Middle Yarra – Vital Landscapes

The Middle Yarra – Vital Landscapes project focuses on the Watts River, Pauls Creek, Steels Creek, and Middle Yarra Main Stem sub‑catchments. The project aims to strengthen integrated catchment management across this area by supporting land managers to plan for and deliver landscape restoration works. These efforts will improve nutrient and water cycling, enhance water quality, increase habitat for native species, and build resilience to climate change. The project is funded from DEECA’s Our Catchments, Our Community program for 2024–2028.

Project Objectives

  • Land Stewardship Planning: Support up to seven land managers to develop detailed land stewardship plans—four by early 2026—and prepare three additional farm biodiversity action plans.
  • Coordinated On‑Ground Works: Establish a streamlined incentive program to deliver approximately:
    • 8 ha of revegetation
    • 3 km of stock‑exclusion fencing
    • 60 ha of weed control
    • 130 ha of pest animal control
  • Capacity Building: Strengthen landholder skills and capacity in restoring landscape function, monitoring biodiversity, and improving nutrient and water cycling to support resilient and economically sustainable enterprises.
  • Biodiversity Monitoring: Engage Wurundjeri Narrap to deliver a trial biodiversity monitoring program on three farms, including baseline data collection and repeat monitoring. BirdLife Australia will develop biodiversity action plans for these properties.
  • Conservation Covenant: Work with Trust for Nature to establish one conservation covenant within the project area.

Governance and Delivery

Governance will be provided through the well‑established Yarra4Life program, leveraging nearly two decades of collaborative partnerships. Land stewardship plans will be developed by specialist consultants with expertise in integrated land management and strong local knowledge. Melbourne Water’s Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator will lead delivery of farm biodiversity action plans.

On‑ground improvements identified through land stewardship planning will be delivered through this project’s funding, alongside complementary investment opportunities from Melbourne Water, and local Landcare Networks engaged through Yarra4Life.