Wimmera region

Overview

The Wimmera region in The main river is the Wimmera, which Victoria covers around 3% rises in the Pyrenees Ranges and of the Murray–Darling Basin flows across the northern foothills of and contributes 1.7% of water the Grampians. The river ends at Lake inflows. Hindmarsh but in times of peak flow its waters reach Lake Albacutya. The Wimmera region includes many lakes that are of national The region is home to about 2% of the significance including Pink Lake, population of the Basin. Water is used Natimuk Lake, Oliver’s Lake and for urban supply, industry, stock and White Lake. irrigation.

The Wimmera region covers Dryland broadacre agriculture is the the traditional country of the main industry, with the production Dja Dja Wurrung, Wotjobaluk of cereal, oilseed and pulse grains. A and Wergaia. The north of the small amount of irrigation occurs for region is the traditional lands pasture production and there is some of the Latji Latji, Tatti Tatti and viticulture and olive production. Wamba Wamba Nations.

Image: Mallee scrub in Murray Sunset National Park, Victoria Carnarvon N.P.

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Wyandra R Tara i v e r QUEENSLAND Brisbane Toowoomba

Moonie Thrushton er National e Riv ooni Park M k Beardmore Reservoir Millmerran e er e iv r R C ir e e St George W n i Allora b Cunnamulla e Bollon N r e Jack Taylor Weir iv R e n n N lo k a e B Warwick e r C Inglewood a l a l l a g n u Coolmunda Reservoir M N acintyre River Goondiwindi 25 Dirranbandi M Stanthorpe 0 50 Currawinya N.P. r Currawinya Lakes ive a R go Kilometres ul D) C QL r ( er D e iv um iv R Culgoa N.P. ar R o es Texas rn ro q ve a Ri e P ve S Hungerford r Mungindi Tenterfield Elevation Goodooga 0-200m Torrington State er Recreation Area iv Gwydir Riv R er e 200-400m ri er Pindari Reservoir ir iv B n R rra Na 400-800m r Enngonia Lightning Ridge Sev ve ern i er Rive R iv Moree r (NS go R Warialda W) 800-1200m e a rr ar a h Me W ok hi River 1200-1600m Wanaaring B

M Narran Lake ac Glen Innes Inverell inty re R Nocoleche Narran Lakes r iver Legend ive Nature n R wo State borders Reserve Brewarrina Bar Walgett Copeton Reservoir Basin border Bourke Weir Bourke Highways Wee Waa Bundarra Namoi Riv Rivers/creeks er Mt. Kaputar N.P. Towns & cities Narrabri

Capital cities outside of MDB Gundabooka N.P. Louth Major water storages Pilliga West Byrock State Forest Split Rock Uralla Wetlands and natural lakes Pilliga Reservoir Paroo–Darling Nature Manilla National Park k National parks Macquarie Marshes Reserve e e r C

s Keepit Reservoir White Cliffs r x Irrigation area ive o g R Coonamble C rlin Da Gunnedah M a Paroo–Darling c Tamworth q u State Conservation Area a r i e Chaffey Reservoir Coonabarabran R i v e Warrambungle r Gulargambone N.P. Werris Creek

Wilcannia Cobar Nyngan C a s t le Warren re ag h R iver Coolah

Coolbaggie Goonoo er Broken Hill gar Riv Nature State Talbra Reserve Forest Dunedoo

Menindee Main Weir B og Tottenham an Dubbo R iv Narromine er Menindee Lakes Burrendong Menindee NEW SOUTH WALES Reservoir Wellington Weir 32 Mudgee Kinchega N.P. Tullamore

Windamere Goobang N.P. Yathong Reservoir Rylstone State Forest Round Hill h nc Ivanhoe Nature Reserve ra ab An g lin r ar ive D n R t Wi la Condobolin a llandra Creek ach re L Parkes G Lake Cargelligo Orange Danggali Portland Conservation Forbes SOUTH Park Lake Cargelligo Pooncarie Bathurst Hillston AUSTRALIA Lake Brewster r ive R ng Willandra Lakes region Carcoar Reservoir Burra rli Lake Cowal Da Oberon Mungo N.P.

