Victoria's ecosystems are biodiverse and clean. Victoria does not pollute or put waste in the air, water, land, and natural ecosystems. Victoria produces net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Victorians want healthy environments
Victorians told us they want a thriving natural environment.They identified reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a priority. Victorians also value actions that help to keep Victoria’s ecosystems biodiverse and clean. This includes keeping water for the environment, quickly reducing waste and encouraging more recycling.
Victoria’s plants and animals need healthy ecosystems. Minimising waste and pollution helps rivers, waterways and oceans stay healthy. This benefits the fish, turtles and other aquatic life in these ecosystems. On land, parks and forests provide habitat to many of Victoria’s mammals and birds. Some species are not found anywhere else in the world.For example, the helmeted honeyeater is a bird found only in a small area in the upper Yarra Valley.
Building new infrastructure can threaten the environment. It can lead to the destruction of habitat or produce more pollution.Using materials like concrete and steel for new infrastructure creates greenhouse gas emissions. But infrastructure can also help maintain a healthy environment. Better using existing infrastructure and using recycled materials in maintenance and construction can keep emissions down. It also reduces the amount of waste Victoria sends to landfills.
Well-planned infrastructure can produce less environmental pollution and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Building infrastructure off-site and using pre-built parts can help. How infrastructure runs can also change the amount of air pollution from energy generation and transport. It can help keep water for the environment. These actions on emissions can increase productivity and lower costs (see section – Victoria has a high productivity and circular economy).
A thriving natural environment benefits Victorians
Communities value Victoria’s natural environments. People benefit when they can visit and explore natural areas. For example, access to parks can make Victorians healthier. This saves Victoria $80 million to $200 million of costs from illness each year. The trees and soil in Victoria’s parks also remove emissions from the air. They store at least 270 million tonnes of carbon. This helps Victoria minimise the dangerous impacts of climate change.
Healthy environments have many other benefits. Victoria’s forests filter rain before it flows into water storage facilities. Most of Melbourne’s drinking water passes through forests in protected catchments. These parks and forests save Victorian cities and towns about $33 million in water treatment costs each year. In rural areas this increases to $50 million each year.
Thriving local environments also help local communities. For example, the Birrarung (Yarra River) has significant cultural value for First Peoples.It provides $730 million in economic benefits each year.People can enjoy spending time near the river and using it for recreation. Farmers also use the river’s water. The trees along its banks remove greenhouse gases from the air.
Victoria’s natural environments attract tourists, creating $1.4 billion in tourism-related benefits each year.Regional economies benefit from this, including from visitors to the Grampians, Great Ocean Road, Yarra Valley, Dandenong Ranges and Gippsland.
Victoria’s natural ecosystems are in decline
The health of Victoria’s ecosystems has declined since European settlement. Victoria has cleared more than half its native vegetation in the past 200 years.Clearing still happens. Other ecosystems are also in decline. For example, Australia’s average sea temperature has risen by over one degree Celsius since 1900.This has caused ocean acidification, which affects Victoria’s marine ecosystems.
Urban growth can lead to less biodiversity. Climate change and introduced pests can make this worse. More animal and plant species are at risk of becoming extinct. But the decline in Victoria’s biodiversity can be slowed and there is hope for many species. For example, scientists thought the Victorian grassland earless dragon was extinct as it was last seen in 1969.They recently rediscovered the small lizard in native grasslands west of Melbourne.
Climate change is an ongoing threat to Victoria’s ecosystems
Victoria will become hotter and drier because of climate change. This will affect Victoria’s parks, farmland and rivers. Bushfires have become more frequent in Victoria over the past 40 years.They are likely to occur more often in the future.In some places, this could cause entire ecosystems to collapse.
Bushfires threaten Victoria's water security. Melbourne has historically relied on water from forested catchments. These areas are vulnerable to bushfires, which harm water quality and quantity.Fires can lead to landslides, and soil and ash in water holding areas.
Less water flowing down Victoria’s rivers will impact their health. Some rivers in southern Victoria already need more water. For example, the Moorabool River near Geelong is one of the driest in Victoria. In summer parts of it can dry out and kill fish.
Infrastructure can contribute to a healthier environment
The Victorian Government can respond to these challenges. For example, Victoria can use new sources of water to meet future needs. This means more water can stay in Victoria’s rivers.
Traditional Owners have cared for Country and waterways for generations. Giving Traditional Owners more access to water supports their economic independence and can improve their wellbeing.Greater use of Traditional Owner knowledge in managing water can also lead to healthier ecosystems.
Planting more trees can help cool Victoria's cities. This can reduce energy costs by shading buildings from the heat and improve health by reducing heat stress and encouraging physical activity.Trees also remove pollution and emissions from the air, reduce stormwater runoff and increase biodiversity. Reducing the amount of waste Victorians produce means less rubbish ends up in Victoria’s rivers, oceans and landfills. This further protects biodiversity.
Elsewhere in this strategy we consider how other infrastructure sectors like energy can contribute to a healthier environment and meet future needs of Victorian communities (see section – Victoria is resilient to climate change and other future risks).
Explore the other strategy objectives
Victoria is resilient to climate change and other future risks
