Northern River Rescue and Regional Renewal | Environment Victoria

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Northern River Rescue and Regional Renewal Action Plan

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

The project includes:

• 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
• A launch of the action plan
• Promotion of the action plan to secure it’s implementation

Through research, storytelling, workshops and promotions we’re working 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 is making the most of an emerging alignment of thinking and spirit of cooperation that has sprung up between farmers and environmentalists. We’re working together to design and champion an integrated set of solutions to the problem of water scarcity in northern Victoria.

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

We will also commission research on alternative economic futures, to flesh out some of the options and the final action plan, and integrate many strands of policy, funding and management.

Cultivating a sense of confidence

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

Our research into economic futures will present 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 will also complement the data will real-life examples of successful adaptation to a water constrained future.

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

Promote multi-stakeholder cooperation

Our River Rescue and Regional Renewal Action Plan will provide 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.

The project’s multi-stakeholder endorsed action plan will provide policy options for integrated investment that returns water to our rivers and supports rural communities at the same time.

Stay tuned for the latest buzz on our plan to renew northern Victoria.

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

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