We are working together with the North Central CMA and Traditional Owners the Dja Dja Wurrung, to implement a 20 year plan, ‘A Healthy Coliban Catchment’ project, to protect the upper section of the Coliban River and its long-term water supply, while boosting habitat connectivity, sustainable land use practices, and building cultural and lifestyle value across the region.
It is one of the most robust and integrated approaches to catchment management undertaken to date in Victoria. With a clear vision and action plan, the North Central CMA and Coliban Water are working with local councils, community groups landholders and communities on a range of voluntary on-ground projects and actions.
The project is also developing a potential planning scheme overlay to protect future supplies of drinking water and the environmental and cultural values that make the area so sought-after.
The Upper Coliban catchment provides raw water for drinking water purposes for more than 130,000 people. It also has a range of additional environmental, social and economic values. The region is culturally rich with a number of significant sites along waterways where Traditional Owners have sourced native plants, medicines and food for thousands of years.
A catchment-first approach
In 2024 we were the first water corporation in Australia to adopt the Australian Water Association’s new statement on protecting our water sources. Known as the Source Water Protection Statement, these principles will help us develop preventative risk management strategies to ensure our catchments and water sources remain healthy into the future.
Learn more about the Source Water Protection Statement.
Project statistics so far
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Upper Coliban integrated catchment management plan
North Central CMA and Coliban Water are working in partnership to deliver the Upper Coliban Integrated Catchment Management Plan.
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Learn about the damage willows do to the river
Willows have now invaded thousands of kilometres of riparian environments in south eastern Australia.
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The importance of managing grazing along rivers
Controlled grazing limits stocking rates and restricted timing, duration and conditions under which grazing takes place can be a useful management tool in some circumstances.
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A Healthy Coliban Catchment
Find out more about the project, what we're working on and what we've achieved in this 20 year project.
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A video introduction to the program
The project aims to protect the upper section of the Coliban River and its long-term water supply, while boosting habitat connectivity, sustainable land use practices, and building cultural and lifestyle value across the region.
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North Central Catchment Management Authority
For the first time, Coliban Water, the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation have joined forces to create a plan aimed at protecting water quality, the fauna and flora, and cultural history of the area.
