EAST GIPPSLAND CMA
The East Gippsland CMA region covers 2.2 million ha of land, lakes, and
coastal waters in the eastern-most part of Victoria. About 80 per cent of the
region is in public ownership, mainly as State Forest and National Parks.
East Gippsland is characterised by pristine and remote river systems,
largely without the impacts experienced elsewhere in the state.
The challenge, and focus, of river health improvement works in the region
is maintaining and extending these high value assets.
Regional progress 2006–2009
Environmental flows
Through the Snowy Water Recovery Project, 65 GL of environmental water
has been recovered by Victoria, with two thirds of this volume going to the
Snowy River and one third to the River Murray.
Water quality improvement
21 km of bank and 2.7 km of stream bed stabilised for erosion control and
reduction of sediment
Stock exclusion
approximately 965 ha protected by 80 km of riparian fencing
26 off-stream watering points installed
Revegetation
approximately 152 ha of indigenous riparian revegetation
Protecting native vegetation
664 ha in landholder management agreements
In-stream habitat protection
469 large logs placed in rivers to provide in-stream habitat
Improving fish passage *
removal of 3 barriers, opening an additional 505 km of waterway for fish passage
Invasive species control
9,797 ha of riparian weed control and 3,687 km of aquatic weed control
Minimising impact from works
143 permits granted to mitigate damage from works along waterways
Preventing future flood damage
428 floodplain referrals to minimise flood damage to occupants of floodplains
* Represents total achievements since the mid-1990’s.
Key social, economic and environmental values
>The region includes six Heritage Rivers including the iconic
Snowy and Mitchell rivers.
>The Gippsland Lakes is an internationally significant
Ramsar site.
>Over 75 per cent of the region’s streams are in good
or excellent condition.
>The Gippsland Lakes support tourism that is important to
the regional economy. Recreational activities include boating,
skiing and fishing. Several commercial tour businesses are
currently in operation.
>Commercial fisheries operate within the Gippsland Lakes,
providing employment to local people.
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Victorian River Health Program
Report Card 2002-2009
>Agricultural land is utilised for irrigated horticulture, particularly
within the lower Mitchell River region.
>Many of the region’s rivers are highly valued for recreation
activities including bushwalking, rafting and kayaking.
>A range of high value streams and estuaries flow into, or
are contained within, the Croajingolong National Park – part
of a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve.
Planned and completed works in the
East Gippsland CMA region 2005−06 to 2011−12
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Priority reaches for river health works
Priority areas for environmental watering
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Large Scale River Restoration priorities for works
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Past works areas
Priority reaches for river health works
ISC reaches
Priority areas for environmental watering
Forested areas
Large Scale River Restoration priorities for works
Past works areas
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ISC reaches
Forested areas
Key management issues
Catchment management actions in the region aim
to address key threats and impacts, including:
>altered flow regimes in the Snowy River
>poor water quality in the Gippsland Lakes
>stock access to waterways
>loss of in-stream habitat
>invasive species
> bed and bank instability.
Thurra River wetlands. Photo source: Sean Phillipson,
East Gippsland CMA.
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Regional highlights
Protecting our healthiest
river systems
East Gippsland is home to a number of Victoria’s
most beautiful rivers including the iconic
Snowy River.
Many of the rivers lead to the Gippsland Lakes − a major
recreational and tourist area that supports internationally
recognised Ramsar wetlands and the Mitchell River silt jetties
(among the longest in the world).
The region’s rivers and streams are the healthiest in
Victoria. However impacts to river health are still observed
in concentrated areas, mainly in estuarine and floodplain
reaches. The East Gippsland Catchment Management
Authority (CMA) approach to improving river health in
the region has targeted works that reconnect forested
catchments to their estuaries.
To date, achievements to protect riparian corridors and
enhance connectivity on key systems include:
> T
he lower Snowy River is 98 per cent fenced between
the lower forested reach and estuary. Stock exclusion
is complemented by 21 off-stream watering points, the
placement of over 240* pieces of large wood in the river
channel and estuary, and a 260 ha reach scale riparian
vegetation restoration program.
>The lower Genoa and Bemm rivers are 90 per cent
protected from forest to estuary. Stock exclusion works
in the Genoa River are complemented by extensive
in-channel stability and sediment management works
including the placement of over 230* pieces of large
wood and establishment of native vegetation.
>Stock is excluded from 75 per cent of the lower
Nicholson River, with 60 per cent fully revegetated.
Works are continuing to establish a stock-free riparian
zone connecting the mountain reaches with the
Gippsland Lakes by 2013.
>The Wonnangatta River (above the Wongungarra River
confluence) and the Thurra River are nearing completion.
It is planned that they will have total stock exclusion
in 2011.
Lower Genoa River at Bridles Bend in 1989 prior to works (top)
and Lower Genoa River at Bridles Bend in 2009 following works
(above). Photos source: East Gippsland CMA.
