The Concerned Waterways Alliance (CWA) has lodged a submission on the Victorian Waterway Management Strategy (VWMS) Discussion Starter, calling for a stronger, more ambitious approach to protecting Victoria's rivers, wetlands, floodplains and groundwater systems in the face of climate change.
Drawing on the experience of community groups from Gippsland to the Otways, the submission argues that the next decade will be critical for Victoria's waterways. Declining rainfall, reduced streamflows, increasing water extraction and ongoing land use pressures are expected to place many waterways under unprecedented stress. The Alliance warns that without stronger protections, many rivers could become increasingly seasonal, wetlands may dry more frequently, and the ecological values that communities depend upon will continue to decline.
A central theme of the submission is the recognition of waterways as "living and integrated natural entities", building on concepts already embedded in the Yarra River Protection Act and other landmark Victorian waterway initiatives. The Alliance argues that rivers, wetlands, floodplains and groundwater systems should be managed as interconnected ecosystems rather than as separate assets or administrative units.
The submission also calls for a genuine whole-of-government approach to waterway management. It highlights concerns that decisions affecting waterways are often fragmented across planning, environmental protection, agriculture, water and development portfolios, resulting in cumulative impacts that are poorly understood and inadequately managed.
Key recommendations include:
• Recognising waterways as living entities connected from source to sea.
• Strengthening legal and planning protections for waterways and their corridors.
• Better integration of groundwater and surface water management.
• Improved protection of unregulated rivers and groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
• Stronger controls on water interception activities such as farm dams.
• Increased monitoring of water quality, streamflows and ecosystem health.
• Greater action on pollution, including PFAS, agricultural chemicals, wastewater discharges and urban stormwater.
• Expanded support and core funding for community stewardship groups and Riverkeeper organisations.
• New funding mechanisms to address the growing challenges facing Victoria's waterways.
The submission also emphasises the vital role that community groups play in caring for waterways and calls for reduced barriers to participation, increased support for volunteers, and stronger partnerships between government agencies and local communities.
While acknowledging the positive work undertaken by Catchment Management Authorities, Melbourne Water and other agencies, the Alliance argues that the scale of environmental decline and the accelerating impacts of climate change require a significant shift in policy, funding and governance if Victoria's waterways are to remain healthy and resilient for future generations.
The CWA encourages members, supporters and the broader community to engage with the Victorian Waterway Management Strategy process and help ensure that the final strategy delivers the protection, restoration and stewardship that Victoria's waterways need.