Victorian Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) have been leading the way in planning for the impacts of climate change on the natural environment since 2012.
Since launching the regional climate change adaptation plans in 2015-16, the ten CMAs have been working together on Statewide climate change priorities and implemented several projects.
Snapshots can be found here:
Victorian CMAs climate change adaptation priorities; and
Victorian CMAs climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives
In 2024 a brochure was released to highlight Blue and Teal Carbon Investment Opportunities in Victoria: Working with Victorian Catchment Management Authorities to protect and restore blue and teal carbon
The Water Cycle Adaptation Action Program is a three-year program (2024-2027) involving all CMAs and Melbourne Water.
The program is funded by DEECA and coordinated by Goulburn-Broken CMA. The intended outcomes of the program are:
Projects under this program include:
For further information please contact the Water Cycle Adaptation Action Program Coordinator Jill Croome via jill.croome@gbcma.vic.gov.au
Planning for climate change requires a shift from what are usually considered normal and traditional planning approaches with one final outcome, towards another that considers multiple possible outcomes. Approaches such as ‘adaptation pathways’ can help us think through and plan for multiple possible futures.
CMAs have explored the use of Aand exploration, daptation Pathways through a number of projects including:
CMAs have gained valuable experience in carbon sequestration analysis methodology and exploration of complementary co-benefits in partnership with water corporations in recent years.
There have been a series of projects continuing to investigate, trial and develop methods including:
Final Report
Gellibrand River case study
Project Summary
YouTube recording of a presentation by Jacobs
As an extension to the Catchment Carbon Offsets trial, in 2019, the then Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA), in partnership with water corporations, engaged a consultant to provide:
Building on the PPWCMA work, nine Victorian CMAs in partnership with the former Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and water corporations completed a Statewide carbon sequestration analysis project to examine potential carbon yields, implementation costs and identification of complementary environmental and socio-economic benefits (co-benefits). This included an analysis of the Environmental Plantings and Plantation Forestry Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) methods on private land.
Complementary to the Statewide project, Melbourne Water are delivering a ‘real world’ pilot project as a proof-of-concept of the Growing Carbon project. The pilot is testing the governance processes, implementation arrangements and costings including landholder negotiation, site selection, site preparation, revegetation, maintenance, cost sharing arrangements and carbon accreditation processes.
Winton Wetlands Co-benefit Due Diligence Report Piloting the Carbon and Co-benefits Co-Investment Guide.
This project was funded by the Victorian Government through the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
Grow Towards Zero aims to restore valuable habitat and provide carbon sequestration opportunities in the region through targeted revegetation. It builds on the Community Carbon Pilot project. For updates, visit the NCCMA website.
This page was updated on 16 Sep 2025.