(*Note: the large wood figure includes outputs achieved before and
after the 2005−06 to 2008−09 reporting period)
In addition to riparian management and enhancing
connectivity, water management is an important issue for
the region, with Gippsland Lakes being a key focus. In
recognition of the high values of the Lakes, an interim cap
was placed on diversions from the system in 2004. East
Gippsland CMA is working on clarifying the environmental
water needs of the Gippsland Lakes system through the
Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy.
Sydenham Inlet. Photo source: Sean Phillipson, East Gippsland CMA.
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Victorian River Health Program
Report Card 2002-2009
Implementation of the
Snowy River Rehabilitation
Plan of Works
The Snowy River is recognised as a national
icon largely due to its natural beauty. Banjo
Paterson’s 1890 poem The Man from Snowy
River immortalised the river and surrounds. The
post World War II Snowy Mountains Scheme was
constructed to collect water and produce hydroelectric power, which led to significant employment
and immigration opportunities at the time.
Reduced flows, large scale willow infestation and land-use
impacts on the floodplain and estuary have had a negative
effect on the health of the system.
The Snowy River Rehabilitation Plan of Works sets out a plan
of action for the period 2005–12 to improve the health and
resilience of the Snowy River and its tributaries.
Since 2005, the program has been successful in achieving:
>over 1,200 km of willow control, 53 per cent of the long
term target
>25 km of stock exclusion and provision of off-stream
watering, covering approximately 98 per cent of the entire
Snowy River floodplain reach
> re-introduction of approximately 400,000 Australian bass
>the re-introduction of large wood to the floodplain reach
and estuary
>an ongoing schools education program
>the involvement of the local Indigenous community
in revegetation works.
Snowy River at Jarrahmond. Photo source: East Gippsland CMA.
EAST GIPPSLAND CMA
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Management priorities 2010 to 2012
The following section describes specific activities that will be a priority
for the East Gippsland CMA over the next three years. The CMA will
also continue to undertake its other functions including works approvals,
routine river health works and programs, community engagement and
works maintenance.
East Gippsland River Health
Strategy – the Next Steps
The East Gippsland River Health Strategy – The
Next Steps program will take a strategic approach
to addressing river health issues.
Activities include:
>surveillance and treatment of weeds along high value
streams such as the Wingan, Thurra and Bemm river
systems
>stock exclusion and willow control on the Wonnangatta,
Dargo and Wingan rivers with complementary follow-up
weed control
>weed and willow control, revegetation, stock exclusion
and introduction of large wood on the Genoa and
Wallagaraugh rivers, helping to link the mountain reaches
with the nationally significant wetlands of Mallacoota Inlet.
andscape integration to
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achieve multiple outcomes
‘Protecting the Best’ and ‘Highlands Down’ are weed
and pest animal control programs targeting high
value ecosystems east of the Snowy River in Far
East Gippsland, Victoria’s Eastern Highlands and the
Southern Rivers Region of New South Wales.
The geographic scale of these programs directly aligns with
the Victorian Alps and Far East Gippsland flagship areas
documented in the Land and Biodiversity White Paper,
released by the Victorian Government in 2010. These areas
represent some of the region’s least disturbed and most
diverse ecosystems.
River health works are aligned with broader activities being
undertaken to achieve multiple outcomes and integrate
management of the region’s high value assets.
These cross-border, landscape scale programs are tackling
priority weeds and pest animals that threaten the biodiversity
of south-eastern Australia, involving multiple public land
managers and the community.
Thurra River. Photo source: Sean Phillipson, East Gippsland CMA.
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Victorian River Health Program
Report Card 2002-2009
Wallagaraugh River.
Photo source: Sean Phillipson, East Gippsland CMA.
Catchment goals
The East Gippsland CMA has developed eight
catchment goals, derived from the regional River
Health Strategy.
These goals allow the CMA to measure progress towards
works targets on the region’s rivers. The goals do not
summarise all work being undertaken, they simply identify the
broad aims of the CMA by 2012 as follows:
>The willow control works completed in the Mitchell River
will be consolidated to ensure the reaches are free of
willows. An additional 50 km above the Glenaladale offtake will be fenced from grazing stock and revegetated.
>The Tambo and feeder streams will be free of willows
above Ramrod Creek.
>The Nicholson and feeder streams will be free of willows
and have a continuous riparian zone fenced from grazing
stock between the Princes Highway Bridge and the Great
Alpine Road.
>The Snowy catchment will be free of willows from the
Victorian headwaters to the Jarrahmond Gauge. The
floodplain reach will have a continuous riparian zone
fenced from grazing stock from the Jarrahmond gauge to
the estuary.
>The Bemm River will be free of willows and fenced from
grazing stock.
>The Cann River channel will be stabilised in the floodplain
reach. All reaches above Weeragua and below the
Princes Highway Bridge will be free of willows.
>All rivers east of the Cann will be free of willows and
fenced from grazing stock.
>Environmental water reserve and recovery targets will be
clarified for all rivers in East Gippsland.
Nicholson River. Photo source: Alison Pouliot.
The East Gippsland CMA is on target to meet these goals.
Large wood installation in the Genoa River.
Photo source: Sean Phillipson, East Gippsland CMA.
Mitchell River. Photo source: Alison Pouliot.
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