Water is being delivered to the internationally recognised Gunbower Forest in north central Victoria to provide critical drought refuges for threatened species.

The joint release of water by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and the Murray Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) will provide respite for wetlands and the threatened species that rely on them in north central Victoria, North Central Catchment Management Authority's CEO Mr Gavin Hanlon stated today.

"Gunbower Forest is a Living Murray icon site providing important habitat for migratory waterbirds. It is a critical drought refuge. The area of wetland habitat available this year for waterbirds to feed or breed in has also dropped to about a third of that in a normal year," said Mr Hanlon.

"It is one of the few remaining areas in Victoria where Great and Intermediate Egrets have nested in the recent past. Both are considered threatened in Victoria".

"We are using the water available this year wisely to provide the best possible benefits to keep our wetlands healthy and to help them through this ongoing dry period".

"The water will help the feeding and roosting habitat for waterbirds, as well as Murray Cod in Gunbower Creek, tortoises and frogs including the threatened Giant Banjo Frog. We will be closely monitoring the outcomes including wetland vegetation, tree health, waterbirds and fish."

Mr Hanlon added that the water being used is an environmental water entitlement, legally set aside to protect rivers and wetlands and does not affect other water users' allocations.

"This watering is on the tail end of the irrigation season to minimise losses without affecting anyone else's access to channel space, and irrigators will not be impacted".

"We are working directly with Goulburn-Murray Water and MDBC to ensure water to the Forest is delivered efficiently," said Mr Hanlon.

The 7.7 gigalitres (GL) of water to the site will be delivered along the National Channel and Gunbower Creek, then into the forest by opening regulating structures. One of these structures has been built by the Living Murray program for this sort of watering and this will be its first use.

2 GL of the water is from the Living Murray entitlement from the MDBC and the remaining 5.7 GL is Victorian Flora and Fauna entitlement.

The community and visitors to Gunbower Forest are advised that access to some areas of the forest will be closed due to water crossing roads. Please contact the Cohuna DSE office for updates on road closures (03) 5456 5555.

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