Melbourne's Water Catchments

Cover image featuring two images, the top of a water catchment with tall green trees in the background, the bottom image is a map of Melbourne's water

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Perspectives on a World-Class Water Supply

By: James I Viggers, Haylee J Weaver, David B Lindenmayer

eBook - November 2013 - eRetailers

Charts the unique history of the Melbourne water catchments and water supply.

This book charts the history of the water catchments and water supply for the city of Melbourne, which has many unique aspects that are a critical part of the history of Melbourne, Victoria and Australia. Much of the development of the water supply system was many decades ahead of its time and helped buffer the city of Melbourne from major diseases, droughts and water shortages. + Full description

The authors present a chronology of the evolution of the catchment and water supply system pre-1900 to today. They discuss major developments, policies, and construction and management activities. Each chapter is illustrated with historical black and white images as well as newly taken photos that contrast present scenes with those from the past. Chapters also include many fascinating stories of life within the water catchments and working for the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works.

Finally, the book includes many extraordinary insights into current and future issues with Melbourne’s water supply, including issues associated with the highly controversial North-South Pipeline and the desalination plant.

- Short description

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No longer available in a print edition.

Details

ePDF | November 2013
ISBN: 9781486300075
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

ePUB | November 2013
ISBN: 9781486300082
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

Features

Tells the story of how the water catchment system developed for Melbourne has been consistently ahead of its time and has had a massive influence on the development of the city and Australia
Includes both historical and current content and photographs
Includes issues associated with the highly controversial north-south pipeline and the desalination plant

Preface
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Glossary
Conversion table
PART 1: Early History (Pre-1900 to 1960)
Chapter 1: Pre-1900
Chapter 2: 1901–1939
Chapter 3: 1940–1960
PART 2: 1961 to 2012 – a water man’s perspective
Chapter 4: 1961–1984
Chapter 5: 1985–2012
Chapter 6: The future
References
Index

Authors

Jim Viggers, a civil engineer with the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works, worked in Melbourne’s water catchments for 25 years and has researched the history of these areas for 50 years. He was responsible for the management of the catchments and the harvest, storage and distribution of water to Melbourne.

Haylee Weaver is a parasitologist and has written extensively on the biology and ecology of parasites of Australian rodents. Haylee grew up in Melbourne and has an interest in its history.

David Lindenmayer is an ecologist who has worked in the wet forests of Victoria for three decades. Part of his long-term work has entailed extensive field empirical projects in the Maroondah, Watts Creek, Armstrong Creek, Upper Yarra, O’Shannassy and Thomson catchments.