West Gippsland
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West Gippsland Waterwatch began in 1993, and the program has increased steadily in momentum and support since then.
West Gippsland Waterwatch program
West Gippsland Waterwatch has been operating since 1993. The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) acts as the lead agency providing administrative oversight with WGWW acting as an independent bureau within the WGCMA structure. Direction is provided by a steering committee composed of representatives from local water authorities, private industry, community members, volunteers, and the WGCMA.
West Gippsland Region
The West Gippsland region has an outstanding natural environment containing a number of the State's "icons", such as Wilson's Promontory and the Gippsland Lakes on the coast, and the Baw Baw Plateau and Wonnangatta-Moroka wilderness area in Victoria's high country.
The West Gippsland region is divided into seven state-recognised catchment ecosystems- Bunurong Coast, Corner Inlet, Lake Wellington, LaTrobe, Macalister, Ninety Mile Beach and The Thompson. The Latrobe, Thomson and Avon catchments flow into Lake Wellington while the South Gippsland streams flow to the coast and adjacent Inlets.
The total regional population is approximately 192,000. The split between urban and rural residents in the region is approximately 9:1, making it the most densely settled rural area of the state. Most industries in West Gippsland draw directly on the natural resources of the region. Agriculture, electricity, gas, water and forestry are the most significant contributors to the region's economic well being, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics' employment figures.
From: West Gippsland Regional catchment & Land Protection Board (1997) Regional Catchment Strategy
