The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is inviting public comment on two new action plans, a Catchment Action Plan for the Upper Loddon catchment and a Strategic Action Plan to manage willows across the region.

North Central CMA Project Manager, Megan Kreutzer highlighted the "onground environmental action focus of the Upper Loddon Catchment Action Plan. Its aim is to protect and enhance the many community and environmental values of the waterways within the project area. Weed control, fencing to protect remnant vegetation and streamside areas and planting trees to act as a buffer to protect the waterways are all proposed as part of the Plan."

The plan's focus is on the upper sections of the Loddon River south of Guildford, Sailors Creek which runs through Daylesford and Jim Crow Creek which joins Sailors Creek to the Loddon River".

Megan added "that the key objective is to deliver a community friendly and practical action plan that both directs natural resource management investment in the region and can be used by groups such as Landcare and individuals to develop environmental works funding proposals".

Bridie Velik-Lord, North Central CMA Project Manager for the Willow Strategic Action Plan described the Willow Plan as an important tool to prioritise the management of willows in the North Central region."

"Willows can have negative impacts on waterways as they threaten water quality, reduce the capacity of the stream and impact on the habitat of animals that inhabit the stream. Some particularly invasive willows have the potential to spread rapidly throughout the region and are of real concern," Bridie added.

The Willow Strategic Action Plan will help provide direction to the management of willows in the region and ensure that this is done in a way which considers national management guidelines for willows, community opinion and the overall health of our waterways.

"The local knowledge and input we have gained so far through community meetings has proven invaluable in getting both Plans to this stage", Megan added.

"We'd like to hear more from the North Central community and welcome their thoughts and ideas about these Draft plans to make sure we get the best on-ground outcomes possible".

Both Plans can be accessed from this link to Documents For Public Comment  or by contacting the North Central CMA on 5448 7124.

Comments will be received by the North Central CMA until 5pm, Friday 13th June 2008.

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