A community workshop will be held on May 9 at Nathalia to help plan for future environmental management of the lower Broken and Nine Mile creeks.
Nathalia, Numurkah and Wunghnu residents are invited to have their say on management of the lower Broken and Nine Mile creeks at a community workshop being held on Tuesday, May 9.
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Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority river health and environmental water project co-ordinator Pam Beattie said the workshop would focus on what the community most valued about the creeks, desired improvements and identifying top priorities for works.
The feedback will contribute to the Goulburn Broken CMA’s Environmental Water Management Plan.
“This plan is a 10-year document and provides an opportunity to think about what we can do better in terms of flow management and other waterway improvement activities,” Ms Beattie said.
“While the plan has a primary focus on improving environmental values, it is also important to make sure the objectives within the plan reflect what the local community thinks is most valuable about the creek and what needs further attention.”
The creeks form part of the larger Broken Creek system that originates at Casey’s Weir on the Broken River north of Benalla.
Lower Broken and Nine Mile creeks cover about 200km from Katamatite to Barmah, and take in the townships of Numurkah, Wunghnu and Nathalia.
Originally an intermittent creek, during the past 100 years sections of the creek have been straightened, dredged and controlled through multiple weir structures.
All of these changes have impacted the health of the creek by altering flow patterns, the physical shape of the creek and the type of habitat available.
Ms Beattie said despite these changes, the creeks remained highly valued, supporting cultural values, rural communities and threatened native species such as Murray cod and golden perch.
A golden perch salvaged from one of lower Broken Creek’s water quality refuges during the spring 2022 floods.
“In recognition of this value, there has been considerable investment to improve the health of the lower Broken Creek over recent decades,” she said.
“The installation of fishways on weir structures, reinstating deep pools and woody snags, native fish stocking, reintroducing threatened catfish, protecting the riparian zone through creating reserves and delivering water for the environment, have all worked towards improving aspects of the creek.
“These efforts have seen some improvements in water quality, the availability of in-stream habitat and consequently the native fish community, with researchers finding in recent years the creek is supporting natural breeding by Murray cod.”
The community workshop will be held on Tuesday, May 9 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, at the Dancocks Room, Nathalia Sports and Community Centre, 42 Robertson St.
Supper will be provided. RSVP by April 30 to reception@gbcma.vic.gov.au noting any special dietary requirements.
For those who would like to provide input but are unable to attend the workshop, email Pam Beattie atpamb@gbcma.vic.gov.au or request a time to chat over the phone during business hours.
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