BREAKING THE BOTTLENECK: PROGRESS ON WILLOW REMOVAL AT BARWON DOWNS

The Corangamite CMA Riparian Program has recently completed the second year of willow removal along the East Barwon River at Barwon Downs.

The work is focused on a major constriction point near the old Tiger Rail Bridge crossing of the East Barwon River. This blockage has restricted the flow of environmental water and created a risk of river avulsion, where the river could unexpectedly change course.

The site is being restored through a staged approach. The willow infestation covers around 3.2 hectares and, in some places, stretches up to 100 metres across the river.

Phase One included removing willows downstream of the Rail Bridge. The area had become permanently waterlogged due to the blockage, so the works were completed over two summer seasons and finished in May 2026.

Phase Two, planned for summer 2026-27, will remove the remainder of the willows upstream of the bridge. This stage will also include the construction of six erosion-control structures to manage the avulsion risk and mitigate the flood risk to downstream landholders.

Before and after remediation works to remove Willows at Barwon Downs

This project is also working with the three neighbouring landholders to fence and revegetate the riparian area (river frontage). These works will help protect habitat for the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) listed Little Galaxias, a small native fish found at this site.

This project is co-funded by Barwon Water and Victorian State Government Environmental Contribution (EC) funding.

In addition, two other large willow removal projects were completed on Dewings Creek at Barwon Downs and East Barwon at Forrest between March and May 2026. Fencing to exclude livestock revegetation works at these sites are scheduled to begin in late winter to spring 2026.