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DRAFT
Waterway Health Strategy
1
Closing date for submissions: 30th September 2001
Comments to: Simone Gunn CCMA 64 Dennis Street Colac 3250 [email protected] 5232 9100
2
FOREWORD
The Draft Waterway Health Strategy is an important step in continuing to build on the planning
framework for integrated natural resource management in the Corangamite region. This Draft Strategy
aims to take an integrated and whole of catchment approach to managing the region‟s waterways.
Waterway management is a core responsibility of this Authority and as such it is important that our
efforts are clearly and effectively directed. The Draft Waterway Health Strategy attempts to do this
through identifying the condition of our waterways, the issues and proposing priorities for their
treatment.
The board encourages the input to the Strategy by our partnership agencies, stakeholders and the
broader community. This is essential if the Strategy is to reflect the needs, priorities and aspirations of
the whole community. I thank those involved in the preparation of this Draft and commend it to you for
your consideration and input.
Bob Carraill
Chairman- Corangamite CMA
I am pleased on behalf of the Authority‟s Water Resources Implementation Committee to present this
Draft Waterway Health Strategy to the regional community. Improving the health of our waterways
will require strong partnerships between the Authority and the community, and this Draft Strategy
identifies many opportunities for such partnerships to flourish.
The Strategy builds on the strong foundation of community work undertaken over the last four years to
protect the health of the regions waterways, and provides a strong basis for community support for
undertaking priority action over the next ten years. By establishing a benchmark of current waterway
conditions, we can now move forward and focus on targeted actions to primarily protect our most
valuable waterway assets and then to provide a framework for rehabilitating our more degraded
waterways.
The vision we have proposed best sums up what this Draft Strategy proposes for our waterways;
“Working in Partnership, our community will maintain, protect and improve the regions waterways.”
Importantly, the process for achieving this vision will be dynamic, and your input on the document is
the first step in this evolution. I look forward to your involvement.
Frank Buchanan
Chairman- Water Resources Committee & Waterway Health Strategy Steering Committee
3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Corangamite Catchment Management Authority acknowledges the contribution of the Consultants
EGIS Consulting Pty Ltd, their sub-consultants Neil Craigie and Associates and Read Sturgess and
Associates, who investigated and compiled the background information, which has formed the basis of
this strategy.
The Board of the Authority also expresses its thanks to the following members of the Authority‟s
Water Resources Committee, which has acted as the Steering Committee for this strategy:
Frank Buchannan (Chair) Carlisle River
Ross Alexander Berrybank
Les Barrow Geelong
Robert Ford Ballarat
Richard Gloyne Timboon
Jan Laidlaw Newtown
Erica Nathan Yendon
Colin Peel Inverleigh
Jim Seagar Ballan
Graeme Sutherland Gellibrand
Greg Bell NRE
Rowan McKenzie EPA
Figure 1 Corangamite CMA Water Resources Committee inspect streamside work at Carlisle River
4
CONTENTS
FOREWORD ............................................................................................................................ 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 6
1. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................... 10
2. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 11
2.1 The Need for a Strategy 11
2.2 Role of the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority 12
2.3 Improving Waterways through Community Action 12
3. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ 14
3.1 Waterways - An Integrated Approach 14
3.2 Current Responsibilities 16
3.3 Current Programs for Waterway Health 18
4. WATERWAYS – A REGIONAL OVERVIEW ................................................................ 20
4.1 Waterway Basins 20
4.2 Post European Settlement and Waterways in the Corangamite region 27
4.3 The Condition of our Waterways 28
5. THE STRATEGY ........................................................................................................... 30
5.1 Vision 30
5.2 Principles 30
5.3 Priority Waterway Issues 31
5.4 Priority Setting Famework 33
6. STRATEGY PROGRAMS ............................................................................................. 34
6.1 Program 1 – Hydrology 34
6.2 Program 2 – Physical Form 35
5
6.3 Program 3 – Streamside Zone 39
6.4 Program 4 – Aquatic Habitat 42
6.5 Program 5- Water Quality 43
6.6 Program 6 – Community Awareness and Involvement 44
6.7 Program 7 – Benchmarking, Monitoring and Evaluation 45
6.8 Program 8 –Research and Investigation 46
6.9 Program 9 - Strategy Coordination 47
7. RESPONSIBILITIES AND COST SHARING ................................................................ 49
7.1 Responsibilities 49
7.2 Strategy Costs and Cost Sharing 51
7.3 Implications for the CCMA 53
7.4 CCMA Funding 53
8. FEEDBACK FORM ....................................................................................................... 54
Appendix A: Waterway basins and ISC reaches in the CCMA region 56
Appendix B: BASIN ACTION PLANS 58
8.1 Moorabool 59
8.2 Barwon 60
8.3 Corangamite 62
8.4 Otway Coast 64
Appendix C: – REFERENCES 66
Appendix D: RELATED STRATEGIC DOCUMENTS 70
Appendix E: GLOSSARY 73
Appendix F: CONSULTATION 77
6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
7
8
9
10
1. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
ABBREVIATION
CCALP Corangamite Catchment and Land Protection Board
CCB Central Coastal Board
CCMA Corangamite catchment Management Authority
COGG City of Greater Geelong
DOI Department of Infrastructure
EPA Environment Protection Authority
ISC Index of Stream Condition
LCC Land Conservation Council
LH Landholder
LG Local Government
LWD Large Woody Debris
LWRDC Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corp.
NHT Natural Heritage Trust
NRE (Department of) Natural Resources and Environment
RCS Regional Catchment Strategy
SCS Surf Coast Shire
SKM Sinclair Knight Merz
SRW Southern Rural Water
VPPs Victoria Planning Provisions
WCB Western Coastal Board
11
2. INTRODUCTION
2.1 The Need for a Strategy
Our rivers, creeks, streams and wetlands – our waterways – are fundamental to our very existence.
Water regulates all human activities and is implicit in all life. Waterways, wetlands and their
floodplains act as natural water filters, helping to protect the quality of water for the environment and
for human consumption. The aesthetic beauty of our tree-lined rivers is an intrinsic part of the
Australian landscape. The overall quantity and quality of water gives the Corangamite region a
significant natural advantage over drier areas of the state (CALP, 1997).
Our waterways need our help. Recent assessments of the region‟s waterways found them in poor to
moderate condition. Problems include loss of flora and fauna along stream banks, reduced water flows,
deteriorating water quality, sedimentation, erosion and salinity. Our waterways have been substantially
changed since European settlement by clearing of catchments for agriculture, intensive use of
floodplains, draining of wetlands and development of water resources.
A waterway is a function of its landscape, continually changing according to variations in the
topography, climate, geology, vegetation, and land use. Improving the health of our waterways can
only be achieved by the collective efforts of the entire regional community working together to
rehabilitate both the land and waterway environments.
Figure 2 View from Red Rock scenci lookout- Lake Corangamite Catchment
In recent decades, the community has recognised the need
for action to achieve integrated catchment management and
the evolution and continued success of the Landcare
movement has pioneered this approach. The emphasis for
much of this work has focused on catchment or land based
issues, with less focus on those issues directly relating to
waterways. Consequently, many of our waterway problems
have remained untreated and in some cases they have
worsened. We now acknowledge the need to concentrate on
the waterways themselves, for we cannot just rely on other
works, which might be implemented in the catchments.
This Draft Strategy for waterway health complements other regional strategies and plans designed to
improve the management and enhancement of all of our natural resources. It focuses on developing and
implementing actions that will directly maintain or improve the waterway environment, including the
water, the bed, the banks and the streamside or „riparian‟ zone. Its scope includes rivers, creeks,
streams, watercourses, tributaries and wetlands, however, as wetlands are such unique feature of the
landscape, their management will be covered in more detail through prescriptive plans in the future.
This Draft Strategy includes both strategic and operational recommendations relating to the
improvement of waterway health. In addition to strategic recommendations, Action Plans have been
developed for each of the key waterway systems in the region. These Plans provide a more detailed
guide to the recommended works required to protect or rehabilitate the major rivers and waterways.
12
Community consultation, support and acceptance of the recommendations in this strategy are
fundamental to providing a basis for partnership between the community and Government to ensure its
implementation over the long term. Accordingly, we consider it essential that you have input into this
Draft Strategy through your comments and feedback.
2.2 Role of the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
Victoria‟s waterways have experienced various trends in management policy. The first formal
institutions for waterway management were established in the 1950s with the formation of local River
Improvement Trusts. These trusts principally focused on the application of engineering solutions for
problems associated with waterway erosion and flooding. Since the 1970s the application of waterway
management has broadened to cover wider environmental issues.
In 1995 a multi-disciplinary Consultative Action Team (CAT) was established to advise the Minister
for Natural Resources on the wider community‟s preferred option for waterway management in the
Corangamite Region. Subsequently, after extensive consultation with individuals representing
communities throughout the catchment area, the CAT recommended that a new waterway management
authority be established.
In July 1997 the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA) was established together
with eight other Catchment Management Authorities across the state under the provisions of the Water
Act 1989 and the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Through the Water Act, the Corangamite
Catchment Management Authority is now the key authority responsible for ensuring the protection and
rehabilitation of waterways in the Corangamite region.
2.3 Improving Waterways through Community Action
It is important to recognise what the Corangamite community has achieved in the protection and
rehabilitation of our region‟s waterways. Over the past two decades, farmers, landholders and
government agencies including the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, local shires and the
Soil Conservation Authority have undertaken a considerable number of works designed to protect or
improve the waterway environment. More recently, the development of Landcare and the introduction
of the Natural Heritage Trust have facilitated an unprecedented level of landholder activity associated
with the implementation of waterway rehabilitation works.
Figure 3 Planting day at Lake Bullen Merri
Following the establishment of the CCMA in 1997, the
level of activity in waterway protection and rehabilitation
further increased. During the past four years the Authority
has invested almost $6 million in waterway projects
through its Healthy Waterways Incentive Program across
the region. This program enables individuals and groups
to undertake waterway protection and rehabilitation works
including:
Riparian revegetation
Riparian rehabilitation and protection
13
Community education
Investigations
Stormwater and nutrient management
Management of proclaimed water supply catchments
The funds allocated by the CCMA have been matched on at least a dollar for dollar basis by the grant
recipients – taking the total regional investment in waterway rehabilitation and protection projects over
the past four years is close to $17 million (Figure 4). The last four years has also seen a steady rise in
the number of projects being funded on an annual basis and an increasing number of larger,
coordinated community projects to deal with whole sections, or reaches of waterways.
Figure 4: Healthy Waterways Incentive Program Funding 1997- 2001
$-
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
$3,000,000
$4,000,000
$5,000,000
$6,000,000
$7,000,000
$8,000,000
97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01
Financial Year
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
CCMA $
Community $
Number of projects
14
3. BACKGROUND
3.1 Waterways - An Integrated Approach
Natural resources management in the Corangamite region is an integrated whole of catchment process
involving cooperation and partnerships at all levels in the regional community. Whilst the CCMA takes
a lead role in coordinating this approach, it is the collective effort of the regional community, which
delivers the results on the ground.
The Corangamite Waterway Health Strategy (CWHS) will be one of a number of regional plans
developed under the Corangamite Regional Catchment Strategy, developed to provide an integrated
approach to managing the region‟s natural resources. Figure 2 outlines the relationships between the
strategies and plans for natural resource management in the Corangamite Region.
The CWHS will outline the strategic framework for maintaining or improving waterway and wetland
environments in the region. It must include a combination of strategic regional actions that will apply
to all waterways across the region, whilst providing a basic plan of action for on-ground works in the
major waterways. As indicated in Figure 5, it requires strong links to the following key strategies and
plans for maintenance and improvement of the regions natural resources.
Corangamite Native Vegetation Plan. Currently in draft form, this plan sets the strategic direction
for management and conservation of all native vegetation in the region, including protection of
remnant native vegetation and revegetation. It will include specific objectives linked to native
vegetation along waterways and wetlands and is a key source offering the underlying principles
associated with vegetation management.
Corangamite Nutrient Management Plan. Developed in 1999, this management plan focuses on
addressing the load of nutrients within the water quality component of our waterway environments.
Under the Waterway Management Strategy, it is effectively an Action Plan aimed at reducing the
concentration and quantity of nutrients entering the regions waterways and the incidence of Blue Green
Algae blooms. It includes actions that relate to both the catchments and the waterways themselves,
with an emphasis on improving land management practices, thereby reducing nutrient concentrations
and volumes.
Corangamite Floodplain and Rural Drainage Strategies. Currently in preparation, these
strategies will provide strategic directions for the management of floodplains and existing rural
drainage systems in the region. They will focus on the strategic and operational management of these
particular parts of the waterway system. A key principle will be to promote those actions on
floodplains and in relation to rural drainage, which are essential to maintaining or improving waterway
health.
Corangamite Restoring the Balance – A Strategy for Managing Salinity in the Corangamite
Region. This strategy, currently under review, aims to greatly reduce the future effects of salinity, and
recommends a program to direct community effort to where salinity is causing the biggest problem.
The main emphasis of the strategy provides encouragement, assistance, and technical support to groups
and group projects for onground activities.
15
Figure 5: Waterway Health Strategy Relationships
Biodiversity WaterLand
Regional Salinity Plan
(1993)
Rabbit Action Plan
Weed Action Plan
Native Vegetation Plan
(2001)
Urban Stormwater Management Plans
Nutrient Management Plan
2000
Waterway Rehabilitation Plans
Sub Catchment Management Plans
Estuary Management Plans
RAMSAR Lakes Management Plan
Waterway Health Strategy
(2001)
Flood Studies
Floodplain Management Strategy
(In prep.)
Rural Drainage Strategy
(In prep.)
Corangamite Regional Catchment StrategyProviding overall direction for all natural resources management in the region
(1997)
16
3.2 Current Responsibilities
Improving the health of the region‟s waterways is a complex task involving cooperation and action by
a wide range of key stakeholders, as indicated in the following Table 1.
