RMIT and Melbourne University both have long term research partnership agreements with Melbourne Water. The research projects for the next 5 years have now been finalised and are listed below. Many of these research projects cover the Dandenong Creek Catchment area and will be very useful in directing future priority planning for Living Links.

This list is explored further in the attached prospectus Melbourne Waterways Research Partnership Practice Partnership Prospectus 2023-2028

MWRPP – Melbourne Waterways Research Practice Partnership (University of Melbourne)
W1: The impacts of ‘next generation’ citizen science programs
W2: Exploring the optimum combination of centralised and decentralised approaches to stormwater management
W3: Protecting Sunbury streams and headwaters from urbanisation
W4: Review and refining our long-term water quality monitoring network to support waterway management under a changing climate
W5: Development and application of stream and wetlands habitat suitability models (HSMs) to support Healthy Waterways Strategy planning
W6: Relationship between physical form and ecological health of waterways
W7: Major sources and fate of sediments in streams, wetlands, estuaries and bays to inform management opportunities
W8: Improving stream management using ecological modelling and DNA metabarcoding
W9: Traditional Owner-led restoration of urban billabongs
W10: Developing methods, metrics and strategic management frameworks for waterway function as a key environmental value
W11: Application of real-time-control technology to the management of stormwater
W12: Monitoring riparian and instream vegetation condition, extent and benefits for environmental values
W13: Approaches to increasing the resilience of vegetation in a changing climate
W14: Assessment of deer control effectiveness at the Cardinia, Silvan and Upper Yarra water supply reservoirs
W15: Irrigating the urban forest with stormwater

This list is explored further in the attached prospectus Aquatic Pollution Prevention Partnership Prospectus 2023-2028

A1: A decision support framework (DSF) to help prioritise water quality management actions across the region, set management targets and assess management effectiveness
A2: Understanding the threat of climate change to water quality in waterways to inform mitigation opportunities
A3: Understanding how toxicants impact waterway and wetland function
A4: Understanding the ecological risks of treated and untreated wastewater discharges to waterways
A5: Assessment of pollutant risks and the need for management interventions at environmentally sensitive sites across the region
A6: Understanding the major sources, pathways and waterway health impacts of chemicals of concern in waterways to inform risk assessments and management interventions
A7: Managing the impacts of toxicants in urban stormwater and wastewater treatment plant discharges on the health of estuaries and bays
A8: Understanding ecological risks from pesticide spraying activities on or near waterways and suitable management alternatives.
A9: Industrial effective and affordable opportunities for the treatment of industrial pollutants in stormwater drains