The local community has been integral to the Shellfish Reef Restoration Project in the Gippsland Lakes.
The Gippsland Lakes Shellfish Reef Restoration Project, led by The Nature Conservancy in partnership with the Australian Government and with support from the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA), started in early 2022.

The first stage of the project, the construction of the shellfish reefs, was completed in March 2022. Since then, around 3.5 million baby native flat oysters, grown on recycled scallop shells, have been placed onto the reefs in order to kick start the reef building process. Millions of baby blue mussels have also naturally settled onto the limestone reefs along with some native flat oysters.

The Gippsland Lakes is one of 13 locations across Australia identified for reef restoration under Reef Builder, a partnership between the Australian Government and The Nature Conservancy Australia to bring shellfish reefs back from the brink of extinction to benefit the environment and local communities by supporting fish and other marine species and enhancing recreational and economic opportunities.

Over the past 12 months, the EGCMA has hosted a series of community engagement and citizen science activities, working with over 150 local residents and school children who have played an important part in the success of the project and helped to collect important data.

Amber Clarke, Acting CEO, EGCMA said, “Throughout the project, the local community played a vital role, actively participating in various initiatives aimed at collecting monitoring data, raising awareness and fostering a sense of environmental stewardship.”

“Multiple education events were organised, catering to diverse local community groups, including schools, environmental volunteer organisations, angling clubs, as well as the wider community,” said Amber.

Amongst the highlights was the Oyster Gardening citizen science program, where dedicated local volunteers nurtured and monitored baby native flat oysters that were eventually placed onto the reefs. This hands-on experience allowed volunteers to witness the growth and development of these remarkable creatures while also learning about their remarkable ability to filter water and provide habitat for a range of species in the lakes.

Primary schools were included in the action, as local events were organised to educate students about the broader Gippsland Lakes system and the significance of preserving and improving the health of our catchments for the benefit of future generations. Nungurner Primary School students also played a key part in the citizen science program, caring for and monitoring their own baby oysters.

To “shellebrate” the fantastic achievements over the past 12 months, the community were recently invited to attend a free boat tour of the shellfish restoration site near Nyerimilang, where participants learnt more about the project and its incredible achievements to date.

The restoration of shellfish reefs in the Gippsland Lakes supports the broader Love our Lakes initiative, which fosters a shared responsibility in caring for the Lakes and catchment.

An endangered plant species has been found on the Lower Snowy River. Bolwarra or Eupomatia laurina is sometimes known as Copper Laurel or Native Guava because of the smell and taste of the fruit.

Contractors undertaking weed maintenance works for the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA) came across a young Bolwarra, which is listed as an endangered species in Victoria under the Flora & Fauna Guarantee Act.

This is a significant find because apart from being endangered, only one particular beetle species germinates this plant. Seedlings take four to six years to fruit, and the plant has a restricted home range along the east coast of Australia, starting south at Nowa Nowa in Victoria through to the Cape York Peninsula.

The Snowy River has experienced considerable environmental changes over the last 100 years. Significant among these was the reduction in flows resulting from the operation of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme and the demise of large stretches of riparian vegetation resulting from extensive agricultural development in parts of the catchment.

The Snowy River Rehabilitation program (the program) commenced in 2002 as part of the larger Snowy Water Initiative that was committed to by the Victorian, New South Wales, and Commonwealth Governments.

The program included warm temperate rainforest restoration works on the Lower Snowy, which are now 15 to 20 years old. Bolwarra were planted upstream during the program in the early 2000s and are now colonising the restoration sites downstream.

Amber Clarke, EGCMA’s Acting CEO, said. “The long-term commitment to improving the health of the Snowy River by the Victorian Government includes projects implemented by government agencies, community groups and landholders.

“With everyone working together over a long time, we have seen positive changes to the river, and to find this endangered species flourishing is very exciting,” said Amber

Snowy River work continues with funds from the Victorian Government’s $248 million investment into improving the health of waterways and catchments in regional Victoria.

The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA) is working with East Gippsland Water to construct a rock ramp fishway in the Buchan River between Lousadas Road bridge and the Buchan water supply log weir.

The rock ramp fishway will address the barrier to fish migration caused by the weir which prevents native fish from migrating upstream.

Recent monitoring provided a snapshot of native fish populations close to the log weir and the proposed fishway. There were seven species of native fish detected from sites up and downstream of the weir.

Species identified included Longfin eel, Australian bass, Congoli, Common galaxias, Flat-headed gudgeon, Australian smelt and Southern pygmy perch. Finding Southern pygmy perch in the Buchan River is significant because they are listed as a threatened species.

The results from the monitoring confirmed there were fewer fish species upstream of the log weir compared to downstream, providing further evidence that the log weir is a barrier to native fish migration.

Further fish monitoring will be undertaken following the completion of the fishway.

Construction of the fishway will involve placing a range of rocks within the river in accordance with a specialised design, that will allow fish to swim up and over the weir. The weir, which helps provide for Buchan’s potable water supply, will not be disturbed as the rock fishway will be constructed below the weir.

Site preparation and construction have commenced and should be complete before Easter. The work will be dependent on Buchan River flows.

A section of land adjacent to Lousadas Road will be closed, and access to this site will be restricted. There will not be any access restrictions to Lousadas Road during construction.  This project is funded as part of the Victorian Government’s $248 million investment into improving the health of waterways and catchments in regional Victoria.

The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority has been removing Poplar trees along the Tambo River on the Bruthen Flats.

After a couple of wet years, the large Poplars are starting to fall into the river. As well as causing damage to fences, the riverbanks also collapse, creating erosion.

