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Seasons greetings

Welcome to our special Christmas edition of Catchment Snapshot.
It’s been a big year for everyone with Mother Nature once again taking the lead with late and unexpected flooding in the east of the catchment. Flood recovery and resilience works will continue with this new event adding to the overall scope of works.

From all of us, we wish you seasons greetings, thank you for your ongoing and highly valued support, and look forward to sharing more successes and working together in 2024.

Our offices will close at 4.30pm on Thursday 21 December
and reopen at 8.30am on Tuesday 2 January, 2024

10,000 Gippsland Bass released

Together with the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) and community members, West Gippy CMA recently released 10,000 native migratory Bass into Traralgon Creek.

“We were delighted to partner with VFA and the community to release this next generation of native fish into the system,” said Martin Fuller, CEO of West Gippsland CMA.

Over the past two decades, the CMA has been working with Traditional Owners, landholders, partners and community to improve the health of the catchment to allow these fish to thrive. This Bass stocking is only made possible by this work to secure environmental flows and improve river health.

“We see this release as one that represents hope for the river. Bass were recently listed as 'rare' in Victoria and the VFA’s stocking program, along with water for the environment, mean they are now off the Threatened Species list. “

Over their life, the young fish will make their way into Durt’ Yowan (Latrobe River) where the CMA has fenced off stock, planted native vegetation and, for over a decade, has delivered water for the environment to provide conditions native fish need.

Read more about this exciting event and watch a story of the day below...

Late spring flood events

Two major flood events in October and November have kept everyone on their toes. Heavy rains in late November 2023 led to flooding in the Carran Carran (Thomson), Wirn wirndook Yeerung (Macalister) and Avon rivers and into the Sale wetlands. We thank all emergency services for their first response where needed across these events.

We are now out and about assessing the effects and impacts of these incidents and working with landholders to plan for recovery efforts and will provide an update in our first edition of Catchment Snapshot in 2024.

Together with Green Team students from St Pauls Anglican Grammar School, West Gippy CMA recently released 70 adult Dwarf Galaxias fish into a wetland on Wades Creek in Traralgon.

“Dwarf Galaxias are native to West Gippsland’s rivers and are now Threatened in Victoria due to changes in land use, loss of natural wetlands, places to find refuge and changes in rivers such as regulation and pest species,” explained Dr Stephanie Suter, Environmental Water Officer for West Gippsland CMA.

The release took place at a constructed wetland that connects seasonally to Wades Creek and the broader Durt’Yowan (Latrobe River) catchment.

Chris Lamin, who specialises in growing native fish at her Middle Creek Farm, donated the tiny adult fish. Green Team students avidly listened to Chris talk about her passion for native fish. Stephanie also inspired the budding conservationists by talking about the CMA’s role in caring for the wetlands and rivers the fish were being released into.

The CMA had planted trees at the site over previous years and Stephanie’s team has recently delivered environmental water into the system which meant it was flourishing and spilling into Middle Creek and on into the greater river system giving the dwarf fish the best chance for survival.

“CMAs improve conditions for fish – through river restoration and environmental water flows. It was great introducing the kids to an area they don’t usually visit to talk about the bigger picture of why fish need help and so do rivers. The Green Team are the future generation and are going to be looking after these species in years to come.

There are no upcoming environmental releases of water for the environment planned. Keep up to date on latest flow news.

Achievements brochure now out

We are very happy to let you know that our 2023 Achievements Brochure is out now.

It's a great summary of just a few of the many success stories from the year ranging from sustainable agriculture and innovative irrigation initiatives through to the incredible, ongoing, whole of catchment work in Corner Inlet. You can download a copy or pick one up from our Traralgon or Leongatha offices.

CEN last meeting and site visit

It was a great day spent with our Community Engagement Network at Powlett River/Kugerungmome last month.

We started at Old Dalyston Church learning about the partnerships in the area and works underway with Traditional Owners. Bass Coast Landcare Network also updated members on the Hooded Plover Protection Program including controlling their number one threat - foxes.

Members then took a walk along the estuary to the river mouth where our Coastal Waterways Officer, Callum Edwards, shared what makes these ecosystems unique, how we can look after them and what climate change means for their future.

CEN is all about community connection and this event was a wonderful opportunity for members to deepen connections with CMA and each other for a final time before their three-year membership term ends this year.

Applications for new CEN members have now closed and we look forward to announcing the new cohort in early 2024.

Estuary update

Variable conditions across West Gippsland saw strong rainfalls in the east of the region in early December and less rainfall in the west. Merriman’s Creek estuary on Gunaikurnai country benefited from the rainfall event with large flows coming into the estuary and flushing the brackish-saline water out into the ocean.

Freshwater flushes from good upstream flows help to reset and revitalise estuaries and are an important part of the seasonal estuary cycle. Freshwater flushes usually occur during high rainfall periods in Winter and Spring.

Equally important to the seasonal cycle when the estuary closes to the ocean. The estuary closures create calm water conditions, providing a safe haven for aquatic bugs, vegetation, birds and fish species. Bourne Creek estuary on Bunurong country closed to the ocean and Wreck Creek estuary saw short periods of closure as a result of low rainfall. The Powlett River estuary has managed to stay open for the whole year due to good rainfalls and favourable wave conditions. However, things are starting to slow down as the estuary transitions from a fresher water environment to a more saline environment.

These ever-changing estuaries are special because they provide habitat for a range of species throughout the year, those that are better adapted to the freshwater periods over winter and spring and others that prefer the calmer, more saline conditions from summer over autumn.

