Our Legacy
25 Year highlights
- Enabled Traditional Owner self-determination to care for Country, to ensure Aboriginal knowledge, cultural values and perspectives are incorporated into natural resource management, including through projects such as Lake Boort and Reedy Lagoon environmental watering.
- Worked with farmers, through Trust for Nature, to permanently protect and enhance habitat for one of the world’s most endangered birds – the Plains wanderer – on Victoria’s northern plains grasslands.
- Developed a 20-year integrated catchment management plan for the Upper Coliban Catchment and the 130,000 residents that rely on its water quality. Boosted habitat connectivity and built cultural and lifestyle values.
Charlton township in flood January 2011
“While flooding is a vital ecological process that maintains catchment integrity, we acknowledge that floods of this magnitude cause significant financial loss and emotional strain to communities.”
Julie Miller Markof, North Central CMA Chair
After 12 years of drought, 2010-11 delivered record-breaking rainfall and floods to the Campaspe, Loddon, Avoca and Avon–Richardson catchments. North Central CMA’s active response under statutory responsibilities was the largest, most sustained and most demanding flood response in our history.
For the first time, North Central CMA enacted its Flood Response Plan in early 2011 following the widespread flooding that impacted 25% (780,000 hectares) of the region. The flooding events were greater than or close to the 100-year Average Recurrence Interval Flood on all the region’s river systems.
Our response was immediate, supporting Vic SES and undertaking emergency and priority flood mitigation works such as clearing debris and repairs to levees, flood pegging and mapping and stream gauge reinstatements.
In early 2011 our team contacted 850 landholders and over 1,100 fencing, erosion, drainage and levee assessments were completed between February and May.
In June 2011, the Victorian Government confirmed $2.7 million to implement the Flood Recovery Employment Program that employed 60 people and received $9 million Natural Disaster Relief funding from Department of Treasury and Finance. This joint investment funded extensive repair works.
Post 2021-11, we’ve worked with local government and communities to develop 19 Flood Management Plans and Studies that have resulted in flood mitigation works for several flood affected towns and updates to municipal planning schemes. Flood warning systems have been upgraded including automated gauges for Charlton, Rochester and Donald and gauge boards in Creswick, Dunolly and Carisbrook.
Our ongoing work to support and build community resilience and preparedness for future flooding events is, and will be, our lasting legacy
Output
1.0 Structural works
1.1 Water storage (No.)
- Target = 36
- Actual: State = 17, Federal = 0, Other = 0, Total = 21
1.2 Pump (No.)
- Target = 2
- Actual: State = 0, Federal = 2, Other = 0, Total = 2
1.3 Waterway structure (No.)
- Target = 6
- Actual: State = 0, Federal = 0, Other = 1, Total = 1
1.4 Terrestrial feature (No.)
- Target = 0
- Actual: State = 0, Federal = 6, Other = 0, Total = 6
1.5 Fence (Km)
- Target = 44
- Actual: State = 24, Federal = 6, Other = 0, Total = 30
2.0 Environmental works
2.1 Vegetation (Ha)
- Target = 286
- Actual: State = 308, Federal = 237, Other = 5, Total = 550
2.2 Weed control (Ha)
- Target = 701
- Actual: State = 2912, Federal = 100, Other = 28, Total = 3040
2.3 Pest animal control (Ha)
- Target = 8402
- Actual: State = 8746, Federal = 1967, Other = 0, Total = 10,713
2.4 Threatened species response (No.)
- Target = 4
- Actual: State = 4, Federal = 2, Other = 0, Total = 6
3.0 Management services
3.1 Grazing (Ha)
- Target = 25
- Actual: State = 261, Federal = 0, Other = 0, Total = 261
3.2 Agricultural practice change (Ha)
- Target = 18400
- Actual: State = 0, Federal = 3089, Other = 0, Total = 3089
3.3 Water (No.)
- Target = 10
- Actual: State = 69, Federal = 1, Other = 0, Total = 70
4.0 Planning and regulation
4.1 Approval and advice (No.)
- Target = 2511
- Actual: State = 3727, Federal = 0, Other = 0, Total = 3727
4.2 Management agreement (No.)
- Target = 42
- Actual: State = 26, Federal = 9, Other = 0, Total = 35
4.3 Assessment (No.)
- Target = 390
- Actual: State = 1075, Federal = 104, Other = 2, Total = 1181
4.4 Engagement event (No. of participants)
- Target = 1670
- Actual: State = 3090, Federal = 1071, Other = 717, Total = 4878
4.5 Partnership (No.)
- Target = 42
- Actual: State = 44, Federal = 0, Other = 1, Total = 45
4.6 Plan (No.)
- Target = 28
- Actual: State = 14, Federal = 11, Other = 0, Total = 25
4.7 Publication (No.)
- Target = 101
- Actual: State = 81, Federal = 19, Other = 11, Total = 111
4.8 Information management system (No.)
- Target = 2
- Actual: State = 4, Federal = 0, Other = 1, Total = 5
2021 – 22 Achievements
- Delivered 98 gigalitres of water for the environment to several Ramsar listed wetlands, floodplains and major systems of the Campaspe and Loddon rivers.
- Secured non-traditional funding of $713,000 from the Agnico Eagle Group to continue the statewide school-based River Detectives Program for the next three years.
- Constructed two new fishways at Cohuna and Koondrook Weirs to connect 140 kilometres of prime fish habitat in Gunbower Creek with 530 kilometres of open Murray River.
Our Future Vision
Working in Partnership for a Healthy Catchment.
Future aspirations
- Traditional Owners lead self-determined participation in natural resource planning and management.
- Active and resilient communities adapt to challenges including climate change.
- Healthy waterways and floodplains are managed for shared benefits.
