Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority
Encyclopedia
The Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority
(CMA) lies south of the Great Dividing Range
, the region contains areas of scenic beauty, magnificent and dramatic coastline, superb national parks and rich biodiversity.
in the Central Highlands of Victoria
, Australia
, west to the South Australia
n border and south to the coast. The southern two thirds are characterised by flat volcanic plains while the Grampians
, Dundas Tablelands and Black Ranges dominate the northern third.
The region has three major river drainage basins - the Hopkins
, Glenelg
and Portland Coast. The lower section of the Glenelg River is heritage listed for its environmental significance. Salt-wedge estuaries at the mouth of rivers entering the sea are environmentally significant. Extensive wetlands are a feature of the region and provide significant habitat for native biodiversity.
The Glenelg Hopkins region has a range of natural assets in the form of biodiversity, waterways and wetlands, soils, forests and coastal areas. These natural resources support a unique quality of life.
The south west region is an important part of provincial Victoria and boasts a diverse range of lifestyle, investment and working opportunities. The main economic drivers are agriculture, fisheries, retail, manufacturing, health and community services, education and construction. Blue gum
plantations and mineral sands mining are recent additions to the region’s industries.
Achieving meaningful long-term change in the health of the catchment and the way it is managed requires a holistic approach and investment in people and communities, as much as into on ground technical responses.
An engaged catchment community that understands, supports, actively participates and has a strong sense of having control of programs that shape their landscape is the most powerful tool for achieving change.
The Habitat 141 project is an exciting mix of private and government initiatives that presents a unique opportunity to secure the future of the region’s greatest natural asset – the heritage listed Glenelg River. Locking in environmental water from the Wimmera Mallee pipeline savings for the Glenelg will be an important challenge.
Combining community biodiversity improvements with productivity gains on farms and balancing public use and development with environmental protection of coasts and estuaries are the other major challenges.
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) lies south of the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
, the region contains areas of scenic beauty, magnificent and dramatic coastline, superb national parks and rich biodiversity.
Glenelg Hopkins region
The region spans some 2.6 million hectares and extends from BallaratBallarat, 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...
in the Central Highlands of 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...
, west to the South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n border and south to the coast. The southern two thirds are characterised by flat volcanic plains while the Grampians
Grampians National Park
The Grampians National Park is a national park in Victoria, Australia, 235 kilometres west of Melbourne. The Park was listed on the Australian National Heritage List on 15 December 2006 for its outstanding natural beauty and being one of the richest indigenous rock art sites in south-eastern...
, Dundas Tablelands and Black Ranges dominate the northern third.
The region has three major river drainage basins - the Hopkins
Hopkins River
The Hopkins River is a river in southwestern Victoria, Australia. It begins near Ararat, and enters Bass Strait at Warrnambool. It is one of two rivers flowing through Warrnambool, the other is the Merri River....
, Glenelg
Glenelg River (Victoria)
The Glenelg River is a river in southwestern Victoria and southeastern South Australia in Australia. The river starts in the Grampian Ranges and runs for over 350 kilometres, making it the longest river in south-west Victoria. A short stretch of the lower end winds through South Australia before...
and Portland Coast. The lower section of the Glenelg River is heritage listed for its environmental significance. Salt-wedge estuaries at the mouth of rivers entering the sea are environmentally significant. Extensive wetlands are a feature of the region and provide significant habitat for native biodiversity.
The Glenelg Hopkins region has a range of natural assets in the form of biodiversity, waterways and wetlands, soils, forests and coastal areas. These natural resources support a unique quality of life.
The south west region is an important part of provincial Victoria and boasts a diverse range of lifestyle, investment and working opportunities. The main economic drivers are agriculture, fisheries, retail, manufacturing, health and community services, education and construction. Blue gum
Blue Gum
Blue Gum usually refers to the subspecies or the species in Eucalyptus globulus complex, however it may also refer to a number of other species of Eucalyptus in Australia. Confusingly, in Queensland it usually refers to Eucalyptus tereticornis, which is known elsewhere as Forest Red Gum.* Gippsland...
plantations and mineral sands mining are recent additions to the region’s industries.
Program Highlights
Community engagement plays a vital role in the success of all natural resource programs at Glenelg Hopkins CMA.Achieving meaningful long-term change in the health of the catchment and the way it is managed requires a holistic approach and investment in people and communities, as much as into on ground technical responses.
- Glenelg Hopkins Environmental Achievement Awards – the awards recognise achievements by individuals, communities and business in natural resource management
- Glenelg Hopkins CMA Partnership Project Scheme – supports individuals and groups to undertake works that promote sustainability and environmental protection
- Glenelg Hopkins Waterwatch - the most well-recognised community engagement programs for the CMA, Waterwatch conducts a comprehensive program to regional schools as well as involving local communities in the environmental monitoring of local waterways.
- Drought Employment Program – in 2006/2007 Glenelg Hopkins CMA received considerable funding from the State government to assist drought affected farmers and farm community members. Taking on a partnership approach this program delivered environmental and community benefits.
- LandcareLandcare (organisation)Landcare began in Victoria, Australia in 1986 with a group of farmers near St Arnaud in central Victoria forming the first Landcare group. Since then, the Landcare concept has developed into a movement, across Australia and now around the world...
– more than 150 Landcare, “friends of” and community based natural resource management groups are supported by Glenelg Hopkins CMA through Community Landcare Facilitators and the Waterwatch program.
An engaged catchment community that understands, supports, actively participates and has a strong sense of having control of programs that shape their landscape is the most powerful tool for achieving change.
Future Challenges
The key challenge for Glenelg Hopkins CMA is to continue to make natural resource management scientifically rigorous and socially relevant in the face of funding variations, lifestyle and populations changes, climate variability and increased demand for water resources.The Habitat 141 project is an exciting mix of private and government initiatives that presents a unique opportunity to secure the future of the region’s greatest natural asset – the heritage listed Glenelg River. Locking in environmental water from the Wimmera Mallee pipeline savings for the Glenelg will be an important challenge.
Combining community biodiversity improvements with productivity gains on farms and balancing public use and development with environmental protection of coasts and estuaries are the other major challenges.