This Rural Drainage Project at the Kilmany Levee and Moe River flats has been funded by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and is designed to help landholders in these areas transition to the drainage management arrangements outlined in the Rural Drainage Strategy released by the state government in October 2018.
We are currently looking for two landholder representatives for the project steering committee. Download more information about the committee.
Moe River Flats
The Moe River Flats Drainage area is typical of other Drainage Areas across the State of Victoria. It was created in the 1890s through State government investment, to be maintained by the benefiting Landowners. By the 1920s it was recognised that more formal support was required, and the Narracan Shire collected a tariff and provided management assistance until the Shire was amalgamated into the Baw Baw Shire in the 1990s. At this time Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) were created which caused some confusion about roles and responsibilities and meant that coordinated maintenance ceased. In 2002 the area was gazetted as a Water Management Scheme and the introduction of a Tariff was investigated. Due to changing land ownership and the ongoing drought, the majority of Landholders did not support a Tariff. Management arrangements since have been informed by a committee and works have been undertaken on a case-by-case basis.
Kilmany Levee
The Kilmany Levee Bank is an earthen levee bank in Kilmany South and was constructed as part of a Soldier Settlement Scheme in the twentieth century. It provides protection for farmland from the Latrobe River. The system includes two floodgates and two pumps to remove drainage waters that build up on the upstream side of the bank. Dependent on the level of the Latrobe River, all water then flows through a drain to Possum Creek and finally out to the Latrobe River through another flood gate on the river bank.
If you are an affected landholder of the Moe River flats or the Kilmany Levee, then you’re invited to submit an expression of interest to be part of the steering committee. Your role on the committee will be to provide advice on how best to engage with affected landholders.
To be successful in this role you will need to be an approachable contact person for affected landholders and be available to attend steering committee meetings over a twelve-month period.
The representative will be selected on:
- local knowledge
- links to the community
- understanding of diversity and inclusion principles
- ability to think broadly
- basic drainage knowledge
Download a copy of the Rural Drainage Project Overview for Landholder Representatives and submit your expression of interest online here.
For more information, please contact Shayne Hyman, Rural Drainage Officer on 0417 330 081 or email shaynehy@wgcma.vic.gov.au