For over 25 years, the Glenelg Hopkins CMA has been working with community groups, Traditional Owners and other agencies to restore the Glenelg River in South-West Victoria. The project now represents the largest river restoration project in Australia with notable recovery of fish populations.
“The Glenelg River Restoration Project has been a long-term program over 25 years that has involved a significant number of partners working together to achieve tangible improvements to the Glenelg River and its communities.”
In the early 2000s, Glenelg Hopkins CMA, with community groups and other agencies, started the Glenelg River Restoration Project. This ambitious project aimed to restore the biodiversity values and health of the 500km long Glenelg River.
The Glenelg River (Bochara, Bogara, Pawur) is a key waterway in the south-west which during the millennium drought was on the brink of ecological collapse. The
river system has been impacted by development, largely through broadscale land clearing in generations past, and the construction of the Rocklands Reservoir in the 1950s. This has led to significant sand and silting issues in the river, reduced flow, fragmented fish populations and the complete absence of migratory fish species in most river reaches.
A landscape scale approach was required across the entire river basin, starting in the headwaters to halt erosion and the source of sediment in the upper catchments.
The project has involved over 700 landholders in implementing key restoration activities such as waterway fencing and revegetation, off-stream watering and stock crossings and weed control.
It has also involved removal of fish barriers, carp monitoring and eradication, erosion control structures, sand extraction, in-stream woody debris reinstatement and upgrade of structures to support environmental flows.
With over 2,600 kilometres of fencing installed, the Glenelg River Restoration project is the largest riparian fencing program across Australia with over 85% of the Upper Glenelg River now fenced.
River reaches have also been stabilised, through native vegetation plantings (796km of direct seeding and 550,000 tubestock). In relation to instream improvement, the project has reinstated 870 log structures back to the river, created and delivered an environmental flow program and removed 30,000m3 of sand and sediment. A total of 13 fish barriers have been removed opening 970km of the river and its tributaries to unimpeded fish movement.
The most significant outcomes have been the recovery of native fish species. Blackfish populations have increased fourfold and Variegated Pygmy Perch have increased by 350%. Migratory species such as the Estuary Perch and Tupong have extended their range by 300+ kilometres.
In 2019 the Australian Grayling fish (pictured below) was discovered in the waterway for the first time in 122 years and has since been recorded again.
The waterway now has almost entirely unimpeded fish passage from the river mouth at the ocean, to Rocklands Reservoir – a distance of over 350km.
The success of this project is attributed to the many partners who ensured its uptake at all levels, from landholder and community groups, Traditional Owners, through to industry, NGOs and Government agencies.
In 2013, the Glenelg River Restoration project won the International River Foundation Australasia Riverprize, the world’s most prestigious environmental award, for organisations (or groups of organisations) who have achieved remarkable outcomes. for rivers, river basins and their communities.
The long-term restoration of the Glenelg River has achieved outstanding nature positive outcomes.
Adam Bester, CEO – Glenelg Hopkins CMA
Email: [email protected]
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