Wimmera Clearwater Revival Flagship project works with land managers and community groups to deliver onground works that protect and enhance the economic, social, cultural recreational and environmental values of the upper Wimmera Catchment.

During 2023-24, the program constructed 13 erosion control structures across seven high priority sites to stabilise the bed and banks and reduce the amount of sediment moving downstream and impacting on high value waterways. Landholder engagement and site assessment and prioritisation were undertaken for nine new erosion control sites.

Riparian protection and enhancement landholder incentives worked with 11 landholders to deliver works across 54.6ha of river frontage including 15.1km of fencing, 8.95ha of revegetation and pest plant and animal control.

Works were complemented by 44.9ha of weed control along priority waterways near Stawell and Elmhurst. These were delivered by Project Platypus in consultation with Landcare and land managers for a coordinated approach.

We partnered with Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Arthur Rylah Institute, Australian Government and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to enhance the cultural and environmental values of the Ranch Billabong, on the Wimmera River near Dimboola.

Located adjacent to Barringgi Gadyin (Wimmera River) at Dimboola, the culturally significant Ranch Billabong site has been home to many generations of the Wotjobaluk Peoples and remains a Special Place today for gathering, sharing and connecting with culture.

In partnership with Barengi Gadjin Land Council and other stakeholders we have been supporting efforts to achieve the priority goals for the site as outlined in the Country Plan ‘Growing what is Good: voices of the Wotjobaluk Nations’.

Works at the site have included carp removal, flora, fauna and water quality monitoring, revegetation and the construction of visitor facilities including walking tracks, interpretive signage and access crossings.

A priority goal for the site was to restore a natural flooding regime to the billabong system to improve water quality, vegetation health and bird and fish habitat.

Prior to this year watering of the site could only be achieved via pumping from the Wimmera River in collaboration with the Victorian Environmental Water Holder. A focus of the partnership between us and the Land Council was to improve the capacity of Traditional Owners to monitor condition and plan for and deliver water, with the long-term vision of creating a permanent connection between the Billabong and the Wimmera River.

This vision was realised in 2023-24 with the construction of a 163m directional drilled pipeline connecting the billabong to the Wimmera River. In addition to providing a permanent connection and reducing the costs associated with watering, this project empowers Traditional Owners to regulate water levels in the billabong to support cultural and environmental outcomes.

Investment

Integrated water management, EC5 – Water for the Environment in the Wimmera, Our Catchments, Our Communities , and Lower Wimmera Flagship