Catchment Management Framework

In Victoria, integrated catchment management (ICM) underpins the sustainable management of land and water resources, and contributes to biodiversity management. Through this approach, the Victorian Government and its partners seek to achieve sustainability and ensure the long-term viability of natural resource systems, and human needs for both current and future generations.

Victoria’s framework for the integrated management of catchments is established under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (the CaLP Act).

ICM is the coordinated management of land, water and biodiversity resources based on catchment areas. It incorporates environmental, economic and social considerations.
Read more about the Victorian catchment management framework.

Victorian Catchment Management Council

The Victorian Catchment Management Council is the government’s key advisory body on catchment management and the condition of land and water resources.

It has a state-wide focus and long-term vision:

Victoria will have healthy rivers flowing through ecologically sustainable and productive catchments.

Catchment and Land Protection Regions

Victoria is divided into 10 catchment and land protection regions (approved in 2013 and 2014):

Corangamite
East Gippsland
Glenelg Hopkins
Goulburn Broken
Mallee
Melbourne Water
North Central
North East
West Gippsland
Wimmera

Catchment Management Authorities

Catchment management authorities are responsible for the integrated planning and coordination of land, water and biodiversity management in each catchment and land protection regions.

Each catchment management authority is structured to maximise community involvement in decision-making. It comprises:

• Board members responsible for developing strategic direction for land, water and biodiversity management in their region, and providing oversight of the management of the authority.
• Implementation committees that act as channels for local community input and develop and oversee detailed work programs.
• Staff members who support the board and implementation committees, oversee development and implementation of programs and work closely in partnership with the community, government and other catchment-focused organisations.

Regional Catchment Strategies

Regional catchment strategies are the primary integrated planning framework for the management of land, water and biodiversity resources. They seek to integrate community values and regional priorities with state and federal legislation and policies.

Each catchment management authority prepares a regional catchment strategy in partnership with local communities and partners involved in integrated catchment management.

The strategy identifies:

• The region’s land, water and biodiversity resources and how they are used;
• The nature, causes, extent and severity of land degradation of catchments;
• A long-term vision for the region;
• Regionally significant land, water and biodiversity assets and landscapes;
• Catchment condition objectives; and
• A program of management measures for the life of the strategy.