1 Introduction Looking after the river we love

OUR VISION:

“The Manning River, its tributaries and the estuary give life to our community connecting the mountains to the sea. Together we manage the catchment holistically and respond to a changing climate - safeguarding environmental, social, cultural and economic values.”

1. INTRODUCTION LOOKING AFTER THE RIVER WE LOVE

Throughout history human settlement has hugged rivers and estuaries. Middens on the shoreline speak of Aboriginal campsites and shellfish banquets. For European settlers, waterways provided food, transport routes, water for drinking and farming, and places to enjoy scenic beauty and outdoor fun. These all depend on healthy habitats and clean water.

Our dependence on the river brings vulnerability. In the three years it has taken to develop the Manning River Estuary and Catchment Management Program (Manning River ECMP) we have experienced extreme lows and highs. In 2019, a record-breaking drought saw the Manning run dry. Drinking water was trucked to Gloucester and farmers were hit hard. Then in 2021 came a major flood, charging down the river with incredible force: flooding homes, flattening vegetation and dropping loads of mud, silt and gravel on the paddocks. Climate modelling tells us these extremes will become more frequent in our lifetime, something we need to start preparing for now. Healthy riparian vegetation and coastal wetlands connected to the floodplain won’t save us from extreme weather events, but they will buffer us from impact and help make our environment, our community and our economy more resilient. The ecosystem services provided by nature sustain our use of the river in good times and reduce impacts when extreme events occur.