Conserving and enhancing our natural environment is a responsibility that we all hold. As the population of Greater Shepparton grows, the pressure placed upon our systems and threats could lead to a decline in the river environment unless active efforts are made to sustain its future.
Ongoing threats to the health of river environment include:
- Loss of biodiversity and habitat connectivity (e.g. riparian erosion, loss of instream habitat, vegetation removal and loss, illegal removal of firewood)
- Reduction in water quality (e.g. pollution, black water events)
- Modification of natural systems and cycles (e.g. unseasonal high flows, intervalley transfers, flow deviation, channel modification, interruptions to wetland connectivity)
- Disregard for the river environment through inappropriate behaviours (e.g. rubbish dumping, 4WD)
- Competition with native species from pest plants and animals (e.g. invasive weeds, stock access, introduced animals)
- Climate change (e.g. extremes of weather, increase in average temperature, reduction in average rainfall)
Our public lands within the RiverConnect area are managed by land managers including Parks Victoria and Greater Shepparton City Council who are responsible for approvals and ongoing management, maintenance and safety of areas and assets.
Through the signing of the 2004 Yorta Yorta Co-Operative Management Agreement with the State Government, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation have a formal role in management of Woka (land) and Walla (water).
In addition, the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority has overarching responsibilities as a caretaker of river health across the region.
- Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation developed the Yorta Yorta Whole-Of-Country Plan for 2021-2030. This document is built on thousands of years of knowledge that guides the way for Yorta Yorta Nation and informs their partners on how they do their business, of looking after people, country and culture.
- The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority collated the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Strategy 2021-2027 as a vision for the integrated management of natural resources in the catchment. The Strategy has five main sub-strategy categories.
- Parks Victoria has developed the River Red Gum Parks Management Plan 2018 that includes the Lower Goulburn National Park and the Shepparton Regional Park. This plan is a strategic guide for the management and protection of five national parks and more than 100 other parks and reserves within their planning area in Northern Victoria.
Within the local environment there are several plans and reports that exist including:
- Victoria Park Lake Master Plan 2016
- Boulevard Bush Reserve Environmental Management Plan 2014
- Native Vegetation Investigation Report 2011
- Gemmills Swamp Master Plan 2005
- Reedy Swamp Environmental Management Plan 2003
We can all help the river, because as we know, many hands make light work. Through collaboration we can take action and nurture stewardship culture to ensure our environment is healthy and accessible for generations to come.