Waterway Ecosystem Research Group (WERG)
The Waterway Ecosystem Research Group studies the interactions between landscapes and running waters. We aim to generate knowledge and tools for achieving healthy streams and rivers in urban and rural landscapes
The WERG is located in Building 903, The University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus, 500 Yarra Boulevard, Burnley, Victoria 3121.
News
Contact
For enquiries, please contact Darren Bos at dbos@unimelb.edu.au
The Waterway Ecosystem Research Group includes ecologists, hydrologists, chemists, geomorphologists and social scientists.
Academic staff
Dr Scott McKendrick
Research officers
Genevieve Hehir
Peter Poelsma
Robert James
Claudia Nicklason
Support staff
Indira Senaratne
Graduate researchers
Paul Hanley
Debbie Gonzalez Canada
Paulo Vitor Ribeiro Marques da Silva
Piyumi Wijepala
Lukman Soboyejo
Tom Wilkins
Vaughn Grey
Dana Dekkers
Diversity of Research
The group is made up of ecologists, hydrologists, chemists, geomorphologists and social scientists. Combined, these skills allow us to undertake novel interdisciplinary research, as well as fundamental and applied research within each of our own disciplines.
Our research ranges from laboratory studies (e.g. development and testing of stormwater management technologies) through to modelling (e.g development and application of hydrologic, hydraulic and ecological models) and field-based research (e.g. examination of drivers of ecological and geomorphic condition of running waters, at whole-of-catchment scale).
Industry Collaboration
We work in close collaboration with other researchers and research programs from around the world, as well as our local industry partners. These include:
- South East Water
- INSA Lyon
- Yarra Ranges Council
- The Green Infrastructure Research Group
- Mind-4-Stormwater
- La Trobe University
- Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation
- Parks Victoria
- Dept. Energy, Environment & Climate Action.
However, our primary collaboration is through a partnership with the Melbourne Water, the Melbourne Waterway Research-Practice Partnership.
Melbourne Waterway Research-Practice Partnership
The Waterway Ecosystem Research Group have a formal partnership with Melbourne Water, the Melbourne Waterway Research-Practice Partnership. This partnership offers a new approach to waterway management research in the Melbourne region, aiming to provide both: (i) applied research to underpin the improved management of both urban and rural waterways; and (ii) activities that integrate these research findings and broader science into practice. Details on the research activities (including active projects) of the partnership can be found at mwrpp.org.
Study with us
Our group has a range of opportunities for undergraduate (Honours) and post-graduate (Masters + PhD) students to collaborate with us and our industry partners. To view the full list of potential student projects, please click on the following link:
Prospective students should contact the relevant researcher(s) through their Find An Expert page(s).
Newspaper
- Joe Greet, The Age; In the shadow of roadworks, preserving the last remaining billabongs in Melbourne. March 2024.
- Tim Fletcher and Sarah Bekessy, The Age; Why we should shatter Melbourne’s concrete creeks. February 2023.
- Joe Greet (Yellingbo), The Age/Sydney Morning Herald; State’s controversial vegetation policy bad news for environment, scientists say. February 2017.
- Chris Walsh on ABC News; Chris made his home stormwater smart and saved money in the process. He says you can too. January 2020
- Chris Walsh, The Age; Not so Merri reputation for creek. 2011.
- Little Stringybark Creek, Leader Newspaper 2008; Priority to improve creek health and 2013; A storm in your watertank
Radio
- Chris Walsh on RNZ; Using roof stormwater to make your garden thrive and save water. January 2020.
- Tim Fletcher on The Conversation Hour, ABC Melbourne; Yarra River talkback forum. April 2017.
- Tim Fletcher on ABC Darwin (30/7/2021), Pulse FM (Geelong, 3/8/2021), 3RRR Breakfasters (12/8/2021) and ABC 774 Melbourne (The Weekend Life, 21/8/2021) discussing the Monbulk Creek Smart Water project.
Reusing stormwater could save you money and help the environment at the same time
Chris Walsh and Tim Fletcher on ABC News; January 2020.
The Conversation
- Stephanie Lavau & Debbie Gonzales Canada: Empathy in conservation is hotly debated. Still, the world needs more stories like My Octopus Teacher. October 2020
- Yung En Chee: Would a nature repair market really work? Evidence suggests it’s highly unlikely. February 2022
- Yung En Chee, Euan Ritchie, Jack Pascoe, Kirsty Howey & Terry Hughes. 5 things we need to see in Australia’s new nature laws. November 2023.
- Yung En Chee, Euan Ritchie & Megan Evans. Australia’s long-sought stronger environmental laws just got indefinitely deferred. It’s back to business as usual. April 2024.
Pursuit
- Kathy Russell: We can do more to restore our freshwater ecosystems. April 2023
- Tim Fletcher, Matthew Burns, Stephanie Lavau, Christopher Walsh, Kathy Russell, Beth Wallis, Rhys Coleman, and David Bergman: Saving Melbourne’s platypus with smart water storage. July 2021
Online & Other
- The Grand Challengers Podcast (Episode 20). Stormwater control measures, healthy waterways, battleships and karate at the riverside camp. Belinda Hatt. November 28th, 2023.
Improving urban water quality
Chris Walsh, Tim Fletcher & Stephanie Lavau for EPA Panel Discussion; on the topic Improving urban water quality. March 2021.
Includes 'Contributions To Policy Documents' and 'Submissions to Government'.
The WERG have been developed a number of interactive apps as part of the research program of the Melbourne Waterway Research-Practice Partnership. The apps are free to use, and are provided with supporting documentation and data to enable their use.
- Melbourne Stream Network (https://tools.thewerg.unimelb.edu.au/)
- Melbourne Water macroinvertebrate database (https://tools.thewerg.unimelb.edu.au/)
- Environmental Benefit Calculator (for stormwater management)(https://tools.thewerg.unimelb.edu.au/)
- Hydrosumm: hydrologic time-series summaries (https://tools.thewerg.unimelb.edu.au/)
- Cross Sections and Dimensions tool (https://github.com/k-russell/x_sections_tool)