management authorities - a sustainable future · government and water authorities. the primary role...

Victoria’s Catchment

Management Authorities -

working together towards

a sustainable future

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Contents

Celebrating 10 years of catchment management in Victoria Celebrating 10 years of catchment management in Victoria 3

Our CMA regions 2

4

Minister’s Foreword 5

Corangamite CMA 6

East Gippsland CMA 8

Glenelg Hopkins CMA 10

Goulburn Broken CMA 12

Mallee CMA 14

North Central CMA 16

North East CMA 18

Port Phillip and Westernport CMA 20

West Gippsland CMA 22

Wimmera CMA 24

Contacting your CMA 26

PORT PHILLIP ANDWESTERNPORT

NORTHCENTRALWIMMERA

MALLEE

NORTH EAST

EAST GIPPSLAND

WEST GIPPSLAND

GLENELGHOPKINS

CORANGAMITE

GOULBURNBROKEN

Our CMA regions

Victoria’s Catchment

Management Framework

Erskine River Estuary, Lorne

CMA Boards

Catchment Management Authorities were establishedin July 1997 with community-based boards.

These boards provide an essential link with thecommunity.

Their efforts and skilled input during the past decadehave contributed significantly to the success of CMAs.

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Established by the VictorianGovernment, the state’s catchmentmanagement framework is based on amodel of community participation.

More than two-thirds of Victoria’slandscape is privately owned, and assuch CMAs act as a key conduitbetween community and government.

The catchment managementframework also encompasses theVictorian Catchment ManagementCouncil, and many other agencies andgroups play significant roles inmanaging our catchments, includingDSE, DPI, Parks Victoria, localgovernment and water authorities.

The primary role of each CMA is todevelop and co-ordinate theimplementation of the RegionalCatchment Strategy (RCS).

The RCS provides a vision for thefuture landscape of the region andidentifies priorities, objectives andtargets for managing natural assets.

It is the foundation for investmentdecisions to ensure improved naturalresource outcomes for the region.

Other responsibilities of CMAs includewaterway management, floodplainmanagement, regional drainage andmore recently, acting as custodians ofthe Environmental Water Reserve.

There are vast differences in thelandscapes and communities ofVictoria’s CMAs. CMA regionsencompass urban sprawl, temperate

rainforest, sculpted coast, openplains, alpine peaks, dryland farming,fruit growing and irrigation country.

However a special feature of CMAs istheir relationship with our regionalcommunities and ability to engagewith key agencies, individuals, groupsand business, including the indigenouscommunity.

It is this direct communityengagement role of CMAs thatprovides one of the key strengths ofthe catchment managementframework in Victoria.

The pages to follow showcase some ofthe achievements of Victoria’s CMAsduring the past decade.

Foreword from the Minister

Celebrating 10 years of catchment management in Victoria Celebrating 10 years of catchment management in Victoria 5

Gippsland’s Heart Morass

Victoria’s Catchment Management Framework

OverviewVictoria’s 10 Catchment ManagementAuthorities (CMAs) have beendelivering community-based,integrated catchment managementsince 1997.

The Victorian Catchment Management Framework is now intoits second decade, having achieved its 10th anniversary thisyear on 1 July. It is, therefore, a time for reflection on whathas been accomplished, for celebration of this significantmilestone and for considering the direction for theFramework for the next decade and beyond.

Our catchment management model is built on strongpartnerships and community involvement. The frameworkthat underpins the management of our land, water andbiodiversity resources is supported by CatchmentManagement Authorities, the Victorian CatchmentManagement Council, numerous agencies and individuals. The Department of Sustainabilityand Environment has a major role, as do the Department of Primary Industries, localgovernment, water authorities, voluntary stewardship organisations including Landcare, andothers - a host of organisations and a host of caring individuals.

Managing our land, water and biodiversity resources at a time when the climate is changing,when our social landscapes are changing, when rainfall and inflows are at record low levels isnot simple. Over time we may need to review our vision and goals, and to clarify andreinforce our various roles and responsibilities. The Catchment Management Framework isnew in organisational terms and will continue to grow and evolve, especially with thechallenges of climate change.

As Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, I have been impressed by theachievements and the commitment of the Catchment Management Authorities and theirmany partners in managing the land and water resources of this State. The BrumbyGovernment is proud to have supported this effort by investing in the framework andcommitting to the long term sustainability of our natural resources through multi-milliondollar investments in natural resource management programs across the State.

In celebrating this 10th anniversary of the Catchment Management Framework, I am lookingforward with confidence to the next decade. By working together we, the partners in theCatchment Management Framework, can achieve significant outcomes for Victoria’s naturallandscape.

Gavin Jennings MLC

Minister for Environment and Climate Change

EchidnaEchidna

Information courtesy of VictorianCatchment Management Council (2007)Catchment Condition Report


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About 350,000 people live in ourcatchment, which stretches fromBallarat to Geelong and along thecoast to Peterborough.

The Corangamite region is famous forits spectacular coastline, whichincorporates the Great Ocean Roadand the Great Otway National Park.

There are 13 Ramsar-listed wetlands inthe catchment including LakeCorangamite, the largest permanentinland lake in Australia.

Significant river systems include theAire, Barwon, Gellibrand, Curdies,Leigh, Moorabool and Woady Yaloakrivers.

The goldfields of Ballarat, tall timberof the Otway rainforests and lushgrasslands attracted early settlement,and today Corangamite’s economicmainstays are agriculture, industryand tourism.

Corangamite’s environmentalchallenges include land-use change,demands for water supply, urbanmigration, intensification ofagriculture and increased tourism.

Program HighlightsCorangamite CMA was established inJuly 1997 with a Board and oneActing CEO. During the past decadethe organisation has diversified, growing in size and responsibilities.

In addition to the leadership andfunding co-ordination responsibilitiescommon to most Victorian CMAs,

Corangamite CMA also has thestatutory responsibilities of managingthe Barwon River through Geelong,and two drainage schemes – theWoady Yaloak and Lough Calvert.

Our role as manager of the Barwonthrough Geelong in particularprovides an excellent platform toengage with thousands of people inVictoria’s largest regional city.

The Corangamiteregion is also home toone of the moststressed river systemsin Victoria, theMoorabool River.However thechallenges presentedby our role asmanager ofenvironmental waterreserve has providedopportunities tostrengthen our relationships with water authorities and localcommunities.

As more people seek the lifestyle benefits of living along thecoast and hinterland, the seachange and treechangephenomenon presents another dimension to CorangamiteCMA’s roles and responsibilities. Corangamite CMA is activelytrying to capitalise on the engagement and capacity buildingopportunities along the coast through programs such asEstuaryWatch, and the employment of a marine and coastalco-ordinator.