Table 1: Current Responsibilities for issues affecting Waterway Health
(See Key Stakeholder column for list of Abbreviations)
Key Stakeholder
Responsibilities
Support Role
Corangamite
Catchment
Management
Authority
(CCMA)
Strategic direction for land and water resource
management - through development and implementation of
Regional Catchment Strategy (RCS) and reporting to
government
NRE
Development of Regional Waterway Health Strategy and
detailed works programs to improve waterway health
Regional
Community
Waterway, floodplain and rural drainage management All
Management of Aire Heritage Rivers (outside of National
Parks)
LH
Community education & involvement in waterway health NRE, UWA, LC
Implement works for stabilisation of bed and banks of
waterways
LH, LC, UWA
Development of detailed water quality plans NRE, EPA
Licensing of works on waterways SRW, NRE, LG
Coordinating Dryland Salinity Management NRE, LH, LC
Index of Stream Condition monitoring (5 yearly)
Regional oversight of National Heritage Trust process NRE
Management of the Lough Calvert Drainage Scheme and
Woady Yaloak Diversion Scheme
Management of the Barwon through Geelong#
Department of
Natural Resources
and Environment
(NRE)
Strategic direction for all public land management
Management of Crown water frontages and other public
land, except parks and reserves.
Management of flora and fauna LH, PV,
CCMA, LC
Catchment management and agricultural services (salinity,
soil conservation, pest plants and animals, agriculture)
CCMA, LH,
LC, PV
Water quality monitoring CCMA, UWA,
EPA
Monitoring of environmental flow allocations CCMA, SRW
Bulk entitlement conversions CCMA, SRW,
UWA
Licensing of sand and gravel extraction from waterways
17
Key Stakeholder
Responsibilities
Support Role
Parks Victoria
(PV)
Management of Crown water frontage in parks and
reserves and waterways in parks and reserves (including
Ramsar lakes and other lake foreshores with public land
frontage)
LH, CCMA
Southern Rural
Water (SRW)
Water allocations private and industrial users
Streamflow Management Plans CCMA, NRE,
UWA, LH, EPA
Waterway determinations
Groundwater allocations and monitoring CCMA, NRE,
UWA
Urban Water
Authorities
(UWA)
Management and compliance of sewerage systems LG
Referral authority under planning scheme for works in
PWSC
Waterwatch CCMA
Diversion of water for urban use
Local
Government (LG)
administer planning schemes- permits for off stream dam
development
UWA, SRW
boating authority for boating and water ski zones CCMA
Road crossings of all waterways and floodplains (except
for VicRoads assets)
VR
VicRoads (VR) Main road crossings of all waterways and floodplains
(except for municipal assets)
LG
Environment
Protection
Authority (EPA)
License sewage and other discharges to the environment
Monitor water quality CCMA, NRE,
UWA
Produce State environment protection policies for
protection of surface water, groundwater and other
segments of the environment
all
Aboriginal
Affairs Victoria
(AAV)
Registration and management of Aboriginal archaeological
sites
ICG
Crown water
frontage licensees
Management of Crown water frontages in accordance with
licence conditions
NRE, CCMA,
UWA
Indigenous
Community
Groups (ICG)
Management and maintenance of places of Aboriginal
cultural significance
AAV
Cultural education
Landcare Groups
(LC)
Community action to address land and water resource
management issues
NRE, CCMA
Community education
Private
landholders(LH)
Management of pest plants and animals on private and
licensed public land
NRE
Voluntary on-ground works to improve waterway health CCMA
Coastal Boards
(CB)
Strategic management of coastal environments LG
18
Note:
# Operational functions are contracted to Barwon water
Coastal Boards includes both the Western and Central Coastal Board
Local Government includes Corangamite, Moorabool, Golden Plains, Colac-Otway, Moyne and
Surf Coast Shires, City of Greater Geelong, City of Ballarat and the Borough of Queenscliff
Urban Water Authorities include South West Water, Barwon Water and Central Highlands
Water
3.3 Current Programs for Waterway Health
As previously described, the regional community and the CCMA are already undertaking the huge task
of improving the condition of our waterways through a variety of activities and functions. As part of its
annual business planning process the CCMA delivers a range of projects and actions through the
implementation of nine broad programs under its waterway management function, as described in
Table 2 below.
Table 2: Current CCMA Waterway Management Programs
CCMA
Program
Project
Description & CCMA Role
Hydrology Bulk
Entitlement
(BE)
Conversion
Process
State wide process converting current rights to water into a legal
entitlement. CCMA is one of many key stakeholders involved in
the consultation of this process in order to protect and improve the
rights of the aquatic environment
Streamflow
Management
Plans (SMP)
Local planning mechanism to manage water appropriately to
satisfy consumptive demands and environmental needs. The
CCMA is one of many key stakeholders involved in project groups
guiding their development
Physical Form Waterway
Rehabilitation
Plans
Priority structural waterway works according to local Waterway
Rehabilitation Plans being coordinated by CCMA.
Asset
Management
& Operations
CCMA manages and maintains the Lough Calvert Drainage
Scheme and the Woady Yaloak Diversion Scheme
Management
of the Barwon
River through
Geelong
CCMA manages and maintains public land and waterway along
the Barwon River through Geelong from Orana Road above
Buckley Falls downstream to the lower breakwater at Lake
Connewarre.
Riparian Zone Healthy
Waterways
Incentive
Program
Key incentive program for interested individuals and groups to
undertake voluntary waterway rehabilitation works in the region
19
CCMA
Program
Project
Description & CCMA Role
Aquatic
Habitat
State Fishways
Program
State wide program of structural modifications to in stream
barriers to improve passage for native fish migration
Water Quality Corangamite
Nutrient
Management
Plan
Plan includes a variety of actions aimed at reducing nutrient
volumes and loads to regional waterways, including urban
stormwater, improved agricultural land management, improved
forestry practices
Community
Awareness
and
Involvement
Waterwatch National community education and river health monitoring
program. In the Corangamite region it is partly funded by the
CCMA and is delivered through Central Highlands Water and
Barwon Water.
Barwon River
Health
Strategy
Joint NHT/CCMA community biodiversity assessment project to
engage community commitment to improving the health of the
Barwon River
Research and
Investigation
Deakin
University
Aquatic Macrophytes as an Indicator of River Health
Analysis of Nutrient Loadings and Speciation in Runoff from a
West Victorian Dairy Farm
The Effect on Estuarine Water Quality of the Gradual Removal of
a Sandbar that blocks the Estuary Mouth
Examination of the effectiveness of riparian revegetation in
increasing aquatic ecosystem health
Nutrient and the Phytoplankton Community of the Curdies River
University of
Ballarat
Catchment Characterisation and River Health
Impact of Shading by Riparian Vegetation
Land & Water
Aust
Assessment of aquatic macro invertebrates as biodiversity
indicators of change in salinity
Benchmarking
Monitoring
and Evaluation
Index of
Stream
Condition
(ISC)
State wide five yearly long-term monitoring and evaluation
program of waterway health. Supplemented in CCMA region by
annual collection of data at limited sites
Victorian
Water Quality
Monitoring
Network
Statewide program of ongoing water quality monitoring at sites
throughout the region.
Coordination
and Planning
Waterway
Rehabilitation
Plans
Local community driven development of reach or sub catchment
based action plans to provide a medium term framework to
improve waterway health.
20
4. WATERWAYS – A REGIONAL OVERVIEW
4.1 Waterway Basins
The Corangamite Catchment Management Authority‟s region includes four major drainage basins – the
Moorabool, Barwon, Corangamite and Otway Coast (Appendix A). Within each of these basins there
are several major catchments, or river systems, including the Aire, Barwon, Gellibrand, Curdies, Leigh,
Moorabool, and Woady Yaloak Rivers.
Figure 6 Barwon River at Murgheboluc
In the Barwon basin the Barwon River drains both the northern
slopes of the Otway Range whilst the Leigh River drains the
central Victorian uplands around Ballarat, joining the Barwon
at Inverleigh. The Corangamite basin is a landlocked (terminal)
drainage system, with predominantly small ephemeral
waterways feeding Lake Corangamite and other significant
lakes and wetlands.
Figure 7 The islands within Lake Corangamite
The Moorabool Basin
includes the Moorabool River and Hovells Creek, a small creek
system that rises in the southern foothills of the Brisbane Ranges
and the You Yangs and flows into Corio Bay. Little River also
falls within the Moorabool Basin, however the Port Phillip
Catchment and Land Protection Board guide management
activities.
Figure 8 The Moorabool River
The waterways of the Otway Coast Basin can be divided into
three distinct sections: West, Central and East. The west
section of the Otway Coast Basin is drained by the Curdies
River, which drains the partly cleared catchments of the
Heytesbury where dairying is the predominant agricultural
practice.
Figure 9 Little Aire Creek
The Gellibrand and
Aire and numerous small coastal streams drain the central
Otways whilst the east section includes the Erskine River,
Thompsons and Spring Creeks. The Otway Coast Basin is noted
as having excellent water quality with low levels of salinity and
turbidity in most streams.
The condition, values and threats relevant to each major drainage
basin are represented in Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13.
21
22
Figure 10 Moorabool Basin- Condition, Values and Threats
23
Figure 11 Barwon Basin- Condition, Values and Threats
24
Figure 12 Corangamite Basin- Condition, Values and Threats
25
Figure 13 Otway Coast Basin- Condition, Values and Threats
26
Aboriginal Culture and waterways in the Corangamite Region
R.B. Smyth made the first critical attempt to delineate Victorian Aboriginal tribes in 1878 and
according to Ian D. Clark (Monash University, 1990), Smyth suggested that:
the basalt plain stretching from the Moorabool River in the east to the Wannon River in the
west, and from Mount Cole in the north to the southern shores of Lake Corangamite was occupied by numerous small „tribes‟ that were focused on rivers.
They were principally members of the Wathaurung tribe, with a lesser number of individuals drawn
from the Kolakngat in the area to the west of Lake Corangamite. In addition, their clan members
belonged to one of three principal language groups: the Wada wurrung, the Gulidjan, and the Djargurd
wurrung.
It is not easy to estimate accurately Aboriginal numbers prior to white settlement, however, there were
probably between 11,000 and 15,000 Aborigines living in Victoria previously. They were divided
among 38 tribes which varied in size according to the richness of their environment. Each tribe
occupied a recognised are, spoke a common language and called itself by a specific name (Radcliffe-
Brown, 1930). The population decline and loss of lifestyle of those Aboriginals who occupied the lush
grasslands, steep or rolling hillsides, abundant creeks, rivers and lakes across the Corangamite region is
particularly well documented in Clark (1990). Aldo Massola‟s book Journey to Aboriginal Victoria
(Rigby, 1969) is another excellent publication which documents the daily activities of local Aboriginals
in nineteenth century Victoria.
Clark reveals that in 1837 the Barrabool Hill tribe numbered 300, and by May 1853 its population had
been reduced to nine women, seven men and one child (Lloyd 1862:456). He estimated that births
within the clan had not exceeded 24 over a period of seventeen years. In 1853 thousands of gold
miners began to descend upon their lands in the upper part of the Corangamite catchment. Lloyd listed
the reasons for the decline in their population: diminishing food sources due to the occupation of
grassed portions of their land; influenza and association with the colonists; brandy, rum and tobacco;
and the fact that they regarded their indigenous neighbours with enmity and exacted revenge upon
those who intruded into the tribe‟s hunting ground. In 1881 Dawson estimated that each Wada wurrung
speaking clan had a population of 120, giving a total population of 3,240, however, the real figure was
probably somewhere between 1620 and 3240.
Clark documents twenty-five Wada wurrung speaking clans and the approximate location they
occupied between the Werribee River in the east, the Fiery Creek and Mount Emu Creek to the west,
and Mount Misery marked the northern boundary while to the south-east their lands encompassed Lake
Corangamite. Importantly, their lands also extended to Port Phillip Bay, around the Bellarine
Peninsula, past the coastal port of Geelong to Aireys Inlet. The Wothowurong [sic] established several
large camps around Corio Bay, Stingaree Bay and Point Henry with one particularly good camp at
Clifton Springs. According to Massola (1969) traces of it remain with perhaps the most rewarding site
left on the Peninsula being „situated on the sand ridges alternating with swamp depressions between
Portarlington and Indented Head.‟
In a landlocked area bordered by Warrambine Creek and the Barwon River, Clark records that there
were four clans who spoke the Gulidjan language. They could be found at Birregurra, Lake Beeac,
Lake Colac and „Ingleby‟ station on the Barwon River, and they occupied the rich hunting country as
far south as Gellibrand River. In September 1837 their numbers were estimated at between 35 and 40,
in December 1850 Gray estimated the population of the „Colac tribe‟ to be 78 (43 males and 35
27
females) but by 1857, following the arrival of huge numbers of European settlers across the region,
only 16 Gulidjan survived (Massola 1966b). In 1862 Lloyd (1862:458) also identified the causes of this
clan‟s diminution, caused through increased difficulty gathering food due to European occupation of
the best grassed areas of their lands; influenza; association with convicts; and tribal enmity.
Land to the south of the Wada wurrung, and west of the Gulidjan, was occupied by the at least 12
Djargurd wurrung speaking clans. Their western boundary followed the course of the Mount Emu
Creek, with the eastern boundary being formed by the western shore of Lake Corangamite.
Aboriginal culture in the Corangamite Region has strong links to the waterways of the region. Even
today, sites along waterways, both the lakes and streams can still be identified which have evidence of
the traditional ways of the indigenous people. Shell middens (evidence of eating places), rock fish
traps, stone tools and scarred trees (evidence of taking materials to build canoes) can all be found
associated with the Regions waterways.
4.2 Post European Settlement and Waterways in the Corangamite region
Water Victoria- A resource handbook, provides a useful summary of the European settlement in the
region. “ John Batman and his party arrived in the Port Phillip region in 1835 and within just two years
runs were taken up as far as Winchelsea… The Gold rush of the 1850‟s attracted a large number of
people to the Ballarat region and henceforth the area developed rapidly.
Figure 14 Degraded riparian swamp land and remnant native grassland plants
Early agriculture was dominated by sheep and later cattle grazing pursuits which were suited to the vast
treeless volcanic plains stretching from Geelong to beyond Lismore. PH Kinimonth, in „The Western
Plains: A Natural and Social History (Eds. Conley and Dennis 1984), cites a map compiled in 1857
describing these grasslands as “fitted for grazing purposes alone, consisting of open plains, utterly
devoid of timber and scantily supplied with water.”
