The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is seeking the input of Pental Island landholders into the future of the island’s levee system.

The Pental Island levees are unique in the region. They were built in the 1920s by local landholders to protect the land bordered by the Murray and Little Murray rivers near Swan Hill.

The North Central CMA inherited the levees in 1997 without ongoing funding for their maintenance and is now working with a landholder steering committee to determine a more sustainable long-term maintenance strategy that might prevent the deterioration of the levee system over time.

“Most of the island is below flood level, so the levees serve a really important purpose for the landholders,” North Central CMA Project Manager Shaun Morgan said.

“The level of protection they provide was clearly demonstrated during the 2011 and 2022 floods.

“However, the current funding and management arrangement is not sustainable, so we want to speak with landholders about the options available to them to hopefully keep their levee around for a long time.”

The community-based steering committee has discussed moving to a new paid management scheme to ensure responsibilities don’t fall back on a handful of landowners. Such a scheme would ask all landowners to contribute fees for levee upgrades and maintenance.

“That means we need feedback from a lot more Pental Island landholders, to ensure their views are taken into consideration,” Mr Morgan said.

“Prior generations have, through a managed scheme, built a really good system of levees, one they are proud of and one they want to continue.

“We’ll hold two community information sessions in the first two weeks of October, as well as offer one on one meetings or small group discussions to get feedback from as many landholders as possible and take them through all the options.

“It’s really important landholders don’t miss out on providing feedback on something that may have a big impact on their farm or home.”

Community Information session details are:

Session One

• Tuesday, 3 October 2023
• 7.30am to 8.30am
• Pental Island Holiday Park Function Room, 519 Pental Island Road, Pental Island

Session Two

• Wednesday 11 October 2023
• 6pm to 7pm
• Pental Island Holiday Park Function Room, 519 Pental Island Road, Pental Island

RSVPs are encouraged but not required. CMA staff will remain at the venue for an additional 1.5 hours after the session for further discussions with community members as required.

Landholders can also request one-on-one or small group discussions by calling 0439 554 186. For more information, call the same number, or email shaun.morgan@nccma.vic.gov.au