Future ChallengesOur Board has identified climate change as the most pressingissue facing Corangamite CMA moving forward.

While climate change is a problem bigger than any oneindividual or organisation, the grassroots regional approach ofcatchment management authorities puts us in an ideal positionto educate, inspire, empower and engage communities to actas one against the common threat of climate change.

This collective action will be at its most effective through co-operation between a web of stakeholders including CMAsLandcare, local government, landholders, the agriculturesector, business, industry, schools, water authorities,regulatory bodies and government.

InvestmentTotal investment in NRM projects: About $85 million

Total projects: More than 1,000

Estimated community involvement multiplier: Co-investmentand volunteerism in the community approximately doubles themoney invested through CMAs. This takes the total ongroundvalue to $170 million.

Snapshot of Achievements• Corangamite CMA

supports 203 Landcare,friends of and othercommunity-basedenvironmental volunteergroups.

• As part of a five-yearGellibrand RiverRestoration Project,Corangamite CMA carriedout 60 kilometres ofwillow management,planted more than250,000 seedlings andforged partnerships with60 landholders along theGellibrand and Carlislerivers. The Carlisle Riverbecame the first stream inthe region to be willow-free as a result ofrestoration work.

• In the first 18 months of anew EstuaryWatchcommunity monitoringprogram, 50 volunteersreceived training andcommenced monitoringactivities at nineestuaries.

• An ongoing commitmentto working with LocalGovernment has resultedin the development andadoption of planningscheme SalinityManagement Overlays forfour municipalities, withSMOs for another fourmunicipalities indevelopment.

• In the past decade, oursalinity program achievedapproximately 876hectares of salinitydischarge management, 94 hectares of salinityrecharge management, 307 hectares ofrevegetation, 70 kilometres of fencingfor environmentalprotection and pasturemanagement and 510hectares of protection forprimary saline areas.

Freeing rivers of willows

Monitoring estuaries for the community

Beaded glasswort grows ina saline environment

Lake Corangamite

Otways

Celebrating 10 years of catchment management in Victoria Celebrating 10 years of catchment management in Victoria

David Tournier, Cultural HeritageOfficer for Southwest Victoria

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority

64 Dennis Street,Colac, Victoria 3250

Phone: 03 5232 9100 Fax: 03 5232 2759

<www.ccma.vic.gov.au>

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Swan Bay

Waders and stilts take flight near Vaughan Island at Lake Corangamite.

Corangamite CMA

Region Overview

The Corangamite CMA region

spans 13,000 square kilometres

of south-west Victoria.

David Tournier, Cultural HeritageOfficer for Southwest Victoria

Otways

Swan Bay

Dr Bill Pryor of Scotsburn

Wormbete Creek erosion worksWormbete Creek erosion works Lake BeeacLake Beeac

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About 80% of the land of the regionis in public ownership, mainly asState Forests and National Parks.

With 40,000 residents, the currentpopulation is about 10 times that ofthe original Aboriginal population ofthe Kurnai-Gunai, Bidawal andNgarigo peoples.

Variability of climate is a notablefeature of the region. Rainfall rangesfrom 2,200 mm on the ErrinundraPlateau to 500 mm in rain shadowareas like the upper Snowy valley.Annual rainfall is highly variablewhich gives rise to frequent droughtsand major flooding events that havesignificant land management impacts.

Some of the important features ofEast Gippsland are:

•· The Gippsland Lakes, which is thelargest coastal lagoon system inAustralia and Ramsar Listed asWetlands of InternationalImportance;

• Its array of streams, especially thewild rivers, including the iconicSnowy River and Victoria’s biggestunregulated stream, the MitchellRiver;

•· Its long coastal reach withundeveloped estuaries, oceanbeaches and spectacularheadlands;

•· Its mountains and forests, whichprovide great scenery, clean air,clean water, recreationalopportunities and forestryproducts;

•· Its scenic and productive farminglands, especially in the rivervalleys; and

• Its living wealth in the form ofnative plants and animals, some ofwhich occur only in this region.

Program HighlightsThe region’s natural resourcemanagement priorities have beendominated by two factors:

1. The regular incidence of drought,fires and major floods; and

2. The large expanse of largely intactnatural landscapes.

Snapshot of Achievements

• The significant co-ordination, planningand funding support ofLandcare, and othercommunity-basedenvironmental volunteergroups in East Gippsland.

• The establishment andimplementation of theSnowy River Restorationprogram to improve thehealth of the Victorianreach of the Snowy River

• The implementation ofmajor Flood and Firerecovery programs in1999, 2003, 2006 and2007.

Environmental volunteers

Snowy River canoe tour

Bushfire damage

East Gippsland CMA

574 Main Street, Bairnsdale, Victoria 3875

Phone: 03 5152 0600<www.egcma.com.au>

East Gippsland CMA

8 Celebrating 10 years of catchment management in Victoria Celebrating 10 years of catchment management in Victoria 9

East Gippsland has encountered major droughts in 1997/98 and2002/07 which have given cause to the largest bushfires inEuropean history in 2002/03 and 2006/07.

Each major drought has also been broken by major floods in1998 and 2007.

Major recovery works have been undertaken in response to allthese natural events.

We have the largest number of high value rivers including theMitchell, Snowy, Bemm, Cann and Genoa. Work programs havebeen designed to manage invasive threats such as willows andblackberries to help maintain them in good condition. TheSnowy has been the subject of a major rehabilitation effortincluding return of environmental flows and riverrehabilitation works.

River health fundinghas been utilised tocontrol willows inthe Bemm, Snowy,Nicholson, upperTambo and upperMitchell rivers aswell as in allcatchments east ofthe Cann River.

The region’s nativeplants and animalsare our living wealthand the Jewel in the Crown of Victoria’s biodiversity. Initiativessuch as the Southern Ark program have led the State in largescale native animal conservation and pest animal control.

Future ChallengesThe population of our region is concentrated along the coastin major towns like Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, Paynesvilleand Metung near the Gippsland Lakes.

This is a major economic driver which has focused theattention of the community on maintaining the Lakes in goodhealth.

In a recent survey, over 70% considered the Lakes our mostvaluable natural asset.

The Great Alpine and Divide Fires of 02/03 and 06/07 createdextensive burnt areas in the Mitchell, Tambo, Nicholson andSnowy catchments and together with recent floods will causewater quality and supply problems for many years.

Volunteer group, Cann River ValleyVolunteer group, Cann River Valley

Mitchell River Mitchell River

Region Overview

The East Gippsland Catchment

Management Region covers

2.2 million hectares of land, lakes

and coastal waters in the

eastern-most part of Victoria.