The demand for land in the post gold rush era saw the lake Corangamite Basin almost entirely cleared
for pasture and agriculture and large areas of the Otway forests were opened up for selection in this
period (DWR, 1989). The relentless push for more arable land led to widespread drainage of
floodplains and wetlands. Unsustainable agricultural practices in the early 1900s led to extensive gully
and sheet erosion, and several of the swampy creeks draining into the Barwon from the Northern
Otway slopes were channeled and drained, leading to massive erosion of the valley floors. The
resulting sediments liberated by such broad catchment wide erosion filled many of the major
28
waterways. Crown Water Frontages protected some sections of waterways, but licensed grazing of such
frontages has meant there is now little discernible distinction between management regimes of public
or private land adjoining waterways. Despite such intervention, the riparian zones of the region‟s
waterways have survived to be an invaluable remnant of the original indigenous vegetation.
In the post war era, emphasis moved towards securing water resources for the regions growing
population and agricultural industries. The West Barwon dam was completed in 1965 and is the major
storage providing Geelong, whilst the Lal Lal Reservoir, on the upper Moorabool was built in 1972 to
supply both Ballarat and Geelong. Incremental growth of water consumption for both urban and
agricultural purposes has continued throughout the region, to the point where for the Moorabool, over
80% of the total divertible water resources have been developed (DWR, 1989).
Prior to the formation of the CCMA waterway management was not actively undertaken in the
Corangamite region, although the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission along with the Soil
Conservation Authority undertook some erosion control work on badly degraded sections of
waterways. Growing global consciousness of environmental issues in the late 20th century contributed
to an increasing awareness of the need for sustainable land and water management at the regional and
local scale. The Landcare movement, which evolved in Victoria in the 1980s then capitalised on this
bottom up community support and saw a level of land and water rehabilitation works not previously
experienced in the region. The legacy of this commitment continues to this day, in the form of
regionally community based Catchment Management Authorities making strategic and operational
decisions for sustainable land and water management.
4.3 The Condition of our Waterways
4.3.1 Measuring Waterway Condition
Waterways and wetlands are environments made up of a complex web of interconnecting parts or
components, including the flow and quality of the water, the bed and banks, the organisms living in the
water and the organisms living on the banks. In order to understand and compare the current condition
of our waterways, Victoria has adopted a statewide procedure for measuring waterway health, which
incorporates all the components of the waterway environment.
The Index of Stream Condition (ISC) (DNRE 1997) was introduced in Victoria in 1999 and has now
been applied to all major waterways in the state. The index includes qualitative measures of the
following components of the waterway environment, as shown in Figure 15 in terms of its:
Hydrology quantity and duration of flow
Physical form degree of bed and bank erosion
Riparian Zone quality and diversity of riparian vegetation
Water quality quality of water
Aquatic habitat quality of in stream habitat, including snags
The Index places a „score‟ on each of these components for any given section or „reach‟ of waterway.
Reaches are lengths of the same waterway, which can be treated as a distinct unit because of their
uniform characteristics, including hydrology, geology, vegetation, and land use. The location of
reaches within the Corangamite region are represented in Appendix A.
29
Figure 15 The Waterway Environment
Streamside
Zone
Physical Form
Water Quality
Hydrology
Aquatic Life/ Habitat
30
5. THE STRATEGY
5.1 Vision
A vision for waterways in the Corangamite Region has been developed with the help of key
stakeholders in the region. It defines the desired outcome of responsibly managing the environmental
condition of the regions waterways, reflects the significance of the partnership between the CCMA and
the community, and it also defines a time frame which matches the ten year planning framework
provided by this strategy.
In ten years time, through the implementation of this strategy in
partnership with the community, we will have maintained, protected and
improved the environmental condition of the Corangamite region’s
waterways.
The Vision complements the expected outcome of the Corangamite Regional Catchment Strategy – that
is to have „the Corangamite community managing land and water resources based on an understanding
and a commitment to sustainable use, conservation and rehabilitation of those resources.‟
5.2 Principles
To help us understand what the Vision means, we need to identify the significant social, environmental
and economic values or principles, which are important to the community at all levels. These values are
summarised below:
Integration The effective integration of environmental, social and economic considerations in
decision making.
Community involvement Recognition that our Vision can not be achieved nor significant
progress made towards it without the support of the whole community.
Precautionary behaviour Where there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage
to waterways, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing
measures to prevent waterway degradation.
Equity within and between generations Fairness and equal access to opportunities both in our
lifetimes as well as for future
Continual improvement The declining environmental condition of our waterways means there is
an imperitive to take immediate action to become more sustainable and to make continual
improvement.
(Note: Adapted from ‘Our Community our Future, a Guide to Local Agenda 21’, Cotter and
Hannan, 1999).
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5.3 Priority Waterway Issues
The following are priority issues or threats relating to waterway management in the Corangamite
region. Many of the threats are listed under the State Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 legislation
in Schedule 3, as Potentially Threatening Processes whilst others have been identified through
community and stakeholder consultation.
5.3.1 Alterations to Natural Flow Regimes
Urban and agricultural development has necessitated the abstraction of water from waterways, causing
alterations to quantity and timing of flows and reducing the biodiversity of our rivers, creeks and
streams. Drainage of wetlands and floodplains for cultivation has upset the natural water cycles of
these wet environments, thus reducing their capacity to filter out nutrients and store floodwaters.
5.3.2 Degradation of Native Riparian Vegetation
Indigenous riparian vegetation is vital to the functioning of stream ecosystems. Riparian vegetation
helps to maintain bank stability, through the binding nature of root systems and also provides an
important buffer zone for the filtering of sediments, nutrients and catchment runoff. Instream habitats
are derived from riparian vegetation including fallen branches and trees (snags), leaves and barks.
Undercut banks, important for platypus and other aquatic species, are maintained through the presence
of streamside vegetation.
Removal of riparian vegetation impacts the aquatic environment by increasing the amount of light into
the system. This may result in increased aquatic weed growth and algal growth, which can in turn lead
to choking of the waterway. Stability of the bed and banks will also decline following the removal of
streamside vegetation.
5.3.3 Introduction of exotic plants and animals to aquatic environments
Introduced aquatic plants are a threat to waterways from both an ecological and socio-economic point
of view. These plants can be associated with damage to irrigation pumps and other machinery as well
as to with changes to light availability, nutrient levels and the resultant impacts on aquatic life. The
introduction of European Carp, Mosquito fish and many other exotic fish species has dramatically
impacted on the ecology of our waterways. Exotic fish species can out compete native fish species for
habitat areas and food resources often at the exclusion of the species of the original community.
5.3.4 Increase in Sediment Input into Waterways
Clearing of catchments and cultivation of fragile flood plains and wetlands has resulted in an increase
in the erosive forces, which act on our waterways. The resulting soil erosion from catchments and in
natural channels has caused a build up of sediments that smother aquatic habitats and block up the
waterways. Also, these sediments are often associated with high concentrations of nutrients, such as
phosphorous and nitrogen, which pollute the waterways and contribute to outbreaks of toxic blue-green
algae and the rampant growth of nuisance aquatic weeds.
5.3.5 Input of chemical substances into waterways
The input of toxic substances into waterways can result in immediate kills of aquatic organisms along
with reduced vigour and changes to the behaviour and growth of fish. The effects of residual
substances are particularly devastating however, many of these herbicides and pesticides are being
replaced with ones, which are much less persistent in the aquatic environment. A variety of
environmental factors such as temperature and oxygen levels in the water can also result in significant
impacts to aquatic communities.
32
5.3.6 Removal of wood debris from Victorian Streams
Removal of snags decreases the variety of instream habitat and results in significant changes to the
channel morphology [shape]. Channelisation of waterways and removal of large woody debris, or
„snags‟ has increased water flows and caused accelerated erosion processes downstream, often
resulting in major changes in the waterways shape and behaviour and causing loss of property.
5.3.7 Barriers to fish movement
Figure 16 Weirs, dams and culverts can all be barriers to fish migration
Structures such as dams, weirs, culverts and fords can impede the
migration of native fish. Many native fish require migration, either
upstream or downstream, in order to complete their lifecycle. Barriers to
fish migration can impede spawning migrations and the mixing of genes
within populations, resulting in unviable native fish populations.
5.3.8 Invasion of Native Vegetation by Environmental weeds
The invasion of environmental weeds into the streamside zone can
results in the loss of both terrestrial [land] and aquatic species from particular habitats. Blackberries,
gorse, bridal creeper and other environmental weeds are all significantly impacting on streamside
habitats within the region. Environmental weeds can often out compete indigenous plants resulting in a
lowered potential for natural regeneration and a reduction in native biodiversity.
5.3.9 Channelisation of waterways
Many waterways are subject to engineering schemes aimed at controlling the impacts of flooding and
enhancing the waterways drainage efficiency. This is achieved by the removal of logs and debris,
removal of vegetation with the potential to block the waterway, extraction of gravel and sediment from
the channel, straightening of the channel, and in some cases lining of the channel with concrete or
similar materials.
These river engineering works significantly impact on the ecology of the waterways, resulting in low
species diversity and abundance. High maintenance costs can also be associated with some waterway
engineering works.
5.3.10 Loss of indigenous cultural heritage
Indigenous cultural heritage may include burial sites and remains, shell middens, stone tools or scarred
trees. Federal and state legislation contains provisions for the protection of indigenous cultural heritage.
Sites are often associated with waterways in the Corangamite region, however many sites will never be
identified and may be damaged as a result.
5.3.11 Loss of recreational opportunities associated with waterways
Our waterways can provide a myriad of opportunities for recreation, including fishing, boating, nature
appreciation or swimming. Any decline in water quality and other waterway issues may result in
reduced opportunities for recreation.
5.3.12 Damage to human assets associated with waterways
Floods and erosion processes can cause significant damage to human assets including farmland,
bridges, roads etc. Waterway management in the Corangamite region must achieve a balance between
the protection of ecological assets and human assets.
33
5.4 Priority Setting Famework
In the past waterway restoration activities have primarily focussed on protecting assets such as bridges,
roads and other infrastructure, with works usually carried out on the most degraded sections of stream.
However, in recent years the priorities for waterway management have changed, and waterway
managers in Australia are beginning to prioritise works by including the „natural assets‟ of streams as
well as the continuing need for protection of life and property. The Cooperative Research Centre for
Catchment Hydrology has developed A Rehabilitation Manual for Australian Streams, in partnership
with the Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation (LWRDC). This
document outlines the current priority setting framework for waterway management.
Priorities must take into account the following:
The over-riding need to protect streams or reaches that have high biodiversity values or significant
assets which protect life and property,
The need to act first on those waterway problems which are relatively easy to fix,
The need to act in those waterways where community support and ownership is greatest.
In terms of waterway health, it is usually more efficient to protect reaches that remain in good
condition, than to spend huge amounts of money trying to rehabilitate reaches that are already damaged
(Rutherford et al, 1999). Similarly, it is usually more efficient to stop a stream from deteriorating than
to try to fix it later. Within reaches, it is crucial to identify the potential barriers to recovery and
address these first.
The fundamental approach that we need to adopt for long term improvement in waterway health needs
to ensure that any works proposed must be in accord with the underlying physical processes occurring
in the waterway. If this is not the case, our works – whether they be revegetation in the streamside
zone, fencing to control stock access or erosion control – are at risk of being lost through sudden or
gradual changes in the physical form of the waterway. The best way to ensure a long-term
improvement in the health of a waterway is to develop an understanding of its behaviour and
characteristics, then implement a plan to work within these characteristics.
Many of the actions recommended in this Draft Strategy for improving waterway health relate directly
or indirectly to biodiversity conservation, and specifically protection and re-establishment of
indigenous native vegetation. Accordingly, the direction and principles for management of native
vegetation as described in the Corangamite Native Vegetation Plan are applicable to the Waterway
Health Strategy.
Priorities discussed herein include primarily targeted works on designated waterways. However,
CCMA will continue to encourage voluntary participation in works conducted on minor waterways or
tributaries that are not specifically mentioned in this Draft Strategy. Recommended actions have been
grouped according to their scope of application. Those recommendations, which apply to all waterways
across the region or are strategic in nature, have been split into nine Regional Programs according to
the nine Strategy objectives.
In addition, four Basin Action Plans (Appendix B) have been developed to include all those
recommended actions, which relate to a specific basin or to specific waterways within that basin.
Within each Basin Action Plan, recommended actions have been grouped according to the regional
program classification where possible.
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6. STRATEGY PROGRAMS
6.1 Program 1 – Hydrology
AIM: Maintain and seek to restore appropriate water regimes necessary to sustain waterway, wetland and riparian ecosystems
The hydrology component of a waterway includes the volume of water
flowing and the annual variation or „seasonality‟ of flows and pays
particular attention to changes to the waterways original flow regime,
such as the impact of dams, diversions and urbanisation. Changes to the
flow regime of waterways can have significant impact on wetlands and
floodplains, the structure of the bed and banks of the waterway, fish and
other aquatic life populations, riparian vegetation and water quality.
Key influences on these alterations have been the need to develop water resources for consumptive use,
or in the case of wetlands, floodplains and estuaries, to improve or protect productive areas. It is likely
that improvements in flow regimes will be gained through water resource planning mechanisms such as
the Bulk Entitlement conversion process, Streamflow Management Plans, and through Municipal
Planning Schemes. Greater emphasis will also need to be placed on ensuring greater accountability for
water use across all catchments. Structural measures may also be employed to recreate appropriate
hydrological regimes in wetlands and „chain of ponds‟ systems.
Planning for water resource use
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
1.1 Complete Streamflow Management Plans for priority waterways across
the region
High
1.2 Encourage effective and efficient farm dam management in accordance
with Streamflow Management Plan requirements and active distribution
of farm dam water supply management guidelines
High
1.3 Develop model permit conditions for local government as part of the
review of planning schemes, to reflect the outcomes of the Victorian
Farm Dams Irrigation Review recommendations.
High
1.4 Ensure compliance with Streamflow Management Plans and existing
operating rules or environmental flow guidelines
Ongoing
1.5 Support and encourage reductions in the use of water for irrigation and
for maximum re-use of irrigation drainage water “on-farm” to reduce
quantities of water draining to the natural wetland and waterway
systems
Medium
1.6 Ensure planning & development decisions consider the potential impact
on stream flows and existing water allocations
Ongoing
Key Issues Addressed Alteration to
natural flow
regimes
35
Altered hydrological regimes
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
1.7 Determine appropriate monitoring regimes for delivery and impact of
environmental flows
High
1.8 Identify opportunities to restore Chain of Ponds systems High
1.9 Develop and implement management plans to protect and enhance
private and public wetlands of regional importance
High
6.2 Program 2 – Physical Form
AIM: Protect community assets and stabilise waterways through structural means where sustainable community benefits will arise.
