CMA wants young people on Board
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (the CMA) is inviting the next generation of natural resource management leaders to join them at the table of the CMA Board.
Applications are now open for the newly established role of Associate Board Director – Youth Member. The position is aimed at people aged between 18 to 34 with an interest in environmental and water management living within the CMA catchment.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for a younger person who perhaps doesn’t have Board or public sector experience to join us at the table and help shape the future of the region’s waterways,” said Martin Fuller, CEO of the CMA.
“Improving and protecting Gippsland’s natural environment is a team effort and we want a diversity of voices and perspectives on our team.”
The Associate Director role is a paid position for up to two years and involves participating in board meetings and adding input to the board on a range of issues regarding environmental, water and land management
Previous board experience isn’t necessary.
“This is a learn as you go opportunity with full support, training and mentorship provided. The successful candidate will have the chance to develop and grow skills in the areas of strategic planning, managing risk, governance and overseeing the operations of the organisation,” said Martin.
Chair of the CMA Board Mikaela Power welcomed the addition of a youth director to the eight-member Board and encouraged potential applicants not to think the role was out of reach because of age or experience.
“Having different perspectives on our board helps us to make better decisions. Our board includes farmers, scientists, policy-makers, business owners and other professionals. We each bring our unique skills, experience and perspectives while seeking to protect and restore West Gippsland’s land and waterways, with the help of our partners.
“If you love rivers like we do and want to make a difference to our region’s natural environment, I encourage you to apply.”
Applications close Friday 16th of August.
Landcare Grants empower inspiring volunteers
Landcare volunteers across West Gippsland have received $337,250 in funding to protect and restore the region’s environment, in the 2024 Victorian Landcare Grants.
Minister for the Environment Steve Dimopoulos announced the recipients of the $3.62 million Victorian Landcare Grants at the Victorian Landcare Awards ceremony in July.
Across the state, more than 227 projects were allocated grants worth up to $20,000 to fund on-ground and educational projects focused on biodiversity protection, while a further 296 support grants will assist environmental volunteer groups.
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority manages the grant process for the region.
“I’m delighted that local Landcare and environmental groups in West Gippsland will share in $337,250 funding from this year’s program to empower them to continue their vital work protecting and restoring our natural environment,” said Martin Fuller, CEO of West Gippsland CMA.
A total of 21 grants were awarded to Landcare and environmental volunteer groups in the West Gippsland catchment for projects including revegetation, habitat protection, river restoration and community engagement.
“As a proud partner of Landcare, we look forward to seeing all these exciting projects and initiatives come to life over the next 12-18 months as we continue our role supporting, facilitating and championing Landcare in West Gippsland.”
Successful projects extend across the region, from Archies Creek to Maffra, and include initiatives such as safeguarding remnant forests, restoring swampy woodland to protect threatened species, developing a community nursery and inspiring the next generation of Landcarers.
Springsure Hill Landcare Group received a $15,494 grant for their project developing strategic biolinks in the Springsure Hill Landcare area, north-east of Warragul, to increase biodiversity and save threatened and vulnerable flora and fauna.
President Gill Oscar says the grant will enable them to develop a biolinks map and plan for the area so they can be more strategic with their revegetation efforts.
“We’re trying to build a biolinks mindset in the community and the grant funding gives us a chance to do things that we wouldn’t have had the resources to do, including engaging with our community and getting them involved.
She said members had also benefited from the grant application process. “Applying for a grant helps us sharpen our thinking, determine what’s most valuable for the area gives members a focus.”
Another 26 local Landcare groups were awarded $500 support grants to assist with running costs and communication activities, such as newsletters and websites.
The Victorian Landcare Grants and Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants support the implementation of Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037, the Victorian Government’s long-term plan to protect the state’s environment.
A full list of all grant recipients can be found at www.environment.vic.gov.au/grants/victorian-landcare-grant s
Youth Board Member vacancy
Interested in making a difference and creating a better natural environment?
Do you live in West Gippsland and love rivers like we do? Would you like a place at the table with us to help plan a better future for our region’s waterways?
Why not get involved as our Associate Board Director where your greatly valued perspective will help shape and achieve Natural Resource Management outcomes.
About the role:
We’re looking for an Associate Board Member aged between 18-34 to join our current Board of eight directors.
This is a learn as you go opportunity, with full support, training, and mentorship available.
- No previous Board experience needed
- You’ll attend about eight face-to-face meetings per year
- You’ll be paid for your time
- The role is for up to two-years
For more information, please download the position description.
You can also download this flyer to share among your networks
How to apply:
We’d love to hear from you. To apply, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining why you are interested in the opportunity to recruitment@wgcma.vic.gov.au by Friday 16th August.
If have questions or want to have a confidential chat about this role, please contact Madelyn Brand, Organisational Development Lead on 0421 778 201.
