The Victorian Government has now released the draft Victorian Waterway Management Strategy (VWMS) for public consultation, providing an important opportunity for catchment communities, environmental groups, and the broader public to help shape the future management of Victoria's waterways.
The draft strategy can be viewed and commented on through the Engage Victoria website:
https://engage.vic.gov.au/victorian-waterway-management-strategy
This is a peak policy document seeking to improve the managment of Victoria's waterways.
The Concerned Waterways Alliance (CWA) welcomes the release of the frankly long delayed draft strategy and acknowledges the significant work that has gone into its development.
In particular, the Alliance recognises the inclusion of waterways as living entities within the draft strategy. This represents an important step forward in recognising that rivers, wetlands, estuaries, floodplains and groundwater-dependent ecosystems are more than simply water delivery systems or environmental assets. They are interconnected living systems that require protection, restoration and sufficient water to function and survive.
The recognition of waterways as living entities reflects a principle that the CWA has consistently advocated for over a number of years through submissions, reports and engagement with government agencies.
However, while the inclusion of this concept is encouraging, the CWA will be carefully reviewing the draft strategy in detail and will be identifying areas where significant gaps remain between the vision expressed in the document and the actions needed to achieve meaningful outcomes for waterways.
Initial questions the Alliance will be examining include:
• Whether the strategy provides adequate mechanisms to deliver real water for rivers and wetlands in a drying climate.
• Whether environmental water reserves and diversion limits will be recommended to be adjusted to reflect declining inflows and changing catchment conditions.
• Whether the strategy adequately addresses cumulative impacts from population growth, farm dam expansion, land use change and emerging industries.
• Whether groundwater-dependent ecosystems and surface water-groundwater connections receive sufficient protection.
• Whether the proposed governance, accountability and reporting arrangements are strong enough to ensure commitments are delivered.
• Whether community participation is genuinely embedded in decision-making processes.
The Alliance has long argued that healthy waterways require measurable objectives, transparent reporting, strong compliance frameworks and a willingness to make difficult decisions about water allocation in the face of climate change.
The release of the draft VWMS provides an opportunity for all Victorians to help shape the future of the state's rivers, wetlands, estuaries and groundwater systems.
The CWA encourages members, supporters and all those who care about the health of Victoria's waterways to review the draft strategy and make a submission.
We will provide further commentary and detailed analysis as our review progresses.
Submissions and comments can be made via the Engage Victoria consultation page.
Healthy waterways are fundamental to water dependent ecosystems, communities and a climate-resilient Victoria. The decisions made through this strategy will influence the management of Victoria's waterways for many years to come.