Grenfell Cowra Booligal Sydney Lock 6 Morgan Riverland Goolgowi B West Wyalong la Wyangala Reservoir Lake Victoria n d Wentworth C Lock 9 re Lock 2 Lock 5 Lock 11 Cocoparra N.P. e River Murray Lock 7 k Lock 3 Great Cumbung Renmark Lock Merbein Swamp Lock 8 10 Mallee Cliffs N.P. Banrock Station Berri Mildura Barmera Blanchetown Griffith Young Lock 4 Red Murrum Hanwood Lock 1 bidge Cliffs e River Murray River N.P. Hay Temora Boorowa Crookwell Loxton Fivebough– Robinvale Tuckerbil Swan Reach Leeton Cootamundra Lock Balranald Hattah– 15 Kulkyne Lakes Narrandera Murray Sunset N.P. Ri ver M Billiat Conservation Hattah urra Hattah Lakes y Park Oolambeyan N.P. Adelaide Mannum Yanga N.P. Yass 1 Hattah-Kulkyne N.P.

Moulamein k ree 2 Tooleybuc o C Wagga Wagga Lake Ouyen N B nc iem illab Ya Murray Bridge ur ong Burrinjuck George Riv Cre Gundagai er Werai Forest ek Reservoir Lockhart Lake Brindabella N.P. Tailem Bend Pinnaroo Murrayville Alexandrina Tumut Canberra E Swan Hill dw Milang Lower Lakes VICTORIA ar and Coorong d R Jerilderie Blowering ive B T Wa l River r illa u Goolwa koo b m Reservoir Sea Lake ong Ginini Deniliquin Cr Henty u e t ACT Lake Albert e Flats Barrages k R i Murray Mouth v Tinderry Big Desert Finley e Wyperfeld N.P. Kerang Tu r Barham Koondrook– ppal C Nature Meningie Wilderness Wetlands reek Perricoota Namadgi N.P. Reserve Park 3 Hopetoun Forest Millewa Forest The Coorong Kerang Talbingo Gunbower Torrumbarry Tumbarumba Lake Albacutya Forest Reservoir Weir Tocumwal R i ve Lake Mulwala urray Hume Reservoir r M River M Cabramurra u rr Barmah Forest Wycheproof ay Maragle State Forest Albury Adaminaby Lake Hindmarsh 4 Kow Moama Yarrawonga Weir Corowa Swamp Broken Cre ek Wodonga Echuca Goul burn Lake Buloke Ri Khancoban Cooma Charlton L ver o Kosciuszko d d Nhill o Wangaratta N.P. Donald n Shepparton R M Ov it r iv e ta Blue Lake e n M ve A s i i vo r Bro Ri tta R c ke ve K R r n r i n a R i ve Little Desert N.P. R e iv e r o v e s St Arnaud iv i r Winton Wetlands w d e a r R r Av on R Dartmouth a Riv e Benalla h er p i c v i s Waranga Basin e Reservoir Horsham R a r Legend 5 Bendigo p m Mt. Buffalo N.P. Alpine N.P. W a C Bright State border im m e Cairn Basin border ra Lake Nillahcootie R River/creek i Curran ve Eppalock Town/city r Reservoir Reservoir Seymour Water storage/lake Maryborough Castlemaine Mansfield National Park Alpine N.P. Ramsar site Avoca Omeo Tullaroop Eildon Reservoir Irrigation area Halls Gap Reservoir Grampians N.P. Goulb urn R iver Kinglake N.P. Lake Eildon N.P.

Around the region

Murray–Sunset National Park is known Lake Hindmarsh is a wetland of 1 for the Pink Lakes Salt mine relics. 4 international significance and is Victoria’s Mounds of salt have lain abandoned largest freshwater lake. on the edges of the Pink Lakes since Melbourne operation ceased in 1979. The Wimmera stockVICTORIA and domestic 5 channel system was replaced by the Wimmera-Mallee pipeline in 2010, to The Ouyen Lake opened for recreational save 103,000 ML of water each year, use in 2018 thanks to the dedication of 2 by reducing transmission losses and the local community that campaigned for evaporation. years for its creation.

Lake Albacutya is a wetland of 3 international significance. Carnarvon N.P.

r e v i r e R iv e R v i o g N re r r e a v i W R

o l g n Augathella a L

r

e

v

i

R

d

r

a

W Chesterton Range N.P.

Charleville Mitchell

Morven Roma Cheepie Miles

River Chinchilla amine Cond

Condamine

k

e

e

r r ve C i R l M e a nn a h lo Dalby c r a Surat a B e

n e o

B a

Wyandra R Tara i v e r QUEENSLAND Brisbane Toowoomba

Moonie Thrushton er National e Riv ooni Park M k Beardmore Reservoir Millmerran e er e iv r R C ir e e St George W n i Allora b Cunnamulla e Bollon N r e Jack Taylor Weir iv R e n n N lo k a e B Warwick e r C Inglewood a l a l l a g n u Coolmunda Reservoir M N acintyre River Goondiwindi 25 Dirranbandi M Stanthorpe 0 50 Currawinya N.P. r Currawinya Lakes ive a R go Kilometres ul D) C QL r ( er D e iv um iv R Culgoa N.P. ar R o es Texas rn ro q ve a Ri e P ve S Hungerford r Mungindi Tenterfield Elevation Goodooga 0-200m Torrington State er Recreation Area iv Gwydir Riv R er e 200-400m ri er Pindari Reservoir ir iv B n R rra Na 400-800m r Enngonia Lightning Ridge Sev ve ern i er Rive R iv Moree r (NS go R Warialda W) 800-1200m e a rr ar a h Me W ok hi River 1200-1600m Wanaaring B

