Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
Encyclopedia
The Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
(CMA) region spans 13,000 square kilometres of south-west Victoria
, Australia
. About 350,000 people live within the catchment area, which stretches from Ballarat
to Geelong
and along the coast to Peterborough
.
and the Great Otway National Park. There are 13 Ramsar
-listed wetlands in the catchment including Lake Corangamite
, the largest permanent inland lake in Australia. Significant river systems include the Aire, Barwon
, Gellibrand, Curdies, Leigh, Moorabool
and Woady Yaloak rivers. The goldfields of Ballarat, tall timber of the Otway
rainforests and lush grasslands attracted early settlement, and today Corangamite’s economic mainstays are agriculture, industry and tourism. Corangamite’s environmental challenges include land-use change, demands for water supply, urban migration, intensification of agriculture and increased tourism.
, Corangamite CMA also has the statutory responsibilities of managing the Barwon River through Geelong, and two drainage schemes – the Woady Yaloak and Lough Calvert.
The Coragamite CMA's role as manager of the Barwon River through Geelong in particular provides an excellent platform to engage with thousands of people in Victoria’s largest regional city. The Corangamite region is home to one of the most stressed river systems in Victoria, the Moorabool River. The CMA's role as manager of environmental water reserve has provided them with opportunities to strengthen their relationships with water authorities and local communities. As more people seek the lifestyle benefits of living along the coast and hinterland, the seachange and treechange phenomenon presents another dimension to Corangamite CMA’s roles and responsibilities. Corangamite CMA is actively trying to capitalise on the engagement and capacity building opportunities along the coast through programs such as EstuaryWatch, and the employment of a marine and coastal coordinator.
puts them in an ideal position to educate, inspire, empower and engage communities to act as one against the common threat of climate change
.
This collective action will be at its most effective through co-operation between a web of stakeholders including CMAs
, Landcare
, local government, landholders, the agriculture sector, business, industry, schools, water authorities, regulatory bodies and government.
Catchment Management Authority
The Catchment Management Authorities were established in Victoria, Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Originally known as Catchment and Land Protection Boards, the CMAs were changed to their present name in 1997....
(CMA) region spans 13,000 square kilometres of south-west Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. About 350,000 people live within the catchment area, which stretches from Ballarat
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
to Geelong
Geelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
and along the coast to Peterborough
Peterborough, Victoria
Peterborough is a town on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia; approximately three hours drive from Melbourne.-History:The town was believed to have been founded when the schooner SS Schomberg was wrecked in the middle of the 19th century, though the town was not sufficiently populated to...
.
Corangamite region
The Lake Corangamite region is famous for its spectacular coastline, which incorporates the Great Ocean RoadGreat Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is a stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Warrnambool. The road was built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932, and is the world's largest war memorial; dedicated to casualties of World War I...
and the Great Otway National Park. There are 13 Ramsar
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
-listed wetlands in the catchment including Lake Corangamite
Lake Corangamite
Lake Corangamite is Victoria’s largest natural lake, located near Colac in south-west Victoria, Australia in the Lakes and Craters region of the Victorian Volcanic Plains. The lake is hypersaline, and salinity levels have increased dramatically as the lake level has dropped in recent decades...
, the largest permanent inland lake in Australia. Significant river systems include the Aire, Barwon
Barwon River (Victoria)
The Barwon River rises in the Otway Ranges of Victoria, Australia, runs through Winchelsea and the city of Geelong, where it is joined by the Moorabool River, and enters the sea at Barwon Heads after passing through Lake Connewarre on the Bellarine Peninsula...
, Gellibrand, Curdies, Leigh, Moorabool
Moorabool River
The Moorabool River is a river in Victoria, Australia that runs past several small towns and areas such as Meredith, Anakie, and Staughton Vale...
and Woady Yaloak rivers. The goldfields of Ballarat, tall timber of the Otway
Colac Otway Shire
Colac Otway Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the south-western part of the state. It includes the towns of Apollo Bay and Colac. It has an area of 3,416 square kilometres. In 2006 it had a population of 20,295...
rainforests and lush grasslands attracted early settlement, and today Corangamite’s economic mainstays are agriculture, industry and tourism. Corangamite’s environmental challenges include land-use change, demands for water supply, urban migration, intensification of agriculture and increased tourism.
Program Highlights
The Corangamite CMA began in 1997 with a small team of employees. During the past decade, the organisation has diversified, growing in size and responsibilities. In addition to the leadership and funding co-ordination responsibilities common to most Victorian CMAsCatchment Management Authority
The Catchment Management Authorities were established in Victoria, Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Originally known as Catchment and Land Protection Boards, the CMAs were changed to their present name in 1997....
, Corangamite CMA also has the statutory responsibilities of managing the Barwon River through Geelong, and two drainage schemes – the Woady Yaloak and Lough Calvert.
The Coragamite CMA's role as manager of the Barwon River through Geelong in particular provides an excellent platform to engage with thousands of people in Victoria’s largest regional city. The Corangamite region is home to one of the most stressed river systems in Victoria, the Moorabool River. The CMA's role as manager of environmental water reserve has provided them with opportunities to strengthen their relationships with water authorities and local communities. As more people seek the lifestyle benefits of living along the coast and hinterland, the seachange and treechange phenomenon presents another dimension to Corangamite CMA’s roles and responsibilities. Corangamite CMA is actively trying to capitalise on the engagement and capacity building opportunities along the coast through programs such as EstuaryWatch, and the employment of a marine and coastal coordinator.
Future Challenges
CCMA has identified climate change as the most pressing issue facing the region moving forward. While climate change is a problem bigger than any one individual or organisation, the grassroots regional approach of catchment management authoritiesCatchment Management Authority
The Catchment Management Authorities were established in Victoria, Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Originally known as Catchment and Land Protection Boards, the CMAs were changed to their present name in 1997....
puts them in an ideal position to educate, inspire, empower and engage communities to act as one against the common threat of climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
.
This collective action will be at its most effective through co-operation between a web of stakeholders including CMAs
Catchment Management Authority
The Catchment Management Authorities were established in Victoria, Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Originally known as Catchment and Land Protection Boards, the CMAs were changed to their present name in 1997....
, Landcare
Landcare
Landcare may refer to:*Landcare , a group formed to seek land protection*Landcare Australia, an umbrella organisation seeking land protection in Australia*Landcare Research New Zealand Limited*Landcare...
, local government, landholders, the agriculture sector, business, industry, schools, water authorities, regulatory bodies and government.