Elster Creek catchment flood management plan

We're working to reduce the impacts of flooding in the Elster Creek Catchment

What is the Elster Creek Catchment Flood Management Plan?

The Elster Creek Catchment includes areas of Elwood, St Kilda and Ripponlea in Port Phillip.

The catchment has a history of widespread flooding that will become further impacted by climate change.

The catchment spans four municipal boundaries and Port Phillip is working with the cities of Bayside, Glen Eira and Kingston, and with Melbourne Water, to plan for and reduce the impact of flooding across the catchment.

We have worked together to develop the Elster Creek Catchment Flood Management Plan, which outlines a five-year program to reduce flood risks across the catchment.

A major deliverable in the Plan is to seek opportunities to identify new or expanded infrastructure works to reduce flooding, in particular in or around Elsternwick Park. Melbourne Water have completed an analysis of various major infrastructure options to ultimately reduce flooding in Elwood. The most promising option is to expand the existing drain that runs from Elwood Canal, under Elsternwick Park and Elwood Park, to the Bay at Head Street.

Melbourne Water are now completing detailed investigations into this potential project. This includes further flood modelling, geological and soil testing, investigations into existing services and infrastructure, and assessment of environmental impacts. You can find out more about progress on this project by visiting the Melbourne Water project page.

The Flood Management Plan is available on the Melbourne Water website.