Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee is proud to lead the Love Our Lakes program of Traditional Owners, partners and community working together to monitor, understand and protect Talikatoor (Gippsland Lakes) on Gunaikurnai Country.
“The current Love Our Lakes program is made up of 48 projects delivered by 22 partners to improve the health of Gippsland Lakes over three years (2021-2024),” said Bec Hemming, chief executive officer of East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
“Working together using scientific research, monitoring, on-ground projects, and community partnerships to understand and care for the Lakes’ dynamic system is the most effective way to protect them.
“Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee, led by Chair Glenys Watts, oversees delivery of the projects and community grant allocations and is proud of the knowledge, experience and passion demonstrated in the program to care for the Lakes.”
The program was delivered across five main areas and themes:
1. Jones Bay and Lake King
2. Lake Wellington
3. Outer barrier islands
4. Aquatic ecosystems
5. Citizen science and community grant programs.
At their December meeting, the committee reflected on top level highlights of the past three years:
– Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners leading eDNA sampling, protection of cultural heritage, pest plant and animal control and cultural values mapping and protection.
– Large scale works including 850 hectares of weed control, 11,000 hectares of predator and herbivore control, 100 hectares of revegetation and 1500 hectares of cultural heritage assessment.
– Protecting threatened species including construction of 15 ‘frog bogs’, 226 White-bellied Sea-eagle surveys to reveal 45 active nests, five fish habitat structures installed and a complex program of sand renourishment at Horres Spit and Albifrons Island for terns and the first-time propagation of 30 Dwarf Karrawang plants.
“These highlights include breeding events of critically endangered frog species such as the Growling Grass Frog and overall improvement in the condition of the Lakes’ saltmarsh,” Ms Hemming said.
“It’s also wonderful to showcase the work of the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners who have been instrumental in delivering many projects in this funding round.”
“This latest program builds on previous efforts and has demonstrated a great framework for future management. All projects have collectively had a positive impact across the internationally renowned Gippsland Lakes Ramsar site – safeguarding it for the future,” Ms Hemming said.
This project was part of a $248 million investment by the Victorian Government to improve the health of waterways and catchments across regional Victoria.
Of this, $7.5 million was provided to improve the health of Gippsland Lakes over three years (2021-2024), through support to the Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee and for the delivery of on-ground works and community engagement.
