Working Together to Keep Moorabool River Flowing
LOCATION
Moorabool River
TRADTIONAL OWNERS
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
OUTPUTS
- Managed 3 Environmental Water Holdings
- Secured 1 Management Agreement – binding non perpetual
- Held 8 engagement events
- 1 Management Plan
INVESTMENT
EC6 $670K total, over 4 years
PARTNERS
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Barwon Water, Central Highlands Water, Victorian Environmental Water Holder
Keeping a river flowing in extremely dry conditions can be a significant challenge. Wadawurrung Traditional Owners
Aboriginal Corporation and Corangamite CMA are working together to maintain flow on the Moorabool River.
The Moorabool River is one of the most flow-stressed rivers in
Victoria. The construction of reservoirs, extraction for drinking
water supply and irrigation, and a significant number of farm
dams in the catchment are all contributing factors. This is
compounded by dry conditions in the Moorabool catchment;
June 2025 was the first month to exceed average rainfall totals
since April 2024.
Corangamite CMA supports the health of rivers and wetlands
through water for the environment – water that is released into
rivers and wetlands to support the plants and animals that live,
feed and breed in them.
On the Moorabool River, Corangamite CMA strategically
manages water for the environment with support from Central
Highlands Water, the operator of the Lal Lal Reservoir near
Ballarat. Water is released from Lal Lal Reservoir at different
times of the year in different volumes to support a range of
ecological processes.
Maintaining varied flow within a river is very important for a
diverse and healthy river. Higher flows allow native plants to
grow and spread, providing habitat for animals, whereas many
waterbugs, a key food source for fish and platypus, need lower
flows. Getting the right balance is the role of Corangamite CMA’s
Environmental Water Team.
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
has also used volumes of water supplied by Central
Highlands Water and Barwon Water in the past two years as
‘Wadawurrung water’ to support Cultural values along the
Moorabool River.
Both Wadawurrung water and water for the environment have
their place in supporting the environmental and cultural health
of the Moorabool River, especially during periods of low and
sporadic rainfall.
The absence of sustained rainfall has also meant that recent
freshes – large pulses of water that help trigger fish migration
and streamside plant growth – have all been due to water for
the environment and Wadawurrung water.
Being able to deliver and maintain flow in such a dry year is a
great example of what Traditional Owners, water corporations
and CMAs are doing behind the scenes to protect and restore
our rivers for their long-term health.
Water for the Environment is released from Lal Lal Reservoir
