Published by: Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, PO Box 1752, Shepparton 3632 © Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, 2014. Please cite this document as: GBCMA (2014) Goulburn Broken Waterway Strategy 2014-2022, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Shepparton. ISBN: 978-1-876600-04-4 Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you, but the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority does not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequences that may arise from you relying on information in this publication. Note specific reference to funding levels in this strategy are for indicative purposes only. The level of Government investment in this strategy will depend upon budgets and Government priorities For further information, please contact: Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Waterways, Wetlands and Strategic River Health P.O. Box 1752, Shepparton 3632 Ph. (03) 5822 7700 Visit: www.gbcma.vic.gov.au Front cover photo credits from left to right (top row): Canoeing on the Goulburn River (GB CMA); Lake Benalla from Monash Bridge (Kirsten Hein, Mark Ainsworth); Murray cod returned to the river (Wally Cubbin); Sunday Creek, Mt Disappointment (Krissi Flynn); (second row): Kirwans Bridge Victoria (Wally Cubbin); Fishing Goulburn River along Majors Creek (Wally Cubbin); Goulburn River at Molesworth (Belinda Fisher); Water for agriculture (C. Sexton, GB CMA). Goulburn Broken Waterway Strategy 2014-2022 Page | ii Our Strategy The Goulburn Broken Waterway Strategy (the Strategy), together with a range of related sub-strategies, underpin the Regional Catchment Strategy (RCS). This Strategy presents an integrated catchment planning framework for waterways in the Goulburn Broken region and is the primary guide for priority setting, maintenance and improvement of our waterways. Seven Creeks, Gooram Falls (GB CMA) Our Vision Resilient Waterways, Vibrant Communities. The Goulburn Broken region’s waterways are vibrant and resilient, so that communities can enjoy the values and benefits that they provide and contribute to their maintenance and improvement. Goulburn Broken Waterway Strategy 2014-2022 Page | iii Foreword Waterways (rivers and wetlands) are the lifeblood of our region. They are also the barometer by which we can assess the current and past management of our waterways and surrounding catchment and how well we are achieving “clean green agriculture”, which is so important for the prosperity of our rural community. We now have evidence to demonstrate the benefit of the implementation of the previous Regional River Health Strategy. For example, sensitive instream works and establishing appropriate vegetation on frontages has reduced bank erosion and promoted faster natural revegetation recovery following flood events. This has also been the case for post-bushfire recovery. Another critical result provided by works is the reduction of phosphorous and nitrogen into our waterways which in turn reduces the likelihood of algal blooms and low oxygen events in some waterways, particularly over summer. We now have better tools to improve the resilience of some ecosystems or reduce their chance of loss or decline. The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GB CMA), as the lead agency for natural resource management in the catchment, is responsible for the development and oversight of a regional catchment strategy framework together with our community and partners. The Goulburn Broken Waterway Strategy is one of several sub-strategies underpinning the Goulburn Broken Regional Catchment Strategy (RCS). The RCS presents the high-level priorities, outputs and outcomes at the catchment scale, whereas this Strategy presents the detail and supporting framework relevant to waterway management to enable delivery of the strategic intent of the RCS. This Strategy applies an asset-based approach and incorporates resilience-based thinking for maintaining and improving the social, economic, cultural and environmental values of waterways. The Strategy recognises the vast range of social, environmental, cultural and economic values that waterways provide to our regional community and visitors alike. This Strategy reflects on the vast amount of work the community has achieved over many years and incorporates recent environmental and policy drivers and knowledge gained through research and monitoring. It identifies the key threats to important values and provides recommendations to influence the future management of waterways in the catchment. Actions to maintain and improve our waterways are clearly established. The GB CMA recognises its critical role in forming and developing regional partnerships with the community and all levels of government. Success in implementing this Strategy will occur through partnerships with our community and government agencies. The Strategy is a living document that will be continuously improved and updated over its life. We wish to acknowledge the contribution of our community in the development of the Strategy. Our community has identified values and threats, participated on the Community Reference Group and provided photographs depicting the way in which their local waterway is valued. Our partner agencies have also supported the development of the Strategy through input on Reference Groups and direct contribution to Chapters within this Strategy. We seek your support in the implementation of this Strategy so the region’s valued waterways can be maintained and improved, for now and into the future and we can maintain their value as an important tourism asset and the harmony in which this asset sits with agricultural production. Murray Chapman Chris Norman Chair Chief Executive Officer Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Goulburn Broken Waterway Strategy 2014-2022 Page | iv About Our Strategy Waterways (rivers and wetlands) are one of the most striking features of our landscape. They provide us with enjoyment, provide cultural values, and contribute significantly to the economic and social health of our region and our community. There is no better time than now for people in all catchments of Australia to pause and celebrate how vital waterways are to the community, and to contribute towards their maintenance and improvement. Local waterways are valued by local communities and the many visitors to the region as well as other users of our precious water resources well beyond our region. Our waterways support many species of plants and animals unique to Australia (like the Murray cod, Platypus and the humble Yabby). Our waterways also provide billions of dollars to the economy, support one third of all food produced in Australia, provide our everyday drinking water, support tourism and provide recreational opportunities. They are indeed a key asset to us all. Our catchment has great places to camp, including the Goulburn River and tributary streams, and is also the home of Barmah Forest, which together with the Millewa Forest in NSW, forms the largest River Red Gum forest in the world. Fresh water is a scarce and precious resource in many areas across the globe. We are fortunate to have good water supplies in the most populated parts of Australia, but we have one of the driest climates in the world and our water reserves are limited. Many waterways are becoming increasingly polluted and work has commenced in the Murray-Darling Basin to better balance the water available for the health of the waterways. Waterways in good condition provide a range of benefits for our regional industries, agriculture and the wider community (Jones 2001). Key benefits of services include, but are not limited to: • provision of conduits for the supply of water for agriculture; • water quality improvement (Hairsine 2001), which can reduce the cost of treatment prior to human usage; • support for populations of native andintroduced fish species popular with local and visiting anglers; and • utilisation for tourism, recreation and aesthetics. This Strategy reflects on the vast amount of work the community has achieved over many years and incorporates recent environmental and policy drivers and knowledge gained through research and monitoring. It identifies key threats to community values and provides recommendations to influence the future management of waterways in the catchment. While our community is already taking action to maintain waterways, there is still more that can be done. Taking positive action is the best way to help our waterways. Communities can assist in maintaining and improving our waterways, by: • finding out about our local waterways (and the values they contain/provide); • maintaining and managing buffer areas by fencing and re-establishing native vegetation; • maintaining and improving public reserves for waterway health; • getting involved with and encouraging participation in native fish and river health education programs; and • working with local groups on waterway projects (for example, Waterwatch, Landcare, Indigenous groups and recreational anglers). Goulburn Broken Waterway Strategy 2014-2022 Page | v This Strategy encourages our community to enjoy our waterways and contribute to their maintenance and improvement. A review of works undertaken over recent years provides confidence that we are maintaining and improving many elements and reaches of the region’s waterways.