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Morwell River NEIP proposal complete

The proposal for a Morwell River Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP) has now been completed and submitted to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) of Victoria for its approval.

By Latrobe City Council - 28th November 2006 - Back to News

The proposal, which outlines an intention to prepare a detailed plan for the Morwell River similar to the one completed for Traralgon Creek, has been the focus of the NEIP steering committee for the past seven months.

This steering committee, which comprises representatives of a wide range of organisations including government agencies, the power and forestry industries, community and environmental groups, landowners, community representatives, Monash University, and Latrobe City, has met on a regular basis and developed broad objectives and a vision for the long term management of the river catchment and tributaries.

Following approval from the EPA, the steering committee will develop a detailed action plan to address the major issues of concern which have been identified as part of the proposal process. Some of these issues include the management of public reserves, better recreation facilities for visitors, and the reduction of vandalism and instances of littering along the river.

Representatives of the Boolarra Development Group, Yinnar & District Community Association and Churchill District Community Association have all been an integral part of the community input to the proposal as well as information gathered from public workshops conducted in Yinnar and Boolarra.

Written support for the NEIP has been received from West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, Grand Ridge Plantations, International Power Hazelwood, TRU energy, Victorian Farmers Federation (Yinnar Branch), Monash University, Mathison Park Committee and from the three community associations mentioned above. The twenty partners of the NEIP have all signed an agreement to develop this plan ‘in a spirit of openness and active participation by all partners".

Latrobe City NEIP officer, Mike Answerth, said that the steering committee members have already displayed remarkable commitment. "The members have also demonstrated a great spirit of co-operation in working towards a successful outcome for this project, and I am sure that this will continue during the development of the plan," Mr Answerth said.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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