Goulburn

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The Goulburn Broken Catchment covers 17% of Victoria, and houses about 200,000 people. The region supports major agricultural (dryland and irrigated), food pro...

Goulburn Broken Waterwatch Contacts

Check out the Goulburn Broken Waterwatch website - Contacts

Goulburn Broken Waterwatch Program

The Goulburn Broken Waterwatch program has grown considerably since its humble beginnings in 1993. In its first year, the pilot Waterwatch program involved 6 schools in water and river health education. Twelve years later, over 96 local schools are now involved in Waterwatch. Seven Waterwatch Coordinators are employed to support and maintain the increased demand and interest in the program.

Community groups have been involved in catchment monitoring activities since 1994. 1500 samples were collected and tested at 270 Waterwatch sites in 2004/5. Monitoring groups receive regular training, support and feedback on their results.

National Water Week

Goulburn Broken Waterwatch creates a wave of momentum each National Water Week by hosting unusual and entertaining education events. Previous NWWs have featured camel treks, catch-a-carp events and Water Olympics. In 2004, nearly 5000 people were involved in National Water Week activities in the region alone.

School Education

Goulburn Broken Waterwatch hosts a successful regional education program for local schools called Catchment Capers. The program also hosts regional 'Matter of Salt' education days during Saltwatch Week to highlight salinity issues.

Waterwatch Laboratory

The Waterwatch monitoring program in the region is supported by a laboratory and sophisticated equipment to monitor parameters such as total phosphorus and E.coli. These resources allow regional Waterwatch Coordinators to also monitor sites regularly and fill regional monitoring and information gaps.

The Goulburn Broken Region

The Goulburn Broken Catchment covers 17% of Victoria, and houses about 200,000 people. The region supports major agricultural (dryland and irrigated), food processing, forestry and tourism industries.

Although only 2% of the Murray Darling Basin's land area, the catchment generates 11% of the basin's water resources. It contains Victoria's largest and arguably most important water supply catchment (Eildon) and includes the Municipalities of Moira, Campaspe, Greater City of Shepparton, Mitchell, Delatite, Murrindindi and Strathbogie.

Land clearing and irrigation have resulted in significant degradation of the catchment's land water and biodiversity. Production from the irrigation region supports a very large food processing industry, which has expanded dramatically in recent years. The Shepparton Irrigation Region (SIR) produces 25% of Victoria's export earnings and about $4.5 billion in economic output each year and is regarded as the "foodbowl" of Australia. The Irrigation area is the driving force of the catchment's economy and a large contributor to State and national export earnings.

From: The Goulburn Broken Catchment & Land Protection Board (1997) Catchment Strategy.