JOIN THE REIMAGINING THE ANGLESEA RIVER AND ESTUARY PROJECT WORKING GROUP

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is inviting Anglesea community members to register an Expression of Interest (EOI) to join the Reimagining the Anglesea River and Estuary (RARE) Project Working Group. This group will play a key role in helping shape future management options for for this important regional waterway that supports recreation, tourism and the environment.

The Anglesea River and estuary continue to experience ongoing water quality challenges, including periods of low pH and acid sulfate soils issues. These conditions, combined with fluctuating water levels and recent fish death events, highlight the need for a coordinated decision-making process that brings together regional agencies, communities, Traditional Owners and local businesses.

Corangamite CMA and partner agencies have been working together to monitor estuary conditions, investigate management options and trial interventions such as artificial estuary openings and pumping to maintain water levels. The RARE Project will build on this work by developing a clear pathway forward for both short term actions and long-term management.

A call for community participation

Individuals and representatives from Anglesea community, environmental, recreational and local business groups, including tourism operators, who are interested in helping to shape the future of the Anglesea River and estuary are invited to nominate to join the RARE Project Working Group.

The RARE Project Working Group is designed to:

• Provide input into the assessment of management options
• Bring local knowledge and community perspectives into decision making
• Support transparent communication between agencies and the wider community
• Contribute to shaping long term approaches to address acidity, estuary health, and climate driven pressures

Ryan Bath, Project Officer – Reimagining the Anglesea River, said “The Anglesea River is a complex, dynamic system, and there is no single quick fix. Solutions require sustained commitment, collaboration, and informed decision making. Corangamite CMA knows that community involvement is essential to ensuring local values and priorities help shape the path forward.

“Corangamite CMA is encouraging Anglesea residents, community group members, recreational users, business owners and anyone with an interest in the long term health of the Anglesea River and estuary to consider applying.”

How to apply

For more details on the project and to submit an EOI, visit: https://ccma.vic.gov.au/projects/reimagining-the-anglesea-river-and-estuary/
Applications close 5pm, 31st March 2026

The Reimagining the Anglesea River and Estuary project will be delivered in partnership with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Surf Coast Shire Council, the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).