At WGCMA, we share a commitment to value and embrace diversity in all forms; so that our work environment is a safe space we can all belong. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their background, identity, orientation, ability or thinking style.
If you need assistance during the application process for accessibility reasons please contact Madelyn Brand, Organisational Development Lead on 03 5175 7839 or madelynb@wgcma.vic.gov.au.
We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of the region, the Gunaikurnai, the Bunurong, the Boonwurrung and the Wurundjeri Peoples and pay respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.
The severity of the major rainfall event across Gippsland in 2021 led to a rapidly eroding gully posing a threat for the landholder, public and natural environment on a farm near Stratford. The solution was a team effort to engineer and construct a large rock chute to protect the Avon River.
During the rainfall event, water rushed down an existing drainage line into the Avon River, damaging vegetation, dumping a huge load of sediment into the waterway and severely eroding the bank.
The resulting erosion was also rapidly progressing back up the gully and heading towards a nearby public road. This ‘upslope erosion’, known as a ’headcut‘, is often caused when water has to drop over a vertical edge to enter the river.
“In rivers with historic bed deepening (otherwise known as incision) water entering the river has to get from the level of the floodplain to the level of the river. In doing this the water expends all its kinetic (movement) energy, causing rapid erosion of the underlying soil. If you picture the power a waterfall has when it hits the bottom of its fall, it’s easy to imagine how much damage water can do when it’s falling over a vertical or near-vertical edge,” explained Elsa Burnell, West Gippsland CMA’s Project Officer.
In the Avon River system this process is exacerbated by the extremely erosive subsoils and large amount of historic deepening of the River channel that occurred in the 80s and 90s.
”The system is still adjusting to this,” said Elsa.
Without intervention the erosion would worsen with each rainfall event, causing further damage to the waterway, the surrounding property and potentially impacting the road.
“A headcut like this can easily travel 100m in one rainfall event,” said Elsa.
Elsa worked with a team from West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and the landholders to assess the damage and develop a plan to restabilise the bank and gully to prevent further erosion.
Because of the steep slope and constrained site, specialist engineers were engaged to help design a solution.
Over 1000 cubic meters of large rock was delivered to the site and placed in the eroding gully to create an armoured rock ‘chute’ The rock chute guides the water into the river and allows it to dispel its energy on a surface that is resistant to erosion.
“We needed to get the water from the higher floodplain level into the river without doing so much damage,“ Elsa said. Essentially, a rock chute allows the water to expend its energy on a surface that won’t erode.”
Protecting this gully from erosion will not only protect the road and surrounding paddocks, it will also prevent a huge amount of sediment from entering the river system and flowing on into the Gippsland Lakes.
After constructing the rock chute with machinery, the team then got to work on revegetating the surrounding area. The plants will help to protect the structure, slow future flows and further stabilise the riverbank providing resilience in future rain events.
A visit to the site two years later revealed that the rock chute and planting were holding strong and in good shape despite a number of flood events since construction. “I was really pleased to see that there was no new erosion and no sediment getting into the river,“ concluded Elsa.
Flood Recovery Program
In June 2021, widespread storm and flood damage across Gippsland impacted in many catchments.
Since then, a comprehensive flood recovery program has been rolled out across more than 150 sites in partnership with local government, agencies and landholders supported by funding from Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
Since the event, the flood recovery program delivered:
- 150 waterway structures.
- Just under 37 kilometres of fencing.
- Over 27 hectares of vegetation.
- Earthworks at 165 sites.
- 155 management agreements with landholders.
New life for Noojee Reserve
In June 2021, widespread flooding heavily impacted Gippsland catchments including the famous town of Noojee located high in the headwaters of the Durt’Yowan (Latrobe River).
The river is a much loved feature running through the town, providing shade and recreation at many spots along its banks.
The Noojee Reserve is usually a tranquil spot with shelter, picnic tables, winding tracks and toilet facilities. In the June 2021 storm event, the public reserve was completely inundated as the river broke its banks and roared through the park taking out banks, trees and paths.
“This public space gets a large flow over it when the river is high,” said Dan Cook, Project Coordinator for West Gippsland CMA.
When the initial emergency was over and the area declared safe, the team at West Gippsland CMA moved in to assess the damage. Working in partnership with Baw Baw Shire Council, a large amount of debris covering the reserve was removed and the debris taken away.
“The park was inundated and the high flow had exposed part of the banks that we had repaired in an earlier event,” said Dan.
The fast moving event had moved large logs that had previously been installed to support the river bank causing it to slump and wash out.
The team used rock to repair and reinforce the banks. Local contractors worked under the guidance of the CMA to expertly stabilise the banks, armouring it to withstand future events.
“We put the rock in, shaped the bank back up and stabilised it – job done!” Dan said.
Now the reserve is open again, the river has slowed and locals and visitors are once again enjoying fishing, walking and picnicking at this tranquil spot in the heart of Noojee.
