The Friends of Willow Park committee member was yesterday among dozens of residents at Willow Park to have their say on the North East Catchment Management Authority’s waterway strategy.

“Willow Park is used by so many community groups, so it would be good to set up some interpretive educational boards,” Ms Stacey said.

“We could explain the importance of things like creek bank stabilisation, informing people about how big boulders were once used but now it’s vegetation that holds the banks.

“These signs could start in community parks and be copied in other areas.”

Regional catchment strategy co-ordinator Matt O’Connell is encouraging ideas like these as the water authority holds a series of “catchment conversations” across the North East this month.

Mr O’Connell said the idea was to collect comments and hear new ideas so it could be added to the strategy that guides the management of rivers, flood plains, and wetlands across the North East catchment for the next eight years.

Mr O’Connell said it was important to get input and feedback.

“It is the community who use it, drink it and play in it,” he said.

“Over the past 18 months there have been conversations with the public and we have come up with this draft.

“It’s now important that we get feedback.”

Feedback will close on April 28; comment by emailing necma@necma.vic.gov.au or phoning (02) 6043 7603.