River Health Planning

In North Central Victoria our contribution to river health is not only important for waterways in this region, but also for the health of the Murray River. Three rivers from this region - the Campaspe, Loddon and Avoca - contribute flows to the Murray, while the Avon-Richardson system drains to Lake Buloke, a nationally significant wetland.

Improved stock management along rivers ensures healthier riparian vegetation and the filtering of water that flows in from adjacent land.

By supplementing the River Red Gums along waterways with a diversity of native shrubs and grasses, better habitat is provided for fauna both in and along waterways.

As caretakers of river health, the North Central Catchment Management Authority's (CMA) River Health Planning Team's responsibilities and actions are guided by the North Central Regional Catchment Strategy, Victorian River Health Strategy and the North Central River Health Strategy.

The team has a key role in strategic planning for prioritised on-ground management activities that aim to protect and improve river and wetland health, water quality, water resources, environmental flows, floodplains and biodiversity. Improved understanding of river health is a key aim of the team through strong partnerships with other organisations and the involvement of the regional community.

The River Health Planning Team also coordinates a range of river health rehabilitation works, including vegetation protection, revegetation, sediment and erosion control, and stock management. These activities can be seen along waterways throughout the region and have been achieved with the strong support of the regional community.

The diverse responsibilities of the River Health Planning Team include:

• Develop priority plans and strategies relating to all aspects of river health (including environmental flows, wetlands and water quality) as required for the North Central region, at the regional, catchment/basin and sub-catchment scales
• Identify priorities for river health research and development
• Deliver river health programs and projects according to investor agreements via effective and timely project management
• Ensure river health issues are integrated with all other relevant natural resource management issues throughout the North Central region
• Manage the delivery of environmental flows through Bulk Entitlements established for the Loddon and Campaspe rivers
• Ensure that outcomes specified in key strategic documents are monitored and achieved
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with partner organisations, other natural resource management agencies and river health professionals across Victoria
• Develop and implement river health awareness actions across the region