Emu

Lower Broken Creek and Nine Mile Creek

This region includes Broken Creek downstream of the Boosey Creek confluence, and Nine Mile Creek from Katamatite to the Murray River at Barmah Forest, totaling 184km of waterways.

The creeks and their associated floodplain and wetlands support grey and yellow box tree and grassy woodland communities and numerous threatened species including Murray cod, golden perch, buloke, bush stone-curlew and brolga. They also contain important cultural heritage sites, provides water for agriculture and urban centres and supports recreational activities such as fishing, camping and bushwalking.

The lower Broken and Nine Mile creeks have been regulated for over 100 years, significantly altering their flow regimes. Under natural conditions, the creeks would have stopped flowing for extended periods during summer and autumn. Today the creeks flows are maintained throughout summer and autumn to supply water for irrigation, domestic and stock use.  However, winter flows have been reduced due to water harvesting and are dominated by catchment induced runoff.

Downstream of Nathalia, the Broken Creek has eight shallow weirs managed to provide a near-constant water level for the extraction of irrigation, domestic and stock water by pumping. While the weir pools provide important native fish habitat, their water quality is often poor in summer and autumn.

While all reaches are important, the delivery of environmental water targets the Broken Creek from Nathalia to the Murray River, which supports the most diverse and abundant native fish communities and is often most affected by poor water quality in summer and autumn. 

Lower Broken Creek and Nine Mile Creek priority watering actions include flows to:

  • Provide native fish passage through fish ladders positioned on each of the eight weirs along the lower Broken Creek.
  • Minimise the accumulation and growth of azolla (a native aquatic plant that floats on the water’s surface), which can reduce dissolved oxygen levels.
  • Maintain dissolved oxygen levels above 5 ML for native fish and other oxygen dependent aquatic animals.
  • Increase native fish habitat during migration and breeding seasons.

Any further information regarding proposed watering actions for the Lower Broken Creek can be obtained by contacting the GB CMA.

The Goulburn Broken CMA acknowledges and respects First Nations people and the deep connection they have with their land and waters.


We acknowledge the Yorta Yorta and Taungurung people and their ancestors/forbears as Traditional Owners of the land and waters in the Goulburn Broken Catchment (and beyond). We value our ongoing partnerships with Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and Taungurung Land and Waters Council for the health of Country and its people.


We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge and recognise the primacy of Traditional Owners obligations, rights and responsibilities to use and care for their traditional lands and waters.

Shepparton
168 Welsford Street, PO Box 1752, Shepparton VIC 3630
T (03) 5822 7700
F (03) 5831 6254

Benalla
89 Sydney Road, PO Box 124, Benalla VIC 3672
T (03) 5822 7700

Yea
Shop 5/10 High Street, Yea VIC 3717
T (03) 5822 7700