Funding continues for a role that helps the agricultural community in East Gippsland adopt sustainable farming practices.

Sustainable Agriculture Facilitators (SAFs) are based in rural regions across Victoria. 

In East Gippsland, Emma Orgill, based in Orbost, is the go-to contact for farmers, landholders, industry and community groups, supporting climate-smart agriculture in this region.

The SAF’s role is to offer services that create partnerships and connections, promoting knowledge and adoption of sustainable agriculture practices across the East Gippsland agricultural community.  The SAF supports the implementation of management tools, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient farming sector.

Emma has gained extensive experience from her time in this role, developing strong connections with East Gippsland’s farming community and agency partners.  She has supported numerous activities across the region, including field trips, training sessions and workshops. 

“I’ve enjoyed working in this role for all these years and value how the agriculture community works together.” Said Emma Orgill

“Farmers are amazing people that need to wear many hats from operating a business to looking after their land, people, and animals. I’ve not met a farmer that doesn’t want to leave their property in a better place for the next generation while committing to create a resilient farming community.” Added Emma

The East Gippsland Sustainable Agriculture Facilitators are supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.

Keep an eye out for upcoming dates of events via the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and Far East Victoria Landcare’s social media pages.

Lake Tyers Estuary opened to the sea in the early hours of Tuesday 18 February 2025.

Since the opening there have been no reports of fish deaths. There are reports of many birds and ducks in the area, and the lake is very clear.

On Tuesday afternoon (of the opening) the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA), with support from Parks Victoria carried out water quality monitoring across the lake. The oxygen levels at Toorloo Arm were extremely low (2% at surface) and were also low in Boggy Creek (40%). All other sites across the lake had moderate to high oxygen levels.

The East Gippsland CMA were concerned by these results and were keeping a close eye on the lake, asking people to contact them if fish were looking to be impacted.

Bec Hemming, CEO East Gippsland CMA said, “on Wednesday afternoon, East Gippsland Shire Council and East Gippsland CMA staff saw a couple hundred of small fish had gone belly up near the Nowa Nowa wetlands walk.”

“We were starting to think that this was the start of more bad news to come.”

On Thursday afternoon further inspections were undertaken in Toorloo Arm and no dead fish were found.

 “We were relieved with this news. There isn’t a lot of science on fish movement during estuary openings. We suspect they move downstream towards the ocean, and where there is more oxygen,” said Bec.

“The lake is looking great, the water is clear, there are lots of waterbirds enjoying the changes in conditions and we are hearing reports that the fishing is a little hit and miss.”

“It is great to see the agencies working together. East Gippsland Shire Council have done a power of work to clean up the facilities at Nowa Nowa and Lake Tyers Beach; the community have kept everyone up to date with the changes in the lake and providing reports to agencies.  Parks Victoria and Gippsland Ports have provided ongoing support with monitoring conditions and intelligence. We thank everyone for their contributions and hope the conditions in the lake continue to improve”.

“We continue to learn from each estuary opening, as every estuary system and opening is different,” added Bec.

An exciting initiative is underway to protect threatened ecological communities addressing the various threats they face.

The South East Coastal Ranges describes an area of critical biodiversity importance found in the South-East corner of Australia, it spans from Batemans Bay in New South Wales into eastern Victoria along the coast and encompasses most of East Gippsland.

This region boasts diverse and complex natural habitats, from temperate rainforests and woodlands to wetlands and coastal vegetation. This diversity in habitat supports over 140 threatened bird, frogs, reptile and plant species.

This project aims to reduce impacts on rare and threatened ecosystems found across this region, particularly following the Black Summer Bushfires. This will be achieved through conducting landscape scale pest plant and animal control.

This project was designed collaboratively with agency partners, Traditional Owners and First Nations People, and landholders to improve the condition of these ecosystems over a large area. This will involve collaboration with landholders to protect and restore existing areas containing rare and threatened species.

A key component of this initiative is enhancing land managers’ understanding of the importance of increasing the size, quality, and connectivity of small, isolated patches of threatened native vegetation in our region.

A vital part of this project includes locating and producing accurate mapping of the River Flat Eucalypt Forest Threatened Ecological Community in Victoria.  This critically endangered ecological community is found across southern New South Wales and eastern Victoria and features tall eucalypt trees found in floodplains and along waterways. 

These forests support a diverse range of plant and animal life but face threats from fire, invasive species, and changes to water flow.  This project is funded by the Australian Government under Saving Native Species and delivered by East Gippsland CMA as member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.

December 2024

Beach nesting Little Terns have returned to breed on beaches of East Gippsland.

