COMMUNITY CONNECTS WITH THE UPPER BARWON RIVER

Local community members, landholders and partners braved the rain and cold in Forrest on Saturday, to come together for ‘What’s going on with our River?’, a community event, strengthening connections and building shared understanding of the upper Barwon River.

Hosted by Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) in partnership with Barwon Water, Upper Barwon Landcare Network and the Gerangamete Forrest Landcare Group, the free event provided an opportunity for attendees to learn about the current health of the Upper Barwon River, ongoing restoration works, and future priorities.

The eventbrought together a full room of community members, experts and local organisations to share knowledge, ask questions and explore how the river can be supported into the future.

Participants heard about the significant work underway through the Barwon Flagship Waterway Project, including efforts to improve river health, restore habitat and address challenges such as invasive species and reduced flows.

The day began with presentations at the Forrest Community Hub, followed by an outdoor “walk and talk” session, where the group was able to experience the river environment firsthand and visit a past restoration site, followed by a BBQ lunch cooked by the local Landcare group.

Andrew Harrison, Corangamite CMA Senior Project Officer – Strategy and Planning, said the strong turnout reflected the community’s deep connection to the Upper Barwon River.

“Despite the wet conditions it was fantastic to see so many people come together to learn more about the river and the work being done to protect it. There was so much enthusiasm from attendees and many great conversations about how we can support a healthy river system.

“This part of the Barwon River is incredibly important to local communities, Traditional Owners, agriculture and biodiversity, and events like this help ensure local knowledge and community voices are part of its future.”

The collaborative nature of the event highlighted the importance of partnerships in waterway management, with community members, landholders and organisations sharing insights and experiences.

Importantly, the event created space for open discussion, allowing participants to raise questions, contribute ideas and better understand how they can be involved in caring for the river.

Thank you to all partners, presenters and attendees for their contribution to the day. Corangamite CMA is committed to working alongside Traditional Owners and the community to improve waterway health across the region.