Members of the North Central Catchment Management Authority's Natural Resource Management Committee (NRMC) will tour the York Plains Wetlands on Wednesday, October 29 to increase their understanding of the area's environmental and historical value.

The York Plains area is a series of Red Gum and Buloke wetlands adjoining the Avon Richardson River, 30 kilometres west of St Arnaud. Located in an area of privately owned cleared farmland used for grazing and cropping, it has been mostly dry for the past 10 years, but is the centre of the local floodplain during heavy rain periods.

The largest of the wetlands has a geographically unique sand lunette next to the river and endangered adjoining woodlands. It contains significant vegetation and important indigenous cultural heritage.

Malcolm Brown, Chair of the community based NRMC, said the York Plains and Avon Plains were identified in the North Central Dryland Management Plan as very important to the community. "They (The York Plains wetlands) are unique. It is one of the few areas in the Catchment with examples of River Red Gums interfacing with Buloke and Lignum swamp."

"A principle of the Dryland Plan is to protect Rivers, Wetlands and areas of native vegetation that are of significant value. The York Plains is an asset that is ultimately threatened by salinity, so part of our strategy is to plant deep rooted plants on land surrounding the wetlands and to have more control over the groundwater table in the long term."

Mr Brown said the York Plains wetlands is also significant from a cultural and historical perspective, having been home to Aboriginals and the final resting place of the first European settler in the Wimmera, Charles Creswick deceased in 1847.

Since its establishment last November the NRMC has set priorities for catchment areas needing protection and recently began touring these significant areas with local residents actively involved in safeguarding and improving the environment.

The NRMC will hold its next meeting at St Arnaud on Thursday, October 30.

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