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Eskdale/Little Snowy Creek Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan

The Eskdale/Little Snowy Creek Plan (NEIP) was approved by EPA in September 2006.

Find out the story behind the Eskdale/Little Snowy Creek NEIP:

About the neighbourhood

Eskdale is a small town located on the Little Snowy Creek, in Towong Shire, in the north-east of Victoria. The Little Snowy Creek begins in mountainous State forest adjacent to Mt Bogong National Park, and travels 12 kilometres through farming country. The creek links with its major tributary, Fluertys Creek, before it enters the town of Eskdale at the bottom of its catchment. The Little Snowy Creek enters the Mitta Mitta River several hundred metres after the town of Eskdale.

Eskdale is a small town with a population of less than 100 people. The town is serviced by a store, cafe/post office, pub, hall, church, primary school, bowling green and a new sports facility. The Little Snowy Creek Valley consists of dairy and beef farming and one operating trout farm.

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Issues of concern

The communities of Eskdale and Little Snowy Creek are facing ongoing, serious environmental and public health issues. The town has two water trusts and several independents that pump water directly from the creek. The largest of the two water trusts sources its water below the town. All water supplied to residents from these sources is untreated.

Water quality and stream health is affected by:

  • failing and leaky septic systems
  • stormwater
  • greywater (which runs directly into the stormwater system)
  • farming practices including irrigation and stock in waterways
  • severe willow infestations along the length of the farming sections of the creek.

In May 2003 the Department of Human Services (DHS) issued a notice to boil water before drinking, to the town of Eskdale. This occurred previously in 1999, when there was concern that illness in visitors was linked to the drinking water.

The Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan will concentrate on improving the water quality and stream health of the Little Snowy Creek, as well as identifying opportunities to make the Eskdale water supply safe to drink.

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Initiatives

There are many initiatives aimed at improving the health of the Little Snowy Creek. The Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan will work along side and add value to these efforts. Existing efforts include:

  • Trial Land Stewardship Program, North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA)
  • Eskdale/Little Snowy Creek Advisory Committee to Towong Council
  • Upper North East Water Quality Strategy
  • Pride of Place, Towong Shire
  • Progress Association, Eskdale
  • Waterway Action Plan (North East CMA).

In addition many agencies are supportive of addressing the issues through the NEIP, including:

  • Towong Shire, as sponsor
  • North East CMA
  • Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), through Landcare
  • EPA Victoria
  • Department of Primary Industries (DPI)
  • Department of Human Services (DHS)
  • Goulburn Murray Water
  • North East Regional Water Authority.

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Proposal development

Towong Shire Council, with the aid of funding from Landcare, engaged a part-time project officer to develop the Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP). The project officer facilitated discussions and negotiations, and drafted the document using feedback from the local community.

The proposal was developed with input from the Little Snowy Creek Advisory Committee and in consultation with the various agencies, organisations and stakeholders involved. The Little Snowy Creek Advisory Committee is comprised of representatives from the local town and farming community.

The proposal has drawn on information and feedback from the following events:

  • Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercise in December 2002 – The PRA involved interviews with farmers and townspeople to identify people's perceptions and attitudes to water resources and environments in the Little Snowy Creek catchment. The PRA resulted in a report titled, Community Perceptions, Values and Responses to the Catchment's Water Resources and Environments. The report identified:

    • key issues with respect to the town, the catchment and water quality
    • options to address these issues
    • successful past programs
    • community strengths and
    • perceived issues/challenges with respect to government.
  • public meeting to discuss the outcomes of the PRA exercise and the results of water quality monitoring undertaken in the catchment.
  • educational field day where options to address the identified issues were discussed.
  • Little Snowy Creek Advisory Committee meetings – The advisory committee represents the community's interests, advises Council and agencies, and assists with communication between the authorities and the community.
  • public meeting to present and discuss the NEIP proposal.
  • updates in the post office and in the local newsletter.
  • farm/town walk day called Promoting Understanding, which involved farmers and townspeople doing a tour of both the town and selected farms to promote greater understanding for both groups of their impact on the creek.

The Eskdale – Little Snowy Creek NEIP proposal was endorsed by the Authority in January 2005.

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Proposal aims and objectives

The vision for the Little Snowy Creek Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan is "A healthy Little Snowy Creek that supports a range of uses and is managed in a cooperative and considerate manner for the benefit of all".

To achieve this vision, the partners have identified five objectives:

  1. To improve the stream health of Little Snowy Creek and consequently improve water quality.
  2. Provide clean, drinkable water to Eskdale.
  3. Develop an integrated catchment plan that addresses diverse issues for the benefit of all.
  4. Build partnerships and understanding within the local community and help resolve tensions between townspeople and farmers.
  5. Build a community that takes charge of their future, identifying issues and developing and implementing solutions.

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Plan development

Following the endorsement of the NEIP proposal for Eskdale/Little Snowy Creek, the local community, the NEIP committee and the Eskdale/Little Snowy Creek Advisory Committee worked together on the following activities to develop the NEIP plan:

  • an Eskdale township field day
  • establishment of a water quality monitoring program; a local community team undertakes the monitoring activities and results are discussed at NEIP Advisory Committee meetings
  • work on improving relationships between community and government agencies
  • development of a waterway action plan for Little Snowy Creek
  • commencement of willow removal, fencing and revegetation along sections of the creek
  • investigation of options for water and wastewater treatment, and
  • working towards an increased awareness and understanding of the issues faced and commitment to address the issues.

The Eskdale/Little Snowy Creek Plan (NEIP) was approved by EPA in September 2006.

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Current activities

The current activies of the NEIP include:

  • Working with landholders and the North East Catchment Management Authority to continue fencing and revegetating Little Snowy Creek in line with the Waterway Action Plan.
  • Community discussions and workshop about the options for water supply and wastewater treatment study.

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Getting involved

New participants are always welcome to become involved in any aspect of the Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP). It is possible for new partners to sign up at any time. Interested parties can have as little or as much input or involvement in the NEIP as they wish. If you would like to be involved in improving the health of the Little Snowy Creek, contact:

Rob Carolane
Community Relations Officer
EPA – North East Region
Telephone: (03) 5720 1111
Send an email

or

Gary Mawby
Director, Technical Services
Towong Shire Council
Telephone: (02) 6071 5100
Send an email

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