Catchment Management

Management of the East Gippsland region is undertaken by the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (external link) empowered by the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (which replaces the Vermin and Noxious Weeds Act 1958 and the Soil Conservation and Land Utilisation Act 1958).

The East Gippsland Catchment Strategy addresses priority issues throughout the region, such as water erosion and waterways issues (including water quality and stream flow), invasive plants and animals, fire, biodiversity conservation, wildlife and soil productivity. Management responsibilities are shared between the CMA and other government and non-government organisations, including:

• Department Sustainability and Envronment (DSE) (external link) – responsible for all aspects of management on public land while providing extension, enforcement and technical services relating to land protection and productivity on private land.

• East Gippsland Water (external link) – responsible for managing town water supply and sewerage systems.

• Southern Rural Water (external link) - responsible for rural water supply across the entire southern part of Victoria, including the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (external link) region. Its principal operations include maintenance of rural headworks systems.

• East Gippsland Shire (external link) – wide range of statutory responsibilities relating to catchment management within the region, including preparation and administration of planning controls, fire hazard reduction in urban areas, disaster response planning and control of environmental health matters (such as effluent disposal).

• Gippsland Lakes and Coast Regional Coastal Board – responsibility for the Gippsland Lakes Management Plan and preparation of Coast Action Plans.

• Environment Protection Authority (EPA) (extrnal link) – establishes the ground rules for protecting and improving environmental quality and minimising wastes. It is empowered by the Environment Protection Act 1970.

• VicRoads (external link) – has jurisdiction over the 1 200 km of roads throughout the region. Many sections provide valuable corridors for native vegetation, especially around agricultural land.

• Maintain and enhance the productive capacity of land resources.

• Provide water of suitable quality and quantity for all current and future requirements.

• Ensure that water quality, quantity and riverine habitat is maintained and enhanced.

• Maintain and conserve the biodiversity of the region.

• Decrease the extent and effect of pest plants and animals.

• (East Gippsland CaLPB 1997)