Seasonal watering proposals are informed by community and program partner engagement, including Traditional Owner engagement. Program partners and communities help to identify priorities and opportunities for the delivery of water for the environment in the coming year.
Longer-term regional catchment strategies, regional waterway strategies, relevant technical studies (such as environmental flows studies), environmental water management plans and Traditional Owner Country plans (and associated documents) also inform seasonal watering proposals. These strategies, plans and technical reports collectively describe a range of environmental, economic, social and Traditional Owner perspectives and longer-term integrated catchment and waterway management objectives that influence environmental flows and priorities.
The VEWH and its program partners consider cultural, social, economic and recreational values and uses of waterways when planning for the delivery of water for the environment. Where possible, opportunities to support these values and uses are incorporated into watering decisions, provided they do not compromise environmental outcomes. Cultural, social, economic and recreational values considered for each system in the western region are presented in the system sections that follow.
The International Association for Public Participation’s Public Participation Spectrum (IAP2 Spectrum) has been used to categorise the levels of participation of stakeholders involved in the planning process for water for the environment. Table 4.1.1 shows the IAP2 Spectrum categories and participation goals.
Table 4.1.1 International Association for Public Participation’s Public Participation Spectrum categories and participation goals1
IAP2 level | Engagement goal |
Inform | Provide balanced and objective information to assist understanding, alternatives, opportunities and/or solutions |
Consult | Obtain feedback on analysis, alternatives and/or decisions |
Involve | Work directly throughout a process to ensure that concerns and aspirations are consistently understood and considered |
Collaborate | Partner in each aspect of the decision, including the development of alternatives and the identification of the preferred solution |
Empower | Place final decision-making in the hands of the stakeholder |
1 The VEWH has the permission of the International Association for Public Participation to reproduce the IAP2 Spectrum.
Tables 4.1.2, 4.1.3 and 4.1.4 show the partners, stakeholder organisations and individuals with which Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Mallee CMA, North Central CMA and Wimmera CMA engaged when preparing the Glenelg, Wimmera and Wimmera-Mallee wetlands systems’ seasonal watering proposals. This includes engagement conducted as part of developing the seasonal watering proposals as well as engagement during the preparation of key foundational documents that directly informed the proposals. VEWH staff were also consulted for operational information as part of the development of all seasonal watering proposals by CMAs.
The tables also show the level of engagement between Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Mallee CMA, North Central CMA and Wimmera CMA and stakeholders of the environmental watering program in the western region based on the CMAs’ interpretation of the IAP2 Spectrum.
The level of engagement differs between organisations and between systems, depending on the availability, capacity or interest of stakeholders to participate, roles and responsibilities of organisations in managing a site or system, and potential interaction of proposed watering with other activities on the waterway. For example, in the Wimmera region, councils have a strong involvement in environmental flows planning and delivery because they manage town weir pools in Horsham, Dimboola and Jeparit through which environmental flows must pass. Councils in the Wimmera region have also expressed a strong interest in water for the environment because of the benefits watering provides to the region’s economy, tourism and environment. Wimmera CMA works with these councils in the planning process and during the year to incorporate any aspirations or concerns. In other parts of the western region, local governments are less involved in management and may only need to be informed of the seasonal watering proposals.
External factors also influence engagement opportunities. COVID-19 restrictions reduced opportunities across the western region for face-to-face meetings with the community and Traditional Owners.
Table 4.1.2 Partners and stakeholders engaged by Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority in developing seasonal watering proposals for the Glenelg system and other key foundation documents that have directly informed the proposal (grouped in alphabetical order)
Partner/stakeholder | Glenelg system |
Community groups and environment groups | IAP2 level: Inform - Friends of the Glenelg River Inc.
- Glenelg River User Group
|
Government agencies | IAP2 level: Collaborate - Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
- GWMWater
- Natural Resources South East (South Australia)
- Parks Victoria
- Victorian Fisheries Authority
- Wimmera CMA
|
IAP2 level: Inform - Limestone Coast Landscape Board
|
Landholders/farmers | IAP2 level: Collaborate |
Local businesses | IAP2 level: Inform - Balmoral Bush Nursing Centre
- Balmoral Local Post Office
- Glenelg River Boat Cruises
- Harrow Discovery Centre
- Nelson Boat and Canoe Hire
- Nelson River Cruises
- Paestan Canoe Hire
- Vickery Bros (sand extraction)
|
Recreational users | IAP2 level: Consult - Balmoral District Angling Club
- Casterton Angling Society Inc.