Short film released

The Latrobe system is undergoing a significant transition… Due to the start of the staged coal mine closures in the Latrobe Valley, as well as challenges like climate change and competing demands for water, there is now a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore resilience and accelerate change for the benefit of the environment and all community members.

Durt’Yowan (Latrobe River): The Life Source short film, is now available for you to watch and understand why Durt’Yowan has been the life source for people in Gippsland for thousands of years.

Watch the film

Better outcomes for water use in the Latrobe Valley

In November 2023, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action hosted a discussion to develop better outcomes for water use in the Latrobe Valley. We are one of the delivery partners along with Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC), Victorian Environmental Water Holder, Southern Rural Water and representatives from irrigator and environmental interest groups took part.

Participants considered how reallocating 16 GL of water entitlement from the Latrobe River system (Action 4-8 of the Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy) could serve to build future resilience and growth of irrigated agriculture, support the health of river and wetland ecosystems, and support cultural values and self-determined outcomes for Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners.

The 16 GL of water entitlement will be reallocated from a 25 GL bulk water entitlement, known as the 3-4 bench bulk entitlement. The water in this bulk entitlement was set aside for power generation but has not been required for that purpose. Sharing the water entitlement between GLaWAC, the environment, and irrigators supports the government’s goals of developing a vision for the Latrobe Valley and improving flows to the lower Latrobe Valley wetlands (Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy Actions 4-15 and 4-17). Further information will be provided in early 2024.

Find out more about the implementation of Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy actions.

Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site Plan – Have your say

West Gippsland’s catchment takes in the western end of the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site. The site is managed by East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority through the 2015 Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site Management Plan. The plan establishes the framework for the maintenance of the site’s unique ecological character through the promotion of conservation and wise, sustainable use.

The current Plan is seven years old and there has been significant progress in the understanding of the ecological character of the Gippsland Lakes and the strategic direction and management of Ramsar wetlands in Victoria.

The Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site Management Plan 2023-28 is now ready for your feedback. The video below gives you more info.

View the Plan and have your say
by 11.59pm on Friday 19 January 2024.

Powlett/Kugerungmome Partnerships protect plovers

Project partners recently gathered to share updates on their part of the integrated Powlett River / Kugerungmome Partnerships Project. Coming into summer, a key focus was on protecting beach nesting birds – namely Hooded Plovers during their breeding season.

This part of the project, run by BirdLife Australia, Bass Coast Landcare Network and assisted by Friends of the Hooded Plovers - Bass Coast and South Gippsland is aimed at protecting and raising awareness of these birds and how we can enjoy visiting the beach while protecting the plovers.

It’s a team effort with Bass Coast Landcare Network delivering fox control in the area and Hooded Plovers Bass Coast volunteers monitoring nests. The BirdLife team ran a scoping session and an awareness raisning morning for beach goers and their dogs with more events are planned over summer.

Foxes are a number one threat to the Hooded Plovers and since 1 July 2023, Bass Coast Landcare network has delivered three pulses of soft-jaw trapping with more foxes caught than last year. The team will deliver five more pulses before 30 June 2024. Overall, results are positive for Hooded Plovers at Powlett River/Kugerungmome with eight chicks fledged in 2023 compared with five in 2022. We're working together to make this season just as successful.

More about the project.

Landcare gets a report of good health

It was another busy and successful year for West Gippsland’s five Landcare Networks.

The Landcare Report Card 2022-23 shows that West Gippy Landcare:

Volunteered a whopping 32,172 hours
Revegetated 340 hectares of land with indigenous plants
Held 258 training days, farm walks & knowledge sharing events across the region
Welcomed 302 new environmental volunteers to the ranks

What an amazing effort by all the hard-working volunteers across the 80 Landcare and Community NRM Groups in West Gippy.

And don’t forget to get your nominations in for the 2023/24 Landcare Awards. There are new Award categories including Climate Innovation, Women, First Nations Landcare Collaboration, NextGen and more! Deadline for nominations is 1st of March 2024.

CRC Time Annual Forum

CEO Martin Fuller recently presented the Durt'Yowan ffilm at the CRC Time Forum held in Churchill. Martin also sat on a discussion panel discussing ways to manage competing interests and harnessing community engagement on the future of rivers.

CRC Time is part of the Australian Government’s flagship Cooperative Research Centre Program and the world’s only research organisation dedicated to examining and helping transform what happens – economically, socially, culturally and environmentally – after mining ends for the better.

Explore our projects

From the mountains to the sea, there is always a lot happening at the CMA. New projects are connecting waterways, restoring wetlands, tackling climate change, inspiring communities and much more.

Take a tour around the catchment on our interactive map and discover the exciting projects we're currently working on – perhaps even in your local area.

Tune in to our podcasts

We've had a break with Gippslandscapes Podcast lately but there is still a treasure trove of episodes to discover.

Some episodes we recommend are talking Pelicans with Deb Sullivan, Flood Recovery and Putting the Fish Back Into Fish Creek.

We're planning to pick up our podcasts again in 2024, so if you have a great story to share, or know someone who does and would like to feature on a future podcast, let us know communications@wgcma.vic.gov.au

You subscribed to receive updates. If you no longer wish to be notified, unsubscribe here.West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, 16 Hotham Street, Traralgon Victoria 3844, Australia

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of the region, the Gunaikurnai, the Bunurong, the Boonwurrung and the Wurundjeri Peoples, their rich culture and spiritual connection to Country. We also acknowledge the contribution and interest of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples and organisations in natural resource management and pay respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.