Little Terns, along with Fairy Terns, are a threatened species that migrate to the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar site each year to breed, however they often fail to successfully rear their chicks due to the disturbance of breeding sites. 

Terns are a small seabird found in coastal and estuarine environments of Australia. They travel long distances to nest, flying in from northern Australia and some further afield.

There have been major declines to populations of Fairy and Little Terns across Australia due to predation from introduced species, loss of habitat and human activities. Breeding colonies are becoming rarer, and many traditional nesting sites have been abandoned.

“One of the biggest threats to these birds is disturbance at breeding sites by human activity, including dogs off-leash.” said Bec Hemming, CEO of the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.

“Nest sites are regularly monitored by BirdLife Australia and volunteers and exclusion area signs installed, but it is vital that the community and visitors do all they can to ensure these species not only survive but thrive and continue to be an important visitor to the Gippsland Lakes,” added Bec.

Deb Sullivan BirdLife Australia’s East Gippsland Conservation Coordinator said “as tempting as it might be to have a closer look at a colony every disturbance is harmful to the eggs, chicks and the well-being of the adults. Adults need to preserve all their energy to successfully forage for food to raise their chicks.  Every time they are disturbed and fly off, they lose valuable energy.”

“Not only that, by disturbing the adults it provides an opportunity for scavenging predators such as Silver Gulls and Ravens to swoop in and steal the unattended eggs and chicks. We strongly recommend that people don’t approach the colony for the welfare of the birds”

If you live near or are visiting the Gippsland Lakes this holiday season there are two simple things you can do to help this species survive and breed successfully including:

• reading and observing beach signage
• avoiding cordoned off areas including not allowing dogs run around off leash

“The time it takes a baby tern to hatch, fledge and be ready to fly away to live as an adult is only a few weeks, so we hope that people take note of the signage and stay away, giving the birds the very best chance possible to survive, securing their existence into the future.” “As a community, we should be proud to still have the opportunity to protect these beautiful birds while they visit our region because one day they might not return,” added Deb.

The tranquillity of the Nicholson River was enhanced by the enthusiastic spirit of Landcare volunteers from across the region. On a very warm but perfect day for boating, volunteers enjoyed a leisurely tour along the river hosted by the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA).

People travelled from local areas, the Far East, and our neighbouring West Gippsland, coming together to share insights on their ongoing projects and emphasising the importance of community engagement in environmental conservation.

Whilst some enjoyed the sights from the water, others ventured along the walkways of the Nicholson River. Guided by local Nicholson Landcare members Marion and Gary Dawson, they showcased the remarkable work accomplished over the years. The group has partnered with Nicholson Primary School, dedicating hours to planting native trees, restoring habitats, and creating inviting walking tracks and rest areas.

Maintaining the area is not easy, and with only a handful of volunteers, they have their work cut out for them. The walking trails that the group regularly maintains are extremely popular, benefiting many. Their dedication has not only enhanced the local environment but also contributed to river health, benefiting the wider community and the catchment as a whole.

“We are incredibly proud of the Landcare Groups in East Gippsland and the partnerships they have built with local primary schools, other community groups, Traditional Owners and other government agencies” said Bec Hemming, CEO of the East Gippsland CMA. “Together, they’ve not only made a tangible impact on their local area they have also inspired the next generation to take an active role in conservation.”

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, get involved and give back to community and the environment. The Nicholson Landcare group recently held a volunteer drive, hoping to recruit more volunteers.  All Landcare groups would welcome new volunteers. To get in contact with your local Landcare group, contact the East Gippsland CMA. The day’s activities concluded with a heartfelt thank you to all volunteers and community members who have contributed to the success of Landcare initiatives. This day out on the river was a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared vision and desire to protect our waterways.

Flagship Waterways aims to bring as many people together to look after Victoria’s rivers. This includes the Cann River in far East Victoria.

The Cann River has seen a lot of change since the 1800’s.  Historically, the fertile floodplains were cleared for agriculture, trees and other vegetation removed, paddocks ploughed, and river banks cleared for access to the water.  Floods following these actions commenced a process of bank erosion, channel widening, and stripping of topsoil from the floodplain.

Major flooding in 1919 and 1998 created widespread erosion and deepening of the river channel.  The river channel expanded by four times its original width.  Following the 1919 flood, management actions were implemented to try to slow and redirect the water, including planting willows, building mesh fences, and even using old car bodies.

Conditions worsened following the 1998 floods, but this is when the natural healing process began with landholders, the local community, and agencies working together, securing their commitment to set the river on a new recovery trajectory. 

