Identity of the North East Catchment

1. RCS Renewal
Join the Discussion…it’s time to have your say…
Topic 1. Exploring the Landscapes, livelihoods & lifestyles in the
North East region.
A number of key landscapes have been identified within the North East
region. By identifying values, aspirations, & characteristics of our region,
we have identified what people want to be resilient.
To date, five key landscapes have emerged through this approach.
Do the land use
These landscapes have particular characteristics, identities, functions, landscape
dynamics and community aspirations that will assist in targeting natural
resource management (NRM) actions and directions.
descriptions
resonate with
your
understanding of
the North East
communities?
www.yoursaynecma.com.au
The Resilience of the North East Region “ Diverse, healthy landscapes; vibrant communities ”

2. MAKING SENSE OF THE NORTH EAST CATCHMENT
An important component to applying resilience thinking is to
describe the relationship between people and their environment.
To help describe this relationship we have segmented the region
into landscapes & devised some simple descriptions of these
landscapes, or ‘social-ecological systems’
Social =
Environmental = Economic =
Communities,
Biophysical Land, Transport,
Cultures, Political
Water resources & Infrastructure &
& Governance
Biodiversity Technology
boundaries
The descriptions have identified the values, aspirations and characteristics of our
regions landscapes - Effectively we have identified
what people want to be resilient.
The Identity of the North East Region “ Diverse, healthy landscapes; vibrant communities ”

3. 5 land use landscapes have emerged
Urban Lifestyle Agriculture Forest Alpine
The following characteristics have been
used to describe the identity
Social =
Communities, Environmental = Economic =
cultures, Land, water Transport,
political & resources and infrastructure
government biodiversity and technology
boundaries
The Resilience of the North East Region “ Diverse, healthy landscapes; vibrant communities ”

4. Land use Identity - Landscape, Livelihood and Example locations within the North East Region
Landscapes Lifestyles
RCS Renewal
Urban A significant urban centre with large Wangaratta, Wodonga and immediate
Centres employment, aggregation of surrounds
services with a diverse economy
manufacturing and services
industries.
Lifestyle A landscape often termed lifestyle
Parts of Ovens, King and Kiewa Valleys (close
or ‘tree change’ areas with high
to major urban Centres),
LANDSCAPES
amenity/visual (views green clean),
Yackandandah/Allens Flat, Beechworth,
tourism and economic value. Rutherglen, Tallangatta, Chiltern,
Milawa/Oxley, Eldorado, Bright, Tallangatta
Agricultural A landscape that has a strong Upper King Valley, Upper Kiewa Valley, Upper
Productivity productivity focus and particular Murray Valley Mitta Valley downstream of
topography with which the Dartmouth Dam. Also includes the towns
community strongly identifies within these areas e.g. Corryong, Myrtleford,
(Valley & Plains) Mt Beauty, Omeo
Forests A landscape that has a high Major Reserves -Chiltern Mt Pilot National
proportion of publicly managed land Park, Mt Buffalo, Ovens River National Park,
for reserve and resource purposes. Alpine National Park, Burrowa Pine, Forestry -
Pine Plantations in mid slopes (higher rainfall
areas), Native Forestry
Alpine A landscape that has a high Alpine High Country ie > 1500m? AHD, Falls
biodiversity, tourism and water creek, Bogong, Hotham heights, Mt Buffalo
yielding characteristics. plateau

5. Land use Identity Landscape, Livelihood and Lifestyles
Landscapes
Urban A significant urban centre with • Surrounding small block, or peri urban
Centres large employment, aggregation of areas are included in this landscape.
services with a diverse economy
• On, adjacent or near waterways.
manufacturing and services
industries. • Often high amenity & economic value.
• Most people in the region live within
these landscapes.
The Resilience of the North East Region “ Diverse, healthy landscapes; vibrant communities ”

6. Land use Identity Landscape, Livelihood and Lifestyles
Landscapes
Lifestyle A landscape often termed lifestyle or • A landscape within a commutable
‘tree change’ areas with high distance (~45 min) for regular travel
amenity/visual (views green clean), to urban centres
tourism and economic value. • The landscape is in a dynamic state
and is undergoing a change in it’s
identity from traditional agricultural
land use towards more lifestyle uses
• Landscape valued for visual
aesthetics, connection with scenery,
views & solitude with increasing
pressure on agricultural
productivity & ecological values
• Collectively this landscape has the
second largest population
The Resilience of the North East Region “ Diverse, healthy landscapes; vibrant communities ”

7. Land use Identity Landscape, Livelihood and Lifestyles
Landscapes
Agricultural A landscape that has a strong •Landscape can also have some
Productivity productivity focus and particular amenity pleasure
topography with which the community
•Relatively tableland ownership
strongly identifies (Valley & Plains)
•A small proportion of the
regional population live in this
landscape, however they
collectively own & manage the
largest holding of freehold land
•Ageing nature of landholders
The Resilience of the North East Region “ Diverse, healthy landscapes; vibrant communities ”

8. Land use Identity Landscape, Livelihood and Lifestyles
Landscapes
Forests A landscape that has a high proportion of •A subset of this landscape is
publicly managed land for reserve and used for non reserve uses –
resource purposes. forestry, grazing
•Important area for recreation
for people living both within &
outside the north east – walking,
hunting, driving
•Collectively this is the largest
single land use in the region
•Very few people live in this
landscape
The Resilience of the North East Region “ Diverse, healthy landscapes; vibrant communities ”

9. Land use Identity Landscape, Livelihood and
Landscapes Lifestyles
Alpine A landscape that has a high biodiversity, •Very few people live in this
tourism and water yielding characteristics. landscape
•Alpine wetlands, snowfields,
Indigenous & European
cultural heritage
•Hydro electricity occurs in
the Kiewa & Upper Murray
catchments
The Resilience of the North East Region “ Diverse, healthy landscapes; vibrant communities ”

10. RCS Renewal
Question 1:
Do the 5 land use landscape descriptions
resonate with your understanding of the
North East communities?
The Resilience of the North East Region “ Diverse, healthy landscapes; vibrant communities ”