Waterway and Floodplain Management23 May 2013Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority

Waterway and Floodplain Management

Rivers and streams within the Catchment are highly valued for irrigation, industry, urban water supply, stock and domestic water supply, recreation, habitat and aesthetic beauty.

From the irrigated Goulburn and Murray Valleys to the dryland grazing and cropping regions and high country valued for its tourism and recreational uses, the Goulburn Broken catchment is the foundation of the Victorian and Murray Darling Basin water resources and economic wealth. Although only 2% of the Murray Darling Basin's land area, the catchment generates 11% of the basin's water resources. In addition the catchment generates 26% of the rural export earning s for the State of Victoria.

Water underpins the viability of our irrigation area that, in turn, is the foundation of the region's economy and community. Streams within the region are highly valued for a range of reasons: irrigation, industry, potable water supply, stock and domestic water supply, recreation (both passive and active), the presence of threatened and vulnerable fish species aesthetic beauty and biodiversity.

Stream health in the region is of vital importance, not only for the local region but also for communities over 500 km downstream.

The need to protect and enhance the condition of our river environments is widely recognised. The aim of this program is to identify rivers of high value for protection and enhancement and to identify opportunities for restoration or improving the environmental condition of other rivers throughout the catchment.

In this section

Regional River Health Strategy
In 2005 the Goulburn Broken Regional River Health Strategy was adopted by the Minister for Water and Environment the Hon John Thwaites. The Strategy aims to combine all elements of river management under one umbrella document.
Program Implementation & Incentives
The Waterways program is one of the two operational Roles of the Authority (the other being in Floodplain Management). The Implementation or Waterway Program oversees river health and water quality research, monitoring and implementation activities in the catchment.
Program Priorities
Rigorous priorities have been set in the River Health Strategy, and are set according to a number of criteria:
Current Projects
The Goulburn River Large Scale River Restoration Project
The aim of the Goulburn River Large Scale River Restoration project was to protect the values of the Goulburn River and its floodplain and riparian zones.
Barmah Forest and The Living Murray Program
The biggest ecosystem of its type in the world, the Barmah–Millewa Forest is the largest river red gum forest in Australia, covering 66,000 hectares of floodplain between Tocumwal, Deniliquin and Echuca. The Barmah-Millewa Forest is one of six “icon sites” of The Living Murray program managed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
Floodplain Management
Floodplain management is an integrated component of water resource management within the Goulburn Broken catchment.
Recreational Fishing
The Goulburn Broken CMA in partnership with other government agencies and the community undertake a range of activities to protect and enhance the value of our streams for recreational activity.
Research
Fire Recovery 2009
The Kilmore East – Murrindindi Complex North Fire was first reported on Saturday 7th February 2009 and burnt approximately 252,000 ha of land. A total of 188,000ha was burnt in the Goulburn Broken Catchment affecting a significant area of the upper Goulburn River catchment between Kilmore / Wandong and Alexandra, and resulted in loss of life, devastation to social and built assets and natural values.

Information Sheets