This project was developed through a collaborative approach involving project partners and stakeholder and was built on earlier successful work to protect Corner Inlet and has improved the water quality in the Corner Inlet Ramsar site by improving riparian condition and connectivity along the Agnes River.
Corner Inlet supports large seagrass meadows, located in shallow water and intertidal (mud flats). Seagrass is a driver on marine ecology, has an important role in carbon sequestration, provides habitiat and food for invertebrates and birds and is critical to support commercial and recreational fishing.
The seagrass beds of Posidonia australis are a particularly important asset as they are the only large beds of this species in Victoria.
Seagrass extent and condition are affected by a complex set of factors, which includes sediment and nutrient contributions from catchment inflows.
This project has improved conditions for seagrass to flourish by reducing nutrient and sediment inflow into Corner Inlet, by creating a vegetated riparian buffer along 100% of one of the main waterways that flow into Corner Inlet, the Agnes River.
This project was funded through the National Landcare Program by the Australian Government.
This project focuses on the Carran Carran (Thomson River) and Rainbow Creek between the Cowwarr Weir and the township of Heyfield, and has addressed the risk of avulsion (where a waterway creates a new path in times of flood) across the agricultural land between Carran Carran (Thomson River) and Rainbow Creek, working in partnership with landholders to remove willows, treat avulsion ‘hotspots’, plant native vegetation and fence off waterways.
We have two informative videos for you to enjoy. In the first one ‘Flagship Project – Mid Thomson River’ our Waterways Project Officer, David Stork talks about the Thomson (Carran Carran) River and the creation of the Rainbow Creek.
Video number two ‘Nurturing a rainbow – Managing the Thomson’ David together with Elsa Burnell talks about the exciting work that has been happening and what is hoped to achieve next.
Water for the environment is water that is set aside in major reservoirs and carefully released down the river to support the health of West Gippsland’s waterways, it can also be diverted from the river into the lower Latrobe wetlands and keeps our rivers flowing and healthy.
The Latrobe system is undergoing a significant transition, due to the start of the staged coal mine closures in the Latrobe Valley, as well as challenges like climate change and competing demands for water, there is now a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore resilience and accelerate change for the benefit of the environment and all community members.
It does this by investing in priority activities as identified in the Lake Wellington Land and Water Management Plan (LWNP). Its function is to support irrigators to be as efficient as possible while protecting the natural assets within the Gippsland Lake catchment.
In partnership with Agriculture Victoria we are supporting four irrigators in Central Gippsland to trial innovative irrigation and nutrient management practices that boost farm productivity while improving the environment.
Working together to improve irrigation, the Sustainable Irrigation in West Gippsland program seeks to achieve a highly productive and sustainable irrigation community that values and protects its natural and cultural assets.
Rivers begin their journey in the headwaters, the remote Victorian Alps are home to some of the most pristine waterways in Victoria – and we’re working to keep them that way by removing invasive willows that clog waterways, damage riparian vegetation and spread downstream.
Removing willows helps to:
The project focuses on the upper reaches and tributaries of the Carran Carran (Thomson River), Wirn wirndook Yeerung (Macalister River) Avon and Durt’Yowan (Latrobe River) all in the Victorian Alps and the Tarwin (West Branch), Franklin, Agnes, Jack and Albert and Tarra rivers in the Strzelecki Ranges.
Willows spread easily by seed, branches and twigs, so part of the project is about identifying seed sources that are causing infestations downstream.
The Protecting Pristine Headwaters project is supported by the Victorian Government.
We are also working with landholders and neighbouring CMAs to coordinate willow control activities and share information.
Corner Inlet Ramsar wetland is a recognised haven for migratory and resident shorebirds and made up of extensive seagrass meadows, and unique intertidal mudflats and forests of white mangrove (Avicennia marina) – the world’s most southerly distribution of this species.
This project aims to reduce key threats and protect and enhance the values of Corner Inlet wetland that is protected under the Convention of Wetlands declared in Ramsar, Iran in 1971.
We will work with Traditional Owners, partners, landholders and community to:
In the first of this five-year project, positive results were achieved including treating spartina, controlling foxes to protect shorebirds, improving water quality, and safeguarding 136 hectares of saltmarsh including a 25 hectare Trust for Nature covenant protecting the area forever.
In total, weed control covered over the entire site of 67,000 hectares with 530 hectares of pest animal control and water monitoring will help measure results of the efforts across the broader catchment.
BirdLife Australia teams undertook seasonal shorebird counts and monitored the breeding success and health of key species of beach nesting birds such as Hooded Plovers, Pied Oystercatchers and Crested, Caspian and Fairy terns.
The $3 M project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by West Gippsland CMA, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
This World Wetlands Day, held on Sunday 2 February, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, (the CMA) is proud to celebrate the ongoing commitment to protecting world renowned Corner Inlet Ramsar wetland through its Corner Inlet Connections project.
Toward Zero Extinctions: Protecting the Eastern Hooded Plover is a four-year project aimed at saving this threatened species from extinction.
The project focuses on the the coastline between San Remo and Sandy Point in South Gippsland, that is home to the second largest population of Hoodies in Victoria.
It involves:
The $1.5M project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by West Gippsland CMA, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
Every day over summer David Hartney goes for a walk along the beach at Cape Paterson. He takes his time, observing the changes in the dunes, the telltale tracks of wildlife, the rise and swell of the tide.
A new project aimed at saving one of our region’s much-loved native birds from extinction.
It takes a village to care for a catchment, the Powlett River/Kugerungmome Partnerships Project takes a ‘whole of catchment’ approach to better manage this beautiful and precious part of the catchment.
16 Hotham Street Traralgon
Victoria 3844 Australia
1300 094 262
(03) 5175 7800
Office hours:
8:30am - 3pm
Monday - Friday
We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of the region, the Gunaikurnai, the Bunurong, the Boonwurrung and the Wurundjeri peoples, their rich culture and spiritual connection to Country.
We also acknowledge the responsibility to care for Country of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples and organisations in Natural Resource Management and pay respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.
