Upper North East Draft Water Quality Strategy
The Upper North East Draft Water Quality Strategy applies to the Kiewa River Basin and the Upper Murray Basin (including the Mitta Mitta River). It will reduce blue-green algal blooms by reducing nutrient and sediment inputs in local waterways and the Murray River.
Objectives of the strategy are:
1) To improve water quality in the Kiewa and Upper Murray (including the Mitta Mitta River) catchments.
2) To reduce nutrient contributions from the Kiewa and Upper Murray catchments to the Murray River.
3) To minimise the potential for development of blue green algal blooms.
4) To improve the riverine environment in the Kiewa and Upper Murray catchments.
Implementation of this strategy is the responsibility of the North East Catchment Management Authority (external link) and it will occur over a thirty year period (which began in July 1999). It is expected to bring about the following changes:
- A 77% reduction in the number of algal blooms within the Upper North East region and the Murray River.
- Catchment-wide financial benefits ranging between $1.1 to $2 million per year.
- Murray River financial benefits between $3.1 to $5.8 million per year.
- Annual total financial benefits between $4.2 to $7.8 million per year.
© The State of Victoria, 1996 - 2008.
This document was last reviewed on 18/09/2008