Collaborative implementation

The health and management of the catchment’s natural resources relies on the contributions of many. Achieving the strategic outcomes depends on the collaborative effort of all involved and interested in improving the condition of the catchment.

Extensive engagement with the diverse range of people that live, work or visit the catchment played an important role in creating a strategy that reflects their priorities and aspirations for the catchment and their role looking after it.

Table 12 outlines some of the key catchment partners and their broad role in the delivery of the strategy. Detailed action plans will be developed together through the life of the strategy.

Table 12: The role of key catchment partners involved in implementing the Goulburn Broken Regional Catchment Strategy

Catchment partners	Examples	Role
Community groups, networks and non-government organisations	Environmental and agricultural groups, networks and organisations such as Landcare, Conservation Management Networks, Friends of Groups, Riverine Plains Inc, Best Wool, Best Lamb groups, Better Beef groups, Irrigated Cropping Council, Victorian No-Till Farmers Association, Watertrust Australia, Murray Darling Wetland Working Group and philanthropic bodies.	The catchment’s 100 plus environmental and agricultural groups and non-government organisations mobilise community involvement, attract corporate, philanthropic and government funding and influence implementation of on-ground works.
Traditional Owners	Taungurung Land and Waters Council and Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation.	Traditional Owners are custodians of traditional ecological knowledge and cultural heritage across the catchment. They have a key role in NRM and planning, including protection and enhancement of cultural values and integrating perspectives, knowledge and cultural management practices.
Private land managers	Farmers, lifestyle landholders and corporations.	With more than two thirds of the catchment’s landscape owned privately, landholders invest significant resources (time, money and land) in NRM and sustainable farm practices.
Victorian Government, agencies and statutory authorities	Goulburn Broken CMA, Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning, Agriculture Victoria, Parks Victoria, Water Corporations, Victorian Environmental Water Holder, Environmental Protection Authority, Trust for Nature, Country Fire Authority and State Emergency Service.	The government funds and/or influences many NRM activities in the catchment. They are guided by a range of policies and legislation and frequently deliver in partnership with other agencies and statutory authorities. In addition, the Goulburn Broken CMA is responsible for coordinating the collaborative implementation of the strategy, with different groups and organisations taking leadership roles for components of the strategy.
Australian Government and agencies	Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, and the Department of Defence (Puckapunyal Military Area).	The government funds a significant number of NRM projects in the catchment through the National Landcare Program. It is also guides efforts around environmental protection and conservation of biodiversity, natural, built and cultural heritage, environmental research, water policy and resources and large-scale natural disaster recovery.
Local Government	Benalla Rural City Council, Campaspe Shire Council, Greater Shepparton City Council, Moira Shire Council, Mansfield Shire Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Murrindindi Shire Cuncil and Strathbogie Shire Council.	In terms of NRM, councils enforce state and local laws relating to land use planning, environmental protection, public health and animal management. They maintain significant infrastructure and play an important role in local NRM engagement, education and delivery (for example, local area plans).
Education and research	Government research institutes (for example, Arthur Rylah Institute), universities and schools.	Education and research bodies support delivery, monitoring and evaluation of NRM.
Industry groups	Fruit Growers Victoria, Murray Dairy, Victorian Farmers Federation, Grains Research and Development Corporation, Horticulture Innovation Australia, and Meat & Livestock Australia.	Industry groups strongly influence NRM through their networks and advisory roles with land managers and government.
Recreational users	Fishing, birding, four-wheel driving and boating groups.	Recreational users are diverse interest groups that don’t necessarily live in the catchment but regularly visit and use the natural resources. Some groups have significant political influence on government polices and legislation.
Other	For example, University of the 3rd Age, health organisations, the Goulburn Broken Greenhouse Alliance and Committees of Management (Crown land reserves).	Other local and regional groups and organisations are actively involved in NRM, research, planning and implementation.