Lakes EntranceLakes Entrance

Reeves Channel, Gippsland Lakes

Coast dune grassland and scrub, 90 Mile Beach

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The region spans some 2.6 millionhectares and extends from Ballaratin the Central Highlands of Victoria,west to the South Australian borderand south to the coast. The southerntwo thirds are characterised by flatvolcanic plains while the Grampians,Dundas Tablelands and Black Rangesdominate the northern third.

The region has three major riverdrainage basins - the Hopkins, Glenelgand Portland Coast. The lower sectionof the Glenelg River is heritage listedfor its environmental significance.Salt-wedge estuaries at the mouth ofrivers entering the sea areenvironmentally significant. Extensive wetlands are a feature ofthe region and provide significanthabitat for native biodiversity.

The Glenelg Hopkins region has arange of natural assets in the form ofbiodiversity, waterways and wetlands,soils, forests and coastal areas. Thesenatural resources support a uniquequality of life.

The south west region is an importantpart of provincial Victoria and boastsa diverse range of lifestyle, investmentand working opportunities. The maineconomic drivers are agriculture,fisheries, retail, manufacturing, healthand community services, educationand construction. Blue gumplantations and mineral sands miningare recent additions to the region’sindustries.

Program HighlightsCommunity engagement plays a vitalrole in the success of all naturalresource programs at GlenelgHopkins CMA.

Achieving meaningful long-termchange in the health of the catchmentand the way it is managed requires aholistic approach and investment inpeople and communities, as much asinto on ground technical responses.

An engaged catchment communitythat understands, supports, activelyparticipates and has a strong sense ofhaving control of programs that shapetheir landscape is the most powerfultool for achieving change.

Community engagementhighlights include:

Glenelg Hopkins EnvironmentalAchievement Awards – the awardsrecognise achievements byindividuals, communities and businessin natural resource management.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA Partnership Project Scheme – supportsindividuals and groups to undertake works that promotesustainability and environmental protection.

Glenelg Hopkins Waterwatch – the most well-recognisedcommunity engagement programs for the CMA, Waterwatchconducts a comprehensive program to regional schools as wellas involving local communities in the environmentalmonitoring of local waterways.

Drought Employment Program – in 2006/2007 Glenelg HopkinsCMA received considerable funding from the State governmentto assist drought affected farmers and farm communitymembers. Taking on a partnership approach this programdelivered environmental and community benefits.

Landcare – more than 150 Landcare, “friends of” andcommunity basednatural resourcemanagement groupsare supported byGlenelg HopkinsCMA throughCommunity LandcareFacilitators and theWaterwatchprogram.

FutureChallengesThe key challengefor Glenelg Hopkins CMA is to continue to make naturalresource management scientifically rigorous and sociallyrelevant in the face of funding variations, lifestyle andpopulations changes, climate variability and increaseddemand for water resources.

The Habitat 141 project is an exciting mix of private andgovernment initiatives that presents a unique opportunity tosecure the future of the region’s greatest natural asset - theheritage listed Glenelg River. Locking in environmental waterfrom the Wimmera Mallee pipeline savings for the Glenelg willbe an important challenge.

Combining community biodiversity improvements withproductivity gains on farms and balancing public use anddevelopment with environmental protection of coasts andestuaries are the other major challenges.


• Environmental waterreserves andinfrastructure upgradesalong the Glenelg Riverwill realise the fullbenefits of the WimmeraMallee Pipeline Project.Works include outletupgrades and installationof carp screens atRocklands Reservoir.

• More than 100,000 cubicmetres of sand have beenextracted from theGlenelg River, improvingthe effectiveness ofenvironmental flowreleases and restoring thenatural river channel.

• The Grange Burn wetlandproject transformed14hectares of grazing landinto a constructed wetlandsystem that treats 70% ofHamilton’s stormwaterbefore it enters theGrange Burn. This hasresulted in a significantreduction of litter andcontaminants in thewaterway, vital habitatfor birds and provided animportant recreationalasset for the town.

• Across the GlenelgHopkins region,community volunteershave fenced off 2,200kilometres of waterwaysand revegetated 3,784hectares in land andwaterway protectionprojects.

• Glenelg Hopkins CMA’sbiodiversity program hasseen the once commonMellblom’s Spider-orchidbought back from thebrink of extinction. Withas few as six plantsremaining in 1996, anintensive recoveryprogram funded throughthe Natural Heritage Trusthas resulted in more than1,000 plants growing inthe wild today.

Sand extraction

Grange Burn wetland

Tree planting as part of thePartnership Project Scheme

Mellblom’s Spider-orchidPhoto: Jeff Blackman

Drought relief work crews wereemployed under the State Government's

Drought Employment Program

Glenelg Hopkins CMA

79 French Street,Hamilton, Victoria 3300

Phone: 03 5571 2526Fax: 03 5571 2935

<www.ghcma.vic.gov.au>

Dunkeld Arboretum

Glenelg Hopkins CMA

Region Overview

Lying south of the Great Dividing

Range, the Glenelg Hopkins

region contains areas of scenic

beauty, magnificent and

dramatic coastline, superb

national parks and rich

biodiversity.

Drought relief work crews wereemployed under the State Government's

Drought Employment Program


Glenelg River

InvestmentTotal investment in NRM projects (1997 - 2007):$80.8 million


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The catchment covers 2,431,655 Haor 10.5% of the State of Victoria.Although it occupies just 2% of theMurray Darling Basin, the GoulburnBroken Catchment region provides11% of the Basin’s stream flow.

The region stretches from close to theoutskirts of Melbourne in the south tothe Murray River in the north. TheCatchment includes Victoria’s mainwater storage, Eildon and the popularMt Buller Alpine Resort. It includesthe municipalities of Moira,Campaspe, Mitchell, Murrindindi,Mansfield and Strathbogie Shires,Benalla Rural City and the City ofGreater Shepparton.

Approximately 1.4 million hectares isdryland agriculture, 270,600 hectaresis intensive irrigated agriculture and800,000 hectares is public land. Inaddition, 70,000 hectares of the NorthCentral Catchment forming part ofthe Shepparton Irrigation Region, isincluded in the works program forease of management.

Major natural resource issues arewater quality, water quantity, drylandand irrigation salinity, degradation ofrivers and streams, native vegetationdecline, biodiversity and pest plantsand animals.

Almost 200,000 people live in thecatchment. Rapid population growthis occurring in some parts of thecatchment, notably centres withincommuting distance of Melbourne,Shepparton and towns on the Murray.

Program HighlightsOver the last 10 years The GoulburnBroken Catchment ManagementAuthority has worked to ensure landand water resources are protectedand enhanced as well as improvingthe region's social wellbeing,environmental quality andproductive capacity.

A major feature of CatchmentManagement within the GoulburnBroken has been the partnerships withDPI, DSE, CSIRO, Universities andResearch Cooporations which hasresulted in an improved knowledge ofhow people and the environmentinteract.

