Mallee Catchment Management Authority

The Mallee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) region is the largest catchment area in Victoria, Australia, covering approximately 3.9 million hectares – almost one-fifth of the State.

Mallee Region

The regional population is approximately 65,000, with Mildura the major urban centre. The north and east of the region is bordered by the River Murray, its anabranches, tributary channels, floodplains and associated wetland systems. In the south, north flowing intermittent streams, including the Yarriambiack Creek and Tyrrell Creek terminate in a number of ephemeral wetland complexes including the Wirrengren Plain, Lake Corrong and Lake Tyrrell.

There are over 900 wetlands in the Mallee CMA region, 14 of which are listed as ‘nationally significant’ in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. In addition, the wetland and floodplain ecosystems of the Hattah Lakes and Lindsay, Wallpolla and Mulcra Islands have been recognised by the Murray Darling Ministerial Council as “icon sites” to receive environmental water under the Murray Darling Basin Commission’s Living Murray initiative.

Land use in the Mallee is diverse with agriculture the most economically important industry and the River Murray a major influence. The region’s semi-arid climate supports primary industries including cereals, prime lambs, citrus, nuts, vegetables, vine and fruit growing activities. Many of these horticultural sectors have faced a challenging period in recent years due to the drought.

Program Highlights

A key focus for the Mallee CMA over the past decade has been helping communities to develop and increase their ability to engage in the process of protecting and improving the areas natural resources. Initiatives such as Landcare, Waterwatch, the Frontage Action Plan Project, Environmental Action Planning, and indigenous programs have all been instrumental in building community capacity and knowledge of regional natural resource management issues.

The voluntary involvement of over 150 local farmers in such programs as the Environmental Management Action Planning project signals a turning point in the direction of farming to include environmental considerations, while the voluntary contributions of Landcare groups, local schools and other community organisations in restoring frontages along the River Murray highlights the capacity of the community to implement environmental change.

Indigenous Cultural Heritage has become a key consideration of the Authority across all units, programs and projects. The Indigenous Cultural Heritage training program has boosted the capacity of the local indigenous community to identify key cultural heritage sites to ensure their ongoing protection. Undertaking research to inform future decisions in terms of natural resource management in the Mallee region has also been a key focus of the CMA over the past decade. With salinity one of the most significant threats to be faced by the Mallee region over the next 20 years, the aerial mapping of over 25,500 kilometres from Nyah to the South Australian border will provide data essential for future decision making in this area.

Future Challenges

The challenges of the vast Mallee region are both diverse and complex, demanding strong leadership, strategic planning and coordination. The future looks set to present many challenges with the continuing prolonged drought, low inflows into the Murray system, demand for water resources, rising salinity levels and climate change. Changing socioeconomic conditions, urban migration and land-use change will also present challenges for the Mallee region in the future. The Mallee CMA plans to continue to demonstrate its commitment and ability to embrace the challenges of increased natural resource management responsibilities through its key goals of business excellence, leadership and partnership and community engagement.