The physical form component of a waterway includes those
physical features which determine the shape, size and form of
the waterway, including the riffles and pools, bed, banks,
instream bars, extent of erosion and sedimentation, the
instream physical habitat and the degree of connection.
Included in this program are those measures and works that
directly alter the physical form of the waterway, including:
Bed stabilisation
Structural Bank protection
In-stream sediment and vegetation management
Willow Management
Maintenance and Operations
These measures are needed to stabilise and protect the physical structure of the waterway. They often
require specialist planning, design and construction. An overview of each of the measures is described
here, but for a full description of the various structural stream management techniques that are
available to address waterway instabilities, refer to the "Guidelines for Stabilising Waterways"
(Standing Committee on Rivers and Catchments, 1991).
6.2.1 Bed Stabilisation and/or Restoration
Erosion of streambeds can occur as a gradual deepening process over considerable lengths of stream,
more abruptly as head-ward erosion, or more usually as a combination of both. If this erosion is not
stabilized through some sort of structural control, the waterway will continue to deepen and in turn,
cause bank erosion. The standard technique for treating this problem is to stabilise the slope or grade of
Key Issues Addressed Increase in sediment
input into waterways Channelisation of
waterways Damage to human
assets
36
the bed of the waterway by building steps, or drops in the bed level at appropriate distances along the
waterway.
Figure 17 Extensive bed erosion has occurred in the eastern Otway catchments
This helps the waterway restore its natural sequence of
pools and riffles, enhancing the diversity of habitat for
aquatic life. This measure can also be used to restore pool
and riffle sequences to artificial drains, enhancing their
ecological value. Bed stabilisation is a relatively minor
component of long-term resolution of the problems with
eroding waterways in the Corangamite region and it will
only be undertaken as a component of an integrated reach
rehabilitation project. Priority reaches for stabilisation of
bed erosion are shown on the map figure 18.
Figure 18 Priority reaches for bed stabilisation work
6.2.2 Structural Bank Protection
Bank erosion can be caused by a number of factors, including natural meander processes, the absence
of protective bank vegetation, scour caused by the deflection of flows around instream obstructions and
islands, stock damage, bed erosion, stream widening and channel anabranching. Some erosion resulting
from natural meander processes is inevitable, therefore adjoining land uses should be planned so as to
accommodate this risk. Historically this has not always been the case, and in cases where erosion has
been caused or exacerbated by human activities, management strategies should aim to address these
factors before structural works are considered. Management actions to be considered before structural
bank protection is contemplated include stock control, regeneration or revegetation of banks and
verges, removal or realignment of obstructions and relocation of assets threatened by the erosion
Bank erosion is often a function of bed erosion, which must be treated prior to consideration of any
structural protection of eroding banks. Structural bank protection works include physical protection of
the bank with placement of rock, steel or wood and this is only considered to be appropriate where
public safety, significant remnant vegetation, or important assets or infrastructure are threatened by
erosion processes. There are relatively few such instances over the CCMA region.
Some eroding tributaries have deepened to the point where they are now steep gullies with near vertical
walls. In these waterways, natural fretting of steep banks to more stable slopes, and/or collapse of cliffs
must be anticipated over the longer term. It is considered unlikely that it will be economically possible
to stabilise the banks in place, except where important assets are threatened. Bank battering is not
recommended as a general approach to waterway bank management. As a generalisation, over the
CCMA region most of the bank erosion problems observed can be treated by the establishment of
appropriate indigenous vegetation and/or improved management of stock access. Priority reaches for
bank stabilisation works are shown in figure 19.
Figure 19 Priority bank stabilisation works
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6.2.3 Instream sediment and vegetation management
Eroding gullies and sheet/rill/tunnel erosion contribute sediment to waterways, leading to aggradation,
erosion, and nuisance aquatic plant growth. Spiny Rush and gorse can invade highly aggraded
waterways but rampant growth of aquatic macrophytes such as Cumbungi and Phragmites is often the
major problem. In general these aquatic reeds perform a useful function in filtering out and binding
sediments and attached nutrients. However, their effectiveness in trapping sediment can lead to
significant changes in the available aquatic habitat by steadily reducing the depth of pools. Treatment
of the sources of sediment in the eroding catchment will mitigate inputs over the longer term but will
not address existing problems of major infestations of these plants in waterways. However it is
considered that as a general rule the sediments and weeds may best be left undisturbed with the focus
being on land restoration activities and streamside revegetation.
There may be some local benefits to be gained by implementing strictly controlled (recurrent) instream
sediment management activities in terms of improvements in drainage performance, aquatic habitat,
and protection of remnant vegetation as well as protecting land and assets from bank erosion. Any
invasive treatment activities will need to be developed with specialist geomorphological oversight and
could include:
Excavation of sediment deposits immediately downstream of confluences with those tributaries,
which are carrying, elevated sediment loads, to create sediment trap zones,
Controlled spraying programs to mitigate macrophyte growth, especially in “riffle” zones,
Targeted mechanical removal of spiny rush and follow up chemical treatment,
Selective removal of islands, bars and aggraded “riffle” zones.
Excavation of instream sediment to create a continuous low flow course along any creek is not
recommended as this is not the natural form and such works would be likely to encourage further
erosion cycles and downstream movement of sediment and nutrients.
Structural measures
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
2.1 Establish the operational framework for the CCMA to provide
structural waterway management services
High
2.2 Implement Priority 1 structural measures High
2.3 Implement Priority 2 structural measures Medium
2.4 Implement Priority 3 structural measures Low
6.2.4 Willow Management
Figure 20 Willows can cause serious bank erosion
Willows in and along waterways can cause significant
waterway health problems. Issues associated with willows
include:
38
They form obstructions which cause bank erosion and impede channel conveyance,
They reproduce both vegetatively and by seed and will spread profusely downstream, out-
competing native species,
They offer a lower potential for indigenous biodiversity along waterways than local indigenous
vegetation.
However, willows also have some positive benefits:
They shade the waterways during summer,
Willow roots provide bed level controls in some situations,
Willows provide a source of (low grade) woody debris,
Willows can provide some habitat diversity in the form of pools, runs and drops.
The detrimental environmental effects of willows and the need to use indigenous vegetation
communities in waterway revegetation projects are important messages for the community education
and awareness program. Willow management is a component task in the process of revegetating a
waterway with local indigenous vegetation, rather than an objective for waterway management in itself.
Priority reaches for willow management works are shown in figure 21.
Figure 21 Priority reaches for willow management works
Willow control
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
2.5 Conduct Willow removal works on Priority 1 reaches High
2.6 Conduct Willow removal works on Priority 2 reaches Medium
2.7 Conduct Willow removal works on Priority 3 reaches Low
2.8
Conduct Willow removal works on other priority reaches which are
identified through Local Waterway Rehabilitation Plans
Medium
6.2.5 Management and maintenance of assets
All works of construction require provision for on-going operation and maintenance. This is
particularly so for engineering works where the focus is on recognition of governing natural waterway
processes, minimum structural intervention, use of natural materials and indigenous vegetation to
restore a sustainable ecological environment. The works are based on proven techniques, which retain
or enhance environmental benefits and in the longer term lead to restoration of "natural" waterways. By
their nature and location they are susceptible to damage by flood during the establishment period and
repairs or adjustments may prove necessary i.e. fencing and revegetation projects on a floodplain.
Management and maintenance of assets
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
2.13 Prepare schedules for ongoing operation and maintenance activities for
existing assets and those created through implementation of structural
measures
High
39
2.14 Implement operation and maintenance programs Medium
2.15 Compile a register of assets of joint interest to CCMA and utilities
(road drop structures, water/sewer crossings, weirs, main urban and
rural drains) and develop asset management maintenance guidelines
for their protection
Medium
2.16 Identify privately owned assets which may be considered as barriers to
fish migration
Ongoing
2.17 Resolve the ownership of drop structures listed in asset register.
Undertake a thorough assessment of future management and
maintenance requirements for those assets that are the responsibility of
the CCMA
High
2.18 Implement effective and efficient management of land and water for
which the CCMA is responsible on the Barwon River through Geelong Ongoing
6.3 Program 3 – Streamside Zone
AIM: Protect and where appropriate enhance environmental, cultural and social values of streamsides.
The streamside or „riparian zone‟ of a waterway is a
fundamental part of the landscape that characterises a
waterway. They are long, linear sections of land, often with
high soil fertility and moisture, and are some of the most highly
productive and sought after for agricultural production.
The streamside zone has many important roles, acting as a filter
for nutrients before they reach the waterway, as a source of
organic inputs to the stream (leaves, twigs and logs), providing
habitat for native fauna, contributing to bank stability,
providing shade for stock, ecological and recreational purposes
and providing aesthetic and recreational values.
The major threats to the health of the streamside zone are pest
plants and animals, stock access, waterway instability and declining biodiversity.
Revegetation of the streamside zone provides a filter for reducing sediment and nutrient inputs to
waterways and is invaluable in its role in stabilising stream banks. Across the Corangamite region, re-
establishment of indigenous vegetation cover is considered to be the most appropriate universal
technique for stabilisation of streams that are not subject to active headward erosion processes.
Plantings or natural regeneration is rarely successful unless protected from stock grazing through
provision of suitable fencing. Fencing may be continuous along one or both sides of the waterway
(depending on stream size and land use), or it may protect discrete areas of plantings. In areas where
natural regeneration is adequate, or where additional plantings are not judged to be necessary, fencing
alone may be sufficient to achieve restoration objectives.
Key Issues Addressed Degradation of native
riparian vegetation Invasion of native
vegetation by environmental weeds
Loss of indigenous cultural heritage
Loss of recreational opportunities associated with
waterways
40
The provision of adequate setbacks from the edge of the waterway for fencing will be critical to longer-
term improvements in waterway health, especially on main rivers and creeks streams and along the
unstable hill country tributaries. Fencing close to outer banks of bends is generally not recommended
for any stream. Fencing setbacks should be a minimum of ten metres and desirably at greater distances
where considerable streambed and bank instability exists. Priorities for streamside zone protection
works are shown in figure 22.
Figure 22 Priorities for streamside zone protection works
On ground protection of streamside zone
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
3.1 Undertake Priority one streamside protection works High
3.2 Undertake Priority two streamside protection works Medium
3.3 Undertake Priority three streamside protection works Low
3.4 Encourage re-establishment of local indigenous vegetation along all
waterways through control of stock access and planting where required
through incentives via;
Pro-active recruitment of land managers with high priority
waterways or reaches
An annual Incentive Program for Voluntary Riparian protection and
rehabilitation works on other waterways
High
3.5 Encourage participation in voluntary participation schemes to improve
biodiversity conservation in rural landscapes, including Landcare, Land
For Wildlife and Farm$mart/ Farm Biz
High
3.6 Establish a streamside management team including community „link‟
people (similar to those used to implement the Corangamite Salinity
Strategy), to work d work with Landcare groups, networks and
individuals and encourage reach based streamside protection and
rehabilitation projects
High
Planning & incentives
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
3.11 Develop regional guidelines for best practice riparian protection and
rehabilitation
High
3.12 Review the CCMA Healthy Waterways Incentive Program High
3.13 Implement sub catchment and catchment management plans for the 14
proclaimed water supply catchments
High
3.14 Implement guidelines for proclaimed water supply catchments through
the local planning schemes
High
41
3.15 Encourage the development of Property Management Plans and the use
of management agreements and covenants to ensure long term
protection of riparian environments
Medium
6.3.1 Cultural Heritage Protection in the Streamside Zone
Archaeological surveys in the Corangamite region have identified a large number of significant cultural
heritage sites. These are fairly evenly distributed across the region, however there is a strong
association between site locations and waterways. Many of the wetlands, lakes and streams in the
region were either permanently inhabited or used as travelling routes by Aboriginal people in the
Corangamite region prior to European settlement. The lower Leigh, Barwon and Moorabool Rivers
have a relatively high concentration of identified sites. Shell middens are the main site type found
along the coastal and estuarine areas. Inland sites generally comprise of isolated artefacts, however
some sites include burial grounds, mounds, scarred trees, rock arrangements and surface scatter.
Aboriginal cultural heritage sites are protected under both State and Commonwealth legislation. In
cases of conflict Commonwealth legislation takes precedence over state legislation. The Victorian
Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act (1972) provides blanket protection of all
material relating to Aboriginal occupation prior to European settlement. The Act establishes
administrative procedures for surveys and mandatory reporting of the discovery of sites to AAV. The
Commonwealth governments Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act (1984)
covers protection of cultural property in a wider sense than the State legislation in that it includes
places, objects and folklore that have traditional significance for Aboriginal people. The Native Title
Act (1993) relates to all public land, irrespective of whether a native title claim has been lodged. In
particular notice must be given if earthworks are going to occur.
Three Aboriginal Co-operatives, in consultation with Aboriginal Affairs Victoria help to maintain,
monitor and register significant sites in the Corangamite region. They are the Wathaurong,
Framlingham and Ballarat and District Co-operatives. Three cultural heritage officers, who are
available to provide advice and technical information regarding cultural heritage sites, are employed
under the South West Cultural Heritage Program. In the region there is currently a distinct lack of
information about, and active participation in, the protection and identification of cultural heritage
sites.
Cultural heritage protection
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
3.7 Develop site protection plans to protect Aboriginal sites of significance
along waterways in consultation with the local Aboriginal community in
conjunction with AAV
Ongoing
3.8 Develop regional guidelines and protocols to ensure protection of
cultural heritage values along waterways
High
3.9 Encourage greater community awareness of Aboriginal cultural
heritage protection
High
3.10 Develop one demonstration site with emphasis on Indigenous cultural
associations with waterways
High
42
6.4 Program 4 – Aquatic Habitat
AIM: Enhance and protect the instream environment in order to preserve ecological processes and functions and maintain biodiversity
The aquatic life component of waterway health can look at the diversity
of macro-invertebrates, fish, algae, aquatic plants or the presence of
platypus. In particular, macro-invertebrates are a very useful indicator
of waterway health. The Aquatic habitat program will largely cover the
need to repair or protect the instream environment for the benefit of
aquatic animals.
