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Waterway Protection Program

Financial Incentives for Waterway Restoration

Corangamite CMA funds waterway protection and restoration works with incentives available for fencing, weed control, revegetation, stock crossings and off-stream water points, willow removal and pest animal management.

Funding is targeted towards waterways within specific geographic areas under the Corangamite Waterway Strategy and is available in different areas at different times.

To read more about what may be involved in a waterway project please see our past projects page.

Between 2016 and 2020, Corangamite CMA and our partners completed over 170 kilometres of river frontage restoration, including:

  • 84 waterway projects
  • 95 kilometres of fencing and associated off-stream water infrastructure
  • 708 hectares of revegetation
  • 860 hectares under management
  • 1482 hectares of weed control
  • 17 kilometres of willow removal works

Current Opportunities

Green Links – Connecting Riparian Corridors through Birregurra, Shelford, and Meredith to Maude

This project has been funded under the DEECA Green Links program for a period of two years, July 2024 to June 2026. The Connecting Riparian corridors component will be delivered by the Corangamite CMA waterway health team in partnership with the Upper Barwon Landcare Network, Geelong Landcare Network, Parks Victoria and landholders along a mixture of public land, crown and private frontage.

The project aims to achieve connectivity and revegetation of riparian zones in three specific sections of waterway within the Barwon catchment:

  • Barwon River (from Yeo Streamside Reserve at Colac-Lorne Road downstream to Conns Lane),
  • Leigh River and Woodbourne Creek (from Shelford Recreation Reserve upstream to Bamganie State Forest)
  • Moorabool River (from Slate Quarry Road at Meredith downstream to Perdrisat Road, Maude).

Projects that can achieve the best connectivity of waterway frontage will be given first priority for funding. For further information see the Fact Sheets and Contact details below. If you have property on the sections of river listed above please get in touch with the team (see contact details below).

Corangamite CMA and Barwon Water – Special Water Supply Catchment

Corangamite CMA, in partnership with Barwon Water will be delivering catchment protection works within Barwon Water – Special Water Supply Catchments (SWSC) across our region. This includes areas within the Upper Barwon, West Moorabool (downstream of Lal Lal Reservoir), East Moorabool, Matthews Creek, Gosling Creek and Pennyroyal Creek and minor tributaries. Priority locations include waterways protection (fence and revegetation) sites immediately upstream of offtakes and impoundments within these SWSC. If you would like to register an Expression of Interest, or discuss if your property is within an eligible SWSC, please contact Tony Byrne.

Barwon Flagship Project

The Barwon Flagship project is a long-term project aiming to improve the health of the Barwon River. As part of this,  Corangamite CMA has developed a specifically designed works trial to address the unique challenges in the Upper Barwon system. We are continuing to take expressions of interest from people who have frontage on the East Barwon West Barwon River, and Dewings Creek. Contact Tony Byrne.

Fact Sheets

Eligible activities include fencing, stock crossings and off-stream water points, weed control, revegetation, willow removal and pest and animal management.

 

Fact Sheet 1: Participating in waterway protection works Fact Sheet 2: Eligibility and project requirements Fact Sheet 3: Standards and Incentive Rates Standards for Riparian Flood Fencing

Contact Us

For further information or to express interest in a project in the future contact one of our Land & Catchment Health Officers, on 1800 002 262 or via info@ccma.vic.gov.au

  • Tony Byrne for the Barwon and northern Moorabool.
  • Gene Gardiner for the Heytesbury, Curdies and Gellibrand.
  • Kelly Snell for the Yarrowee-Leigh, southern Moorabool, Surf Coast and Bellarine.

How the application process works

  1. Submit an expression of interest (EOI) by contacting us (see above). You are encouraged to submit an EOI for any project site at anytime, whether it is currently open for funding or not.
  2. If your site is eligible for funding, a staff member will call you to discuss the project site, tell you about the process and funding conditions and check you are keen to proceed.
  3. We will organise a site visit to discuss the scope of the project and the potential activities, collect environmental data, write a management plan and cost the potential project. 
  4. You will receive a draft management plan to review the proposed works and costing bid sheet that contains the maximum amount of incentive funding per activity you can receive. If you wish to proceed with the project, you fill out the bid form showing how much of the maximum funding you wish to claim. 
  5. Once applications close, we will rank all projects based on cost/benefit for site preference, potential river health outcomes and cost. Funding, subject to availability, is offered to the highest ranked projects.  
  6. Successful projects will be offered a contract and the funds to complete the activities listed in the management plan. 
  7. Contracts will be signed. 
  8. Works will commence.

Please note, unsuccessful sites may be eligible for future funding. Site and landholder information will be kept on a register. 

Past Work Case Studies

Please click the buttons below to find out more about past works in our region. 

Willow Removal in the Gellibrand River Catchment

Angler Riparian Partnerships Program

Willow Removal at Barwon River, Birregurra

Dewing Creek Restoration Works

Contact Us

Colac Office

64 Dennis Street, Colac VIC 3250
PO Box 159, Colac, VIC 3250
Hours: 8:30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday

T: 1800 002 262
E: info@ccma.vic.gov.au

Geelong office

BARWON WATER OFFICES
Hours: 8:30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday
All mail must be sent via our Colac office
PO Box 159, Colac, VIC 3250

T: 1800 002 262
E: info@ccma.vic.gov.au