Gippsland region

Latest information about where, when and why environmental water may be delivered to the Gippsland region and the environmental objectives being targeted is available in this year’s seasonal watering plan.

The seasonal watering plan also contains information about how environmental flows could support cultural, social, recreational and economic values in the Gippsland region.

Region overview

The systems in the Gippsland region that can receive water from the VEWH’s environmental entitlements are Durt-Yowan (Latrobe River), lower Latrobe wetlands, Carran Carran (Thomson River), Heyfield wetlands and Wirn wirndook Yeerung (Macalister River). The Snowy River also receives an environmental flow, which the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water manages.

The Macalister and Thomson rivers are tributaries of the Latrobe River. The Macalister flows into the Thomson near Sale and the Thomson joins the Latrobe shortly downstream. The Latrobe then flows past the Latrobe wetlands (Sale Common, Heart Morass and Dowd Morass) before entering Lake Wellington, the largest lake in the Gippsland Lakes system.

The Snowy River flows south from the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales and into Victoria and Bass Strait. Storages in the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme are connected to the Murray and Murrumbidgee river systems through a network of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts which transfer water from the Snowy River to supply irrigated agriculture in the Murray–Darling Basin.

The Latrobe River and lower Latrobe wetlands are an important component of the internationally recognised Gippsland Lakes Ramsar site, and provide habitat for waterbirds of state, national and international conservation significance including threatened waterbirds (such as the freckled duck and intermediate egret) and frogs (such as the green and golden bell frog).

The Thomson and Macalister rivers support several species of native fish including the threatened Australian grayling as well as the common galaxia, tupong and short-finned eel.

The Snowy River supports Australian grayling, Australian bass and estuary perch.