The instream habitat required by these aquatic animals such as fish,
platypus and macro invertebrates might include the presence of snags
(Large Woody Debris), the presence of large rocks and other material and the composition of the bed
of the waterway, whether that is gravel, silt or rock. Snags provide habitat for many plants and animals,
from bacteria and fungi through to native fish and platypus. Snags that protrude from the water also
provide roosting places for birds and turtles. They also help to shape waterways by helping to create
deep pools and undercut banks, which are all important as aquatic habitat.
Figure 23 Fishway constructed on Thompsons Creek
There are several weirs, culverts and ford crossings, which
require works to facilitate native fish migrations. Seventy
percent of the native fish species in Victoria require a
migration between the coast and freshwater in order to
complete their lifecycle. Adjustments to such structures could
range from removal of those that may no longer be required,
through to provision of low flow bypass and to provision of
fish ladders or rock chute fishways.
Structural works & on ground solutions
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
4.1 Implement structural modifications to existing weirs and structures to
facilitate fish passage and provision of environmental flows Medium
4.2 Identify and remove redundant structures in waterways to facilitate fish
passage
Ongoing
4.3 Identify opportunities to undertake instream habitat rehabilitation Medium
Key Issues Addressed Removal of
wood debris from Victorian streams
Barriers to fish
movement
43
works such as large woody debris reintroduction
4.4 Identify and protect significant fish and platypus habitat areas,
particularly in ephemeral streams
High
Planning controls
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
4.5 Identify conditions to apply to works on waterways that will protect fish
movement past structures
High
6.5 Program 5- Water Quality
AIM: To assist in the protection of, and continually enhance water quality standards to maintain biological processes, biodiversity and satisfy consumptive needs.
The quality of the water in a waterway is a crucial component of its
overall health and includes measures of nutrient concentration,
turbidity, salinity, acidity, dissolved oxygen, and toxicants.
Community concern is rising over the inputs of nutrients, salinity and
other contaminants to our waterways from all sources in the
landscape.
The Corangamite region has identified the specific need to address the issue of nutrient inputs to the
waterways through the Corangamite Nutrient Management Plan, whilst the Corangamite Salinity Plan
addresses the issue of salinity across the region. A Salinity and Water Quality Plan will be developed
for the region, following the audit of the Corangamite Salinity Plan. It will be primarily through
implementation of these plans that the Waterway Health Strategy objective for water quality will be
met. For more detailed information on the recommended actions for reducing nutrient and salt inputs to
our waterways, refer to the Corangamite Nutrient Management Plan and Corangamite Salinity
Management Plan.
Planning & implementation
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
5.1 Review, assess and prioritise current contribution of catchment erosion
areas to waterway siltation
High
5.2 Support the Review of the Corangamite Salinity Plan and its
implementation
Medium
5.3 Support the integrated implementation of the CMA Nutrient
Management Plan
Ongoing
Key Issues Addressed Input of toxic
substances into
waterways
44
5.4 Promote best management practices in the catchment which ameliorate
salinity problems in the regions waterways
High
5.5 Support and encourage the use of artificial wetland filtration and flow
retardation systems on the constructed rural drainage lines (not the
natural waterways which receive the flows), and urban/industrial drains
Medium
6.6 Program 6 – Community Awareness and Involvement
AIM: Increase community awareness of and support for waterway health and involve the community in decision making to improve waterway health
Figure 24 Landcare members attending a field day in the Swan Bay catchment
Community education planning
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
6.1 Publicise the availability and effectiveness of waterway rehabilitation
incentive schemes
Ongoing
6.2 Encourage increased general community awareness of and support
waterway health through implementation of the CCMA Communications
Strategy (including sponsorship, media articles, presentations and
seminars)
High
6.3 Compile and maintain register of all interest groups and persons
involved in waterway health or related fields
High
6.4 Review roles, membership and operation of existing waterway health
related committees and, if necessary, modify arrangements to ensure
appropriate community representation.
Medium
45
Community education materials and on ground action
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
6.5 Establish a program of sign posting major waterways along key
regional routes
High
6.6 Encourage improved understanding of waterway health issues to key
clients and stakeholders through support for educational and training
opportunities in technical issues and formal tours
Ongoing
6.7 Support and encourage community involvement in waterway conditions
monitoring through programs such as Waterwatch
Ongoing
6.8 Develop a stream frontage/ wetland management module for inclusion
in Property Management Planning courses
High
6.9 Establish and utilise a range of waterway protection and rehabilitation
protection sites for demonstration of best management practices.
High
6.10 Develop user friendly technical information for protection and
rehabilitation of riparian zones, including; appropriate local plant
species lists, revegetation options and techniques, fencing and stock
control options, stock crossings, off stream watering options, woody
weed control, riparian zone maintenance
High
6.7 Program 7 – Benchmarking, Monitoring and Evaluation
AIM: Develop ongoing consistent programs to monitor the ecological character of waterways
Lack of attention to benchmarking and monitoring of waterway conditions has been a contributing
factor to the occurrence of some existing waterway management problems in the region. Similarly,
information gaps in our knowledge can result in uncertainty and even conflicts over what has happened
and how it should be addressed. Monitoring for waterway condition has only recently become more
focused and much of the existing information has been collected with other objectives in mind, and
may not suit the needs for targeted monitoring of waterway health.
An integrated monitoring program for waterways is essential to provide contemporary data on:
The occurrence and status of problems,
The condition of waterway environments,
The success of waterway management efforts,
The potential for new problems to develop or for existing problems to worsen,
Identifying developing threats to waterway/riparian areas with existing high environmental values.
46
Benchmarking and planning
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
7.1 Review the effectiveness and adequacy of current water quality, quantity
and biological monitoring
Medium
7.2 Review all waterway health related operations and maintenance activities
to ensure consistency with environmental, cultural, social and economic
objectives
Medium
7.3 Implement Index of Stream Condition Assessment every 5 years and
undertake 50 additional ISC sites every other year
Ongoing
7.4 Develop standard guidelines for monitoring of all waterway protection
and rehabilitation works
High
7.5 Initiate a wetland inventory study to address existing conditions, values,
threats, key issues and management options for all significant wetlands
across the region, on both private and public property.
High
Monitoring and evaluation
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
7.6 Undertake a monitoring program following fishway construction at all
sites
Ongoing
7.7 Adopt appropriate performance monitoring criteria for waterway health
projects and develop a representative monitoring program to allow valid
assessment of conditions of waterways
Medium
7.8 Implement Regional Audit process for all Waterway Incentive Projects
and establish a Regional Data Net project administration system
High
6.8 Program 8 –Research and Investigation
AIM: Increase our scientific and practical understanding of waterway and wetland ecosystems in order to effect their sustainable management
Additional investigation and research is required to improve our understanding of waterway health.
Investigations, which seek to improve our understanding of the condition, values and threats to
waterways in the region, will enable the CCMA to develop a sound scientific basis for waterway
improvement works.
At the local level, community groups and/or groups of adjacent landholders who have a vested interest
in rehabilitating their waterway should be encouraged to undertake waterway assessments. These
assessments could then become the basis for the development of localised Waterway Rehabilitation
47
Plans for the local community to implement over time. Aerial photo interpretation is an economical and
appropriate method of assessing waterway health over a broad area and it is important that the CCMA
be able to offer this service to its clients.
In addition to the proposed program of catchment and waterway stabilisation, there is a pressing need
to review the operation of the drainage diversion schemes and the present lake water level control
protocols. The review would assess opportunities to reduce lake management problems and also
stability problems in the diversion system.
Research and investigation
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
8.1 Encourage the development of community led Waterway Rehabilitation
Plans. High
8.2 Support existing research into waterway health High
8.3 Identify information gaps in our knowledge of waterway health and
support research into these areas.
Medium
8.4 Investigate the impacts of natural and artificial sources of salinity on
biodiversity in the Barwon River
High
8.5 Undertake long term studies of the efficiency of fishway construction in
the Corangamite region
Medium
6.9 Program 9 - Strategy Coordination
AIM: To ensure effective implementation of the Waterway Health Strategy over its ten year timeframe.
Agency coordination
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
9.1 Establish a regional resume of all natural resources extension staff for
staff and clients to ensure provision of appropriate technical advice for
all integrated catchment management activities
Medium
9.2 Establish strong relationships with key utility and road construction
providers to ensure understanding of mutual obligations with respect to
protecting and improving waterway health
High
9.3 Establish guidelines for referral of new dams and model permit conditions
for local government
High
9.4 Encourage cooperation with other CMA regions, and where possible
integrate programs to ensure consistency across the state
High
9.5 Encourage knowledge transfer between CMA regions including
secondments, Landcare tours etc.
Medium
48
Programs coordination
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
9.6 Establish and maintain a register of potential private, state and federal
government funding sources for natural resource management projects
affecting waterways and potential projects
High
9.7 Integrate priorities of waterway health with land and biodiversity
functions
Ongoing
9.8 Conduct an annual information forum for all natural resource
management extension staff in the region to ensure delivery of quality,
integrated catchment management advice to clients
High
9.9 Provide input to the Review of MSS and Planning Schemes to ensure they
are consistent with CCMA principles and programs to improve waterway
health
High
Strategy review
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
9.10 Conduct Bi- annual review of implementation of the CCMA Waterway
Health Strategy
Ongoing
Planning tools
Action No. Recommended Action Priority
9.11 Identify appropriate non-structural measures to support the structural
works program, and the mechanisms available to implement these
measures (eg. model permit conditions for use by municipalities,
inclusions in MSS and Planning Schemes, provision of “best management
practice” guidelines to municipalities, support for Landcare groups etc.)
High
49
7. RESPONSIBILITIES AND COST SHARING
7.1 Responsibilities
The CCMA as the waterway management Authority for the region is the lead agency for
coordinating the implementation of the strategy. Landholders, local government, water authorities
and government agencies all share in the responsibility of improving waterway health. This section
outlines the recommended responsibilities for waterway management works across the region and
provides for lead and support roles.
The CCMA has a direct role in delivering waterway management services for priority areas of
waterways. In some parts of the State CMAs have traditionally undertaken the services, because
they directly affect the physical form and behaviour of the waterway and its flow.
Given the complexity, variability and flow-on effects of waterways, as well as the need to protect
life and property, it is essential that activities that involve in-stream works are appropriately
designed and implemented according to rigorous standards. In most cases, the costs of building
major waterway structures are beyond the capabilities of adjoining landholders.
These activities make up the recommended Waterway Service Delivery Role of the CMA, which
include:
Bed stabilisation / or restoration,
Structural Bank Protection,
Instream Sedimentation and Vegetation Management,
Willow Management,
Fishways.
Where any assets are created from these activities by the CCMA, their operation and maintenance
will be the responsibility of the CCMA.
The CCMA also has a responsibility to assist in implementation of other waterway activities, but
does not retain the responsibility for operation and maintenance of these assets. This is the
Waterway Services Assistance Role of the CCMA, which, includes:
Fencing, revegetation, pest plant control,
Gully and land erosion stabilisation,
Altered flow regimes,
Urban stormwater,
Estuary management.
50
The following table lists the recommended responsibilities and support roles for all waterway
health activities:
Note:
AAV/I = Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and (Local) Indigenous Communities
UW = Urban Water Authority
CB = (Western or Central) Coastal Board
CCMA = Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
LH = Landholder
LG = Local Government
RWA = Rural Water Authority
PV = Parks Victoria
Table 3: Recommended Responsibilities for Waterway Management
Program Activity Planning &
Implementation
Maintenance
Lead
Role
Support
Role
Lead
Role
Support
Role
Hydrology Streamflow Management Plans SRW CCMA SRW CCMA
Altered flow regimes NRE RWA/UW
A
Estuary Management CCMA
Physical
Form
Bed stabilisation/restoration CCMA LH CCMA L/h
Structural Bank Protection CCMA LH CCMA L/h
Instream Sedimentation and
Vegetation Management
CCMA LH CCMA L/h
Willow Management CCMA LH LH CCMA
Streamside
Zone
Fencing, revegetation, pest plant
control
LH CCMA LH
Cultural Heritage Protection AAV/I CCMA LH AAV/I
Crown Frontage Management NRE, PV CCMA LH,
NRE
Water
Quality
Gully and land erosion
stabilisation
LH NRE LH
Urban Stormwater LG CCMA LG
Aquatic
Habitat
Fishways CCMA NRE CCMA NRE
51
7.2 Strategy Costs and Cost Sharing
Table 4, below, outlines a proposed sharing framework based on the Beneficiary Pays Principle as
applied to various waterway health related activities. Given that many of the actions to improve
waterway health involve the CCMA and rural landholders, these key stakeholders bear much of the
direct costs. However it should be emphasised that costs in this sense can include the value of in-
kind services, such as labour, project management and use of private equipment. The category
„Other‟ can include any key stakeholder or organisation previously mentioned in this document as
being directly or indirectly involved in improving waterway health. Determining appropriate cost
sharing guidelines is a dynamic and adaptive process, and the following summary is intended as
guide only.
Table 4: Recommended Cost Sharing for Waterway Health Activities
Program Activity % of Cost Share
CCMA Landholder OTHER
Hydrology Streamflow Management Plans 50 50
Altered flow regimes
Estuary Management Plans 50 50
Physical
Form
Bed stabilisation/restoration 100 #
Structural Bank Protection 100 #
Instream Sedimentation and
Vegetation Management
100 #
Willow Management 100 #
Streamside
Zone
Fencing, revegetation, pest plant
control
50 50
Cultural Heritage Protection 50 50
Water
Quality
Gully and land erosion
stabilisation
30 30 30
Urban Stormwater Plans 50 50
Aquatic
Habitat
Fishways 100
# Note that these activities can only be undertaken as a component of a broader integrated
waterway rehabilitation or protection project involving complementary streamside zone
activities by landholders.
As shown in Table 5 on the following page, the direct annual cost to the CCMA for implementing
the proposed Draft Strategy is estimated at $3.8 million. This figure does not include community
cash or in kind contributions.