The Goulburn Broken CMA has beenappointed as the manager ofEnvironmental Water Researve (EWR).Highlights of the EWR are:

• 80:20 deal finalised (20 percent of sales pool of water now part of EWR

• Victorian Government $1 billionfunding announcement for FoodBowl Modernisation Projectproviding 75 GL of water savings toEWR annually

• Victorian Government $52 million announcement tomodernise irrigation infrastructure providing 52 GL of watersavings to EWR annually.

There have been many successful programs over the last 10years one of which is the RiverConnect program. This programhas involved a wide range of stakeholders, including theAboriginal community and local government, allowing the GBCMA to engage in a partnership to carry out naturalresource management activities.

A major function for the GBCMA is to be involved in theCommunity. Over the past 10 years the GBCMAimplementation committees have been supported by 7 landcarenetworks and 103 landcare groups.

With the Droughthaving a devastatingimpact on manylandholders, theDrought EmploymentProgram (DEP) was agreat success:

• The Programemployed 72people andresulted in adramatic increasein fencing ofriparian vegetation

• 33,460 hectares of land protected from over grazing with338 stock containment areas.

Challenges and OpportunitiesAt the Goulburn Broken CMA there will be many challengesbut also manyopportunities tocome. The followingissues pose bothchallenges andopportunities for the GBCMA:• Climate Change• Modernisation of

the IrrigationNetwork

• Demographic Change

The GBCMA will continue to successfully implement theRegional Catchment Strategy through partnerships with DPI,DSE, G-M Water, G-V Water, Local Government, Landcare andLandholders.

A decade of natural resourcemanagementTotal investment in NRM : Total investment in natural resources in the Goulburn BrokenCatchment in the last 10 years is $180 million by governmentand at least $280 million by the regional community. This givesa total of $460 million invested in NRM in the catchment in thelast decade.


Some achievements for theGoulburn Broken CMA overthe last decade have been:

• Winning the NationalRiverprize and being afinalist twice for theInternational Award. GBCMA were also thewinners of the NationalBanksier Award andreceived an EngineeringExcellence Award for theMurkatah SurfaceDrainage Project.

• Over 1,266 of propertiescompleted a Whole FarmPlan and 84,000 hectaresof land formed.

• 1,906 Farm Water ReuseSystems completed.

• 5,496 hectares of landacross the catchmentwere revegetated.

• A reduction ofphosphorous export from450 tonnes per year toless than 100 tonnes.

Goulburn Broken CMA168 Welsford Street,

Shepparton, Victoria 3630

Phone: 03 5820 1100Fax: 03 5831 6254

<www.gbcma.vic.gov.au>

Goulburn Broken CMA

Region Overview

Situated in northern Victoria and

part of the Murray Darling Basin,

The Goulburn Broken Catchment

comprises the catchments of the

Goulburn and Broken rivers and

part of the Murray River valley.


PeachesPeaches

Tatura Trellis

Autumn orchardAutumn orchard

Landscape

Barmah Wetlands

Lake Mokoan

Pivot Centre Mooroopna

Tomatoes (before & after)

Dickie Swamp

Goulburn Eastern Channel Pine Lodge

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The regional population isapproximately 65,000, with Mildurathe major urban centre. The northand east of the region is bordered bythe River Murray, its anabranches,tributary channels, floodplains andassociated wetland systems.

In the south, north flowingintermittent streams, including theYarriambiack Creek and Tyrrell Creekterminate in a number of ephemeralwetland complexes including theWirrengren Plain, Lake Corrong andLake Tyrrell.

There are over 900 wetlands in theMallee CMA region, 14 of which arelisted as ‘nationally significant’ in theDirectory of Important Wetlands inAustralia. In addition, the wetlandand floodplain ecosystems of theHattah Lakes and Lindsay, Wallpollaand Mulcra Islands have beenrecognised by the Murray DarlingMinisterial Council as “icon sites” toreceive environmental water underthe Murray Darling BasinCommission’s Living Murray initiative.

Land use in the Mallee is diverse withagriculture the most economicallyimportant industry and the RiverMurray a major influence.

The region’s semi-arid climatesupports primary industries includingcereals, prime lambs, citrus, nuts,vegetables, vine and fruit growingactivities.

Many of these horticultural sectorshave faced a challenging period inrecent years due to the drought.

Program HighlightsHelping communities to develop andincrease their ability to engage inthe process of protecting andimproving our natural resources hasbeen a key focus for the Mallee CMAover the past decade.

Initiatives such as Landcare,Waterwatch, the Frontage Action PlanProject, Environmental ActionPlanning, and indigenous programshave all been instrumental in buildingcommunity capacity and knowledgeof regional natural resourcemanagement issues.

The voluntary involvement of over150 local farmers in such programs asthe Environmental ManagementAction Planning project signals aturning point in the direction offarming to include environmentalconsiderations, while the voluntarycontributions of Landcare groups,local schools and other communityorganisations in restoring frontagesalong the River Murray highlights the

capacity of thecommunity toimplementenvironmentalchange.

Indigenous CulturalHeritage has becomea key considerationof the Authorityacross all units,programs andprojects. The IndigenousCultural Heritage training program has boosted the capacity ofthe local indigenous community to identify key culturalheritage sites to ensure their ongoing protection.

Undertaking research to inform future decisions in terms ofnatural resource management in our region has also been a keyfocus of the Mallee CMA over the past decade. With salinityone of the most significant threats to be faced by the Malleeregion over the next 20 years, the aerial mapping of over25,500 kilometres from Nyah to the South Australian borderwill provide data essential for future decision making in this area.

Future ChallengesThe challenges of the vast Mallee region are both diverse andcomplex, demanding strong leadership, strategic planningand co-ordination.

The future looks set to present many challenges with thecontinuing prolonged drought, low inflows into the Murraysystem, demand for water resources, rising salinity levels andclimate change.Changing socio-economic conditions,urban migration andland-use change willalso presentchallenges for theMallee region in thefuture.

The Mallee CMA willcontinue todemonstrate itscommitment andability to embrace thechallenges ofincreased naturalresource managementresponsibilitiesthrough our key goals of business excellence, leadership andpartnership and community engagement.

InvestmentTotal investment in NRM projects: About $50 million



• Support of over 200Landcare, Waterwatchand other community-based environmentalvolunteer groups,involving more than10,000 people.

• The establishment of theFrontage Action PlanProject, an integratedcommunity program thathas restored over 44 hectares of vegetation,stabilised over 350hectares of degraded riverfrontage and protectedover 740 hectares of highvalue floodplain along the River Murray.

