Improving the health, amenity and recreational use of our waterways

Background

The North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is developing a long term River Health Program for the Upper Ovens River and adjoining tributaries between Harrietville and Eurobin. This plan will assist in guiding future investment in these waterways. Central to developing the plan is capturing community and stakeholder aspirations, priorities, and concerns for these waterways. Engagement of community and stakeholders is being led by the CMA with the support of a local Project Steering Group formed of representatives from the community, businesses, industry, and agencies.
 
The Upper Ovens River and tributaries support a variety of environmental, social, cultural, and economic reasons.  We know that there are opportunities to improve the heath, amenity and recreational use of these waterways adn we want to hear what you have to say.
 
The survey consists of 5 questions and should take approximately 5 - 10 minutes to complete.  

It is focussed on understanding what aspects of the health, amenity and recreational use of these waterways are most improtant to you (your priorities) and which we are most concerned about.

The Rehabilitation Plan will then develop a set of short-, medium-, and long-term actions to address them.  The survey closes 7/11/2022
 

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Map of Study Area

Map of Study Area

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* 1. Your name

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* 2. Your preferred method of contact

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* 3. Your local waterway:  which part of the upper Ovens River or tributary is closest to you?

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* 4. Question 1 - What aspects of our waterways are most important to you?

We know our community enjoys interacting with waterways.  The native vegetation that grows in and along waterways provides habitat for native animals such as Platypus, fish and birds and can contain significant plan species.  This vegetation also provides a sense of naturalness and offers improtant shade during hotter times of the year for those that enjoy walking or riding alongside the river or visiting it for fishing, swimming or camping.  We know there are many places of cultural significance along our waterways and that the water flowing through them is important for agriculture and recreational activities such as kayaking.

From your experience, what aspects of the upper Ovens River or tributaries are most important to you and why?  Please enter your top 5 in the table below, where 1 = most important and 5 = least important.

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* 5. Question 2 - What aspects of our waterways are you most concerned about?

We know that in places, what we love about our waterways may be impacted by how we use them, how we use the land around them and by other things like weedy plans and pest animals such as deer, litter, poor quality runoff, access by cars or animals that damages the banks.  You may also be concerned about Platypus, your favourite fishing spot, wetlands that need looking after, the quality of water in your favourite swimming hole, or not being able to safely access a waterway you like to visit.  Thinking about the health, amenity and recreational use of our waterways, from your experience, what are you most concerned about?  

Please enter your top five concerns in the table below, where 1 = most important and 5 = least important.

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* 6. Question 3 - What would you most like our waterways to be like in the future?

We all have ideas about what our waterways should be like.  The Rehabilitation Plan project is our opportunity to work towards making this happen.  Thinking about the health, amenity and recreational use of our waterways, what are the top three opportunities / outcomes that you would like the plan to acheive?

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* 7. Over what timeframe should these three opportunities/outcomes ideally be achieved? 

  Timeframe
Opportunity / Outcome 1
Opportunity / Outcome 2
Opportunity / Outcome 3

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* 8. Question 4 - where are the thingsthat are of most importance or concern to you located?

If there are specific locations for some or all the things that are most important and of concern to you, please show us where they are located using this online map tool.  It is helpful for us to know where some of these locations are so we can make sure we capture these in our rehabilitation plan. 

Online Map - Important or Concerned

Using the online map, please drag and drop as many pins as you need to the desired location(s).

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* 9. Question 5 - please tell us about anything else that would help us develop the rehabilitiation plan.

Are there any other matters related to the rehabilitation of the Upper Ovens River that you would like to mention to help us develop an effective rehabilitation plan that meets your expectations?

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