The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has had another productive year supporting the environment. We are a step closer to our vision of ‘healthy, resilient and increasingly productive landscapes supporting vibrant communities’. With the festive season once again upon us we reflect on 2010 the International Year for Biodiversity in the Goulburn Broken Catchment.
The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has had another productive year supporting the environment. We are a step closer to our vision of ‘healthy, resilient and increasingly productive landscapes supporting vibrant communities’. With the festive season once again upon us we reflect on 2010 the International Year for Biodiversity in the Goulburn Broken Catchment.
To coincide with this international event, the Goulburn Broken CMA invited Dr Kate Auty the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability Victoria to launch our Biodiversity Strategy for the Goulburn Broken Catchment 2010-2015, in July. Implementation of this Strategy has now commenced, and we look forward to continuing this in 2011.
As caretakers of the region’s river health the Goulburn Broken CMA has this year installed two Fishways for improved fish passage, 46kms of fencing protecting over 200ha of river frontage, 45 off-stream watering points for stock, over 200ha of riparian vegetation enhancement and over 1000ha of riparian weed control all leading to an improvement in the health of our waterways.
This year has also seen the Goulburn Broken CMA dealing with the aftermath of the forces of nature through our ongoing Bushfire Recovery work and Flood Recovery from the September and recent December events. The prolonged drought and then subsequent flooding created other problems for our waterways with Blackwater events in Barmah, the Lower Goulburn and Broken Creek.
Despite the challenge and damage of the floods, they allowed us to test the simulated flood modelling and provided major environmental benefits. This included an increase in waterbird hatchings and native fish feeding and spawning throughout our region. The Goulburn Broken CMA in conjunction with the Murray Darling Basin Authority and the Arthur Rylah Institute celebrated Native Fish Awareness week with a number of events throughout the region.
At an organisational level we were awarded a Silver Medal for our 2008-09 Annual Report in the Australasian Reporting Awards as well as sharing in the Regional Development and Community Award for the innovative Riverconnect project. We have welcomed a new Chair and 13 new staff as well as saying a fond farewell to the inaugural CEO, Bill O’Kane. A number of staff also welcomed their own little bundles of joy with five babies joining our larger catchment family.
We have secured $57million of new investment to the Goulburn Broken Catchment, with $19million for the environment programs and $38million for the Farm Water Program, all of which we could not have done without the strong support of our partner agencies.
In 2011 we look forward to working with the Federal Government and new State Government in the development and delivery of these projects. This includes continuing recovery from Bushfires and Floods, building on our regional Landcare capability, delivering the Farm Water Program with our consortium of partners for the Australian Government and Northern Victorian Irrigation Renewal Project (NVIRP), as well as implementing new biodiversity programs, such as the Wetland Tender.
At this time of year, the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority would like to thank our partner agencies and our very supportive community and wish everyone a very happy and safe festive season. We also advise that our offices will be closed from midday on Friday 24th December and will re-open on 8:30am Tuesday 4th January 2011.
For more information please contact the Goulburn Broken CMA on 03 5820 1100.