• The aerial mapping of 25,500 kilometres fromNyah to the SouthAustralian border to gaindata essential for futuredecision making inregards to salinity.

• The development of anIndigenous CulturalHeritage program andassociated trainingprogram to increase thenumber of people able toassess sites for culturalheritage value andindigenous history.

• The involvement of morethan 150 Malleelandholders, coveringmore than one millionacres of regionalfarmland, in theEnvironmentalManagement ActionPlanning project; acoordinated whole farmplanning approach to theprotection of naturalresources in the Mallee.

Mallee Waterwatch

Frontage Action Plan program

Aerial salinity mapping

The EMAP program

Mallee CMA

Cnr Eleventh Streetand Koorlong AvenueIrymple, Victoria 3502

Phone: 03 5051 4377Fax: 03 5051 4379

<www.malleecma.vic.gov.au>

Revegetation works undertaken aspart of the Biodiversity ActionPlanning Project - Cecilia Burke

Region Overview

The Mallee Catchment

Management Authority region is

the largest catchment area in

Victoria, covering approximately

3.9 million hectares – almost

one-fifth of the State.

The Cultural HeritageTraining Program - Cecilia Burke

Revegetation works undertaken aspart of the Biodiversity ActionPlanning Project - Cecilia Burke

A malleefowl chick. An iconic species of the Mallee.

A malleefowl chick. An iconic species of the Mallee.


Mallee Environmental Employment Program

The River Murray

Environmental watering at Hattah LakesEnvironmental watering at Hattah Lakes

Mallee Environmental Employment Program

Mallee CMA

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The region is packed with anabundance of diverse naturalattractions from forested nationalparks to waterfalls, gorges andslowly meandering waterways.

Our backyard is also home to ateeming assortment of flora andfauna, some of which are foundnowhere else; all easily accessible aswonderful day trips.

The four major river catchments inour region include the Campaspe,Loddon, Avoca and Avon-Richardson;they are the lifeblood to the regionand its people. They have helpedshape, grow and sustain communitiesincluding Bendigo, Bridgewater,Donald, Echuca, Kerang, Kyneton andSwan Hill.

Discovery of gold in the 1850’s and1860’s resulted in the most significanthuman event in the evolution of thisregion. This mass influx of people fromall parts of the globe, together withthe influences of irrigation in the late1800’s/early 1900’s, inevitably alteredthe ‘balance’ of the naturalenvironment of this region.

Much has changed in our backyardsince then; whilst these changes haveprovided wealth, stability andprotection, it has come at some costto the region’s natural health andwellbeing.

The North Central CatchmentManagement Authority and thelandholders in our region understandthe importance of our naturalenvironment, in particular our rivers

and other key waterways. It is ourcollective responsibility to look afterour precious waterways and theirsurrounds for the use and enjoymentof future generations.

We take pride in our region, as well asthe role we play in managing ourregion’s natural resources of land,water, biodiversity and climate; afterall it’s our backyard too.

Program HighlightsWe have experienced considerablesuccess across a number of keynatural resource managementprograms over the last decade. The following, however represents asnapshot of our DroughtEmployment Program (DEP) during2006 - 2007.

This program, with its total funding of$2.936 million sourced from StateGovernment, was able to providefunding and resources to landholdersin rural communities experiencingunprecedented hardships caused bythe drought.

The program built on our partnership approach with theDepartment of Primary Industries to deliver significantenvironmental and community benefits. It also enabled theNorth Central Catchment Management Authority to acceleratea number of on-ground works programs, or add value toexisting programs.

When compared to our original program targets ourcumulative achievements were an inspiring 115%. Equallyimpressive was that significant environmental works werecompleted during a time of severe drought.

The DEP demonstrates our continued commitment to investingin significant on-ground natural resource managementchanges, this time with a focus of positioning our naturalresources to be better placed to recover from the dry times.

The program alsodemonstrates strongand overwhelmingcommunity andagency support tobring about ‘real’changes by activelyengaging in a wholeof community andgovernment approachto natural resourcemanagement.

Future ChallengesCasting our eyes forward to the horizon, the North CentralCatchment Management Authority recognises and acceptsthat there are a number of challenges ahead in how weoperate.

Challenges will continue to present themselves in the form ofchanging government policy, community expectations, newscience and knowledge, climate as well as other changes to ournatural environment.

We will continue to focus on achieving excellence throughinvesting in our people and the capacity of the region. Thepast decade has established a solid foundation upon which weare ‘getting on with the job’.

Investment

The area takes in a population of over 200,000 people; theregion has become one of Victoria’s most rapidly growingareas in terms of urban and agricultural activities.

This growth, together with the Government’s strategic focuson regionally-based agencies developing and delivering on-ground natural resource management programs in partnershipwith local communities, is reflected in the followinginvestment snapshot for the last decade.

Total Investment Revenue since 1997: $140,523,559

Total Projects since 1997:Engaged in more than 8,800 projects


The Loddon Stressed RiverRestoration Project - Over450 km of waterways alongthe Loddon River, Tullaroopand Birches creeks,together with aninvestment of more that$3.8 million has beenfocused on enhancing theenvironmental values of these key waterways.

These include:• 188 km of riparian

fencing to alleviate thepressure of stock accesson the remnantvegetation andriverbanks.

• 94,000 grasses and shrubsestablished to enhance thediversity of plants and thehabitat they provide.

• 63 ha of exotic Crack Willow and Weeping Willowremoved from the riparian vegetation to increasethe naturalness of the riparian and in-streamhabitat.

• 140 off-stream watering systems provided foralternative sources of water for livestock.

The Gunbower Forest Flooding for Life Project -Gunbower Forest on the River Murray is aninternationally significant floodplain system and thesecond largest River Red Gum forest in Victoria.Spanning 20,000 ha.

Key outcomes included:

• In spring 2005environmental water wasdelivered to GunbowerForest to sustain severalpermanent and semi-permanent wetlandcomplexes.

• The delivery of water between November 2005 andFebruary 2006 also supported breeding opportunitiesfor colonial water birds. This resulted in the mostsignificant breeding event of the Great Egret since1999/2000.

• River Red Gum trees have responded with flushes ofnew growth and some regeneration of understoreyvegetation.

• Hundreds of records have identified several frogspecies including Spotted Marsh Frog, Barking MarshFrog and Perons Tree Frog. All species were able tosuccessfully breed in the flooded areas of the Forest.

Kangaroo Paw Prints - by Maggie Whittaker

North Central CMA


Golden Fields of Canola

The Loddon River in flow

Gunbower Island lili

Lizard in Mandurang

North Central Catchment Management Authority

628-632 Midland HighwayPO Box 18

Huntly Victoria 3551

Phone: 03 5448 7124Fax: 03 5448 7148

Email: [email protected]

<www.nccma.vic.gov.au>

Morning Mist - photo by Jassica Chaplin

Region Overview

Covering an area of around

30,000 km (about 13% of

Victoria), our region is bordered

by the River Murray to the

north, the Great Dividing Range

and Wombat State Forest to the

south and Mt Camel Range

to the east.

