CCMA strengthens ties with water authorities

THE Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Barwon Water, it’s second in recent months after it inked a similar partnership agreement with Wannon Water in December 2021.

An MoU with the regions third water authority, the Central Highlands, is already in place.

The MoU’s are designed to formally align the working relationship between the organisations, with a key focus on improving catchment health in the Wannon, Central Highlands and Corangamite regions.

“The strongest outcomes are built through combined effort and inter-agency cooperation and collaboration,” Barwon Water deputy chair Elaine Carbines said.

From the inception of the CCMA in 1997 the two authorities have collaborated on waterway protection projects including the EstuaryWatch, Waterwatch citizen science activities, water-focused school education programs, and the Living Moorabool and the Upper Barwon Flagship waterway projects.

“Both Barwon Water and the Corangamite CMA are committed to preserving and enhancing the natural environment, supporting landowners and other stakeholders and providing community education opportunities for people to learn more about our waterways and future water security,” Ms Carbines said.

Corangamite CMA Chair Cath Jenkins said the MoU recognises the decades-long partnership with Barwon Water.

“I welcome this important agreement which formalises and strengthens the existing relationship between … I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively to achieve the common goal of maintaining and improving catchment health,” Mrs Jenkins said.

Wannon Water chair Jacinta Ermacora spoke of a symbiotic relationship between the health of the environment and the sustainable harvesting of water for communities in the region, when announcing the December signing of the MoU between the two.

In a joint statement between the two bodies, a collaborative project working on improving the health and flows of the Gellibrand River was singled out as an example of the pair’s working relationship.

“We’re pleased to be partnering with the CCMA, drawing on the skills and knowledge of staff from both organisations.”

Two years in the making, Ms Ermacora said the MoU “provides a framework to ensure we keep the balance right”.