52
Table 5: Overall Summary Of Activities And Costs
BASIN Bed Stabilisation
and/or restoration
Structural Bank Protection
Instream sediment and
vegetation management
Willow management
Fencing, reveg’n, weed
control
Altered flow regimes
Structure retrofits for fish passage
TOTAL
MOORABOOL $36,000 $30,000 $1,040,000 $1,745,000 $180,000
(Suggested CCMA Share) $36,000 $30,000 $1,040,000 $1,221,500 $90,000
BARWON $937,000 $348,000 $120,000 $1380,000 $6,158,000 $280,000
(Suggested CCMA Share) $937,000 $348,000 $120,000 $1,380,000 $4,317,600 $140,000
LAKE CORANGAMITE $1,908,000 $57,000 $80,000 $130,000 $4,994,000 $200,000 $120,000
(Suggested CCMA Share) $1,908,000 $57,000 $80,000 $130,000 $3,495,800 $100,000 $60,000
OTWAY COAST $189,000 $15,000 $2,335,000 $4,260,500 $235,000
(Suggested CCMA Share) $189,000 $15,000 $2,335,000 $2,982,350 $117,500
Subtotals $3,070,000 $450,000 $200,000 $4,885,000 $17,157,500 $300,000 $815,000
Suggested CCMA Share $3,070,000 $450,000 $200,000 $4,885,000 $12,016,450 $150,000 $407,500
Suggested duration (yrs) 10 10 10 20 50 2 5
ANNUAL CAPITAL COSTS $307,000 $45,000 $20,000 $244,250 $343,150 $150,000 $163,000 $1,272,000
Suggested CCMA Share $307,000/yr $45,000/yr $20,000/yr $244,250/yr $240,205/yr $75,000/yr $81,500/yr $1,012,00
CCMA Ongoing Projects Annual Cost
HWIP $800,000
Barwon Through Geelong $800,000
Drainage/Diversion Schemes $400,000
Strategy Implementation $300,000
Monitoring $195,000
Operation/Maintenance (5%) $50,000
Corporate Contribution (15%) $150,000
Survey/Design/Contract (10%) $100,000
Sub Total (CCMA 100%) $2,795,000
TOTAL ANNUAL CCMA COSTS $3,807,000
53
7.3 Implications for the CCMA
There are major implications of this Draft Strategy in terms of how waterway management
expenditure is allocated in the region. Current expenditure for on-ground works is allocated via
grants through the Healthy Waterways Incentive Program for voluntary works by agencies, groups
and landholders to improve waterway health.
Improvement in waterway health across the region will require a more sophisticated approach
including a commitment to works on major waterways (undertaken principally by the CCMA) as
well as the ongoing support for voluntary works on both major and minor tributaries by
landholders and the community in partnership with the CCMA. The following table provides an
indication of the potential division between these allocations.
Table 6: Indicative Expenditure Allocation for Waterway Health Activities
Type of works Location Method % Annual Budget
Targeted Major Waterways Service Delivery 40%
Voluntary Major Waterways HWIP 30%
Voluntary Minor Waterways HWIP 30%
7.4 CCMA Funding
The costs of current CCMA commitments and initiatives detailed in this Draft Strategy fall short
of current funding allocations. The Authority faces the challenge of demonstrating to State and
Federal governments the need for further resources. It must also seek external funding and
sponsorship from industry, the private sector and other agencies.
Note: The costs of implementing this Draft Strategy cannot be taken as a guarantee of funding by
either the CCMA or the State Government.
54
8. FEEDBACK FORM
This Draft Waterway Health Strategy is just the start of the process. We need your feedback to
help us refine it so it best reflects community expectations for the region‟s waterways. This form
may assist you in providing your comments on the strategy. Please return your responses,
together with any additional information by 30th
September 2001, to:
Waterway Health Strategy Feedback
Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
64 Dennis Street
COLAC VICTORIA 3240
Telephone: 52329100 Fax: 52322759 Email: [email protected]
QUESTIONNAIRE
The parts of the strategy, which I most agree with, are:
The parts of the strategy, which I disagree with, are:
General Comments:
The Final Strategy should contain the following improvements:
I am currently involved in actions to improve waterway health (please circle)
Yes No
I wish to become more involved with actions to improve the health of our waterways
Yes No
Name: Affiliation:
Postal Address:
Phone: Fax:
Email:
55
56
Appendix A: WATERWAY BASINS AND ISC REACHES IN THE CCMA REGION
57
58
Appendix B: BASIN ACTION PLANS
This Appendix outlines the management actions and activities recommended to being the process
of waterway rehabilitation at the Basin scale. However they should not be viewed as the sum total
of all work required within each basin to improve the health of its waterways. Rather, they provide
a basic framework and starting point to stimulate community discussion and feedback. The
process for refining and implementing these plans will be dynamic, as additional information
becomes available through community feedback, new investigations and assessments.
It is important to re-emphasise the scope of the plans – at this stage they provide a rough guide to
activities or actions for the main rivers, creeks and wetlands within the basin. They are far from
complete waterway rehabilitation plans as they do not cover the specific needs of each waterway
in minute detail. Nor do they cover those smaller creeks, tributaries and wetlands which together
with the main waterways, make up a basins drainage network.
In terms of waterway health, we could consider any river creek, stream, tributary, gully, or even
drainage line as being worthy of works that could in the long term improve its health. The strategy
predominantly covers works on major waterways, as these main rivers, creeks and wetlands
require relatively greater effort to effect an improvement in their overall health. Improvement in
the health of these major waterways also provides a more direct benefit to the broader community.
Whilst a detailed assessment of the smaller streams and tributaries was beyond the scope of this
strategy, one of the major recommendations for each Basin is to encourage the local community to
develop their own reach or sub-catchment based “Waterway Rehabilitation Plans. These plans will
provide an opportunity for 1ocal people along a certain waterway, reach or reaches of a waterway
or within a sub-catchment to develop a long-term action plan to improve the health of their
waterway or reach.
59
8.1 Moorabool
Program
Recommended Action Priority
Reach Waterway(s)
Hydrology
Physical Form Implement bed stabilisation works in the following reaches:
Reach 16 Hovells Creek 2
Implement bank protection works in the following reaches:
Reach 16 Hovells Creek 2
Implement willow management works in the following reaches:
Reach 3 Moorabool River 2
Reach 4 Moorabool River 2
Reach 1 Moorabool River 3
Reach 2 Moorabool River 3
Reach 6 Moorabool River West branch 3
Reach 10 Moorabool River East Branch 3
Streamside
Zone Encourage fencing and/or revegetation of streamside zones
along all basin waterways through an incentive program. High
priority reaches include:
2
Reach 1-4 Moorabool River 1
Reach 5 Moorabool River West Branch (ds reservoir) 1
Reach 7-9 Sutherlands Creek 1
Reach 11 Hovells Creek 1
Aquatic
Habitat Implement fishway(s) at key in-stream barriers in the following
reaches:
Reach 1 Moorabool River (2) 1
Reach 2 Moorabool River (4) 1
Reach 4 Moorabool River (2) 1
Water Quality Develop Urban Stormwater Management Plans for the
following urban centres:
Lara 1
Support catchment gully and land stabilization works in the
following reaches:
Reach Tributaries to the (middle) Moorabool River 1
Reach 7-9 Tributaries to Sutherlands Creeks 2
Reach 21 Tributaries to Hovells Creek 3
60
8.2 Barwon
Program
Recommended Action Priority
Reach Waterway(s)
Hydrology Develop Estuary Management Plans for the following Estuaries
Barwon River 1
Physical Form Implement bed stabilisation works in the following reaches:
Reach 20 Wormbete Creek & Scrubby Creek 1
Reach 21 Retreat Creek 1
Reach 5b Birregurra Creek 2
Reach 15b Yarrowee River, Wilson Creek, Ross Creek 2
Reach 18 Warrambine Creek, Five Mile Creek 2
Reach 21 Deans Marsh Creek, Matthews Creek Gosling creek 2
Reach 15 Monmouth Gully, Cargerie Creek 3
Implement bank protection works in the following reaches:
Reach 15a Yarrowee River 2
Reach 18 Warrambine Creek 2
Reach 20 Scrubby Creek, Wormbete Creek 2
Reach 21 Deans Marsh Creek, Matthews Creek 2
Reach 9 Bruces Creek 3
Reach 15a Cargerie Creek 3
Implement instream sediment and vegetation works in the
following reaches:
Reach 8 Waurn Ponds Creek 3
Reach 9 Bruces Creek 3
Reach 10 Native Hut Creek 3
Reach 20 Scrubby Creek 3
Reach 21 Retreat Creek, Yan Yan Gurt Creek 3
Implement willow management works in the following reaches:
Reach 4 Barwon River 2
Reach 12 Leigh River 2
Reach 21 Matthews Creek 2
Reach 27 Barwon River East Branch 2
Reach 5 Barwon River 3
Reach 6 Barwon River West branch 3
Reach 13 Leigh River 3
Reach 14 Yarrowee River 3
Reach 15b Yarrowee River 3
Reach 23 Penny Royal Creek 3
Streamside
Zone Encourage fencing and/or revegetation of streamside zones
along all basin waterways through an incentive program. High
priority reaches include:
2
61
Program
Recommended Action Priority
Reach Waterway(s)
Reach 1 Barwon River 1
Reach 2 Barwon River 1
Reach 3 Barwon River 1
Reach 4 Barwon River 1
Reach 5 Barwon River 1
Reach 7 Barwon River West Branch 1
Reach 11 Leigh River 1
Reach 12 Leigh River 1
Aquatic
Habitat Implement fishway(s) at key in-stream barriers in the following
reaches:
Reach 3 Barwon River (Inverleigh Weir, Macmillan‟s Lane) 1
Reach 4 Barwon River 1
Reach 5 Barwon River 1
Reach 8 Barwon River East branch 1
Reach 12 Leigh River 2
Reach 16 Williamson Creek (3) 3
Reach 10 Native hut Creek 3
Water Quality Develop Urban Stormwater Management Plans for the
following urban centres:
Greater Geelong, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads 1
Inverleigh, Winchelsea, Birregurra, Forrest,
Bannockburn, Teesdale, Shelford, Buninyong
3
Support catchment gully and land stabilization works in the
following reaches:
Reach Wensleydale Coal Mine 1
Reach 14 Tributaries to the (middle) Leigh River 2
Reach 20 Tributaries to Wormbete, Scrubby creeks 3
Reach 21 Tributaries to Retreat, Yan Yan Gurt, Matthews
Creeks
3
Reach 10 Tributaries to native Hut, Bruce‟s Creeks 3
Community
Awareness &
Involvement
Involve the community in an investigation of the health of the
main trunk of the Barwon River (from Buckley Falls to the West
Barwon Dam) and recommend management actions to improve
its condition.
Research &
Investigation Using an expert panel, investigate and review all aspects of the
Woady Yaloak Diversion Scheme.
Using an expert panel, investigate and review all aspects of the
Lough Calvert Drainage Scheme.
62
8.3 Corangamite
Program
Recommended Action Priority
Reach Waterway(s)
Hydrology Complete investigations into appropriate hydrologic regimes
and management to support the ecological values of the
following waterways and wetlands:
Lake Corangamite 1
Lake Colac 1
Lake Terangapom 1
Lake Milangil 1
RAMSAR wetlands 2
Warrambine Creek 2
Physical Form Implement bed stabilisation works in the following reaches:
13 Mundy Gully 1
16a Gnarkeet Chain-of-Ponds 1
2 Woady Yaloak River (Werneth) 2
6 Kuruc-A-Ruc, Pinchgut, Corindhap Creeks 2
8 Spring/Ferrers Creek near Woodbank 2
9 Naringhil Creek (u/s Werneth) 2
14 Mundy Gully 2
15 Salt Creek (Browns Waterholes/Haunted Gully) 2
16b Gnarkeet Chain-of-Ponds 2
17 Pirron Yaloak Creek 2
18 Spring Gully 2
9 Naringhil Creek (headwaters – Geelong-Portland Rd) 3
10 Little Woady Yaloak (Mt Misery), Moonlight Creeks 3
19 Deans Creek 3
20 Barongarook Creek 3
Implement bank protection works in the following reaches:
2 Woady Yaloak River (Werneth) 2
19 Deans Creek 3
20 Barongarook Creek 3
Implement instream sediment and vegetation works in the
following reaches:
10 Little Woady Yaloak (Mt Misery), Moonlight,
Illabarook Creeks
3
Implement willow management works in the following reaches:
17 Pirron Yaloak Creek 2
18 Spring Gully 3
19 Deans Creek 3
20 Barongarook Creek 3
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Program
Recommended Action Priority
Reach Waterway(s)
Streamside
Zone Encourage fencing and/or revegetation of streamside zones
along all basin waterways through an incentive program. High
priority reaches include:
2
1-4b Woady Yaloak River 1
5,6 Kuruc-A-Ruc Creek 1
10, 11 Little Woady Yaloak (Mt Misery) Creek, Moonlight
Creek
1
12 Springdallan Creek, Italian Gully, 1
13, 14 Mundy Gully, 1
15 Haunted Gully, Salt Creek 1
16a, 16b Gnarkeet Chain-of-Ponds 1
Aquatic
Habitat
Water Quality Develop Urban Stormwater Management Plans for the
following urban centres:
Colac, Camperdown 2
Cressy, Smythesdale, Scarsdale, Linton 3
Support catchment gully and land stabilization works in the
following reaches:
Tributaries to the Woady Yaloak Creek River 1
64
8.4 Otway Coast
Program
Recommended Action Priority
Reach Waterway(s)
Hydrology Develop Estuary Management Plans for the following
Estuaries:
Angelsea River, Spring Creek, Erskine River 1
Skenes Creek, Aire River, Gellibrand River, Barham
River
2
Physical Form Implement bed stabilisation works in the following reaches:
26A Ford River 1
30C Barham River 1
11 Port Campbell, Eastern Creeks 2
26A Calder River 2
30C Anderson Creek 2
Implement bank protection works in the following reaches:
30 Barham River 2
Implement willow management works in the following reaches:
13-15 Gellibrand River 1
26A Ford River 1
21 Carlisle River 1
2,3 Curdies River 2
24 Love, Porcupine Creeks 2
30A Barham River, Wild Dog Creek 2
Streamside
Zone Encourage fencing and/or revegetation of streamside zones
along all basin waterways through an incentive program. High
priority reaches include:
2
1, 2 Curdies River, Power Ck 1
12-16 Gellibrand R. 1
17 Kennedy‟s Ck 1
18 Tomahawk Ck/Murree Ck 1
19 Chapple Ck 1
20 Sandy Ck 1
21 Carlisle R. 1
22 Un-named Ck 1
23 Lardner Ck 1
24, 25 Love/Porcupine Ck 1
26A, 26B Ford River (d/s Glenare), Ford River West Branch 1
27, 28 Aire River (d/s State Forest) 1
29 Little Aire Creek, Calder River (d/s State Forest) 1
30A-30D Barham River (d/s Anderson Ck) 1
65
Program
Recommended Action Priority
Reach Waterway(s)
31 Barham River West Branch, Anderson, Smythes,
Carisbrook, Orchard Creeks, Separation, Bogalley
Creeks, Jamieson, Grey, Kennett and Wye Rivers
1
32A, 32B Cumberland River, Sheoak Creek, St George River 1
33A, 33B Erskine R (Lorne) 1
Aquatic
Habitat Implement fishway(s) at key in-stream barriers in the following
reaches:
Reach 1 Curdies River (2) 1
Reach 14,16 Gellibrand River (5) 1
Reach 30 Barham River 1
Cumberland River 1
Reach 3 Curdies River 2
Reach 5 Scotts Creek 2
Water Quality Develop Urban Stormwater Management Plans for the
following urban centres:
Lorne, Aireys Inlet, Angelsea, Torquay, Breamlea 1
Peterborough, Port Campbell, Apollo Bay, Skenes
Creek, Kennett River, Wye River,
2
Cobden, Timboon, Moriac, Bellbrae 3
Support catchment gully and land stabilization works in the
following reaches:
Curdies River – Eastern catchment tributaries 1
66
Appendix C: – REFERENCES
Adams, H. (1998). Nutrient Assessment and Direction Statement for Corangamite Landcare
Region, Colac DNRE
Adams, H. (1999). Corangamite Region Nutrient Management Plan Final Version, A framework
to reduce the incidence of Blue Green Algae in Victoria, DNRE.