Bec Hemming, Acting CEO, said, “The project is going well. All landholders are really cooperative, and we are already seeing changes in the Tambo River. The EGCMA will follow up with weed control and commence revegetation with native plants in autumn this year.”

“We couldn’t do this project without the ongoing support from the landholders. Its great working together to achieve improved river health outcomes ” said Bec.

It is planned the Poplar trees will be removed over the next several years, it is a staged process. This is to allow for the transition from a Poplar and Willow dominated river to a native vegetated river corridor.

East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority has installed Fluker Posts at several locations in East Gippsland.

The Fluker Post project, named after its inventor, Dr Martin Fluker, and originating from within Victorian University, is a system that allows the public to continually monitor river health by contributing photographs from the exact location over a long time.

In partnership with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) the EGCMA has strategically placed Fluker Posts on the Princes Highway bridge at Cann River, the West Cann bridge, Eagle Point Bluff and overlooking the estuary openings at Lake Tyers and Marlo.

Each post contains a fixed photo point where people are encouraged to place their phone, take a picture, and send it to a listed email or upload it directly through an app.

EGCMA’s Acting CEO Amber Clarke said, “The Fluker Post project allows the community to directly contribute towards the ongoing care and monitoring of our waterways, including the Cann River.”
The Cann River is one of nineteen Flagship Waterway projects currently underway as part of the Victorian Governments investment into improving waterway and catchment health across regional Victoria.

In partnership with the local community, the Cann River Flagship maintenance program includes three years of ongoing weed control and revegetation, which will assist in increasing the health and resilience of the floodplain and a continuation of good river health. Condition monitoring along the river will help in gaining an understanding of the program’s efforts.

“Receiving ongoing pictures from the Fluker Post sites will also contribute to the assessment of the program of works and is a simple but fantastic way for people to get involved and provide valuable data at the same time.” said Amber

More information about Fluker Posts can be found on the website www.flukerpost.com.

The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA) recently received the results from fish monitoring in the Buchan River prior to installing a rock ramp fishway.

The rock ramp fishway aims to address the barrier to fish migration caused by the presence of the Buchan water supply log weir. Currently, the weir is a barrier to fish as they cannot migrate upstream to breed. The EGCMA is working closely with East Gippsland Water to construct the rock ramp fishway.

The monitoring provides a snapshot of native fish populations close to the log weir and the proposed fishway. There were seven species of native fish detected from sites up and downstream of the weir.

Species identified included Longfin eel, Australian bass, Congoli, Common galaxias, Flat-headed gudgeon, Australian smelt and Southern pygmy perch. Finding Southern pygmy perch in the Buchan River is significant because they are listed as a threatened species.

The results from the monitoring confirmed there were fewer fish species upstream of the log weir compared to downstream, providing further evidence that the log weir is a barrier to native fish migration.

The installation of the rock ramp fishway is planned to commence in February 2023, but the start date of the work will depend on weather conditions and river height levels. There will be further fish monitoring once the fishway has been completed, and it is hoped that the results from post-construction fish monitoring will prove the fishway has been effective in supporting native fish migration upstream of the weir.

This project is funded by the Victorian Government’s Waterway Health Program.

Work is well underway to restore pile fields along the Buchan River destroyed during the Black Summer bushfires.

The pile fields are designed to slow the water during high flow events, preventing bank erosion and assisting in stabilising the riverbed.

Native vegetation will be planted on both sides of the banks, which will, in time, contribute to holding the banks and slowing the flows naturally. The pile fields are designed to do this until the vegetation has matured.

The vegetation’s job isn’t just to hold the banks, amongst other benefits, it also creates a habitat for all things living including insects which are vital to instream critters too.

This project is designed to go towards creating an ecologically diverse and healthy waterway.

The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority recently teamed up with Arthur Rylah Institute on a very chilly day to do some backpack electrofishing surveys in the Genoa River.

Undertaken at a historical site under the Genoa Bridge, the survey looked at the whole fish community, including smaller fish species that live in this river.

The data collected will help us understand how our native fish are recovering since the fires.

The results are encouraging, with nine species detected, including Short and Long-finned Eels, Tupong (Freshwater Flathead), Shortheaded Lamprey, Common Galaxias, Australian Smelt, and three species of gudgeon.

In particular, young Common Galaxiids and Tupong were collected, indicating recent recruitment of these diadromous species (which migrate between freshwater and saltwater).

Are you interested in creating habitat for frogs in your own backyard? Watch this video where Bryce from the EGCMA shows you how.

As well as some underwater home renovations, platypus in the Tambo River have been given a little bit more help with some native vegetation being planted along the riverbanks.

The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA) placed a series of instream wood structures in the Tambo River north of Bruthen. These structures will play an essential role in supporting platypus populations by providing food and shelter.

The Natural Resource Management crew from Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) helped students from Swifts Creek Primary School with some planting along the riverbanks at the site where the instream structures have been placed. 

Once this vegetation is established, it will complement the instream structures by providing a whole range of benefits.  Some of these benefits include reducing sediment runoff into the river improving water quality, and providing habitat for terrestrial animals, food for aquatic animals, providing shade for the water, which helps control water temperature. As this vegetation matures in the long term, it will also offer natural recruitment of instream habitat as it falls into the water. 

“This project is a partnership, and it was great to see the kids and GLaWAC work together to achieve a positive environmental outcome but also to see them having so much fun.” Said acting EGCMA CEO Bec Hemming. 

Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) conducted water bug surveys before any of the work was done and will repeat these surveys in spring to compare any changes in types and density of bugs. This project was funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.