Rock and timber structures have been introduced to reduce further riverbed deepening.  Partnerships with landholders to exclude stock from the river has resulted in the Flagship reach being fully fenced for over 20 years.  Native vegetation has been restored along the river to facilitate the natural recovery processes.

Maintenance work continues, including ongoing weed control and revegetation along the river. Moogji Aboriginal Council has worked on many sections, controlling weeds and planting a selection of native vegetation to increase plant diversity. The Cann Valley Landcare Group has worked tirelessly on an area within the Cann River Caravan Park. Their efforts have transformed the river access into a great spot for locals and visitors. If visiting Cann River this holiday season, we hope you enjoy this area and have a fun and safe holiday break.

The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA) continues to monitor conditions at Lake Tyers estuary with Parks Victoria, Gippsland Ports and the Victorian Fisheries Authority.

East Gippsland CMA, Gippsland Ports and the East Gippsland Shire Council met with the Nowa Nowa community last week to discuss the current estuary conditions. This offered the community an opportunity to ask questions regarding the high levels of the lake that is affecting infrastructure and businesses in their local area.

“The delicate balance of social, cultural, economic, and environmental values are all taken into account when considering an artificial estuary opening” said Bec Hemming, CEO of the East Gippsland CMA.
Last week the East Gippsland CMA undertook water quality monitoring throughout the lake.

“The oxygen levels remain low in Lake Tyers, particularly in the lower parts of the water column. This is a potential major risk to fish. If we were to undertake an artificial estuary opening with the current conditions, it would be highly likely fish would suffer. Rain and flow into the catchment are required to mix the oxygen throughout the water column,” added Bec.

When we have a rain event the East Gippsland CMA, in partnership with other agencies will undertake further water quality monitoring to see if the conditions have improved to consider an artificial estuary opening.

A copy of the by-law is available here. A link to the process for updating this by-law can be found here on Engage Victoria’s website.

The report on the national Reef Builder program featuring the Gippsland Lakes Shellfish Reef Restoration Project led by The Nature Conservancy is now available (see link below).

The Gippsland Lakes is one of 13 locations across Australia where shellfish reefs are being revived from the brink of extinction.

Not only a win for the environment, but these projects also support native fish and marine species, as well as boost recreational and economic opportunities.

Following the reef’s construction, millions of baby native flat oysters and baby blue mussels have made it their new home, settling beautifully onto the limestone reefs.

This project, in partnership with the Australian Government and supported by the EGCMA, saw amazing community involvement. Nearly 200 locals participated in citizen science activities and community events, making a real difference.

A special shoutout to the Oyster Gardening citizen science program. Dedicated volunteers nurtured and monitored baby native flat oysters, helping them thrive on the new reefs.

The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA) have been monitoring conditions at Lake Tyers estuary with Parks Victoria, Gippsland Ports and the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) pending a potential artificial opening of the estuary.

Lake Tyers estuary has been at a high level of water inundation for some months now and with not enough water flowing through the catchment the estuary has remained closed.

At this stage, it is unlikely the East Gippsland CMA will authorise an artificial estuary opening with the current conditions due to low oxygen levels in the lakes and the potential impacts to black bream breeding cycles.

“We understand the varied impacts of estuaries remaining closed for long periods of time. It is a delicate balance of social, cultural, economic, and environmental values to consider and many aspects to assess when considering artificially opening an estuary” said Bec Hemming, CEO of the East Gippsland CMA.

The key risk is that, immediately after an artificial opening the oxygenated surface water layer drains out to sea. This process, termed de-oxygenation, can leave behind water that is low in oxygen in the deeper areas of the estuary or that has drained from the surrounding land. A lack of oxygen is the primary cause of fish deaths. We have been monitoring Lake Tyers estuary and oxygen levels are very low, particularly at the bottom of the lake.

We have seen this in the past with a substantial fish death event some years ago when the Betka estuary was opened illegally causing the oxygen levels to become too low for the fish to survive.

“We understand the frustrations from community members and other organisations whose assets are inundated with water, considering all aspects of artificially opening the Lake Tyers estuary we feel the environmental risk is just too great at this point in time.”

“It is finding that balance that ensures a successful outcome for all. Recent community discussions have highlighted the impacts of sustained high-water levels, improved understanding and created more opportunities to share information.”

The East Gippsland CMA and Parks Victoria have also determined that the impacts to vegetation in areas inundated by high water levels has not been extreme nor out of the normal range from other conditions such as drought, vehicle damage or general aging.

“We will continue to monitor conditions and assess the opportunity for an artificial opening, particularly if a substantial rainfall event is forecast.” Added Bec