Q. What is Durt’Yowan (the Latrobe River system)?

A: Durt’Yowan is the Gunaikurnai name for the Latrobe River system, it comprises the Latrobe River, its tributaries and the Lower Latrobe Wetlands, an important part of the Ramsar-listed Gippsland Lakes site.

Q. What are the water dependent values of Durt’Yowan (the Latrobe River system)?

A: Durt’Yowan supports plant and animal species of high conservation significance. The Latrobe River also provides an essential source of freshwater to the Ramsar-listed Gippsland Lakes site, of which the Lower Latrobe Wetlands are an important component.

In addition to the environmental values, the Latrobe system supports cultural, social, recreational and economic values. Gunaikurnai people are the traditional owners of Gippsland, and the Latrobe system. Waterways and wetlands in the region contain important ceremonial places and for thousands of years the Latrobe River provided resources such as food and medicines to the Gunaikurnai people.

Q: What are the environmental objectives for Durt’Yowan (the Latrobe River system)?

A: Environmental objectives guide the water requirement for the river system and represent the values that society seeks to improve or maintain with water for the environment.

Q: What are the historical and current impacts and threats to Durt’Yowan (the Latrobe River system)?

A: The current impacts to the environment and Traditional Owner values of the Latrobe River system (including its estuary and the Ramsar listed lower Latrobe wetlands) are high due to historical river course modifications, river straightening, draining of swamps/wetlands, land clearing, removal of riparian vegetation, weeds, invasive animals, construction of large on-stream storage’s and (critically) the large volume of water removed from the river for power generation, industry, urban supply, agriculture and other purposes.

Changes to the river course have induced significant erosion problems, reduced habitat for native species, created barriers to fish migration and altered flooding patterns. Changes to the flow regime of the river degrade it’s physical and ecological health, and therefore its ability to provide environmental, social economic and cultural benefits to the community. Although some water for the environment has been allocated to the Latrobe River system (in Blue Rock Reservoir), it is not sufficient to meet the communities objectives for the river and downstream environments.

Q: What are the future risks to Durt’Yowan (the Latrobe River system)?

A: Competing demands for water including water for mine rehabilitation, new and emerging industries, urban growth and agricultural expansion will all place pressures on the Latrobe’s precious water resources. This is likely to be overlaid by a trend toward a climate typified by drier conditions interspersed with intense weather events. Reduced freshwater flows in the river is the greatest threat to riverine health.

Additional risks associated with mine rehabilitation, and the potential formation of large pit lakes are being investigated through processes such as the Latrobe Valley Regional Rehabilitation Strategy and the Hazelwood Mine Rehabilitation Environment Effects Study.

Q: What would repurposing water for mine rehabilitation mean for the river system?

A: Repurposing water for mine rehabilitation would impact the ability to meet the water needs of the river system (including the estuary and the lower Latrobe wetlands) and Traditional Owners.  It would entrench the significant legacy impacts of coal fired power generation in the Latrobe Valley on the Latrobe River system.  This would create an enduring opportunity cost to the Victorian community to heal Country and meet community expectations to improve the health of the Latrobe River system (see diagrams below). 

In addition, it would see a change in the usage pattern of the water. Water used for power generation varies throughout the year, particularly when it comes to water stored in Blue Rock Reservoir, with a higher demand for water in the warmer months. Mine rehabilitation would see a consistent extraction of water throughout the year changing the flow regime, or pattern of flows, the river has seen for the last 50-60 years.

There are also impacts to the river’s health associated with the infrastructure built to harvest and supply river water for power generation (i.e. dams and other in-stream structures) including barriers to the movement of fish and sediment down the river. 

Q: Why are flood flows so important for the health of Durt’Yowan?

A: The plants and animals that live in rivers rely on flows that naturally fluctuate over time according to patterns in climate and weather.  This includes floods and low flows, and everything in between. Rivers need floods to remain healthy. 

Floods are also vital for the health of salty environments, including estuaries and the ocean. The importance of moderate to large floods for Lake Wellington and its fringing wetlands cannot be overstated.  Floods are responsible for flushing of salts through the system and providing important ecological cues for plants and animals. Plans to harvest floods to assist with rehabilitation of the Latrobe Valley coal mine voids should be carefully considered in this context.

Q: Wouldn’t using mine pit lakes as a flood mitigation measure, such as ‘flood trimming’, benefit the community?

A: The majority of towns and cities along the Latrobe River were settled at a time when floods were a regular occurrence. This meant that the towns and cities were built on higher ground to avoid most of the impacts of flooding. Now, any development on or around the floodplain is required to go through a planning permit application process which considers the likelihood of flood impacts to the site as well as the implications of the development of neighbouring and downstream properties. Through this process, specific design elements are put on the development (e.g. minimum ground floor level heights for a building) to reduce or remove the impacts of floods.  It is unlikely that “trimming” floods will provide any meaningful flood mitigation benefit for downstream communities or landholders.

Q: What is the West Gippsland CMA doing to help restore the health of Durt’Yowan (the Latrobe River system)?

A: The West Gippsland CMA are passionate about river health. The CMA has a 25-year legacy of working with the community to improve the health of our waterways and wetlands. The CMA will be continuing in its efforts to help landholders and the community protect and revegetate riparian habitat, reinstatement natural river flow paths, remove barriers to fish passage, implement weed control and importantly secure more water for the environment.

We also recognise that the transition process in the Latrobe Valley provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accelerate these river health initiatives and build resilience into the river system to give it the best chance of surviving future challenges. The West Gippsland CMA has developed a strategy to turn this ‘working river’ into a river that works again. ‘Transformation of the Latrobe: Pathways for the Latrobe River System’ comprises a package of management actions to improve the condition and health of the River system.

Q: What can community members do to help?

A: We encourage all community members to be curious, ask questions and get involved in the important discussions about the future of the Latrobe Valley and the river system.

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