Stretching 261km from the mountains to the coast, the mighty Manning is the lifeblood of the local community. Now, a ten-year program to protect and improve the ecological health of its estuary and catchment is currently open for feedback.
The team at MidCoast Council has developed the draft Manning River Estuary Catchment and Management Program (ECMP) over the past three years in close consultation with a wide range of community members and key stakeholders. The result is a robust program that applies a whole of catchment approach to managing the river, addressing the holistic nature of current and future risks.
"Placing the draft program on public exhibition is a crucial part of the process, ensuring we have accurately captured the needs and wants of our community, and important stakeholders that include primary producers, the local Aboriginal community, recreational and conservation groups, and other government agencies," explained Gerard Tuckerman, MidCoast Council's Manager of Natural Systems and Acting Manager for Land Use Planning.
"Input gathered during this stage will also help us understand whether the actions we have identified under eight core objectives are realistic, achievable and measurable," he said.
The program recognises the importance of the Manning River, its tributaries and the estuary to the 50,000 people living in the catchment area. The estuary is vital for oyster-growing, fishing, tourism and recreation. From the upper reaches of the catchment the Manning and its tributaries provide water for drinking, stock and irrigation. Cultural connections to the river and estuary for the Aboriginal community span many generations.
"The ways we use, enjoy and benefit from the Manning River are diverse, but they all depend on a healthy ecosystem and clean water," Gerard said.
"The actions we have identified for implementation over the next ten years are focused on community engagement and education, supporting a transition to best environmental management practices with farmers, restoring coastal wetlands and riverbank vegetation, and remediating acid sulfate soils."
