DAY TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE YARROWEE-LEIGH CATCHMENT

Residents, landholders, students, educators and environmental volunteers are invited to take part in the upcoming Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Conversations, a community event designed to strengthen local connections, share knowledge and explore the waterways that connect Ballarat to Inverleigh.

The event will bring together people from across the local area to learn more about the rivers, creeks and landscapes that shape the region, hear about current projects and activities, and contribute valuable local insights that can help build a richer understanding of the Yarrowee Leigh catchment.

Participants will have the opportunity to spend time in the field with WaterWatch monitoring, explore key water quality indicators and get hands-on with monitoring equipment. The event will also showcase the important role that local observations and community knowledge play in understanding the health of waterways.

The event will also provide a space for community members to share observations and experiences, discuss changes they have noticed in local waterways over time, and explore the place, species and stories that matter to them. Through interactive mapping activities, attendees will help build a collective picture of the Yarrowee Leigh catchment, drawing together community knowledge, environmental observations and local perspectives.

The event aims to welcome new people into citizen science, reconnect existing volunteers, strengthen community networks across the catchment, and explore how monitoring can help answer important questions about local waterways.

Importantly, the day will help identify opportunities for future citizen science activities and community-led monitoring groups across the Yarrowee Leigh catchment, supporting a growing network of people who share an interest in understanding and caring for local waterways.

Tarryn O’Leary, Corangamite CMA Project Officer - Citizen Science, said the event provides a valuable opportunity for people to connect with both their local waterways and each other.

"The Corangamite CMA Citizen Science program is about much more than collecting data. It’s about bringing people together, sharing observations, asking questions, caring for Country, having fun, and building a deeper understanding of the waterways that connect our communities.

“We’re excited to create a space where community knowledge can be shared alongside practical monitoring skills. Whether people have been involved in WaterWatch for years or are simply curious about local waterways, we hope the day will spark new conversations, strengthen connections across the catchment, and help grow a community of people working together to understand and care for the Yarrowee Leigh waterway system.”

This event is free, but registrations are required. For full details and to register, visit: The Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Conversations

Event details

• Friday September 4, 2026
  10am to 2.30pm
  
• Buninyong Community House
  407A Warrenheip St, Buninyong

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The Corangamite CMA Citizen Science program is supported by Central Highlands Water and Barwon Water.