In light of the Victorian Government\u2019s review of the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site Management Plan over the course of 2023-4, the Royal Society of Victoria convened a roundtable discussion of scholars and catchment managers on 26 May 2023 to understand the various concerns held. The report from that can session can be downloaded here<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Securing the future of the Gippsland Lakes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of the Gippsland Lakes area is a designated wetland of international significance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands<\/strong><\/a> , to which Australia remains a signatory. The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority<\/strong><\/a> is the responsible authority for managing the Ramsar requirements for the Gippsland Lakes. How this is meant to be achieved is described in the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site Management Plan<\/a><\/strong>. The plan must be renewed every 7 years. FoGL in partnership with <\/a>Gippsland Environment Group<\/a> <\/strong>made a substantial submission during the public consultation process for development of the new 2024 plan. We highlighted what we beleived were serious deficiencies in the draft plan, including the risk management process and key actions. FOGL SUBMISSION ON GIPPSLAND LAKES RAMSAR PLAN<\/a> <\/strong>. EGCMA then evaluated the over 20 submissions made. ( including from respected organisations such as Birdlife Australia ). EGCMA eventually published a on their findings on the consultations and submissions. A few of the reccomendations for improvement were adopted, but most were not. EGCMA COMMUNITY CONSULTATION REPORT<\/strong><\/a>. The new Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site Management Plan was issued by EGCMA in late 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2024 FINAL GIPPSLAND LAKES RAMSAR SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n East Gippsland Shire Council<\/strong><\/a> is the designated lead agency for developing a Coastal and Marine Management Plan<\/a> <\/strong>for the Gippsland Lakes area, as required by legislation under the Marine and Coastal Act 2018<\/strong>.<\/a> The CMMP is meant to be a “local scale strategic plan that serves as the primary tool for the management of all marine and coastal Crown land<\/strong>“. The plan is currently under renewal and EGSC have been conducting public consultations. FoGL and GEG have made a submission outlining what we believe are the key issues with the proposed new plan FOGL SUBMISSION ON DRAFT CMMP<\/a> <\/strong>. Following the public consultation process the final DRAFT CMMP has now been issued and will be presented to council for approval on 21st October 2025. Again, some of the FoGL sugestions were adopted but many were not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DRAFT CMMP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n FOGL is a member of the Concerned Waterways Alliance (CWA<\/a> ,<\/strong> a network of community and environment groups from Gippsland to the Otways. We share a deep concern about the degraded state of southern Victoria\u2019s rivers, wetlands and aquifers, and are committed to improving their health for the benefit of current and future generations. The full list of submissions can be found on their website here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Concerned Wateraways Alliance has also released a great video<\/strong> giving an excellent aerial overview of Gippsland Lakes and the feeder rivers, and the importance of responsible waterways management. Click <\/strong>start to view<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fogl.org.au\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SecuringfutureRS.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGippsland Lakes Ramsar Site Management Plan<\/strong> ( EGCMA )<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fogl.org.au\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/RSMPcover.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nCoastal and Marine Management Plan<\/strong> ( EGSC )<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fogl.org.au\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CMMPcover.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nConcerned Waterways Alliance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fogl.org.au\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CWA.png\")
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