News items and media releases are stored on this page of our website for six months. Older media releases are available by emailing communications@wgcma.vic.gov.au. Our latest news stories are below.
If you are looking for our podcast series Gippslandscapes you will find them here.
What a difference a year makes. Community and agency partners recently gathered in Dalyston for their annual catch up on progress made on the Powlett River/Kugerungmome Partnerships project in the past year and results were impressive.
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) has been working with landholders on two projects to repair local waterways to provide a legacy for the environment and build a landscape more able to withstand climate change impacts.
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) is proud to report on achievements made in 2022- which was a special year as the Authority celebrated 25 years since it was established in 1997.
The Victorian Government has opened the latest round of the Victorian Landcare Grants, with $3.95 million funding available to Landcare and environmental volunteer groups and networks across the state for on-ground works, education, and capacity building projects that protect, enhance, and restore our land and natural environment.
The winners of the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority’s ‘Your Weekend, Your Waterway’ photo competition have been announced with winners in four categories being acknowledged and rewarded.
It’s a tough gig being a beach nesting bird - especially for the vulnerable Hooded Plovers (affectionately known as hoodies) that nest along South Gippsland’s shores. Life for these tiny birds is perilous as they constantly protect both themselves and their chicks from disturbance, weather and predators. Luckily, there’s a lot of plover love going around…
Wetlands are essential for the health of people and the planet. With 35% of the world’s wetlands having disappeared in the past 50 years, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) is proud to be working all year round reflecting this year’s World Wetlands Day theme to ‘revive and restore degraded wetlands.
It was fun and merriment at Merriman Creek when over 75 enthusiastic river lovers joined the Meet the Merriman event, hosted by West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) recently.
While the election campaign for state parliament might be over, the real battle in Gippsland is just about to get started!
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) is working with Parks Victoria to control the weed Spartina with targeted spraying in Corner Inlet this month. The important weed control works will include both on-ground and targeted helicopter spraying to protect the internationally renowned wetland.
Victoria and West Gippsland’s Landcare volunteers are receiving more support thanks to this year’s Victorian Landcare Grants and Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants.
We are holding a community update to find out what has been happening so far on the Protecting our Ponds project, on Wednesday 12 October from 10am - 2pm in the Munro Hall.
World Rivers Day, celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September each year, is a day to remember, acknowledge and remind ourselves of the value of the world’s rivers. In Gippsland it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA), a body established in 1997, to work with community, landholders, and others to protect, improve and enhance the rivers of West Gippsland.
Search citizen science project to detect platypus through environmental DNA (eDNA) has revealed that the threatened species is widespread across West Gippsland being found in over ten water waterways across the catchment.
Irrigators in or near the Macalister Irrigation Area (MIA), can now apply to secure funding for farm plans or irrigation system upgrades.
Endangered and significant native fish species will soon be able to travel upstream along the Macalister River, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s investment in a new fishway at the Maffra Weir.
It's National Tree Day, this Sunday 31 July, and it is also planting season for the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
Partnerships in action is what West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) is all about and the Powlett River/Kugerungmome Partnerships Project is the latest example of how many hands can make light work for the environment.
Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) is proud to play a part in meeting the future challenges for water in the region by delivering its fourth Regional Catchment Strategy – essentially a ‘blueprint’ for catchment health and care for the next five years.
Over the past week, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) has coordinated artificial openings of Bourne Creek and Powlett River estuaries that naturally closed in February this year.
The Powlett River estuary is a significant and ever-changing wetland that provides essential habitat for wildlife. The river mouth closed to Bass Strait in February 2022 and West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) is monitoring the natural event.
Happy World Fish Migration Day everyone from West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA). The global celebration on 21 May only happens every two years - but connecting rivers to allow migratory species to break free is what WGCMA does every day.
On International Migratory Bird Day this Saturday 14 May, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) celebrates the thousands of migratory birds set for take off on their annual migration and asks people to consider switching off their lights to assist these globetrotting birds’ travels.
Community representatives from across West Gippsland recently met to kick off the next three-year term of West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority’s (WGCMA) Community Engagement Network.
World Water Day formed the perfect backdrop for four Commissioners from the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) to visit West Gippsland and see firsthand the challenges and opportunities for water for the environment in the region.
The Gippsland experience of landholders, communities and government agencies working together to protect the Gippsland Lakes was recently shared with land managers from the Lake Limboto area of Indonesia.
Landcare groups will now be able to spend more time helping the environment and less time managing members thanks to the newly released Landcare in West Gippsland Membership Portal.
Irrigators with a bright idea are being asked to put their hands up for funds to put it to the test. The Irrigation Demonstration Project is open to all irrigators in central Gippsland working in all fields of agriculture.
Do you live in and love West Gippsland’s catchments? Would you like to get involved in their management and care? Then this opportunity is for you! West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) is currently seeking new members for their Community Engagement Network.
This World Wetlands Day, the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority is inviting people to recognise the amazing role wetlands play in the environment and to heed the call to take action to save the world’s wetlands from disappearing and to restore those we have degraded.
The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority , alongside landholders, other agencies and contractors are set to commence major flood recovery works across the region to to repair damage to waterways caused by the June 2021 flooding which heavily impacted several Gippsland catchments.