Golden Fields of Canola

Caring for our waterwaysCaring for our waterways

NO

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The main industries in the region areagriculture (dairy, beef, lamb, wool,cropping and horticulture), forestproducts, tourism, value-addedprocessing industries andmanufacturing. Combined, theycontribute an estimated $3.24 billionevery year to the State’s economicwealth.

Our region covered by the North EastCMA is bounded by the Murray Riverin the north, the Victorian Alps in thesouth, the NSW border in the East andby the Warby Ranges in the west. It takes in the local governmentmunicipalities of Wodonga, Indigo,Wangaratta, Alpine and Towong, plus parts of Moira and East Gippsland shires.

North East Victoria – a snapshot

Population: 95,000

Area: 1,957,000 hectares

Public land: 55%

Length of streams:10,602 kilometres

Major water storages (at capacity)

Dartmouth Dam: 3,906,400megalitres

Lake Buffalo: 24,000 megalitres

Lake William Hovell: 13,500 megalitres

Hume Weir: 3,038,00megalitres

Rocky Valley Dam: 29,110 megalitres

Program HighlightsThe North East CMA is a practical,community-focussed, regionalgovernment authority that isworking hard to build diverse,healthy landscapes and vibrantcommunities across North EastVictoria.

Our work is guided by science andimplemented through effectivepartnerships.

We have a highly skilled anddedicated network of almost fiftystaff who work from our Wodonga,Kiewa and Everton offices.

Innovation in the North East River Tender – an auction-style, incentive programpioneered in the NorthEast is helping farmers andcrown land leaseholders totake practical steps toprotect the environmentalhealth of one of Victoria’smost significant heritagerivers – the Ovens. To date, land managershave utilised funding fromRiver Tender to protectmore than 1,300 hectares of floodplain and almost 150kilometres of Ovens River frontage. River Tender is a VictorianGovernment initiative that is funded through the VictorianWater Trust and the Australian Government’s Natural HeritageTrust. It is managed by the North East CMA.

Fire recovery – bushfiresin 2003 and 2006 causedmajor damage in ourregion. We assisted theDepartment ofSustainability andEnvironment (DSE) – thelead agency- with fightingGreat Divide fires andsubsequent containmentline rehabilitation overwaterways in the region,such as Buckland Valleyand above Lake Buffalo. We also commissioned research tobetter understand the impact of fires on catchment and water values.

Supporting Landcare – the North East has the highest rate ofLandcare membership among farmers in the State. Some 50Landcare groups and four Landcare Networks operate in ourregion.

The North East CMA provides a regional Landcare co-ordination service to support Landcare groups. Our coordinators run education activities, assist groups withfunding applications and put new residents in touch with theirnearest Landcare group.

Future ChallengesThe North East CMA encourages landholders, communitygroups and government to address the ‘big’ natural resourcemanagement issues facing our region, including adapting toclimate change, fostering sustainable agriculture, managingcultural heritage and identifying the impacts of ‘tree change’trends on land management in the North East.

Adapting to climate change – in response to communityinterest, we conducted seminars and field days about climatechange predictions and best practice adaptation for moreextreme climatic events. In addition the CMA is a member ofthe North East Greenhouse Alliance, and jointly hosted analternative fuel workshop to look at production and end-useoptions.


Since 1997, the North East CMA has:

• Secured more than 400 partnership agreements withlandholders in our catchment;

• Planted more than 2.6 million trees to controlerosion and attract biodiversity;

• Revegetated 2,400 hectares of the catchment toimprove water quality and encourage biodiversity;

• Erected more than 253 kilometres of fencing toprotect waterways and encourage regeneration oftrees and grasses;

• Measured 554 sites for the Statewide Index of Streamcondition - the benchmark of river health inVictoria; and

• Processed more than 1,300 floodplain referrals toensure that development does not occur in areasprone to flooding.

North East CMA

Head office1B Footmark Court (PO Box 616)

Wodonga, Victoria 3689

Phone: 02 6043 7600Fax: 02 6043 7601

<www.necma.vic.gov.au>

River Tender

North East CMA

Region Overview

Victoria’s North East is rich in

natural assets; snow-topped

mountains, river valleys, open

plains, woodlands and natural

forests.

Spotted Tree FrogSpotted Tree Frog


In December 2006 wecommissioned anindependent audit of ouroffices and depots with theaim of reducing energy useand greenhouse gaspollution.

Managing culturalheritage – more than 90%of our staff and Boardhave attended culturalawareness or siteidentification training.

Identifying the impacts of‘tree change’ – we areworking with localgovernment to identify thebest ways of managing ournatural resources in theface of changingpopulation trends in our region;

Fostering sustainableagriculture – we have madea long-term commitment toencouraging EnvironmentalManagement Systemsbecause of the many waysthey support sustainableagriculture. We recentlysigned up 42 participants fora new EMS programme inour region.

Omeo Highway, Bundara River

CMA Hybrid car

Cultural Heritage

EMS Gate plates

The North East Region plays a vital role inproviding water resources for south-easternAustralia. Although it comprises only 2% of thegeographic area of the Murray-Darling basin, theregion’s river basins contributes 38% of the totalwater in the Murray-Darling Basin system.

Omeo Highway, Bundara River

LandcareLandcare

POR

T PHILLIP A

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NPO

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MAWith metropolitan Melbourne at its

centre, the region is home to 3.5million people, covers 38 council areas and has around 500 activeenvironmental community groups.

Engaging so many organisations innatural resource management, andenhancing co-ordination amongstthem, is particularly challenging.

The complex circumstances of thisregion have called for specialorganisational arrangements, so thePPWCMA has a different history fromother CMAs.

The PPWCMA was the last of theCMAs to be established and is nowaround five years old. It is a greatstory of emerging communityengagement, strategic planning andcollaboration with many partners togenerate impressive on-groundachievement.

Future ChallengesIn a region with 3.5 million peopleand with more arriving every day,there remain immense challenges forachieving a sustainable future of ournatural resources.

One challenge is to effectively tapinto the private sector for funds thatcan benefit the local environment.

Grow West, Living Links, Yarra 4 Lifeand Bring Back the Bunyip are wellplaced to take advantage of theemerging markets for corporate socialresponsibility, carbon offsets andecosystem services.

Another important challenge isfinding ways that the growth ofMelbourne can be accommodatedwith minimal impacts on thesurrounding green wedges, landscapesand agricultural production.

