We’re working hard to secure effective legislation that protects our rivers and gives us water security for the future.
Over the last few years, Environment Victoria has earned a reputation as a credible, respected and important stakeholder in Victorian water management and river health. As the state’s peak environment group, we bring a Victorian community river health perspective to policy reform and management practices. And to do this we tap into the wealth of expertise and passion that is alive and well in local river champions across the state.
We’re helping to shape the Victorian Government’s Sustainable Water Strategies for the western and Gippsland regions, with a focus on improving the health of rivers and wetlands by increasing water available to the environment. We’re also lobbying for greater efficiency and accountability in consumptive water use and for previously unaccounted water uses, such as farm dams and land use interceptions, to be included in the licensing framework.
We’re participating in several national processes, such as the implementation of the National Water Initiative and the development of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. We’re working to bring state and federal governments closer together on water management issues. And we’re focused on establishing and meeting water recovery targets for northern Victorian rivers that will ensure their long-term health in a drying climate.
We’re working with Commonwealth and Victorian environmental water holders to ensure that Victoria’s rivers and wetlands benefit fully from investment in water recovery. This includes timely and transparent reports on the delivery of environmental flows.
We’re coordinating local volunteers to participate in the development and implementation of state water reform processes on Environment Victoria’s behalf.
We’re contributing to the development of a Victorian Strategy for Healthy Rivers, Estuaries and Wetlands, with a focus on its key objective of ‘healthy rivers, streams and floodplains, which meet the environmental, economic, recreational and cultural needs of current and future generations’.
We’re offering amendments to the Victorian Water Act and working to enhance the protection of the Environmental Water Reserve and establish an independent Environmental Water Holder.
We work closely with other groups to coordinate our efforts, including the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Environment Defender’s Office, the Victorian National Parks Association, state and federal government departments and agencies, and Catchment Management Authorities. We also work with our affiliate groups and river champions, and regional groups from farmers, to environment groups and business.
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