The Dutson Downs Land Use Management Plan details a new approach to the way Gippsland Water manages the 8524 ha that make up the Dutson Downs Resource Recovery Facility.  Gippsland Water is currently undertaking actions regarding the programs listed below.

Ecology Management Program

This program is primarily concerned with managing approximately 3590ha of the Dutson Downs property that remains essentially undisturbed. The management hierarchy is to protect, enhance and extend these areas of remnant native vegetation. Ecological Vegetation Classes have been mapped in the facility all of which are either classified at threatened, vulnerable, depleted or rare at the Regional level.

Significant resources will be directed at monitoring the condition of these habitat areas. This will necessitate some staff training. Other features of the program include further development and application of a Geographic Information System (GIS) database and ongoing assessment regarding the application of three international agreements applicable to facility wetlands - the Ramsar convention, the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA) and the China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA).

Agriculture Management Program

Agricultural use of buffer lands is a useful tool in demonstrating effective management of the facility – many visitors comment on the condition of animals on their way through the property. This program deals with continued agricultural management of those lands most suited to agricultural activity. As well as dealing with potential agroforestry development the management program seeks to establish some indicators of soil health and agricultural production to benchmark farm management. Proposals to promote these results to community and industry bodies are also detailed.

Land Rehabilitation Management Program

This program features three major environment improvement projects – the Gippsland Plains Goldings Revegetation Project (~300 ha), the Lake Coleman Revegetation Project (~180ha) and the No.3 Wetland Development. Both of the former revegetation projects involve threatened vegetation communities of the Gippsland Plains.

The No.3 Wetland Development proposes to inundate the storage with freshwater to promote the development of new and existing habitat. Further action items include linking property habitat zones and exploring external funding opportunities to assist in the three major environment improvement projects.

Heritage and Site Amenity Management Program

The major themes of this program are improving the aesthetic value of site facilities, exploring ways revegetation may aid odour dispersal and ensuring registered aboriginal sites and areas of archaeological sensitivity are protected.

Community Involvement

This management program is a key component of the Plan. It is the only program that explicitly deals with the major concept of community involvement and support and as such assumes great importance.

The major feature is the pursuit of an appropriate forum for public participation in revegetation programs and development of an information centre with meeting facilities located in the depot adjacent to No.3 Wetland. A specific action deals with further strengthening Gippsland Water’s links with community interest groups, such as the Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative, and relevant government agencies.

Resource Recovery

Click here to find out about the Resource Recovery occuring at Dutson Downs.