On World Rivers Day, Sunday 27 September, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is joining the world in celebrating and caring for rivers with a new initiative bringing people together to take action for the Tarwin River.

“Together for the Tarwin is a collaborative partnership that unites organisations and community to care for the catchment as a connected system. It builds on many years of collaborative effort from community, Landcare, government and land management organisations,” said Joel Kilgour, Catchment & First Nations Partnership Officer for West Gippsland CMA.

Funding from the Victorian Government’s Our Catchment Our Communities program supported the collaborative process with partners getting together to attend four workshops and a bus tour to capture the dreams the community and partners hold for the river. This led to a shared vision and the development of a prospectus which showcases nine, collaborative and ‘shovel ready’ projects just waiting to be funded. Projects sit within four themes of land, community, water and biodiversity and are located across the catchment from its source in the mountains to the sea.

“The work in the Tarwin is a great example of the place-based work CMAs have supported for nearly 30 years.  Seeing the history of work and enthusiasm in the area, it’s exciting to be part of the next phase of action,” said CEO of West Gippsland CMA, Martin Fuller.

West Gippsland CMA Board supports the vision and contributed funding to kick start on ground works. These initial projects will demonstrate the capacity to deliver projects and the benefits they bring with the hope of attracting additional funding in the future.

“We’ve now landed at a really exciting phase with six projects being funded over the next 18 months, which is going to be a great start to work in the Tarwin,” said Joel.

The funded projects being delivered are:

1. Reviving the Black Spur Wetland through revegetation and weed control.
2. Weed control and community planting along Battery Creek.
3. Removing weeds, fencing and replanting in the Tarwin Headwaters.
4. Efficient effluent planning through a Fert$mart project to reduce nutrients entering the river.
5. A celebration of 30 years of community stewardship with Arawata Landcare Group.
6. eDNA monitoring to develop a baseline understanding of the river’s fauna through eDNA monitoring.

South Gippsland Landcare Network is one of the initiative’s key drivers and contributors. President Jillian Staton is passionate about the river and delivering on the vision.

“I love that we’ve got so many partners and that everybody’s now clearly working together. The CMA has put together an amazing prospectus and we’re just starting to tick things off. It’s very much a long-term vision, but we’re getting the foundations going. It shows a whole of catchment approach and there’s something everybody can do in their little patch,” said Jillian.

Project partners also include South Gippsland Landcare Network, South Gippsland Shire Council, Parks Victoria, Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group, Trust for Nature, South Gippsland Water, Prom Coast Ecolink, Agriculture Victoria, GippsDairy and HVP.

Community members wishing to read the prospectus and get involved are encouraged to join a Landcare group, follow the South Gippsland Landcare Network and West Gippsland CMA websites. You can also donate to the Tarwin project through the South Gippsland Land Care Fund.

“Together for the Tarwin is partnerships at their best. These projects wouldn’t be possible without working together,” Joel concluded.

Hear all about it, listen to the podcast

Gippslandscapes Episode #80 Together for the Tarwin will be released on World Rivers Day Sunday 27 September.