Strategy progress continued despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
It has been a strange and challenging year for all of us. The second year of the Healthy Waterways strategy started with good momentum building from the collaborative forums held toward the end of 2019. However the coronavirus outbreak and lock-down restrictions saw on-ground works slow, particularly for weed control, during the second half of the financial year. Despite this, many strategy targets have been met and some good progress has been made.
Regional performance objectives are well underway
progress
Monitoring and Evaluation Plans for rivers, wetlands and estuaries developed
These plans (MEPs) define the details of how we will track and report the progress of implementing the strategy.
Healthy Waterways Strategy website launched
Including the Waterways Report Card that tracks progress towards implementing the strategy across the region, its catchments and in rivers, wetlands and estuaries.
Draft urban stormwater management guidelines released
Released by the EPA, the guidelines will support the Healthy Waterways Strategy stormwater targets.
In the catchments, Strategy implementation is showing real progress
Greener waterway corridors
All catchments are on track to achieve 10 year vegetation establishment targets. 13 sub-catchments have achieved 25% and the Dandenong catchment is well ahead. A total of 719 hectares of vegetation have been established since the beginning of the Strategy which is 9% of the 10 year target.
This is important because restoring vegetation around waterways is one of the main ways we can support and improve waterway values such as birds, fish and platypus.
Next we need to strive to meet revegetation targets each year to continue the progress we are making.
Existing vegetation gets some love
Native vegetation maintenance targets are on track region-wide and doing especially well in the Dandenong catchment. Over 10,000 hectares were maintained in 19/20 and more than 4,700 hectares of this was high quality vegetation.
This is important because keeping good quality vegetation free of weeds, disturbance and pests is critical to protect these areas and to support a broad range of waterway values. Maintaining revegetation protects the progress we have made.
Next we need to increase our level of effort so that all priority areas are being actively maintained.
A trickle in the right direction
1.1 gigalitres of the 7.7 gigalitres target of water needed for the Werribee catchment was achieved through transfer of water shares from Melbourne Water to the Victorian Environmental Water Holder. The water share is held within Melton Reservoir.
This is important because the water will provide much needed drought refuge habitat and flushing flows in winter that trigger spawning of key species, as well as improving water quality in the lower reaches of the Werribee River.
Next we need to work to recover the full 7 gigalitres identified in the strategy through the Sustainable Water Strategy for the Central Gippsland Region. This is likely to be achieved through a range of options including Integrated Water Management (IWM). Southern Rural Water’s irrigation modernisation works in the Werribee Irrigation District has realised some water recovery that will be shared with the environment over the next 12 months.
Striving to harvest stormwater
Maribyrnong, Werribee and Yarra catchments are on-track to meet 10 year stormwater harvesting targets with significant harvesting proposed in coming years.
This is important because run-off from impervious surfaces is a critical threat to stream health and urban development is occurring at a rapid rate. The stormwater targets set in the Strategy have identified the most critical areas where efforts to harvest and infiltrate will result in the best protection of waterway values.
Next we need to introduce new stormwater standards and plan more IWM projects to continue to achieve harvesting targets. Infiltration targets need some additional focus.
Waterways remain popular
Despite COVID-19, targets for participation have easily been met with more than 35,000 people participating in waterway related activities. Understandably, education visits declined with home schooling in place but the number of grants issued increased as did the number of people accessing information digitally.
This is important because an improved understanding of the value of waterways in the community will drive collective action to protect and improve them over time.
Next we need to continue education and citizen science programs such as Waterwatch to help increase the number of people who understand and care about their local waterways. Melbourne Water has changed its incentives framework so that a broader range of grants are available to the community for projects that are aligned with Healthy Waterways Strategy targets.
A focus on natural wetlands
There is an improved understanding of the impacts of urbanisation on natural wetlands as a result of the 2018/19 Annual Report.
This is important because natural wetlands in urban growth areas are at risk from development. In our 19/20 analysis, 15 natural wetlands have been identified as being at risk from rapid urbanisation.
Next we need to continue to investigate a range of mechanisms to provide more protection for natural wetlands in urban growth areas. Though progress has been made there is still more to do.
Pesky pests in the forest
Parks Victoria has been undertaking deer control works in the Bunyip State Park and with some additional funding from Melbourne Water have installed experimental plots to assess vegetation regeneration.
This is important because deer are a significant, increasing pests in the region that threaten native vegetation, vulnerable species and our investment in revegetation.
Next we need to collaborate and consolidate efforts to target the best places for deer control. The Victorian Deer Control Strategy, announced in November 2020, looks like a promising way to begin to address this threat in a coordinated manner. A research partnership between Melbourne Water and Melbourne University will help prioritise where deer control efforts should be focused. A combined effort across agencies is required to follow up with actions.
Positive bug trends
Implementation of dispersed stormwater controls has improved macroinvertebrate condition in parts of the Dandenong catchment to good and very good. Macroinvertebrate communities in the forested catchments remain stable and in very good condition. The Yarra Lower sub-catchment continues to show signs of degradation from urban growth, having declined from good to moderate condition in the 1990s.
This is important because macroinvertebrate communities are good overall indicators of waterway health.
Next we need to use knowledge of these trends to support the Healthy Waterways Strategy in setting targets for greater stormwater controls in priority areas to protect and improve waterway health.