Apollo Bay Land Care Group (1997). Wild Dog and Skenes Creek Valleys – A Reference Guide
1997, Landcare Victoria.
Australian Nature Conservation Agency (1993). Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia,
178 pages published by Commonwealth of Australia.
Barwon, Moorabool, Corangamite, Waterway Management Consultative Action Team (1995)
Framework for Waterway Management Barwon, Moorabool and Corangamite Basins.
Binnie & Partners and NMC (1990). Geelong and District Water Board River Management Study,
Final Report Geelong and District Water Board.
Christie, M.F. (1979). Aborigines in Colonial Victoria 1835-86. Sydney University Press.
Clark, I.D. (1990). Aboriginal Languages and Clans: An Historical Atlas of Western and Central
Victoria, 1800-1900. Monash University.
Cottingham, P., Bennison, G., Dunn, R., Lidston, J. and Robinson, D. (July 1995). Status Algal
Bloom and Nutrient Status of Victorian Inland Waters, Status Document, Government of Victoria.
Clarke, T. (1996). Barwon River and Lake Colac Nutrient Study, WES.
Corrick (1982). Wetlands of Victoria III, Wetlands and Waterbirds between Port Phillip Bay and
Mount Emu Creek, vol 94, issue 2, pp 69-87.
Conley, D & Dennis, C, Eds. (1984). The Western Plains – A Natural and Social History, Papers
from the Symposium, October 1983.
Coram, J. E. (1996). Groundwater Surface Interactions around Shallow Lakes of the Western
District Plains, Victoria, University of Melbourne.
Corangamite Catchment and Land Protection Board (1997). Corangamite Regional Catchment
Strategy, Barwon Region Water Authority.
Corangamite Catchment and Land Protection Board (1996). Corangamite Region Catchment
Condition Report 1996.
Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (11/04/2000). Lake Corangamite Basin, 28 page
PowerPoint presentation.
Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (2001). Regional Vegetation Plan, Draft CCMA.
67
Cottingham, P., Bennison, G., Dunn, R., Lidston, J. and Robinson, D. (1996). Blue Green Algae
and Nutrients in Victoria - A Resource Handbook, Water Ecoscience Pty Ltd and the EPA.
Craigie, N.M. and Brizga, S. (1996). Wormbete Creek Erosion, NMC.
Department of Conservation Forest and Lands. Geelong Moorabool Basin, 92/6986.
DCNR (1995). Barwon River Basin Overview Report. Environmental Input into the Bulk
Entitlement Conversion Process (Draft).
DNRE (1997). Heritage Rivers and Natural Catchment Area, Draft Management Plans, Volume 1
–West Victoria, DNRE.
DNRE, Victorian Catchment and Land Protection Council and EPA (1997). Know your
catchments Victoria 1997– An Assessment of Catchment Condition Using Interim Indicators,
DNRE, Victorian Catchment and Land Protection Council, EPA.
Duthie, T. (1999). Nutrient Management Strategy for the Pirron Yaloak Creek, School of Aquatic
Science and Natural Resource Management, Deakin University, Warrnambool, 29 pages.
EPA (1982). SEPP No. W-34B (The Waters of the Western District Lakes), Victorian Government
Gazette vol.12, EPA, pp. 431-443.
EPA (1982). SEPP No W-34A (The Waters of Lake Colac and Catchment) vol.17, Victorian
Government Gazette, EPA, pp. 515-528.
Fisher Stewart Pty Ltd and Ian Drummond & Associates Pty Ltd (1990). Waterway Management
Strategy Final Report, Melbourne, Colac District Water Board.
GHD (1991). Wurdee Boluc Reservoir Enlargement Project, Regional Salinity, Geelong and
District Water Board.
Gippel, C.J., Finlayson, B.L. and O‟Neill, I.C. (1998). Managing Snags in Rivers. Land and Water
Resource R&D Corporation, Riparian Management Guidelines no.7.
Hooke, D. (1991). Salt Loads Generated By Lough Calvert and Woady Yaloak Diversion Scheme,
and their Contribution to Barwon River Salinity, Short Version, RWC.
Hunter, K.M. (1993). Victorian Water Quality Monitoring Network – August 1990-December
1992, Report no.110, State Water Laboratory of Victoria.
Hunter, K.M. and Zampatti B.P. (1994). Victorian Water Quality Monitoring Network – Annual
Report 1993, Report no.112, State Water Laboratory of Victoria.
Hydro Technology (1994). Upper Moorabool Catchment – Bore Monitoring Network,
Corangamite Salinity Forum.
Jeffrey, P.J. and Costello R.T. A Study of Land Capability in the Shire of Ballan, Soil
Conservation Authority
68
Kefford, B.J. (1996). The effect of electrical conductivity on selected macroinvertebrates in four
river systems of South Western Victoria.
Kefford, B.J. (1997). The effect of saline water disposal on the aquatic environment using
macroinvertebrates as indicators, Final Report.
Kefford, B.J. (2000). A preliminary investigation of the toxicity of saline lakes that are disposed
into the Barwon River, South West Victoria, DNRE
Lamkert, C. and Armfield, S. (1996). Investigation of the flushing of riverine saline pools.
Lamson, D.R., (1990). Barwon River Salt Generation Processes, RWC.
LCC (1980). Report on the Ballarat Area, Land Conservation Council Victoria.
LCC (1991). Rivers and Streams Special Investigation – Final Recommendations, Melbourne:
Land Conservation Council.
LCC (1996). Marine and Coastal – Special Investigation – Draft Final Recommendations, Land
Conservation Council.
Loch R.G., Duthie, T.A., Mitchell B.D., Sherwood, J.E. and Tyler, P.A. (1998). The Barwon River
Health Strategy – Phase 1 – Final Draft Report, School of Ecology and Environment, Deakin
University.
Luca, T.J. (1990). A Study of the Physical and Chemical Parameters of the Curdies River,
Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education.
Macmillan, L., Kunert, C. and Blakers, M. (1987). Nature Conservation value and status of
Rivers in the South-West Region, RMIT Faculty of Environmental Design and Construction
Research.
Marshall, A. (1998). Gellibrand River Streamflow Management Plan, (Draft), Southern Rural
Water.
Massola, A. (1969). Journey to Aboriginal Victoria. Rigby Ltd.
Natural Resources and Environment Committee (1989). Inquiry into Water Resources
Management in Victoria – South Western Region Water Management Strategy, Parliament of
Victoria.
Parks Victoria (2000). Western District Lakes Ramsar Site – Draft Management Strategy,
Melbourne Parks Victoria.
Pitt, A.J. (1981). A Study of the Land in the Catchments of the Otway Range and Adjacent Plains,
Soil Conservation Authority.
Rees, D.B. and White L.A. (1996). The Upper Barwon River and Tributaries water supply
catchment: Land Inventory and Land Capability Assessment.
69
Regional Forest Agreement Steering Committee (##). West Victoria – Comprehensive Regional
Assessment, Volume 1, DNRE.
Rural Water Commission of Victoria (1987). Recreational Values Associated with Water Bodies
in the South Western Region Victoria, Department of Water Resources Victoria.
SKM (1999). Assessment and Review of Crown Water Frontage in the Corangamite Region, Draft
Report for CCMA.
Sheehan, G. (1990). Wimmera River Integrated Catchment Strategy – Stream Frontage
Management, Discussion Paper, November 1990.
Standing Committee on Rivers and Catchments, Victoria (1991). Guidelines for Stabilising
Waterways.
Stormwater Committee (1999). Urban Stormwater Best Practice Management Environmental
Management Guidelines.
Thiess Environmental (1999). Corangamite CMA Surface Water Salinity, Melbourne: DNRE.
Waterways Unit DNRE (1999). An Inventory of Fishways and Potential Barriers to Fish
Movement and Migration in Victoria, State Fishway Program, DNRE.
Williams, W.D. (1995). Lake Corangamite, Australia, a permanent saline lake: conservation and
management issues, Volume 1, Lakes and Reservoirs Research and Management, pp. 55-64
Water EcoScience, Cannon, F. and O'Connor, N. (1996). Barwon River and Lake Colac System
Nutrient Study: Monitoring Program, LIB 16-0014, Water Eco.
Water Ecoscience (1996). Barwon River and Lake Colac System Nutrient Study Resource
Document, LIB 16-0015, (second edn), Southern Rural Water.
WaterClarke, T. (1996). Barwon River and Lake Colac System Nutrient Study: The AEAM Model,
WES.
Wilson, P. and Nason, S. (##). SACRED: Stream and Catchment Reference for Environmental
Data, A stream numbering system for Victoria, Department of Conservation and Environment.
Zampatti B. and Grgat, L. (2000). 1999 Fish Survey of the Barwon River, DNRE.
70
Appendix D: RELATED STRATEGIC DOCUMENTS
National
National Water Quality Management Strategy
The National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity (1996)
The National Weeds Strategy (1997)
National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development (1992)
State
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Strategy: Conservation of Victoria’s Biodiversity (Draft, 1992).
Focuses on managing floral and faunal assets within the public estate, enhancing those on private
lands in cooperation with landholders, and managing potentially threatening processes that are
pervasive throughout Victoria.
Groundwater Management Strategy (1993). Aims to ensure the efficient, equitable, and
sustainable use and conservation of the State‟s groundwater resources for the maximum benefit of
the community and the environment. The Strategy also recognises that, in some instances, there
will be a need to balance these aims with the need to control groundwater levels for salinity
mitigation purposes.
Nutrient Management Strategy for Victorian Inland Waters (1995). This strategy aims to
provide a policy and planning framework to assist local communities and state government to
manage nutrient levels in water bodies to minimise the potential for the development of algal
blooms, particularly blue-green algae.
Victorian Inland Fisheries Strategy (1997). This Strategy aims to outline broad fisheries
management arrangements for inland water bodies, provide a strategic framework and action plan
for preparing specific freshwater fisheries management arrangements, provide a framework for
regulating fisheries activities, and ensure understanding regarding which areas are managed for
which fisheries purposes.
Victoria’s Biodiversity: Directions in Management (1997). The Strategy aims to increase
awareness of the need to conserve biodiversity, enable the continued development of partnerships
in the custodianship of our biodiversity, indicate mechanisms for achieving flora and fauna
conservation in the context of ecological sustainability, and detail strategic frameworks to both
prevent further loss of habitat and also enable better habitat management and the continuation of
natural ecological processes.
Willows Along Victorian Waterways: Towards a Willow Management Strategy (1997). The
aims of this Report are to consolidate and review current knowledge of willows along waterways
in Victoria, to document alternative erosion control techniques, and to identify issues to be taken
into account in both developing guidelines for willow planting or removal and a state wide willow
management policy. The Report will be used by government to prepare a willow management
strategy.
71
Victoria Flood Management Strategy (1998). This Strategy aims to enable effective flood
management for the next 10 years by providing a consistent state wide framework for best practice
management of flood related issues, establishing priorities for state wide action, identifying roles
and responsibilities of key stakeholders, and providing the context for developing regional
floodplain management strategies, plans, and specific guidelines.
Victorian Weeds Strategy (1999)
Regional
Corangamite Regional Catchment Strategy (1997). The Corangamite Regional Catchment
Strategy (RCS), produced by the Corangamite Catchment and Land Protection Board in June
1997, provides a strategic and integrated analysis of resource management units within the region.
The current Waterway Management Strategy will build on the existing strategy, in respect to the
strategic management of waterways within the CCMA Region.
Corangamite Regional Nutrient Management Plan (2000). The Plan aims to reduce the
occurrence of potentially toxic blue-green algal blooms by achieving a reduction in nutrient levels
in regional waterways, and thus reducing the nutrient loads entering water bodies. Nutrient sources
throughout the region have been identified and measured, and Action Programs developed to
minimise the detrimental impacts of nutrient movement and to co-ordinate the Plan.
South West Estuaries Coastal Action Plan (Draft, 2000). This Plan aims to establish a regional
planning framework and statutory basis which sets out how and what to consider when preparing
Estuary Management Plans for each of South West Victoria‟s estuaries. Individual estuary
management plans will address issues like river entrance openings and management, water quality
and quantity, habitat and species conservation, and land use planning, development and land
management practices.
South West Ragwort Strategy 1999-2002 (1999). This Strategy sets the direction for ragwort
control by establishing programs which, when implemented, will result in cost effective long term
management of ragwort in South West Victoria. This will be achieved through a range of actions
developed in line with community and government priorities.
Coastal and Marine Planning Program: South West Victoria (Discussion Paper, 2000). This
Discussion Paper presents to both government and the community the opportunity to assist in
developing and implementing strategic directions for better planning and management of the
coastal and marine environment. It will culminate in both a Regional Coastal and Marine Planning
Strategy and Regional Coastal Action Plan.
Corangamite Weed Action Plan 1999-2002 (Draft, 1999). This Plan builds upon the successful
components of existing pest plant management arrangements, and seeks to integrate these
components into a more strategic approach to weed management. It provides direction for pest
plant management in the Corangamite catchment for the next three years by defining both a range
of goals and actions for the management of priority pest plants, and will be used by both the
government and community to direct resources for strategic pest plant management.
