A new report shows Victoria’s environmental watering program is protecting Wimmera wildlife, including many rare and iconic species such as platypuses.

The Victorian Environmental Water Holder plublishes the Reflections – environmental watering in Victoria report annually. It outlines outcomes of environmental watering across 19 river and wetland systems, including those in the Wimmera.

Wimmera Catchment Management Authority chief executive David Brennan said environmental watering meant the Wimmera River’s condition at the start of this year was the best since before the drought in the early 2000s.

Mr Brennan said regular environmental water releases had made the river more resilient and better able to bounce back when dry conditions eased.

“We’ve had a remarkable four years of improvement in the river system,” he said.

“We are certainly entering these dry times, with stronger populations of plants and animals and a game plan of how to manage the river through drought.

“Environmental water releases have provided a flow in the river for fish and water bugs and other creatures to complete their life cycles.

“Our latest monitoring shows there are now stronger populations of most species in the Wimmera River catchment compared to previous dry periods.”

Mr Brennan said the platypus was a Wimmera icon and used to thrive throughout the Wimmera River system.

Mackenzie Creek supports the last-known breeding population.

Mr Brennan said monitoring by cesar ecologists based in Melbourne from cesar showed platypuses had settled back in the creek. 

“With careful management and a bit of luck, these platypuses may increase their distribution in the future,” he said.