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Catchment Committee Listens and Learns About Local Issues Around Avoca

3 Jul 2008

Community passion for the river and its health in the Avoca, Natte Yallock and Archdale areas was on display to members of the North Central Catchment Management Authority's (CMA's) Natural Resource Management Committee (NRMC) during a visit to the region last week.

As members of the NRMC are from a wide variety of locations across the catchment, the visit was part of an ongoing series of regional tours being undertaken by the NRMC to review natural resource management issues specific to individual communities. 

Malcolm Brown, chair of the NRMC, was very pleased with the enthusiasm of both local community members and members of the Committee.

"The most overwhelming feeling is the absolute passion of local people we met along this reach of the river. They live on the river, and many of them farm along it, so they are the right people for us to talk to about what is needed for optimum river health here," he said.

"It is important that we take on board their opinions and experiences regarding the Avoca River. They understand the guardianship they have over the health of their part of the river, not just for their continued use and benefit, but for all communities further downstream."

The NRMC is a subcommittee of the North Central CMA Board and advises on environmental investment priorities within the region with an emphasis on river protection. It is made up of 16 members from across the region. Their key role is to provide local community perspectives to the projects undertaken by the North Central CMA. 

The Avoca River Reach 7 is one of the key river sections the North Central CMA is targeting as part of its asset and natural resource management programs.

Seven different sites were viewed during the NRMC's visit including examples of fencing to protect vegetation along the riverbank, soil erosion control efforts and the importance the river has to the social fabric of local communities.

The North Central CMA has been running the Waterwatch program for a number of years, involving Natte Yallock Primary School students and other volunteers along the Avoca River. Melanie Barrot is the Avoca/Avon-Richardson Waterwatch facilitator for the North Central CMA.

"The Natte Yallock teachers and students are great advocates and are fully engaged in looking after the health of the Avoca River," Melanie said.

"The passion and awareness of the students is clear. The school attended the MDBC International River Health Conference held in Canberra last year, and the claymation film the students created for the conference was shown at a dinner the NRMC attended on their tour. 

"This also flows through to other members of the local community. For example, the Avoca tourism website has a dedicated section to the Avoca River. People can visit it to find out what is going on and how they can be involved.

"It's important for us as caretakers of the Avoca River to know how all the community, including the kids, feel about how it is handled."


For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au

 

 

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