North East Victoria has experienced a series of significant natural disasters over the past 15 years, placing increasing pressure on waterway ecosystems and the communities connected to them. The North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has delivered multiple recovery programs in response; however, securing core disaster recovery funding is becoming progressively more challenging. This has prompted a shift in the CMA’s approach—from traditional, state led recovery models to strategies that more directly integrate species conservation and habitat restoration.
Recent programs have emphasised the ecological needs of species inhabiting impacted waterways, with particular focus on riparian management and the reinstatement of high‑value habitat. Community engagement has also emerged as a critical driver of success. Strong partnerships, such as the collaboration with the Australian Trout Foundation to plant 40,000 native trees and shrubs for Macquarie Perch habitat, demonstrate the effectiveness of collaborative restoration efforts.
A further evolution in practice has been the transition from site‑specific interventions to system‑scale assessment and prioritisation, enabling more strategic and enduring waterway health outcomes.
Key learnings highlight the need for NRM organisations to broaden recovery programs to include species‑level considerations, harness the mobilisation power of community groups, and invest in community knowledge to strengthen participation and long‑term stewardship.