There are many organisations involved in natural resource management in the north central region. The North Central CMA develops the RCS on behalf of the region, to focus investment and coordinate the efforts of all involved.

The RCS vision “Working in Partnership for a Healthy Catchment” highlights the importance of working together. We all have a role to play, and by leveraging networks and investment we can do more. The North Central Catchment Partners Forum is a great example of this. The North Central CMA facilitates the forum and, in partnership with its a diverse range of members, has developed a Regional Prospectus to facilitate NRM investment in the region (refer the Prospectus page for more information).

The table below identifies the government and non-government organisations, Traditional Owners and community-based groups who have key roles in RCS delivery. As recommended in the final RCS 2013-19, key partners have been engaged to reflect shared priorities and improve accountability by nominating key collaborators for delivery of priority directions and outcomes in this RCS.

	Partners	Role	Link to RCS
Traditional Owners	Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, Taungurung Land and Waters Council, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, Barengi Gadjin Land Council. Barapa Barapa, Wamba Wemba and Wadi Wadi Traditional Owners.	The north central region includes the Country of seven different Traditional Owners. We acknowledge their enduring connection to Country and their custodial responsibility to care for Country.	Traditional Owners aspire to heal, care for and manage their Country. This RCS identifies self-determined participation and leadership in cultural and natural resource planning as the long-term outcome.
Australian Government Departments	Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment	Partner and regulate to enhance Australia’s agriculture, environment and heritage, and water resources. Administer the Federal EPBC Act which seeks to protect matters of national environmental significance including threatened species and ecological communities and RAMSAR sites.	The National Landcare Program funds Regional biodiversity and sustainable agriculture projects to protect and enhance investment priorities, including RCS priority assets.
Basin States Authority	Murray Darling Basin Authority	The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is an independent expertise-based statutory agency, responsible for directing the sharing of the River Murray’s water on behalf of the Basin states, in accordance with the Murray–Darling Agreement.	The Murray Darling Basin Plan (the Basin Plan) sets the amount of water that can be taken from the Basin each year. The Living Murray program focuses on maintaining the health of six icon sites along the Murray River, including the Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Forest site, which is partly within the north central region. Basin States must comply within strict limits to the amount of salt permitted to enter the Murray River through the stream network as per the Basin Salinity Management Strategy 2030.
State Government Departments	Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)	Prepare and lead the implementation of State Government policy for the sustainable use of natural resources, including for catchment management, land stewardship, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation.	DELWP funds regional programs to improve land, water and biodiversity outcomes. DELWP manages 166,408 hectares (43% of all public land) including State Parks, State Forest and other reserved/unreserved crown land including several RCS assets, they have a role in forest fire management, coordinate regional biodiversity response planning, they are a referral authority for regional biodiversity and lead regional climate change adaptation.
	Parks Victoria	Parks Victoria is a statutory authority established to protect, conserve and enhance Parks Victoria managed land, including its natural and cultural values, for the benefit of the environment and current and future generations consistent with the Parks Victoria Act 2018. Parks Victoria works closely with Traditional Owners, other agencies and the community to continuously improve its capacity to deliver large-scale programs and on-ground actions to protect and manage the best of Victoria’s natural assets, throughout the Parks estate.	Parks Victoria manages 183,063 ha (6% of the region, 48% of all public land) in the north central region, including the five National Parks (Terrick Terrick, Gunbower, Kara Kara, Heathcote Graytown and Greater Bendigo) and jointly manages six parks with Dja Dja Wurrung, and other areas within priority biodiversity assets. Parks Victoria run educational programs including Ranger Roo and Junior Ranger, as well as cultural programs led by Aboriginal Rangers.
	Environment Protection Authority	The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria is Victoria’s environmental regulator, established in 1971 under the Environment Protection Act 1970. EPA’s role is to prevent and reduce the harmful effects of pollution and waste on Victorians and their environment.	EPA has a role in preventing harm to the community and environment from farming practices (e.g. chemical storage and handling and effluent management) in regulating discharges to waterways and in the use of recycled water.
Rural and Urban Water Corporations	Goulburn-Murray Water (rural), Lower Murray (urban and rural), GWMWater (urban and rural). Coliban Water (urban), Central Highlands Water (urban),	Urban water services include: supply of drinking and recycled water, and the removal and treatment of sewage and trade waste – Rural water services include: water delivery for irrigation, domestic and stock purposes, drainage and salinity mitigation. Some water corporations also provide water for environmental purposes, manage bulk water storages and designated recreational areas.	Broader catchment health and improved water quality linked to water supply. Water reform, operational role in environmental water management, also management of waterways and public land associated with assets.
Local Governments	City of Ballarat, Buloke Shire, Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Gannawarra Shire, Hepburn Shire, Loddon Shire, Macedon Ranges Shire, Mitchell Shire, Moorabool Shire, Mount Alexander Shire, Northern Grampians Shire, Pyrenees Shire, Swan Hill Rural City.	Local Government Planning Schemes are a key mechanism for environmental management and protection. Other responsibilities relevant to the RCS include waste management, stormwater management, management of public land, administering native vegetation retention controls in consultation with DELWP.	Public land manager, land use planning, community education and engagement in various local environmental programs with links to RCS catchment priority assets.
Non-Government organisations	Trust for Nature, Bush Heritage, Biolinks Alliance, Connecting Country, Greening Australia, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Wettenhall Environment Trust and other philanthropic bodies etc.	Various roles that contribute to NRM planning, participation and action.	Protecting, enhancing RCS assets. Role in broader community engagement, participation and resourcing.
Community-based groups	Landcare groups, Landcare networks, Conservation Management networks, delegated crown land managers (e.g., Committees of Management), friends of groups, field naturalists, citizen scientists, recreation groups, farming systems groups.	Various roles that contribute to NRM planning, participation and action at a local scale.	Protecting, enhancing local and RCS priority assets. Play a critical role in connecting people to nature, involving private landholders and educating the broader community.
Education and research organisations	Universities, research organisations (e.g. Arthur Rylah Institute, CSIRO), TAFE, schools.	Research, training and participation.	Capacity building of regional stakeholders including community. Filling key RCS knowledge gaps.
Industry groups	Industry based research groups including Vic No Till, Irrigation Cropping Council, CRCs. Industry groups including Murray Dairy, Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).	Research, extension, accreditation/marketing of sustainable practices.	Knowledge and capacity building, accreditation of farms and agribusiness.