M Narran Lake ac Glen Innes Inverell inty re R Nocoleche Narran Lakes r iver Legend ive Nature n R wo State borders Reserve Brewarrina Bar Walgett Copeton Reservoir Basin border Bourke Weir Bourke Highways Wee Waa Bundarra Namoi Riv Rivers/creeks er Mt. Kaputar N.P. Towns & cities Narrabri

Capital cities outside of MDB Gundabooka N.P. Louth Major water storages Pilliga West Byrock State Forest Split Rock Uralla Wetlands and natural lakes Pilliga Reservoir Paroo–Darling Nature Manilla National Park k National parks Macquarie Marshes Reserve e e r C

s Keepit Reservoir White Cliffs r x Irrigation area ive o g R Coonamble C rlin Da Gunnedah M a Paroo–Darling c Tamworth q u State Conservation Area a r i e Chaffey Reservoir Coonabarabran R i v e Warrambungle r Gulargambone N.P. Werris Creek

Wilcannia Cobar Nyngan C a s t le Warren re ag h R iver Coolah

Coolbaggie Goonoo er Broken Hill gar Riv Nature State Talbra Reserve Forest Dunedoo

Menindee Main Weir B og Tottenham an Dubbo R iv Narromine er Menindee Lakes Burrendong Menindee NEW SOUTH WALES Reservoir Wellington Weir 32 Mudgee Kinchega N.P. Tullamore

Windamere Goobang N.P. Yathong Reservoir Rylstone State Forest Round Hill h nc Ivanhoe Nature Reserve ra ab An g lin r ar ive D n R t Wi la Condobolin a llandra Creek ach re L Parkes G Lake Cargelligo Orange Danggali Portland Conservation Forbes SOUTH Park Lake Cargelligo Pooncarie Bathurst Hillston AUSTRALIA Lake Brewster r ive R ng Willandra Lakes region Carcoar Reservoir Burra rli Lake Cowal Da Oberon Mungo N.P.

Grenfell Cowra Booligal Sydney Lock 6 Morgan Riverland Goolgowi B West Wyalong la Wyangala Reservoir Lake Victoria n d Wentworth C Lock 9 re Lock 2 Lock 5 Lock 11 Cocoparra N.P. e River Murray Lock 7 k Lock 3 Great Cumbung Renmark Lock Merbein Swamp Lock 8 10 Mallee Cliffs N.P. Banrock Station Berri Mildura Barmera Blanchetown Griffith Young Lock 4 Red Murrum Hanwood Lock 1 bidge Cliffs e River Murray River N.P. Hay Temora Boorowa Crookwell Loxton Fivebough– Robinvale Tuckerbil Swan Reach Leeton Cootamundra Lock Balranald Hattah– 15 Kulkyne Lakes Narrandera Murray Sunset N.P. Ri ver M Billiat Conservation Hattah urra Hattah Lakes y Wimmera region Park Oolambeyan N.P. Adelaide Mannum Yanga N.P. Yass Hattah-Kulkyne N.P.

