eflections Water for the Environment in Victoria 2019-20 Moorabool River, by VEWH Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners The Victorian Environmental Water Holder proudly acknowledges Victoria’s Aboriginal communities and their rich culture and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal people In many regions of Victoria, Traditional as Australia’s first peoples and as Owner Nations have strong relationships Traditional Owners and custodians of with environmental watering program the land and water on which we rely. partners, and they are working to We recognise the intrinsic connection better realise Aboriginal Victorians’ of Traditional Owners to Country, and aspirations and incorporate Traditional we value their ongoing contribution to Owners’ objectives into environmental managing Victoria’s landscapes. We flow management. There are still value the contribution of Aboriginal further opportunities for the Victorian people and communities to Victorian Environmental Water Holder and life and how this enriches us. its partners to develop enduring partnerships with Traditional Owners who The Victorian Environmental Water wish to participate in the management Holder recognises the intersection of water for the environment, and we will between environmental flow objectives continue to look for these opportunities. and outcomes for Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians. We The Victorian Environmental Water acknowledge the ongoing contribution Holder embraces the spirit of that Aboriginal people are making to reconciliation, working towards equity the science, planning, managing and and an equal voice for Traditional monitoring of environmental flows and Owners. the benefits that have resulted from these partnerships. Stories in this edition of Reflections highlight several examples of the benefits and partnerships arising from this contribution. These, however, are only a small sample of the partnerships that are taking place. 1 Acknowledgement of program partners Reflections celebrates some examples of the outstanding work of the many partners in Victoria’s environmental watering program in 2019-20. The environmental watering program is a collaborative effort, relying on coordination between Victoria’s waterway, storage and land managers, as well as the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, Murray- Darling Basin Authority, New South Wales and South Australian water managers. The VEWH particularly acknowledges the work of our pivotal partners, catchment management authorities (CMAs) and Melbourne Water, who lead the on-ground implementation of the environmental watering program. Image Disclaimer: All images contained within this document were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. No images were taken of people during the COVID-19 pandemic within this document and imagery may not show social distancing measures being undertaken nor face masks being worn. 2 Contents FOREWORD 4 WESTERN REGION 44 Western region at a glance 45 INTRODUCTION 7 Collection of short outcome statements from across Victoria’s environmental watering program 7 the Western region 45-55 New research proves the value that flows from water Traditional Owners in western Victoria: using innovation for the environment 12 to share stories on Country 46 How will climate change affect water for the Talk about a fish freeway! 48 environment 14 Harrow plays host to community events 51 Ash, sediment and soot: how our rivers are affected by the 2019-20 bushfires 15 Hooked on fishing? 52 Finding refuge in a land of drought and flooding rains 16 NORTHERN REGION 56 Stakeholders and program partners come together at Northern region at a glance 57 the fifth Environmental Water Matters Forum 17 Collection of short outcome statements from across The Victorian Environmental Flows Monitoring and the Northern region 57-89 Assessment Program (VEFMAP) and the Wetland 18 There is something special about the Southern Spring Monitoring and Assessment Program for environmental Flow 58 water (WetMAP) 18 Using fire to seek cultural outcomes for traditional GIPPSLAND REGION 20 weaving species for the Yorta Yorta 62 Gippsland region at a glance 21 Protecting the future of our great floodplains 64 Collection of short outcome statements from across Catfish, conservation and community: rehabilitating the Gippsland region 21-31 Mullinmur Billabong 70 Tupong Love the Thomson 23 Protecting the Goulburn River 72 Partnerships produce positive outcomes 27 Dry conditions meet adavtive management in the Heyfield Wetlands gets a helping hand 28 Broken River 75 Reedy Swamp proves a positive site for birds and people 77 CENTRAL REGION 32 Cultural values and native species are both winners at Central region at a glance 33 Horseshoe Lagoon 78 Collection of short outcome statements from across Johnson Swamp trifecta: fill, through flow and top up 85 the Central region 33-43 Water for the environment to the rescue at Guttrum 88 Banyule Billabong: a demonstration of collaboration 35 Let’s take a look at the lower Barwon wetlands 39 GLOSSARY 90 Moorabull Yuluk supports important species 40 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL WATER Let’s get digital 43 DELIVERY 2019–20 92 3 Foreword Over the past four years, as a part of the state’s water plan, Water for Victoria, the Victorian Government has invested a record $222 million in waterway and catchment health. Reflections 2019-20 showcases of decision making. I acknowledge the On behalf of the Victorian Government how Victorian water managers are extensive contribution that community I hope you enjoy and find value in delivering initiatives as part of this partners have made to the program the stories presented in Reflections investment, meeting the challenges and the hard work of Victoria’s water 2019-20. of climate change, supporting healthy managers, including the VEWH, forests and wetlands, and ensuring catchment management authorities the environmental watering program and storage managers, as well as land results in healthy waterways for all managers, Traditional Owner groups, Victorians to enjoy. local government and scientists in delivering the program. In the past year, the importance of healthy waterways and green spaces I would also like to particularly has been underlined by the impacts recognise the efforts of these groups Hon Lisa Neville of the COVID pandemic on people’s and regional communities in dealing MP Minister for Water mental health and wellbeing. Many with last summer’s terrible bushfires – Victorians have used their natural particularly in the North East and environment for recreation, rest East Gippsland. and relaxation, helping them deal Last year, for the first time in Victoria, with the challenges we’ve all faced the changes to the Water Act 1989 over recent months and underlining also made it a legal requirement again the importance of healthy to recognise Aboriginal cultural local environments. Amendments values and knowledge in water to the Water Act 1989 made by our and catchment management and Government in 2019 enshrined in to include Traditional Owners in law the recreational value of our these processes. The deepening of waterways. This formal recognition partnerships between Traditional ensures that water for the environment Owners and our program partners is used in the most efficient and is shown throughout Reflections and productive way possible to produce is a valued part of ensuring the best both environmental and recreational outcomes for the environmental benefits. Benefits that became even watering program. These relationships more apparent in 2020. sanction meaningful involvement Our Government’s approach focuses with Traditional Owners participating on strengthening local relationships in decision making about delivery and putting community at the centre of water. 4 On behalf of the VEWH Commission, staff and program partners, it is my pleasure to present Reflections 2019-2020. Reflections is an opportunity to show and wetlands is directly connected Reflections is a demonstration of the where, how and why we use water for to the social and economic wellbeing ongoing commitment of the VEWH and the environment and to demonstrate of local communities. By protecting our partners - waterway managers, the environmental, economic, cultural the places and ecosystems that storage managers, land managers, and social benefits it provides for communities’ value, their wellbeing is scientists and communities – to Victorian communities each year. directly supported. This relationship achieve the best possible outcomes can also be seen financially with from water for the environment. Our It is also a chance for us to step back healthy waterways boosting Victoria’s work is underpinned by rigorous and reflect, and to acknowledge the recreation and tourism income by science and local knowledge across tireless efforts of those who work millions of dollars each year. the Gippsland, central, western and with us to protect our waterways; our northern regions of Victoria. program partners, Traditional Owners, We’ve continued to value the and local communities. involvement of Traditional Owners I hope you enjoy Reflections and I in the environmental watering thank everyone who has contributed The summer of 2019-20 saw the program and have worked with our to the success of the environmental extraordinary effects of climate partners to increase the influence of watering program. change on our environment with an Aboriginal people and culture