This ongoing action contributes to improving the health of the lower Latrobe wetlands and estuary. The Lower Latrobe Wetlands Environmental Entitlement 2010 was established, and it provides for water to be diverted from the Latrobe River to inundate floodplain wetlands.
The West Gippsland Waterway Strategy 2014-2022 aims to improve the condition of the Lower Latrobe wetlands through a program of environmental watering, weed control and rehabilitation of remnant riparian and floodplain vegetation. The VEWH’s annual seasonal watering plans provide the ongoing direction to complete this action.
The Victorian Government has funded WGCMA to undertake work to inform the watering plan for the wetlands and to design and cost wetland watering infrastructure. The environmental water requirements of the Latrobe estuary were investigated in 2013 and the flow, level and salinity effects of inflows to the Latrobe estuary monitored since 2017.
A risk assessment for Dowd Morass is being conducted of short- and medium-term implications of sea level rise for this wetland and its management. To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of environmental watering in the wetlands, Sale Common’s regulator was upgraded in 2012, while a regulator in the Heart Morass was upgraded in 2018.
Earthworks were also undertaken in 2015 to facilitate water inflows from Flooding Creek to Heart Morass.
Action status (5-yearly assessment 2018): Achieved and ongoing
Delivery period: Ongoing