Council Investigating Alternative Options for Management of Our Waterways

On May 16th, Strathbogie Council passed a resolution that may lead to them relinquishing their management of the waterways from Hughes Creek to the Goulburn Weir (including Lake Nagambie). Members of the Nagambie Waterways Advisory Committee (NWAC) have requested that Council at least take some time to understand the possible implications of this decision and to investigate alternative funding sources to recoup the $150,000$200,000 annual costs in running the waterways.

According to the Council O cer’s Report tabled at the Council Meeting, Safe Transport Victoria (now incorporating Maritime Safety Victoria) is the organisation responsible for appointing Waterway Managers and safety on waterways in Victoria. Council was appointed Waterways Manager when it was rst gazetted in 1988 and it may continue to undertake this role until such time that it advises Safe Transport Victoria (STV) that it no longer wishes to continue in that role.

In recent years, Strathbogie Council has employed a third-party contractor to undertake patrols of the waterways. is patrolling is undertaken in addition to any patrols infrequently conducted by STV directly, Fisheries or Victoria Police. e third party patrolling alone has come at an annual cost of around $70,000 per year to Council. Any revenue, however, collected from infringements goes directly to the relevant State Government Department and Council does not receive any income to manage the Waterways.

Currently, STV has some oversight for waterways in Victoria that do not have a waterway manager and where special rules have not been introduced to regulate vessel activity.

e Nagambie Waterways Advisory Committee is a Council-appointed sub-committee with delegates volunteering their time to represent a number of community stakeholders including the Nagambie Riparian Group (river frontage land owners), the Nagambie Rowing Club, Nagambie Developers, Go Nagambie, Commercial Operators and Nagambie Angling Club. Meetings are chaired by a nominated Councillor and are also generally attended by other Councillors and Council O cers. Regulatory bodies including Goulburn Murray Water (GMW), Goulburn Valley Water and Nagambie Police are also o en represented at the meetings. e NWAC, in their capacity as a reference group, have recently been asked to provide feedback on the scenario if Council were to relinquish management of the Waterways. Recently delegates from the NWAC unanimously recommended that the council consider any alternative external funding options in order to o set the total costs between $150,000 and $200,000 per year. e NWAC also has concerns that third party management of the waterways could result in yet to be known consequences which locals will have no say. is could potentially result in signi cant unforeseen impacts on all users of our waterways including sporting, groups, recreational users and visitors to our region.

In addition to patrolling, this cost includes o cer time, on water activities (signage/navigation aids), administration of the Advisory Committee, advertising and communications. Even though Council has been bearing this cost since it has been managing the waterways, the current Council believes the State Government should contribute to the management of the waterways and it should not be the ratepayers who bear this cost.

Members of the NWAC are concerned that if Council were to completely relinquish control management of the waterways, this would inevitably result in complete removal of in uence at local government and community level especially with regard to compliance and law enforcement.

In response to the NWAC recommendations and in consultation with other regulatory bodies including GMW and DELWP, the following resolution was passed at the May 16th Strathbogie Council meeting:

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“Authorisation of (Council) o cers to notify the current provider of the Provision of Boating Safety Operations, that the contract will cease as proposed on the 30 September 2023, with no option for extension to be applied. -

Authorisation of (Council) o cers to write to Safe Transport Victoria (and relevant State Government Ministers and local members of Parliament) seeking annual and ongoing nancial support to fully fund the cost of undertaking the Waterways Management role and notify relevant stakeholders and community of this advocacy ask. - If full funding is not achieved by 31 August 2023, receive a report in the September 2023 Council meeting cycle to either withdraw the service e ective 1 October 2023 or consider options to remain as a Waterways Manager which would require the allocation of funding to investigate and identify a sustainable model, including but not limited to, recouping/o setting service.”

Should Council exit from delivering the waterways management function, the waterways would continue to be regulated by the relevant authorities

(STV, Victoria Police, Fisheries) and managed directly by STV but many in the community have concerns that this may eventually come at a cost to all river users.

Council will use the opportunity up to August 31st to investigate possible state government funding sources to make up this operational shortfall, however it is considered unlikely that the State Government will be prepared to meet this shortfall. Council may also investigate the possibility of commercial sources of income that could make up this shortfall.

Strathbogie Shire Council have issued the following statement in relation to their position on the ongoing management of the waterways.”

Council Urges Community to join waterway campaign

Locals are being urged to show their support for Strathbogie Shire Council’s campaign for funding to deliver the waterway manager role which keeps the waterways safe and the region thriving.

At its May Meeting, Strathbogie Shire Council made the decision to consider exiting the role of waterway manager if funding to fully cover the cost of delivering the service is not provided.

Under the Marine Act 1988, Council is the appointed waterway manager for the Goulburn River from Hughes Creek to Goulburn Weir including Lake Nagambie.

Mayor, Cr Laura Binks, said Council employed contractors to undertake patrols and the waterway manager role was now costing up to $200,000 to deliver.

“We cannot put this essential service at risk, but it’s not fair Council, and in-turn ratepayers, are paying for a service that is not their responsibility to deliver.

“We’ve seen so much cost shi ing to Local Government and as a small rural shire with a limited number of ratepayers, we’re saying enough. “Our community is telling us – and we agree –that local management is important, but we need funding to do it.”

Cr Binks called on the Victorian Government to show its support by providing funding that will ensure the waterways continue to be a safe tourism drawcard to the region.

“ is service helps keep our popular waterways safe,” she said.

“It’s a key driver to the economic success of our region, which was hit hard by the October 2022 oods.

“Businesses in our region are experiencing signi cant downturns. is is further exacerbated as our largest accommodation provider remains closed.”

Cr Binks said Council had created a proforma letter people could use to send to the Minister for Outdoor Recreation Sonya Kilkenny, along with social media tiles to share so the community could show its support.

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