The Silver Review proposed one of the most significant shifts to Victoria’s catchment governance in many years. Its recommendations centred on merging existing Catchment Management Authorities into three regional bodies that matched the proposed metro–regional water partnerships.
This raised questions across catchment management Victoria about how such a change would influence planning, capacity and local engagement.
The government rejected compulsory mergers in its response, leaving the sector to navigate a middle path that balances local knowledge with opportunities for shared capabilities.
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What did the Silver Review recommend for CMAs?
The Review proposed consolidating CMAs into Western, Northern and Eastern groups. This shift aimed to align river health, biodiversity and land management with the broader water reform package.
The Review argued that larger CMAs could support more integrated planning and deliver specialist capability across wider geographic areas. It noted that current arrangements sometimes lead to fragmented approaches to catchment challenges, particularly where issues cross administrative boundaries.
Under the proposal, CMAs would have worked more closely with regional water partnerships and used shared platforms for strategy, monitoring and program delivery. This structure was intended to create a more unified view of catchment pressures and to improve the consistency of planning across river basins and land systems.
What concerns did the Review identify?
While the Review outlined efficiencies and capability gains, it also acknowledged key risks. These included reduced local presence, potential loss of specialist local knowledge, and challenges for close community relationships that CMAs have built over decades. It noted that traditional ecological knowledge and place-based insights are essential to effective catchment management. These concerns were central to the question of whether a larger regional model could maintain the depth and responsiveness that communities expect.
The Review also highlighted the need for careful transition planning. It suggested that any consolidation must protect relationships with Traditional Owners, councils and regional partners. It emphasised that integrated land and water planning is most effective when it is grounded in strong community ties.
How did the government respond to CMA merger proposals?
The government rejected compulsory CMA mergers in its response. It argued that community expectations, place-based relationships and the unique characteristics of each catchment require a localised approach. The government noted that CMAs have deep regional roots and that their strength lies in their ability to maintain ongoing relationships with landholders, community groups and Traditional Owners.
Although it did not support consolidation, the government signalled a willingness to explore shared corporate functions where beneficial. It also encouraged more collaborative planning arrangements that do not rely on structural reform. This means that catchment management in Victoria will continue to operate within the current boundaries, but with support for voluntary initiatives that build capability across regions.
What does this mean for catchment management in Victoria?
The decision leaves CMAs with both stability and opportunity. Stability comes from maintaining familiar boundaries and governance arrangements. Opportunity lies in developing shared services, digital tools, and coordinated planning mechanisms to address emerging pressures such as climate impacts, flood risk, and biodiversity decline.
The Review’s recommendations, even without adoption, have reframed the conversation. They highlight the need to consider whether current structures can meet rising expectations for integrated land and water stewardship. Many of the benefits envisioned by the Review can still be achieved through partnership approaches. The government’s stance places responsibility on the sector to demonstrate what can be accomplished through collaborative action rather than legislative change.
The next few years will test whether collaboration across CMAs can achieve the outcomes of a consolidated model while preserving the strengths of local knowledge. Catchment management Victoria now sits at a point where voluntary innovation will determine how well it adapts to long-term environmental pressures.