An important population of Vulnerable platypus will benefit from a freshening flow down a key section of the Coliban River this week.

Up to 260 megalitres will flow down the Coliban from Malmsbury to Eppalock reservoirs, giving juvenile platypus perfect conditions to disperse further downstream.

“This platypus population is important for a whole range of reasons, not the least that they are a breeding population,” North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Water for Environment Project Manager Darren White said.

“They have been there since before the Millennium Drought, and with numbers low across Australia, we need to do what we can to protect them.

“These flows help protect them in the short and long term, against threats such as climate change, floods, and reduced natural flows.”

Mr White said the timing of the flow is important.

“Water at the right time of year allows the juveniles to disperse further down the river,” he said.

“That means they’ll find future mates with other populations.

“Before the Millennium Drought, locals came across platypuses foraging around the banks of this stretch of the river regularly. We want to keep it that way.”

Eppalock reservoir’s water levels are currently at 94 per cent, and the volume being released from Malmsbury is less than 0.1 per cent of Eppalock’s total capacity.

The North Central CMA manages environmental flows on behalf of the Victorian Environmental Water Holder. The flows are authorised by VEWH in line with its Seasonal Watering Plan 2023-24. 

The Plan is available for download from www.vewh.vic.gov.au, with regular watering updates posted on the Current Flows section of the North Central CMA website.