Partnerships the foundation for a healthy catchment
Improving communication and building strong partnerships with land managers is considered very important when managing water quality in an open catchment.
Improving communication and building strong partnerships with land managers is considered very important when managing water quality in an open catchment.
Environment and Sustainability Manager for Westernport Water, Benita Russell explains “Candowie Reservoir is supplied from an open catchment and as such relies on the landholders to manage their activities and take care to prevent contaminants entering the drinking water supply,” said Benita.
During a recent open day at Candowie Reservoir attended by local landholders and Bass Coast Landcare members, Benita explained what works the Corporation has undertaken to improve water quality and highlighted the importance of partnerships and shared goals.
“It was a great opportunity for Westernport Water to meet with the neighbours and show the extensive revegetation work Landcare has accomplished at the site over the last 2 years, and show off the completed upgrade works.
“Through our partnership with Bass Coast Landcare assistance is provided to landholders to undertake on ground works in the Candowie Catchment with an aim to reducing nutrients and sediment loads entering the reservoir.
Bass Coast Landcare Network Executive Officer, Kellie Nichols said “the Bass Coast Landcare Network would like to thank Westernport Water for their support and contribution to Landcare. These events highlight Westernport Water’s support for landscape restoration in Bass Coast and enhance the sense of community in achieving this goal together. The partnership with Westernport Water is a vital component of the work undertaken by local landowners to restoring the Candowie catchment, the Bass River and its tributaries through revegetation and stock exclusion”.
On the day attendees had the opportunity to view the Ian Bartlett Water Purification Plant operations and meet with Westernport Water’s water quality experts and Melbourne Water’s stream frontage program coordinator where they learnt about funding opportunities available for catchment works.
If you own land in a catchment that fronts onto a river or creek, you may be eligible for funding to help you manage the land. The Melbourne Water Stream frontage management program supports work that protects or enhances riverbanks, such as weed control, fencing and planting native vegetation.
For more information on landholder responsibilities in a drinking catchment check out the Department of Health publication Protect our waters, Protect our health, www.health.vic.gov.au/environment/water/ or please contact Jake Weir on 5956 4189 for a copy to be sent out to you in the mail.
Click here to download the official joint media release as a .pdf