities and appropriate limitations on the types and extent of recreational activities allowed.

Activities being considered for Yan Yean Reservoir will need to enhance wellbeing for the community while continuing to protect Melbourne’s world-class drinking water. Some activities, such as swimming, camping and petrol powered boats, will not be considered.

Yan Yean Reservoir is one of Melbourne Water’s Sites of Biodiversity Significance. This means it is recognised as a place that provides important habitat for the rare and threatened species of plants and animals that call Yan Yean home.

Yan Yean also has two “Reference Areas” within its catchment, which are special places put aside under Victorian legislation to preserve a snapshot of what Victoria’s bush was like, to assist future land managers and scientists.

To protect these important environmental values for all Victorians, activities being considered for Yan Yean Reservoir will need to enhance liveability for the community while continuing to protect the natural environment at Yan Yean. Some activities, such as camping and horse riding, will not be considered and access to environmentally sensitive areas within the catchment will be restricted to protect flora and fauna.

Yan Yean Reservoir and the closed catchment area is managed by Melbourne Water. 

Parks Victorian manages and maintains the Yan Yean Reservoir Park that is located within the Yan Yean Reservoir catchment. For more information on Parks Victoria visit the Parks Victoria website.

The Yan Yean Reservoir Catchment area is situated within the extent of Country held by the Wurundjeri willam clan of the Woiwurrung speaking people. The Wurundjeri community remain the traditional custodians of Yan Yean.

Melbourne Water has an ongoing relationship with Traditional Owners. We are collaborating with Traditional Owners throughout the development of the Future Directions Plan and the engagement program we are delivering.

City of Whittlesea is a key partner of this project and Melbourne Water will continue to work with them throughout the engagement program.

Parks Victoria manages and maintains the Yan Yean Reservoir Park and is a key partner of this project. Melbourne Water will continue to work with Parks Victoria throughout the engagement program.