Seasonal watering proposals are informed by community and program partner engagement, including Traditional Owner engagement. Program partners and communities help to identify priorities and opportunities for the delivery of water for the environment in the coming year.
Longer-term regional catchment strategies, regional waterway strategies, relevant technical studies (such as environmental flows studies), environmental water management plans and Traditional Owner Country plans (and associated documents) also inform seasonal watering proposals. These strategies, plans and technical reports collectively describe a range of environmental, economic, social and Traditional Owner perspectives and longer-term integrated catchment and waterway management objectives that influence actions and priorities for water for the environment.
The VEWH and its program partners consider cultural, social, economic and recreational values and uses of waterways when planning for water for the environment. Where possible, opportunities to support these values and uses are incorporated into watering decisions, provided they do not compromise environmental outcomes. Cultural, social, economic and recreational values considered for each system in the Gippsland region are presented in the system sections that follow.
The International Association for Public Participation’s Public Participation Spectrum (IAP2 Spectrum) has been used to categorise the levels of participation of stakeholders involved in the planning process for water for the environment. Table 2.1.1 shows the IAP2 Spectrum categories and participation goals.
Table 2.1.1 International Association for Public Participation’s Public Participation Spectrum categories and participation goals1
IAP2 level | Engagement goal |
Inform | Provide balanced and objective information to assist understanding, alternatives, opportunities and/or solutions |
Consult | Obtain feedback on analysis, alternatives and/or decisions |
Involve | Work directly throughout a process to ensure that concerns and aspirations are consistently understood and considered |
Collaborate | Partner in each aspect of the decision, including the development of alternatives and the identification of the preferred solution |
Empower | Place final decision-making in the hands of the stakeholder |
1 The VEWH has the permission of the International Association for Public Participation to reproduce the IAP2 Spectrum.
Table 2.1.2 shows the partners, stakeholder organisations and individuals with which West Gippsland CMA engaged when preparing the Durt-Yowan (Latrobe River), lower Latrobe wetlands, Thomson (which includes the Heyfield wetlands) and Macalister systems’ seasonal watering proposals. This includes engagement conducted as part of developing the seasonal watering proposals as well as engagement during the preparation of key foundational documents that directly informed the proposals. VEWH staff were also consulted for operational information as part of the development of all seasonal watering proposals by CMAs.
The table also shows the level of engagement between West Gippsland CMA and stakeholders of the environmental watering program in the Gippsland region based on the West Gippsland CMA’s interpretation of the IAP2 Spectrum.
The level of engagement differs between organisations and between systems, depending on the availability, capacity or interest of stakeholders to participate, roles and responsibilities of organisations in managing a site or system, and potential interaction of proposed watering with other activities on the waterway. For example, in the Gippsland region, Parks Victoria is more involved in the planning for and management of water for the environment for the lower Latrobe wetlands than for the other Gippsland systems, because it is the land manager for Dowd Morass and Sale Common and it operates the regulators used to release water to these sites.
External factors also influence engagement opportunities. COVID-19 restrictions restricted engagement efforts across Gippsland, reducing opportunities for face-to-face meetings with the community and Traditional Owners.
Table 2.1.2 Partners and stakeholders engaged by West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority in developing seasonal watering proposals for the Latrobe, lower Latrobe wetlands, Thomson and Macalister systems and other key foundation documents that have directly informed the proposals (grouped in alphabetical order)
| | Latrobe River | Lower Latrobe wetlands | Thomson system | Macalister system |
Community groups and environment groups | IAP2 level: Inform - Greening Australia
- Latrobe Valley Field Naturalist Club Inc.
- Native Fish Australia
| IAP2 level: Involve | IAP2 level: Collaborate - Heyfield Wetlands Committee of Management
| IAP2 level: Involve - Environment Victoria
- Maffra and Districts Landcare Network
- Native Fish Australia
|
IAP2 level: Involve - Cowwarr Landcare Group
- Waterwatch volunteers
|
IAP2 level: Inform - Greening Australia
- Latrobe Valley Field Naturalist Club Inc.
- Native Fish Australia
| IAP2 level: Inform |
Government agencies | IAP2 level: Collaborate - Parks Victoria
- Southern Rural Water
| IAP2 level: Collaborate | IAP2 level: Collaborate - Melbourne Water
- Southern Rural Water
| IAP2 level: Collaborate |
IAP2 level: Consult | IAP2 level: Consult | IAP2 level: Involve | IAP2 level: Involve |
IAP2 level: Inform - Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
- East Gippsland CMA
- Victorian Fisheries Authority
| IAP2 level: Inform - Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
- East Gippsland CMA
- Victorian Fisheries Authority
| IAP2 level: Inform - Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
- Victorian Fisheries Authority
| IAP2 level: Inform - Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
- Victorian Fisheries Authority
|
Landholders/farmers | IAP2 level: Inform | IAP2 level: Collaborate - Field & Game Australia (Heart Morass)
| IAP2 level: Involve | IAP2 level: Involve - Macalister Irrigation District irrigators/diverters
- Other landholders
|
IAP2 level: Inform |
Local businesses | IAP2 level: Inform - Port of Sale Heritage Cruises
| IAP2 level: Inform - Port of Sale Heritage Cruises
| | |
Recreational users | IAP2 level: Inform - Field & Game Australia
- VRFish
| IAP2 level: Collaborate - Field & Game Australia (Dowd Morass and Sale Common)
| IAP2 level: Involve | IAP2 level: Involve |
IAP2 level: Inform |
Technical experts | IAP2 level: Collaborate | | IAP2 level: Collaborate | IAP2 level: Collaborate |
Traditional Owners | IAP2 level: Collaborate - Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
| IAP2 level: Collaborate - Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
| IAP2 level: Collaborate - Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
| IAP2 level: Collaborate - Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
|
