Collaboration central to waterway strategy

THE Corangamite Catchment Management Authority is renewing its Regional Waterway Strategy which will guide investment over the next decade.

The new strategy will aim to create a shared understanding of priorities and focus areas for agencies and community groups.

“We do need to invest in nature and invest in nature repair,” said manager of strategy and partnerships Trent Griffiths.

“Strategies like the waterway strategies, but all of those other catchment scale or state wide strategies, are really important in being able to define where those benefits and opportunities lie.

“The [Regional Waterway] Strategy really helps us articulate what balance we are striving for between water for economic values… as well as the environmental values.”

Across August and September, the authority is hosting workshops throughout the catchment area for key delivery partners and people involved in natural resource management.

“It’s not just about the end product of the document… but also just the process of getting partners together, all those people who work day-to-day in natural resource management or water management, sitting around a table and really getting on the same page,” Mr Griffiths said. “It’s a really important process.”

Following the workshops, participants and the broader community will have the chance to review the draft strategy.

Mr Griffiths said it’s important to understand diverse perspectives from the community.

“I’d be surprised if there was anyone across our catchment who didn’t visit one of our waterways at least once in the year,” he said.

“There are perspectives from people out there we might not be capturing because it’s such a massive task.

“People having a voice in that is really important.”