72
Integrated Serrated Tussock Strategy 1996-98. This Strategy aims to ensure that the efficient
regional management of serrated tussock on both private and public land is in line with
government strategies, and aims to protect farming land and environmentally sensitive areas, as
well as prevent the spread of serrated tussock to non-contaminated land.
Emergency Response Plan for the Management of Blue-Green Algae Outbreaks (1998). This
Plan deals with the monitoring procedures and reporting arrangements associated with the
detection and response to algal blooms.
Gorse Control Strategy – Final Report (1999). The Strategy provides a comprehensive
inventory of the gorse problem, including a full economic analysis and the currently preferred
methods of control. The Strategy aims to both reduce the overall infestation of gorse within the
Gorse Task Force Area, and reduce infestations where there is the greatest chance of spread
(roadsides and waterways) while also providing the greatest public benefit.
Restoring the Balance: A Strategy for Managing Salinity in the Corangamite Salinity Region
(Draft, 1992). This strategy aims to greatly reduce the future effects of salinity, and recommends
a program to direct community effort to where salinity is causing the biggest problem. The main
emphasis of the strategy provides encouragement, assistance, and technical support to groups and
group projects for onground activities.
Local
Linear Network of Communal Spaces (LINCS) Strategy (1996). The main aim of the Strategy
is to produce a useable and accessible document to guide planning, development, and effective
management of linear reserves in the Ballarat region, whilst considering all the needs of the
community, including costs of management, fire risk, conservation, and recreational values.
Thompsons Creek Catchment Plan (1998). The Plan defines major programs that address issues
contributing to environmental degradation in the catchment, promote actions for improving the
catchment‟s environmental and economic health, and provide a framework to support, encourage,
and monitor recommended actions. The Plan also defines short, medium, and long term actions
and strategies that both meet community expectations and achieve the catchment‟s vision within
10 years.
Barwon River Management Strategy (1996). The Strategy‟s objective is to identify Barwon
Water‟s future role in managing the Barwon River, reflecting both the direction and scope of the
organisation‟s future endeavours, and the water management reforms being undertaken by the
State Government.
73
Appendix E: GLOSSARY
Term
Definition
Aggradation A progressive build-up of the channel floor with sediment over several years.
Anabranch A stream that leaves a river and re-enters it further downstream.
Artificial barrier An artificial obstacle in a stream (e.g. a dam wall, weir, culvert or causeway)
that affects (halts or delays) fish migration.
AUSRIVAS Australian River Assessment System - an indicator of stream condition that
is evaluated by comparing the observed aquatic macroinvertebrate taxa at a
site to the taxa predicted to occur at the site in the absence of environmental
stress.
Bank The relatively steep part of a stream channel cross-section, generally
considered as being above the usual water level
Bar A relatively flat, temporary, local feature, typically on the inside of a
meander bend where sediment is deposited. Vegetation that grows on a bar is
usually stripped during large floods (see Figure G.1).
Basin The catchment of a large river or group of rivers. There are 29 basins within
Victoria.
Bed stability Bed stability is when the average elevation of the stream bed does not
change much through time. Aggradation or degradation is the two forms of
bed instability.
Catchment That area of land contributing run-off to a defined stream or stream system;
it includes the soil, water, vegetation and developments.
Cover To do with vegetation density, the percentage of vegetation cover is the ratio
of the area of vegetation when viewed from above to the ground surface area.
Also to do with instream cover. For aquatic biologists, cover can also mean
cover for fish and other animals in a stream.
Degradation Degradation of waterways has a broad meaning including the reduction in
quality, and a specific meaning in geomorphology of general lowering of a
stream bed, usually over a period of years, by erosional processes.
Degradation of land includes a decline in the quality of the soil, vegetation
and other natural resources of the land, resulting from overgrazing, excessive
tillage, over-clearing, mineral extraction, development of towns, disposal of
wastes, road construction, infestation by pest plants and animals or any other
human activity on the land; degraded has a corresponding meaning.
Desnagging Removing large trees (usually willows and river red gum) from the bed and
banks of streams.
74
Drowned out An obstacle to flow (for example a weir) is drowned out if the water surface
elevation immediately downstream of the obstacle is approximately equal to
the water surface elevation immediately upstream, and there is no sudden
change in the water surface between the two points.
Electrical
conductivity
A measure of salinity. The higher the electrical conductivity of a stream the
greater the salinity.
Ephemeral stream A stream, which flows intermittently, that is, it is often dry.
Erosion Modification of the channel boundary by entrainment and removal of
sediment.
Exotic vegetation Introduced species of vegetation from other countries or from other regions
of Australia (i.e. not indigenous to the region).
Floodplain A flat area adjacent to a stream that is covered by floods every year or two.
Flow regime The pattern of flows over many seasons and years that is responsible for the
character of the stream system.
Flow regulation Changes to the timing and volume of flow brought about by dams, diversions
or other interference with a river.
Geomorphology Geomorphology is the study of the earth‟s landforms including their origin
and structure. Fluvial geomorphology is the subset that deals with streams.
Ground layer Plants without woody stems less than 1.5 metres high e.g. sedges, reeds,
grasses, and saltbush (see Figure G.1.).
Head cut A very steep section of stream bed that migrates upstream if not held by a
bed control (e.g. a rock bar, or grade control structure). Downstream of a
head cut is normally incised and eroding.
Incised stream A deep narrow stream that has eroded its bed and banks and has a large
channel capacity, such that overbank flooding is rare.
Indigenous In general, species that originated in, and occur naturally in, a particular
region or environment.
Large woody debris A tree, branch or root system that has fallen into or is immersed (totally or
partially) in a stream.
Longitudinal
continuity
An indicator in the Streamside Zone Sub-Index. A measure of how
continuous streamside vegetation is and the importance of discontinuities in
the vegetation.
Lowland reaches Lowland reaches are low in gradient, and the flow velocity is, on average,
low. Lowland streams often have depositional features. Some lowland
streams are tidal. Lowland streams typically meander across broad (greater
than 1 kilometre wide) alluvial or coastal floodplains.
Macroinvertebrate An invertebrate (animal without a backbone) that is visible to the naked
eye.
Macrophyte A water plant that is not an alga. It may be either floating or rooted.
75
Major streams Major streams are defined in the ISC as those streams with a catchment
area > 30,000 hectares.
Measuring site A length (430 metres) along a stream for which field data is collected to
assess most of the indicators in the Physical Form and the Streamside Zone
sub-indices. There are three transects within a measuring site (see Figure
G.2).
Minor streams Minor streams are defined in the ISC as those streams with a catchment
area < 5,000 hectares.
Modified catchment A catchment that has been altered by human impact. The most common
impacts include altered land use and flow regime, and the introduction of
exotic plants and animals.
Morphology Shape or form.
Natural flows The flow that would have existed if present rainfall patterns fell on
catchments before European settlement.
pH A measure of acidity or alkalinity of water (based on the concentration of
hydrogen ions).
Reach A length of stream typically 10-30 kilometres long (minimum 5 km,
maximum 40 km) which is relatively homogenous with regard to the
Hydrology, Physical Form, Water Quality and Aquatic Life sub-indices.
(see Figure G.2.)
Regeneration Vegetation that has grown from natural sources of seed, from vegetative
growth, or has been artificially planted. In the ISC, the regeneration
indicator is based on the amount of woody vegetation less than 1 metre
high (see Figure G.1).
Regulated stream A stream where flows are controlled by releases from a dam.
Riffle The high point in the bed of the stream between two pools (it is often
covered in gravel or coarser material). Water is often shallow and fast
flowing.
Shrub layer Woody plants < 5 metres tall, frequently with many stems arising at or near
the base e.g. melaleuca, leptospermum, tree ferns, and blackberry. Includes
non-woody vegetation greater than 1.5 metres high (see Figure G.1).
SIGNAL An indicator in the Aquatic Life Sub-index that measures effect of
pollution on aquatic biota. SIGNAL is the acronym for Stream Invertebrate
Grade Number-Average Level.
Snagging See desnagging.
Spatial interpolation To fill a data gap based on data from a reach either upstream or downsteam
of the actual reach.
Specialist Reference
Group
The group of Victorian stream scientists and managers who directed and
oversaw the development of the ISC (see Appendix 1 for more details).
76
Structural intactness An indicator in the Streamside Zone Sub-index that compares the natural
and existing cover of tree layer, shrub layer and ground layer.
Sub-index A group of indicators that measure a particular aspect of a stream. In the
ISC, the five sub-indices are hydrology, physical form, streamside zone,
water quality and aquatic life.
Total phosphorus The sum of the concentrations of soluble and in-soluble phosphorus.
Tree layer Woody plants greater than 5 metres tall, usually with a single stem e.g.
eucalyptus > 5 metres tall, acacia > 5 metres tall, and willow > 5 metres
tall. Note that woody vegetation species less than 5 metres high are classed
as shrub layer
Tributary streams Tributary streams are defined in the ISC as those streams which have a
catchment area between 5,000 hectares and 30,000 hectares.
Unmodified
catchment
A catchment that has not be altered by clearing, forestry or other human
activities.
Urban areas Urban areas are shown as built up on current street directories. The ISC
was not designed for urban reaches.
Verge The area commencing at the top of the bank and extending from the bank to
the next major vegetation or land use change (see Figure G.1.).
Width of stream The distance from one edge of the stream to the other during typical
baseflow conditions.
Width of vegetation Width of vegetation from edge of stream during typical baseflow
conditions to adjacent land use.
Woody plants Vegetation that has a distinct trunk and branch structure, ranging from trees
to small shrubs. Generally hard and fibrous.
77
Appendix F: CONSULTATION
Submissions
During January 2000, the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority put a public notice in
the major regional newspapers asking for information on the health, condition and local issues of
waterways in the region. Table 7 outlines the submissions that were received in response to an
advertisement placed in the regional papers during January 2000.
Waterway Strategy Workshop 1
A “Vision and Objectives” Workshop was conducted on the 25 May 2000 by the CCMA.
Participants were asked the following question:
“How do you see the waterways in 10 years time?”
The responses and contributions from the participants were taken into account when developing
the Draft Waterway Health Strategy. Table 8 is a list of the key stakeholders who attended the
workshop.
78
Table 7 Submissions Received in response to call for information for Waterway Health and Floodplain Management
Strategies
CCMA ref Author Re Contact Name Position
STP/02-0010 00/0185
Borough of Queenscliffe Waterway & Management Flood Plain Strategies
Ms Sue Longmore Co-ordinator of the Swan Bay Integrated Catchment Management Group
SG 00/0203 Tony Mahoney Red Rock Lakes
Des Paatsch c/o Tim Fletcher Barongarook Creek
00/0226 Barwon Water Contact: Mr Ian McLachlan 03 5226 2308
Mr Ian McLachlan
Natural Resource Management Students International Fibre Centre Deakin
Blue Green Algae and Barwon River
WLE/49-0001 00/0230
City of Greater Geelong Contact and Cowies Creek
Reports
Richard Wojnarowski Council‟s Drainage Engineer
WLE 49.001 00/0242 NRE Contact: Mr Andrew Morphett Land Use Planner Ballarat office
WLE 49.001 00/0296 City of Ballarat Contact: Mr Uldis Neilands others include Mr Brian Wright, Mr Phillip Holloway and Mr Gavin
Jamieson.
Waste and Environment Engineer
Drain Tech Pty Ltd Contact: Richard Gloyne Director
WLE 49.001 00/0423 Mrs Lex Stray Moorabool River Sharps Bridge at She Oaks camping, litter, waste and weeds
Geelong Advertiser Murgheboluc and Teesdale Sept 14 1880 historic flood
WLE 49.001 00/0481 Leigh Catchment Group Geelong Advertiser August and June 1872
Jeanette Bellchambers Secretary
Lara Action, Lara Progress Association Inc
Hovell Creek Catchment – Lara
Keith Broadbent President
00/0495 Barwon Coast Committee of Management
channel and river mouth Barwon River
Wendy James November 95 and 98 – Flood
through property
79
Table 8: Participants in Waterway Health Strategy Workshop
Name Organisation Town
Trevor Abrahams Wauthaurong Aboriginal Cooperative NORTH GEELONG
Brian Gane Lake Modewarre Committee of Management MODEWARRE
John McDonald CCMA Board WHEELERS HILL
Tony Noble Birregurra Creek Land Protection Group BIRREGURRA
Erica Nathan Water Resources Implementation Committee YENDON
Keith Broadbent Lara Progress Association LARA
John Whitewood South West Water WARRNAMBOOL
Graeme Hanel DNRE BALLARAT
Heather Adams DNRE COLAC
Greg Bell DNRE COLAC
Graeme Sutherland Water Resources Implementation Committee GELLIBRAND
Jim Seager Water Resources Implementation Committee BALLAN
Richard Gloyne Water Resources Implementation Committee TIMBOON
Robert Ford Water Resources Implementation Committee BALLARAT
Ross Alexander Water Resources Implementation Committee BERRYBANK
Kevin Tesselaar Sustainable Agriculture and Land Management
Committee TIMBOON
Cam Nicholson Sustainable Agriculture and Land Management
Committee QUEENSCLIFF
Malcolm McDougall Sustainable Agriculture and Land Management
Committee JAN JUC
Michael Cosgriff Sustainable Agriculture and Land Management
Committee MURROON
Sandi Allen Sustainable Agriculture and Land Management
Committee MT DUNEED
Tim Bingley Sustainable Agriculture and Land Management
Committee ROKEWOOD
Andrew Bishop Golden Plains Shire BANNOCKBURN
Wendy Briggs Colac Otway Shire COLAC
Bruce Humphries City of Greater Geelong GEELONG
Gavin Jamieson City of Ballarat BALLARAT
Andrew Boyle Thompsons Creek Catchment Group TORQUAY
Chris Pitfield Heytesbury District Landcare Network CAMPERDOWN
Glen Wallace Yuulong-Moonlight Heads Landcare Group YUULONG
Darren Wilkie Pirron Yaloak Creek Catchment Landcare Group COLAC
Jack Holden DNRE COLAC
David Sutherland Barwon Water SOUTH GEELONG
Joan Lindros Geelong Environment Council GEELONG
Glenda Shomaly Spring Creek Catchment Plan Steering Committee TORQUAY