New schemes that reward landholdersfor provision of public benefits fromtheir private land are opportunitiesfor the future. Perhaps the greatestchallenge is managing the impacts ofclimate change on the naturalresources of this region.

The bays, coastline,agricultural production,native flora and fauna,rivers and landscapes ofthis region will beimpacted upon by a drier,hotter climate, as will thelifestyles of all residentsand visitors. Finding newways of protecting andenhancing our naturaltreasures is imperative.

Investment in natural resourcemanagementThe PPWCMA directsmost of its time andeffort into coordinatingthe implementation ofthe Regional CatchmentStrategy.

The strategy is theroadmap to a sustainableenvironment in this regionand was prepared in closeconsultation with manyorganisations and interestgroups across the region.

To implement thestrategy’s 97 actions, the PPWCMA often brings togetherrelevant organisations to undertake collaborative planning andcoordinated action.

The PPWCMA also directs the investment of the Victorian andAustralian Governments into priority projects undertaken byvarious organisations inline with the RegionalCatchment Strategy. ThePPWCMA has funneledover $26 million topriority projects over thepast four years.


The 2004 - 2009 Port Phillip and Western Port RegionalCatchment Strategy was undertaken with extensivecommunity consultation and generated strongownership of the strategy by other organisations andcommitment to its implementation.

• An excellent partnership has been establishedbetween the PPWCMA and Melbourne Water enablingstrong collaboration and co-ordination between theorganisations on various activities.

• Played a leading role in supporting the 470 Landcareand Friends groups across the region with a PPWCMACommunity Grants program, assistance for strategicplanning, regular provision of relevant informationand the initiation of the biannual Regional LandcareAwards. PPWCMA was recognised for these serviceswith a Victorian Landcare Award in 2005.

• Initiated and hosted regular community seminarsacross the region on topics including the state of thecatchments, water quality in the Yarra River and thefuture of Melbourne’s green wedges. These seminarshave attracted around 1,200 people in the past 2 years.

• Managed the implementation of the MelbourneCommonwealth Games Tree Planting project thatcontributed to the Games being a carbon-neutralevent. This project achieved 450 hectares ofrevegetation with indigenous trees and shrubs at 17 sites across Victoria.

• Reported annually on the condition of theenvironment in the region via its annual report. Now, a report card is being initiated that will take the messages to a broader audience via themainstream media.

• Developed and showcased some ideas for improvingthe protection of green wedges in the future andachieving public benefits from these areas.

• Lead and supported the “Grow West” project aroundBacchus Marsh that aims to revegetate 10,000hectares of degraded land. In recent years, over 1,600hectares of revegetation has occurred and thelandscape is being rapidly improved. Corporatesponsors are being attracted to Grow West and willplay a major part in the future works.

• Initiated the “Living Links” project in the DandenongCreek catchment south-east of Melbourne. LivingLinks has united 12 councils, government agenciesand various community groups with a vision to createa web of living parks, wetlands, pathways and openspaces as a world-class urban ecosystem. On-groundworks have started in this long-term project.

• Initiated the “Yarra 4 Life” project in the Yarra Valleyand the “Bring Back the Bunyip” project in the BunyipRiver and Cardinia Creek Catchments. These projectshave united local stakeholders with visions forimproving their local landscapes and environments.

Port Phillip and Westernport CMA

Level 1, Landmark Corporate Centre

454-472 Nepean HwyFrankston, Victoria 3199

Phone: 03 8781 7900Fax: 03 9781 0199

Email: [email protected]<www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au>

Port Phillip and Westernport CMA

Region Overview

The PPWCMA region features

highly valuable agricultural

production, famous natural

tourist attractions and two

iconic bays – Port Phillip Bay and

Western Port.


Community support is strong

Sandflats contrast withagricultural reachesSandflats contrast withagricultural reaches

Our state's capitalOur state's capital

Managing urban growth is a challengeManaging urban growth is a challenge

Community support is strong

Victoria's endangered birdemblem the HelmetedHoneryeater

The Western reaches areimpacted by agriculture

WEST G

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The Latrobe, Thomson, Macalisterand Avon rivers flow to LakeWellington in the east andwaterways from the StrzeleckiRanges flow south to inlets andestuaries along the coast betweenSan Remo and Lakes Entrance.

Across seven municipalities, theregion is well known to residents andtourists for its diversity of uniquelandscapes, farming communities,industries, urban centres andecologically significant features.

The region consists of rolling hills,extensive networks of rivers, streamsand creeks, wetlands, red gum plains,alpine ranges, vast floodplains andcoastal areas.

The area is home to 169,094 people,with the Gunai/Kurnai peoples andthe Kulin peoples the traditionalcustodians of the country.

Forty per cent of the region is publicland including six national parks, fourmarine national parks and two Ramsarsites.

The region provides 20 per cent ofAustralia’s milk production, 95 percent of the State’s electricity andmuch of its gas and oil (offshore).Sixty per cent of Melbourne’s waterstorage capacity is provided by theThomson Reservoir.

Program HighlightsThroughout the past ten years theWGCMA has focused on improvingcatchment health in partnershipwith the community, agencies andother authorities in the region.

It is this partnership approach thathas enabled many significantachievements.

Of particular note is the growth andconsolidation of partnerships withcommunity groups and non-Government organisations such asLandcare and Greening Australia.

Their efforts have enabled the community to activelyparticipate in initiatives that protect and enhance the healthof our catchments.

The WGCMA’s achievements over the past ten years aresignificantly underpinned by the efforts of our operationsgroup. Dedicated river restoration teams working in theThomson, Latrobe and South Gippsland basins have helpedimprove the heath of the region’s waterways. This could nothave been achieved without the consent, passion andinvolvement of local landholders.

Whilst it is important to measure physical work related toimproving catchments we also note the growth in regionalcapacity to address the many catchment management issuesfacing Gippsland. Looking back on 10 years it is interesting tonote that the knowledge, expertise and the willingness toaddress catchment challenges have grown significantly. Withthis in mind we can be confident that the next 10 years will bean exciting time for the WGCMA and its partners.

Future ChallengesWith the long period of drought and the State Government’semphasis CMAs as the caretaker of river health and managerof the Environmental Water Reserve, we have a clear focuson understanding the water yields and water needs in ourregion for the coming years.

The region’s waterways and aquifers have been placed underpressure to provide high quality water to meet the residentialdemands of Melbourne and the increased use of water forintensive farming, agriculture, urban supply, power generationand other industrial use.

Our region has been subject to significant fires and flooding inrecent times. Considerable resources and activity will befocussed on fire and flood recovery and rehabilitation over thenext five years, along with work examining how we mightmitigate fire and flood risk into the future.

