National recognition for SA river, floodplain and water projects
Projects to improve floodplain health, direct water back into local catchments and incorporate First Nations knowledge into water management practices were among those recognised at the Australian Stream Management Awards this month.
The biennial awards recognise outstanding contributions to waterways and catchment management in Australia.
In testament to South Australia’s leadership in this area, three projects led by the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) were recognised during the awards.
The Flows for the Future project was crowned winner of the Involving community in waterway management category. The project works with landholders in the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges to re-establish natural water flow patterns by redirecting more water from their properties back into the local catchment. Allowing natural patterns of low water flows to reach waterways throughout the year supports the patterns and cycles of native fish, animals and plants which have evolved over thousands of years.
The highly successful South Australian Riverland Floodplains Integrated Infrastructure Program (SARFIIP) took out the gong for Outstanding waterway management. SARFIIP was an ambitious program, that set out to improve the condition of key Riverland floodplains such as Pike and Katarapko. Infrastructure constructed under the program has enabled floodplain inundation to occur on a scale only otherwise possible during much higher flow events. This is helping to restore floodplain health and support recruitment and breeding for a variety of plants and animals.
The SA Constraints Measures project also received a high recommendation in the category of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and practice in water management for the Pomberuk Co-design Working Group. This project involved collaborating with the Ngarrindjeri community to ensure their cultural heritage and knowledge are incorporated into designs and implementation proposals for this culturally significant site.
Acting Director Water Infrastructure and Operations Lisa Stribley said these three projects were outstanding examples of waterway management and a credit to the efforts and expertise of many current and former DEW staff.
“As drought conditions become more common and climate change continues to impact waterways and floodplains, projects such as these will become even more important as water managers try and intervene to ensure the long-term sustainability of these ecosystems,” Ms Stribley said.
“Supporting the health of our natural environment provides a range of flow on benefits to the economy, our communities and our general wellbeing through improved recreation and eco-tourism opportunities.
“These projects aren’t possible without the dedicated and passionate communities we work with and without the support of local governments, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and our Australian Government funding partners.”
For more information on these projects visit www.environment.sa.gov.au
