The South-West Coast

This action is to revise the caps on the amount of unallocated surface water available for winter-fill diversions. About 5 GL of unallocated water in the south-west catchments has been made available for winter-fill diversion. This water has been allocated but the PCV Surface Water Order 2010 will be updated to reflect these changes. The amount of water available for new entitlements in the South-west Coast is to be reviewed as part of the WRSWS review process.

The Progress report considered that this action is progressing.

The 2010 order applies to (PCV orders): Thomson, Latrobe, Bunyip, Yarra, Maribyrnong, Werribee, Moorabool, Barwon, Otway Coast River Basins.

DELWP plans to update the 2010 PCV Surface Water Order.

Action status (5-yearly assessment): Partially or not yet achieved

Delivery period: NA

This action contributed to effective and comprehensive water supply and demand planning to ensure the reliability of supply for urban and industrial users. Wannon Water developed a water supply-demand strategy in 2012.

Action 7.2 above explains WfV’s current requirements for urban water strategies, and Wannon Water revised its water supply-demand strategy as an urban water strategy in 2017.

Action status (5-yearly assessment): Achieved and completed

Delivery period: 2012, 2017

This action is working towards preserving the cultural values of Lake Condah. Lake Condah is an important cultural site for the Gunditjmara people and restoring the lake has been a goal since 2002.

The Progress report confirmed that this action is progressing.

The Lake Condah bypass channel and weir were completed in 2010 resulting in the partial restoration of the former lake water level regime and partial re-activation of flow through the aquaculture system. The structure has a gate with capacity to regulate flows, although this has not occurred to date and it has operated as a “fixed structure” to divert higher winter flows into Lake Condah. Operation to date has not required management rules.

Gunditj Mirring, as the land managers are seeking some guidance to pro - actively manage the Lake’s water levels. The development of a basic set of weir operational rules will greatly assist in the management of Lake Condah.

Development of the weir operational rules first requires establishment of a set of prioritised objectives for lake management. The Glenelg Hopkins CMA and Gunditj Mirring will establish lake management objectives by December 2019.

Southern Rural Water will be engaged in the establishment of the lake management objectives and the development of the basic weir operational rules.

As part of the assessment of the completion of actions for next year, determine if the basic operational rules for Lake Condah have been developed and how they are captured in a planning document.

Action status (5-yearly assessment): Partly or not yet achieved

Delivery period: NA

This action contributed to formalising the diversion rules for the Merri River through a local management plan to improve environmental flows. Since 1998–99, flows in the Merri River have been managed through a draft streamflow management plan.

The plan recognised the need for additional environmental flows, and restrictions and bans on water extraction were implemented. A local management plan for the Merri River has also been developed. It includes maintaining a minimum summer flow, a trigger flow for bans on summer diversions and a trigger for bans on winter diversions.

The new plan will provide greater flexibility for upstream water users and provide environmental benefits.

Action status (5-yearly assessment): Achieved and completed

Delivery period: October 2016

This ongoing action helps protect waterway health and water quality by ensuring that the catchment is managed appropriately through activities such as fencing, revegetation, weed management and vegetation enhancement.

These complementary works help increase the benefits from delivering water for the environment. CMAs implement integrated catchment management works by implementing their catchment management strategies and regional waterway management strategies.

Integrated catchment management works are funded largely through the Environmental Contribution, and information about achievements is published annually in CMAs’ annual reports.

Action status (5-yearly assessment): Achieved and ongoing

Delivery period: Ongoing