Victorian Rural Drainage Strategy

Drainage management plans can help landholders coordinate maintenance of dryland rural drainage and streamline statutory approvals.

Dryland rural drainage is a significant feature of the Glenelg Hopkins region in south-west Victoria. There are 46 drainage areas across 197,460 hectares that support agricultural productivity.

Maintenance of many major dryland rural drainage systems, including the Eumeralla and Nullawarre drainage areas, declined following changes to legislative management arrangements and the Millennium Drought (1997-2009).

Restoring the functionality of some areas proved difficult partly due to confusion about the roles and responsibilities of landholders and agencies, and significant requirements for environmental and cultural heritage approvals.

Implementation of the Victorian Rural Drainage Strategy has involved Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority (GHCMA) leading a pilot project to build capability and identify new management and statutory approval arrangements for the Eumeralla and Nullawarre drainage areas. The project was delivered in partnership with the:

• Eumeralla River Restoration Committee, Moyne Shire Council, and Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) for the Eumeralla drainage area
• Lake Gillear Drain Association, Moyne Shire Council, Warrnambool City Council, and DEECA for the Nullawarre drainage area.

Key achievements

• Significant engagement with affected landholders and authorities.
• Improved understanding of the systems, extent of inundation, costs and benefits of drain maintenance, and environmental and cultural values.
• Agreed 10-year drainage management plans that have enabled streamlined statutory approvals where required whilst protecting important values.
• Agreement on a guiding principle whereby only 50% of native vegetation cover in drains will be cleared during maintenance works to balance drain function and significant biodiversity values that many drains now support.
• Clear roles and responsibilities for statutory authorities and drain beneficiaries in memorandums of understanding and principles established underpinning a commitment to the streamlined approvals process.
• A streamlined approach for managing Crown Land, waterway health and biodiversity protection.

GHCMA is continuing to work with the landholder groups to facilitate implementation of the drainage management plans. First stage works approvals have been granted.

These achievements have contributed to delivery of the Victorian Rural Drainage Strategy outcome, ‘Government agencies work together with landholders to rebuild capability and support ongoing arrangements for dryland rural drainage management’.

Restoring a wetland drained for agricultural use can lead to environmental and cultural benefits.

Long Swamp, one of the largest wetlands in the Moolort Plains wetland complex of central Victoria, is an important site to the Traditional Owners, the Dja Dja Wurrung. Once drained for agricultural use, most of Long Swamp is now owned and managed by Trust for Nature within the Murray Family Conservation Reserve.

Through a partnership between North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA), Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and Trust for Nature a pilot project was established to restore Long Swamp.

Key achievements

• Maintenance of water levels at Long Swamp with the installation of an earthen bank and lockable pipe across the outfall.
• Opportunity for Traditional Owners to connect with Country, listen to Country and apply their cultural knowledge to the future management of Long Swamp commencing with completion of an Aboriginal Waterway Assessment.
• 42 hectares of weeds controlled including Spiny Rush, Paterson’s Curse and Horehound.
• Improved understanding of the relationship between groundwater and surface water with the installation of electronic bore loggers.
• Traditional Owners gaining access to Country under private ownership.
• Development of future management recommendations including to make Long Swamp into a ‘wetland bird haven’.

These achievements have contributed to delivery of the Victorian Rural Drainage Strategy outcome, ‘Cultural values, environmental values and water resources are protected’.