- Dartmoor Angling Club
- Individual anglers
- Kayakers
- Southwest Victoria fishing reports
- Vic Bream Classics (organisers and participants)
- VRFish
|
IAP2 level: Inform |
Traditional Owners | IAP2 level: Collaborate - Barengi Gadjin Land Council
- Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation
- Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
|
Table 4.1.3 Partners and stakeholders engaged by Wimmera Catchment Management Authority in developing the seasonal watering proposal for the Wimmera system and other key foundation documents that have directly informed the proposal (grouped in alphabetical order)
Partner/stakeholder | Wimmera system |
Community groups and environment groups | IAP2 level: Consult - Friends of Bungalally and Burnt Creek Group
- Lake Lonsdale Action Group
- Yarriambiack Creek Advisory Committee
|
Government agencies | IAP2 level: Collaborate - Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
- Glenelg Hopkins CMA
- GWMWater
|
IAP2 level: Involve - Hindmarsh Shire Council
- Horsham Rural City Council
|
IAP2 level: Consult - Murray-Darling Basin Authority
- Northern Grampians Shire Council
- Parks Victoria
- Victorian Fisheries Authority
- Yarriambiack Shire Council
|
Landholders/farmers | IAP2 level: Inform - Wimmera community members, especially landholders and stock and domestic water users
|
Recreational users | IAP2 level: Consult - Dimboola Boat and Water Ski Club
- Dimboola Fishing Classic
- Dimboola Rowing Club
- Field and Game
- Hindmarsh Ski Club
- Horsham Fishing Competition Inc.
- Horsham Triathlon Committee
- Jeparit Anglers Club
- Murtoa Angling Club
- Natimuk Lake water ski club
- Paddle Victoria
- Stawell and District Angling Club
- Warracknabeal Angling Club
- Wimmera Anglers Association
- VRFish
|
Traditional Owners | IAP2 level: Collaborate - Barengi Gadjin Land Council
|
Table 4.1.4 Partners and stakeholders engaged by Mallee Catchment Management Authority, North Central Catchment Management Authority and Wimmera Catchment Management Authority seasonal watering proposals for the Wimmera-Mallee wetlands and other key foundation documents that have directly informed the proposals (grouped in alphabetical order)
Partner/stakeholder | Wimmera-Mallee wetlands |
Community groups and environment groups | IAP2 level: Inform - Berriwillock Landcare
- Birchip Landcare Group
- Birchip Cropping Group
- Cokum community group
- Community members on the Mallee CMA Land and Water Advisory Committee
- Culgoa Landcare
- Curyo-Watchupga Landcare
- Donald and District Landcare Group
- Green Lake Regional Park
- Hopetoun Landcare
- Lake Tuhum Committee
- Lalbert Landcare
- Millewa-Carwarp Landcare
- Nullawil Landcare
- Ouyen Lake Project
- OzFish Unlimited
- Sea Lake Landcare
- Ultima Landcare
- Waitche Landcare
- Wimmera Bushwalking Club
- Woomelang-Lascelles Landcare
|
Government agencies | IAP2 level: Collaborate - Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
- GWMWater
- Mallee CMA
- North Central CMA
- Parks Victoria
- Wimmera CMA
|
IAP2 level: Inform - Buloke Shire Council
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
- Mildura Rural City Council
- Yarriambiack Shire Council
|
Landholders/farmers | IAP2 level: Collaborate |
IAP2 level: Consult - Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline Environmental Water Advisory Group (North Central CMA)
|
Local businesses | IAP2 level: Inform - Ouyen Lake Project
- Wimmera Mallee Tourism
|
Partner/stakeholder | Wimmera-Mallee wetlands |
Recreational users | IAP2 level: Consult - Natimuk & District Field & Game Inc.
|
IAP2 level: Inform - Recreational users in the local community
|
Traditional Owners | IAP2 level: Collaborate - Barapa Barapa Nation Aboriginal Corporation
- Barengi Gadjin Land Council
- Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation
|
