Future investment in the catchment will be strongly influenced by a rural landholder survey being undertaken by the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA).

The confidential survey is currently being posted to a random sample of 2,000 landholders across north central Victoria.

North Central CMA Acting Chief Executive Officer Rohan Hogan said feedback received through the survey will underpin the organisation’s planning and investment.

“We know how passionate landholders are about the environment including their rivers, wetlands and native vegetation, and this research is about deepening our understanding of that passion and identifying where we can most effectively target our efforts to ensure greatest return for the environment,” he said.

The survey, independently conducted by the highly-regarded Adjunct Professor Allan Curtis, Dr Hanabeth Luke and Associate Professor Catherine Allan through the Soils CRC organisation invites participants to share their thoughts on a range of social, economic and environmental issues affecting land management.

Questions cover topics such as soil health, weeds, waterway health and more general matters including farm planning and the ways in which land owners prefer to receive information.

“We know from experience that successful on-ground outcomes are directly linked to how well we work with and listen to landholders,” Mr Hogan said.

“If we are to effectively dovetail our efforts with those of landholders, we need to hear their voice clearly – this survey is a tremendous means by which to do that. I do encourage anyone who receives the survey to fill it in.

“We’re looking forward to getting the results and to reporting on the outcomes. While the strong confidentially built into the survey means information will only be available to us on a region-wide basis, it will provide a baseline for our ongoing efforts.

“If you have a survey, take the time to fill it in and send it back. It’s totally confidential, no one else will have access to your information and it only takes about half an hour.”

A key aim of the survey is to inform ways to better support farmers.

The results of the survey will be reported later this year.