Understanding and delivering shared benefits from water
Location
Wimmera River including at Horsham, Dimboola and Jeparit and surrounds
Outputs
- 1 Assessment
- 1 publication
- 2 watering actions
- 25.86ha agricultural practice change
- 116 ha assessments
- 1 plan
Investment
EWR (21/22) – $599K
Economic assessment (21/22) $18K
OCOC (21/22) – $220K
Partners
Wimmera Development Association, Wimmera Mallee Tourism, GWM Water, VEWH, Local Government, Barengi Gadjin Land Council
Regional strategies
Regional Catchment Strategy, Wimmera Waterway Strategy 2014-2022
Wimmera CMA is working with regional partners and the community to understand the drivers of social, economic and cultural values of water for the environment and implementing actions that maintain and improve these values.
Over the past seven years, Wimmera CMA, in partnership with Wimmera Development Association, Wimmera Mallee Tourism, GWM Water and Local Government have been working together to improve the understanding of the social and economic value of waterways in the Wimmera. This includes the benefits to those that receive water for the environment.
Detailed studies have estimated that on average the waterways of the Wimmera Southern Mallee generate around $30 million in economic benefits and $3 million in health benefits. This year a detailed assessment of three specific events aimed to assess the benefit of water for the environment. The study showed that these events generated the following economic contributions:
- Horsham Fishing competition ($542,166)
- Dimboola Barefoot Skiing event ($185,051)
- Jeparit fishing competition ($105,616).
All these events were made possible because of the benefits brought about from the delivery of water for the environment and other waterway health activities.
Wimmera CMA and partners including Barengi Gadjin Land Council, local government and community groups have been working together to increase this value by implementing a range of projects that create sustainable activation of these waterways.
This included:
- Development of walking tracks and foot crossings in Horsham.
- Negotiation of public access to private river frontage in Horsham as part of a major subdivisions.
- Improvement of facilities at the Barengi Gadjin Land Council owned Ranch Billabong.
- Installation of fishing and rowing/kayak floating pontoons in Horsham and Dimboola.
- Support for the Dimboola Boat and Water Ski Club to protect and enhance eroding banks through the installation of floating wetlands and revegetation.
- Financial and in-kind assistance in managing and running fishing competitions and events.
Fishing and picnicking at the Wimmera River Horsham, Wimmera CMA.
