The Victorian Waterway Management Strategy has been released.
The updated strategy sets out a plan for managing Victoria’s rivers, estuaries, wetlands and floodplains over the next 10 years.
It builds on more than 20 years of experience and lessons learned, providing a detailed framework for managing the health of our waterways.
Our waterways are facing additional pressures such as the impacts of changing populations, urban growth and a changing climate. This strategy will help to equip us for these challenges now and into the future.
A key inclusion is the recognition of waterways as living entities. This supports the Water is Life roadmap and highlights the cultural and environmental importance of water.
The strategy also acknowledges the importance of the work of community groups, scientists, recreational water users, farmers, volunteers and others in caring for waterways.
It supports Catchment Management Authorities to develop and implement new regional waterway strategies, working with communities to understand local conditions and priorities. New regional strategies are now under development.
Earlier this year Victorians living and working near waterways were encouraged to visit the Engage Vic website, review the draft strategy, and make a submission. Submissions are summarised in a What We Heard report.
Your contributions have helped to inform and shape the direction of the strategy.
You can find out more by reading the Victorian Waterway Management Strategy.
Page last updated: 30/10/26