Protecting rural communities in a time of change | Environment Victoria

We're Victoria's leading, independent environment group working to safeguard our environment and the future

Protecting rural communities in a time of change

Imagine a healthy future for both our rivers and our communities in northern Victoria. That’s the future that Environment Victoria tackled in its ‘River Rescue and Regional Renewal’ action plan.

The project included:

• A discussion paper on the opportunities available for alternative futures in northern Victoria
• A collection of case studies and stories for change
• A consultation process to develop a shared vision for northern Victoria
• A research report on alternatives for the region’s economic future

Through research, storytelling, workshops and promotions we worked to:

• Develop a shared vision
• Cultivate a sense of confidence about the future
• Promote multi-stakeholder cooperation

Developing a shared vision

The truth is environmentalists and farmers are not that different. We all care about the land and the rivers that sustain it. Our project made the most of an emerging alignment of thinking and spirit of cooperation that has sprung up between farmers and environmentalists. We worked together to design and champion an integrated set of solutions to the problem of water scarcity in northern Victoria.

We developed an initial discussion paper that provided a pathway to change that can deliver multiple benefits for restoring our rivers and renewing our rural communities. At it’s core, the paper acknowledged the interdependence of healthy ecosystems and prosperous communities. It also recognised that a viable future for agriculture depends on a reduction in the overall demand for water.

Cultivating a sense of confidence

The project tapped into the wealth of knowledge and experience in land and water stewardship that exists in our farming communities.

We looked at a range of alternative opportunities for renewing northern Victoria’s prosperity – including dryland agriculture, new crop varieties, ecosystem service provision and carbon sequestration. A collection of case studies and personal stories complemented the data will real-life examples of successful adaptation to a water constrained future.

Together, these ideas and evidence sum up the community experience and help cultivate a sense of confidence that an alternative future is possible.

Promoting multi-stakeholder cooperation

Our River Rescue and Regional Renewal Action Plan provided a focus for Victorian communities to help them benefit fully from the federal government’s $12 billion, ten year ‘Water for the Future’ program.

The federal program provides substantial money for environmental water purchase and infrastructure modernisation. But it has not yet been tailored to help communities for whom irrigation is no longer a viable option to adjust to a water constrained future.

Environment Victoria is grateful to Perpetual Trustees for supporting this project.

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