Kite Republic met through the week with representatives from Port Phillip Council, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, Super Sprint Events, KITEmag & EPA Victoria in a bid to create a plan to increase knowledge for event organizers and water users around water quality in Victoria and Port Phillip Bay.

Many kiters may not be aware at this stage about EPA Victoria's daily water quality forecasting throughout the summer months. It is not often at all that water quality concerns become an issue in Port Phillip Bay with zero warnings this past season and only 2 or 3 warnings the season before. When it comes to stormwater drains there are more instances of warnings, still only 3 this past season, however it is important for the watersport community to be aware of these and know the signs of when they should be checking and being careful.

The major instance that EPA Victoria would like everyone to be aware of stormwater water quality issues is within 24 hours of a major rainfall (~10mm or more). This is especially important when there has not been a great deal of rain leading up to the event and the stormwater drains may be filling up.

As there are a number of stormwater drains along the Eastern side of the bay it is especially important to be aware of water quality issues after a storm. 

Kite Republic will be working with EPA Victoria and other local authorities on a plan to make this information more readily accessible for event organisers and local water users alike.

For more information or to see the daily report throughout summer you can visit