A new Corangamite CMA pilot project is supporting farmers and landowners in the south-west to make their farm dams more resilient and environmentally sustainable in a changing climate.
The catchment management authority launched its Testing the Waters program last week with a field day in Colac hosted by ecologists from Australia National University’s Sustainable Farms initiative.
The project will see Corangamite CMA staff and Landcare facilitators work with 15 landholders throughout 2025 to enhance their dams through workshops, field days and one-on-one site visits.
Involved landholders will develop individual water stewardship plans and receive $2000 to undertake identified actions such as fencing and planting native vegetation in and around dams.
Ensuring dams are resilient to the impacts of climate change can increase farms’ productivity by improving water quality, while also reducing emissions and protecting our important biodiversity.
A further 15 landholders will be supported through the program in 2026.
The project has been funded through Our Catchments, Our Communities, which is supporting integrated catchment management across Victoria.
To register your interest in participating in Testing the Waters, visit Corangamite CMA.
Corangamite CMA will also run a second round of the Small Blocks Big Dreams project this year, working with Landcare networks to support small landholders to improve the stewardship of land and water on their properties.
From 2022 to 2024, Small Blocks Big Dreams empowered over 150 small landholders in the Corangamite catchment to become land and water stewards. The program was designed to assist the increasing number of small landholders moving to the region.
Page last updated: 12/03/25