Albacutya in water plan

Lake Albacutya near Rainbow is among 11 internationally recognised Ramsar wetlands to receive a share of $2-million from the State Government.

Ramsar sites are wetlands that are listed as having international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an international wetland treaty.

Sites across the state will receive funding through Catchment Management Authorities.

The funding will be used to develop a management framework to ensure the sites are protected from decline.

These important environmental sites attract international migratory waterbirds from as far away as Russia, China and Alaska.

The wetlands provide many benefits to the community, including:

• Providing a range of recreational opportunities such as boating, camping, bird watching and fishing, which help support tourism and local economies.

• Providing habitat for native plants such as river red gums, mangroves, saltmarshes and for native animals such as waterbirds, frogs and fish.

• Reducing the impacts of flooding by holding and slowing floodwater.

• Protecting the water quality of rivers, estuaries and marine areas by trapping sediment and filtering nutrients from catchments.

• Playing an important part Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The funding delivers on the State Government’s response to the Victorian Auditor General’s Office audit of Victoria’s Ramsar program.

Water for Victoria

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Water Minister Lisa Neville said the government was investing $222-million to improve the health of waterways and catchments across the state as a part of its water plan, Water for Victoria.

“Protecting Ramsar wetlands across the state is good for the environment, tourism and jobs, and provides recreation opportunities for the community,” she said.

“We’re delivering an investment to look after these internationally important wetlands to ensure they stay protected for future generations.”

Other sites are Barmah and Gunbower forests and Kerang and Hattah Kulkyne Lakes in northern Victoria, Western District Lakes in western Victoria, Corner Inlet and Gippsland Lakes in Gippsland, Western Port, Edithvale-seaford wetlands and Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine Peninsula.