The region is also subject to social, economic andenvironmental trends such as changing land use, the impact ofclimate change and expanding urban fringes; we will continueto work with our partners and the community in achievingcatchment health gains into the future.

A decade of natural resourcemanagementTotal investment in NRM projects:

The co-ordination of in excess of $100 million worth of fundingfor the region over 10 years.

Total projects:

In partnership with agencies, landholders and communitygroups, the WGCMA has delivered of more than 500 programsin the region over a 10 year period. These programs include:

• A diversity of on-ground projects ranging from large scaleriver restoration to drought employment programs, fromfire and flood recovery work to supporting communities inaddressing local catchment issues.

• The development of plans and strategies for a coordinatedapproach to river health, native vegetation, water quality,and nutrient and salinity management.

Snapshot of Achievements• River restoration work of

around 872 km of exoticweed reduction, 1,437 kmof riparian fencing and1,218km of riparianrevegetation usingapproximately 1.5 millionindigenous plants.

• 90% of the Tarra River and95% of the Franklin Riverrestored.

• GippsLandcare established.A consortium of the fourLandcare networks of theWest Gippsland region.The consortium exists tocoordinate, promote andimplement sustainableland management projectson a regional scale.

• The buy-back of 1,930 acres of Gippsland’sHeart Morass forrehabilitation, apartnership between Fieldand Game Australia,WGCMA and Watermark.Heart Morass is a wetlandcomplex of internationalsignificance that forms thewestern portion of theGippsland Lakes.

• Strong partnerships withcommunity groups.

- 2,200 families involved in 74 Landcare groups as part of four Landcarenetworks managing over 330,000 hectares of private land in the region.

- Over 100 Waterwatchvolunteers monitoringmore than 100 sitesacross the region andover 80 schoolsparticipating inWaterwatch activitiesannually.

• Diverse community andlandholder representationon WGCMA Boards andCommunity ConsultativeCommittees (CCC) over 10 years:

- 30 + Board members- 110 + CCC members.

West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority

16 Hotham Street (PO Box 1374)Traralgon, Victoria 3844

Phone: 03 5175 7800Fax: 03 5175 7899

Email: [email protected]<www.wgcma.vic.gov.au>

West Gippsland CMA

Region Overview

Covering an area of 17,685 km2,

the West Gippsland region

extends from Warragul to the

Gippsland Lakes and from the

Great Dividing Range to Wilsons

Promontory.

Mount Worth - Strzelecki Ranges

Upper Macalister RiverUpper Macalister River

Tidal River - Wilsons PromontoryTidal River - Wilsons Promontory



Thomson River,Canoeing

Bunurong Coast

Revegetation - Upper Latrobe River,

Willow Grove

Tube stock for revegetation

Boolarra SouthLandcare

Mount Worth - Strzelecki Ranges

Tube stock for revegetation

WIM

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The natural features within theWimmera include more than 3,000wetlands supporting a diverse rangeof flora and fauna, the Grampiansand Little Desert national parks, theWimmera River and its tributariesand valuable groundwater assets inthe Millicent Coast basin and in thesouth-west of the catchment.

The Wimmera is home to about 1,500native plant species and 420 nativeanimal species, including 20 mammalspecies, 40 reptile species and morethan 250 bird species. Habitats forthese species are found across thelandscape, in the parks and reservesystem, state forests and on privateland.

Program HighlightsWimmera CMA’s role in educating,supporting and empowering thecommunity to make a difference tothe Wimmera environment is theorganisation’s greatest achievementin the past decade.

Through difficult climatic times,Wimmera CMA has supported majorpositive changes in land managementpractices and helped foster anincreasing appreciation for thenatural environment.

Many environmental programs acrossthe region have been co-ordinatedand driven by Wimmera CMA. There isalso a strong focus by Wimmera CMAto support individuals or groups intheir efforts to make positiveenvironmental changes.

Wimmera CMA uses a variety of tools,from grants to market-basedinstruments, educational programsand training to reach its goals.

The organisation and its staff workhard to meet the needs andexpectations of the community, aswell as meet strategic regional goals.

Future ChallengesThe Wimmera facesenvironmental andeconomic challenges dueto increasing climatevariability.

Construction of theWimmera Mallee Pipeline,however, should improvethe certainty of watersupply to residents and theenvironment.

The challenge for the nextdecade will be to ensurean appropriate mix ofeconomic, social,recreational andenvironmental uses foravailable water.

Wimmera CMA expectspositive changes to thecondition of the WimmeraRiver and its tributaries asa result of pipelineconstruction.

Snapshot of AchievementsCommunity partnershipsare a big part of WimmeraCMA’s work.

• In the past 10 years,Wimmera CMA has workedwith and supported morethan 60 Landcare groups inthe region, working onprojects which truly makea difference to the environment.

• The Wimmera is home toone of Victoria’s longest-running communityWaterwatch groups. SinceJeparit communitymembers startedmonitoring the health ofthe Wimmera River in May 1995, the Waterwatchprogram has grown rapidly. More than 12,500people now participate in Wimmera CommunityWaterwatch, including a large contingent of schoolstudents. The work of Waterwatch forms animportant part of Wimmera CMA’s catchmentmonitoring program.

• The continued popularityof the annual WimmeraBiodiversity Seminar, justone of many majorenvironmental initiativesthat Wimmera CMAsupports, highlights thepro-active nature of theauthority in interactingdirectly with those doingscientific research onregional issues.

• Through Wimmera CMA’sinnovative incentiveprograms, about 6,000hectares of nativevegetation has beenplanted, which, combinedwith independentplanting, has deliveredincreased habitat fornative flora and fauna across the region.

• Wimmera CMA’s ongoing interaction with thecommunity is a continuing source of pride. Theorganisation continually improves its engagementprograms in an effort to increase interest inenvironmental issues. The Wimmera KidsConference, the Property Management Planningprogram for landholders, annual World WetlandsDay celebrations, urban drain education, highly-successful waterway education initiatives such asthe Adam Goodes ‘all drains lead to our waterways’campaign and a creative approach to involving thecommunity in looking after our environmental assetsare just a small sample of the major achievements.

Wimmera CMA

26 Darlot Street (PO Box 479)Horsham, Victoria 3402

Phone: 03 5382 1544Fax: 03 5382 6076

<www.wcma.vic.gov.au>

Wimmera CMA


Region Overview

The Wimmera catchment in

western Victoria extends from

the Grampians, north to

Lake Albacutya and from the

South Australian border east to

Navarre. The catchment

represents about 10.3% of

Victoria’s total land area, with

a population of about 48,000.

Photographs that appear inthis publication have beenprovided by WimmeraCatchment ManagementAuthority and are courtesy ofthe following photographers:David Fletcher, Paul Carracher, Wimmera CMA staff and theWimmera Mail-Times.

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