WGCMA -Welcome waters from the mountain to the sea

WELCOME WATERS

FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA

Agnes Waterfalls Powlett River Estuary POWLETT RIVER ESTUARY

Just down the road from Kilcunda, the Powlett River flows into Bass Strait. Part of the newly formed Yallock-Bulluk Marine and Coastal Park, it’s a great place to stroll, kayak, beachcomb, birdwatch or throw in a line. The spectacular estuary is a wetland of national significance with resident birds feeding in waters that reflect the area’s ever-changing moods. Giant dunes spill down to the tidal river and you can wander along a bush track or sandy shore to the rugged beauty of the ocean beach and wild waters of Bass Strait.

Behind the scenes, WGCMA is working with partners and landholders to care for the area. This includes learning about Cultural Heritage with Traditional Owners from the Bunurong Land Council, reducing foxes, rabbits and weeds, fencing and revegetation to allow flora and fauna to recover along the waterway.

AGNES FALLS

Pack a picnic and grab your binoculars and head for the cool hills. The Agnes River flows along 43 kilometres from the top of the Strzeleckis, through lush farmland and gorges before winding into Corner Inlet.

It’s an easy 200 metre rainforest walk to a platform to view the state’s largest single span waterfall. Enjoy feeling the spray from the cool water as it dances over the 59 metre drop, cascading onto rocks below.

Above the waterfall, the CMA has been hard at work with farmers and Landcare to fence and revegetate an impressive 70% of the Agnes River (so far). Agnes River Landcare Group has a vision of their revegetation works creating a link to the falls so visitors can discover the area’s beauty and wildlife.

Thomson River near Horseshoe Bend

West Gippsland is a wonderland of waterways flowing from the mountains to the sea. Rivers wind their way through forests, farms and towns and are great ‘tour guides’ leading you to fabulous destinations. Many of the region’s hidden gems are away from coastal crowds where you can cool down and immerse yourself in nature. Behind the scenes, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) is working with the community and partners to care for and enhance the region’s rivers, creeks, wetlands and estuaries. The areas where the team loves to work are also cool places to play this summer. So, go with the flow and discover a few of their favourite spots. Enjoy…

HORSESHOE BEND

The Thomson is one of Gippsland’s most significant and ecologically important rivers and Horseshoe Bend is perfect to take in the area’s beauty and history. Have a dip and enjoy the spectacle of water rushing out of the Horseshoe Bend tunnel and providing a link to the site’s gold mining past.

In 2019, WGCMA opened the Thomson River Fishway to allow native fish permanent access to the upper Thomson and Aberfeldy rivers for the first time in a century. WGCMA Waterways Project Officer David Stork says that before the fishway, annual fish surveys found an absence of key native migratory fish species upstream of the tunnel. “Since the fishway was completed, surveys found good numbers of the migratory Tupong and other native species which have used the fishway to move upstream. It’s an extremely positive sign that it’s doing what it’s meant to do,” said David.

Sale Wetlands LOWER LATROBE WETLANDS

These significant wetlands provide great nature escapes – paddle your kayak through Dowd Morass or walk or cycle through Sale Common and Heart Morass.

Across the year, WGCMA delivers environmental water to help to keep these lower reaches of the river systems healthy and are a great example of the importance of water and the diversity it brings.

The team also works with partners to remove weeds such as willows and undertake environmental and water quality monitoring.

“We’ve recorded Australian Bittern, Green Golden Bell frogs and Lathams Snipe and I often see turtles basking on logs. It’s a great year to experience the diversity of wetlands,” says WGCMA Environmental Water Officer, Adrian Clements.

GIPPSLAND PLAINS RAIL TRAIL

If walk or ride along this trail, you’ll cross many of the region’s hero waterways including the Thomson, Latrobe, Macalister, Avon rivers and Rainbow and Eaglehawk creeks.

Starting at Traralgon, it travels through Glengarry, Toongabbie, Cowwarr, Heyfield, Tinamba and Maffra, finishing at Stratford. You’ll encounter sculpture, artworks, quaint towns and diverse agriculture. Between Glengarry and Toongabbie, as you cross the Eaglehawk Creek, you’ll see 10,000 trees planted by local students, Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network and WGCMA.

Rainbow Creek is another colourful CMA story, where the team is working with landholders to address the risks of changing water courses and protect them through weed removal, river bank protection and revegetation.

Rainbow Creek