The RARE Working Group met on 15 July 2026 to continue progressing the assessment of management options for the Anglesea River and estuary.

A significant milestone was reached with the Working Group agreeing to move forward with both the project remit and root cause statements using a ‘super majority’ approach. Members also refined the language used in these statements to better reflect the ongoing nature of acidic conditions in the river and estuary.

The group reviewed and discussed the project's decision-making framework, providing feedback on how management options should be assessed. Members agreed that all options should continue to be evaluated against a broad range of criteria, including environmental considerations, with a revised framework to be presented at the next meeting.

A key feature of the meeting was an expert panel session, where participants met directly with specialists in areas including acid sulfate soils, estuary management, hydrogeology, waterway health and environmental management. These discussions helped Working Group members better understand the opportunities, risks and feasibility of the management options currently being explored.

At the next Working Group meeting members will further assess management options and continue refining the project's evaluation framework.

The RARE Working Group met on 17 June at the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club, bringing together community members, local organisations and agencies to continue work on future management options for the Anglesea River and estuary.

The group agreed to a remit for the group, which has been amended to reflect the wider catchment and recognising issues such as reduced flows and acid events. The remit for the group also highlighted that the process will likely lead to funding proposal, depending on the preferred option(s) identified by the group.

Participants worked together to better understand why the river and estuary are no longer as healthy as they once were. Key insights and questions were captured and will be followed up by the agencies involved in the project.

The group developed and prioritised a set of decision-making criteria to guide future assessment of management options, ensuring community values remain central to the project.

The RARE Working Group met on 20 May 2026 for their second meeting to continue work towards identifying a short-term management option(s) for the Anglesea River and estuary. The purpose for Workshop #2 included refining the problem statement, reviewing and prioritising values and an initial assessment of management options.

The group focused on refining the project’s problem statement to better reflect values and challenges facing the river and estuary. Members also discussed the values most important to protect, which will guide future decisions on management options.

A range of management options identified in previous studies and investigations were introduced. Various options were considered including management options to maintaining current conditions, introducing seawater into the river (i.e. entrance openings), neutralisation of acidic water or soils, water flow changes and built works. Early feedback from the Working Group highlighted benefits, risks and key information gaps associated with these management options.

The next Working Group meeting in June 2026 will focus on providing a more detailed analysis of management options for the Anglesea River and estuary for the group to explore.

The first RARE Working Group meeting, held on 15 April 2026, brought together community representatives, agencies and project partners to establish shared understanding of the Reimagining the Anglesea River and Estuary project, confirm ways of working, and begin identifying key values, issues and priorities.

Members shared their personal connections to the river, reviewed the draft Terms of Reference and governance structure, and discussed the role of partner agencies, reporting, and communications.

Initial presentations and discussion highlighted the importance of environmental values underpinning all others, along with key challenges including altered flow regimes, sedimentation, climate change, water quality, and community perceptions of river health.

The group provided detailed feedback on the draft values and problem statement, noting the need to address future climate conditions, spatial impacts, metals and chemical risks, and short‑term management urgency ahead of next summer.

The workshop program for upcoming meetings was outlined, alongside opportunities for site visits, citizen science, economic assessment and alignment with related projects, setting a strong foundation for confirming values and assessing management options in subsequent workshops.

The Senior Leadership Group met on 29 July 2026 to review progress on the RARE project. Members discussed outcomes from the recent Working Group #4 meeting, where Working Group members requested more time to consider technical information before narrowing management options. The SLG supported refinements to the decision-making framework to ensure options are fully considered alongside feasibility and deliverability.

The Working Group will continue assessing options over the coming months, using a revised decision-making framework which places greater emphasis on the remit of the Working Group and the potential benefits and trade-offs of different management approaches.

Agency updates noted increased flows through Marshy Creek following recent rainfall, with ongoing monitoring of water quality and acid sulphate soil risks. SLG members also received updates on fish surveys, coastal adaptation planning, and water management matters affecting the Anglesea River system.

The RARE Senior Leadership Group met on 1 July to review outcomes from Working Group Workshop #3 and prepare for the next stage of assessing management options for the Anglesea River and estuary.

The Senior Leadership Group noted the progress made by the Working Group, noting the revised remit for the Working Group and the discussion on the root cause of problems facing the river and estuary.

Preparation is now underway for Working Group Workshop #4. The Senior Leadership Group provided input on the shared set of criteria that the Working Group members will begin assessing management options. The Senior Leadership Group also endorsed the decision-making approach to help identify preferred options, reflecting the project's commitment to collaborative decision-making across community, agency and business representatives.

The SLG met on 3 June 2026 to continue guiding the Reimagining the Anglesea River & Estuary (RARE) project.

They reflected on progress from RARE Working Group #2, noting the valuable input from the Working Group to help establish a clearer understanding of community values and priorities in exploring the various management options for the Anglesea River and estuary.

Work is now focused on refining the project’s problem statement and ensuring it captures key considerations and values associated with the Anglesea River and estuary. Further collaboration with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation will support the development of cultural connections and values within the project.

In the coming weeks, the project team will translate these shared values into assessment criteria to guide decision-making. This will help evaluate management options for the Anglesea River and estuary, while considering feasibility, costs, and funding timelines.

The SLG also discussed a number of related activities, including planning for a future berm management trial, coordination across local projects (such as the Anglesea River Flood Mitigation and Adaptation Study and Anglesea Coastal Adaptation Plan), and ongoing land and water management matters in the catchment.

At the first meeting (22 April 2026), the Strategic Leadership Group confirmed its role in providing strategic oversight of the project, including helping partner agencies stay informed and raising emerging issues early.

The group received an update from the first RARE Working Group meeting, including an update on the process for the working group moving forward and the development of draft values and problem statement for the project. It was noted that the next Working Group meeting (20th May) will confirm the values and problem statement and start developing the long list of management options.

Members of the SLG also discussed the value of an economic assessment to better understand the river and estuary’s contribution to Anglesea and to support a future business case, as well as the importance of identifying who benefits from different outcomes and the likely decision-making and funding pathways as options become clearer.

The group agreed on next steps for Corangamite CMA, including coordinating clear public updates after meetings, mapping beneficiaries, and establishing an issues log to track key issues and opportunities as the project progresses.