Moulamein k ree Tooleybuc o C Wagga Wagga Lake Ouyen N B nc iem illab Ya Murray Bridge Keyur information ong Burrinjuck George Riv Cre Gundagai er Werai Forest ek Reservoir Lockhart Lake  Horsham is the major regional centre, Brindabella N.P. Tailem Bend Pinnaroo Murrayville Alexandrina with a population of about 19,921. Tumut Canberra Stawell, Warracknabeal, Ouyen,E Swan Hill dw Milang Lower Lakes Dimboola and Nhill are also importantar and Coorong d R Jerilderie Blowering regional centres. ive B T Wa l River r illa u Goolwa koo b m Reservoir Sea Lake ong Ginini Deniliquin Cr Henty u e t ACT Lake Albert e Flats Barrages k R i Murray Mouth Wimmera’s average rainfall is Water Storages include Lake Bellfield v Tinderry Big Desert Finley e Wyperfeld N.P. Kerang Tu r Barham approximatelyKoondrook– 440 mm, while ppal C (79 GL), Lake Fyans (19 GL), Lake Nature Meningie Wilderness Wetlands reek Horsham’s is slightlyPerricoota higher at 496 mm. Lonsdale (66 GL), Lake Wartook Namadgi N.P. Reserve Park Hopetoun Forest Millewa Forest The Coorong Kerang (29 GL), Taylors Lake (27 GL), Rocklands Talbingo Gunbower Torrumbarry Tumbarumba Lake Albacutya Forest ReservoirTocumwal (348 GL) and Lake Toolondo Reservoir  The GrampiansWeir National Park R (92 GL). i (Gariwerd to localve First Nations) Lake Mulwala urray Hume Reservoir r M River M Cabramurra is home to the Djab Wurrungu and rr Barmah Forest Wycheproof ay Maragle State Forest Jardwardjali people and contains Groundwater is found in both the Albury Adaminaby Lake Hindmarsh the Kowdensest concentration Moamaof rock art highland andYarrawonga lowland Weir areas of the Corowa paintingsSwamp and the largest assemblage region, and most aquifers are highly Broken Cre of Aboriginal art motifs in Victoria. connectede kto surface water. Wodonga Echuca Goul burn Lake Buloke Ri Khancoban Cooma Charlton L ver o Kosciuszko d d The Grampians and Little Desert Nhill o Wangaratta N.P. Donald n National Parks and the Big Desert Shepparton R M Ov it r iv Wilderness Park are popular tourist e ta Blue Lake e n M ve A s i i vo r attractions. Mount Arapiles in the Bro Ri tta R c ke ve K R r n r i n a R i ve Little Desert N.P. R catchment’s west ise an internationally iv e r o v e s St Arnaud iv i r Winton Wetlands w d e a r R r Av acclaimed rock-climbing site. on R Dartmouth a Riv e Benalla h er p i c v i s Waranga Basin e Reservoir Horsham R a r Bendigo p m Mt. Buffalo N.P. Alpine N.P. W a C Bright im m e Cairn ra Lake Nillahcootie R i Curran ve r Reservoir Eppalock Maryborough Reservoir Seymour Castlemaine Mansfield Alpine N.P. Avoca Feature creature: Omeo Tullaroop Eildon Reservoir Halls Gap Reservoir Freshwater catfish Grampians N.P. Goulb urn R iver Kinglake N.P. Lake Eildon N.P. Freshwater catfish (Tandanus tandanus) prefer slow-flowing streams and lake habitats. They are also known as dewfish, jewfish or eel-tail catfish and can weigh up to 6.8 kg. The adult freshwater catfish’s main food source includes shrimp, freshwater prawns, aquatic insects, snails, and small fish. Because of this, it plays a key role in helping to keep the populations of these aquatic creatures at a sustainable level. Numerous threats, such as pollution and introduced carp, have contributed VICTORIAto a decline in the species. Melbourne Who does what in the Wimmera region

Wimmera Catchment Management Authority – Murray–Darling Basin Authority (03) 5382 1544 prepares, implements, monitors and reviews works with the community, government the integrated plan for the sustainable use of and funding organisations to protect and the Basin’s water resources enhance land, water and biodiversity operates the River Murray system and resources. delivers water to users on behalf of partner governments Grampians-Wimmera Mallee Water – 1300 659 961 researches and monitors the quality and provides, manages operates and protects quantity of Basin water resources and the water supply and sewerage systems for condition of its associated rivers, wetlands the local community. and floodplains

Agriculture Victoria – 136 186 creates and shares information about the works with the agricultural industry on Basin’s water resources and dependent research and helps maintain effective ecosystems. biosecurity controls. Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder – Victorian Government (02) 6274 1111 allocates water to entitlement holders, manages the Australian Government’s water coordinates delivery of water for the entitlements and allocations of water for the environment environment.

develops and implements water resource Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment plans. – 1800 803 772 responsible for efficiency programs and collaborating with Basin states. Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) – (03) 9637 8951 an independent statutory body responsible for holding and managing Victoria’s environmental water entitlements.

Victorian Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) –136 186 works with a network of government agencies and water authorities to manage Victoria’s groundwater, catchments, waterways and infrastructure.

Connect with us. The MDBA has offices in Adelaide, Albury–Wodonga Canberra, Goondiwindi, Griffith, Mildura, Murray Bridge, Local connection Toowoomba, and regional engagement officers around the Basin. your nearest MDBA office is Mildura 1800 230 067 Lot 4a 152 Deakin Avenue, VIC 3500 [email protected]

mdba.gov.au #1484-20210323v7