For further information, contact:

CITY OF GREATER GEELONG 03 5227 0270

CORANGAMITE CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 03 5232 9100 www.ccma.vic.gov.au

PARKS INFO LINE (24HRS) 131 963 DEPARTMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT 136 186 WANDERINGS GEELONG FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB INC ECOTOUR http://home.vicnet.au/~gfnc

INJURED BIRDS AND ANIMALS JIRRAHLINGA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY 03 52542484

A project sponsored by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality program a joint Initiative of the Victorian and Australian Governments.

WELCOME TO THE WETLAND When visiting . . . WANDERINGS ECOTOUR ■ Keep 200m away from roosting, breeding or feeding A very prominent feature of the City of Greater Geelong waterbirds. Many have travelled vast distances and is its wetlands, waterways, , bays and beaches. need to conserve energy to fly home to breed. The Wetland Wanderings Ecotour is a self-guided tour ■ Keep dogs on a lead and away from bird areas. showcasing a number of amazing wetlands, from coastal and freshwater wetlands to major waterways ■ Clean up after your dog! and smaller creek systems. ■ Don’t trample plants. Coastal and wetland plants are The City’s wetlands make up one of the most easily damaged and can take many years to recover. important waterbird areas in , with the highest Short-cuts and new paths encourage weeds, cause concentration of migratory shorebirds in Victoria and a erosion and destroy plant and animal homes. stunning array or other birdlife, the diversity of which ■ Don’t leave any rubbish behind. What you leave rivals Australia’s Kakadu region. pollutes wetlands and can directly kill or injure wildlife Wetlands are a significant component of the total (particularly fishing line, plastic bags and cigarette habitat remaining in the Geelong area and support a butts), as well as spoiling it for other visitors. number of rare or threatened species listed in Victoria and at a National level.

WWW.GEELONGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU WWW.GEELONGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU HOW IT WORKS GEELONG’S WETLANDS The Wetland Wanderings Ecotour offers great flexibility as it Geelong’s Wetlands are very special! enables you to enjoy these fantastic wetlands at a leisurely Geelong’s Wetlands are so valuable that many have been pace. There are so many great sites to explore! listed under the Convention Wetlands of International Here’s how it works; Importance. This International Treaty was signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. The treaty aims to halt the Use the Wetland Wanderings Map to choose the wetlands worldwide loss of wetlands and conserve, through wise that you wish to visit. Each site is colour coded and fits one use and management, those that remain. By signing the of the following categories; treaty the Australian Government has agreed to conserve its  Saline Wetlands Ramsar wetlands forever.  Freshwater Wetlands Why are Geelong’s Ramsar Wetlands so important?  Points of Interest Geelong’s Ramsar wetlands contain many species and wetland  Ramsar Listed Sites habitats, precious areas that were historically more extensive Each wetland site has its own brochure highlighting the throughout the region. Our wetlands are an important breeding features of the site in more detail. Make sure to select and feeding ground for tens of thousands of waterbirds. Some your preferred brochures and make your way to your birds use our wetlands all year round; others are summer chosen location. migrants from places as far away as Siberia! Some sites may be ‘drive by’ only and some are close to Not only are there the Ramsar wetlands but there are the a parking bay so you can stop, read the site information very significant freshwater wetlands all mostly located within from the selected brochure and go for a wander around an urban environment. These wetland environments are the wetland. highly diverse and productive and critical for the conservation of biodiversity and ecological productivity. They also have This is a great opportunity to discover many different bird important cultural, heritage and aesthetic values. A lot of habitat and species that call Geelong’s wetlands home. native birds utilise these wetlands for food and shelter. Be sure to keep an eye out for sea-birds, gulls, ibis, herons, spoonbills, egrets, waders, ducks, swans, grebes, coots, crakes and rails! The beautiful birds visiting the Geelong Region.

A LITTLE ABOUT US.. The City of Greater Geelong is rich in wetlands, with over 100 individual wetlands covering a total of 11,630 hectares. Throughout Geelong, over 1,000 hectares of our wetlands have been lost or degraded due to drainage, filing and other land use practices. The regions wetlands have been recognised internationally and are one of the City’s most important reservoirs of biodiversity. The Geelong Regional Wetlands Project is an initiative between the City of Greater Geelong and the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. The project brings together landholders, businesses, community groups, local government and government agencies to manage significant wetlands in the Geelong Region. 1. AVALON BEACH R S including migratory waders such as the Lathams snipe. It is generally a large shallow open water zone with a “A diverse coastal environment” number of dense stands of emergent macrophytes (ie. The Avalon Beach Wetland is a highly productive and WETLAND WANDERINGS River Club-rush – Schoenoplectus validus). diverse wetland providing habitat for migratory birds, P – Ocean Grove has many fabulous cafés and local waterfowl and endangered species, including Little restaurants and has an amazing outlook to the Bluff at Tern, Painted Snipe and Lewins . It also contains a Barwon Heads. high diversity of plant life of high ecological value. During the summer months tens of thousands of migratory P – Barwon Heads Marine Sanctuary; an amazing birds flock to Avalon as it is a prime feeding zone. spot that is about 17 hectares in size. The intertidal Sometimes there are as many as 60,000 birds there! and shallow subtidal sandstone and basalt reefs of the Toilets and picnic tables available. marine sanctuary provide habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna.

2. LIMEBURNERS BAY R S P – Barwon Heads Village; a great main street of “A dynamic natural system” shops; lots of yummy places to eat, drink and take in the magic surroundings!! Limeburners Bay supports the largest remaining area of white mangroves in Port Phillip Bay and one of the most intact saltmarsh complex. Shingle/sand pits and saline 9. CONNEWARRE R S F herb fields are home to many birds and crabs that feed State Game Reserve and shelter here. “An icon of the ” A fabulous walking track enables you to walk all the way is a large, shallow estuarine lagoon around the saltmarsh fringes, following Hovells Creek linked to the sea by the mangrove-fringed channel and into the township of Lara. Interpretative signs tell of the Lower Barwon River. The Barwon River flows the story behind the lagoon and give an insight into the through the reserve, creating a diversity of wetland important features of this special wetland. habitats supporting numerous creatures. Toilets and picnic tables available. Saline Wetland S Lake Connewarre protects the largest remaining remnant vegetation on the Bellarine Peninsula. P – Another kilometre on from St Helens is the wide open F Freshwater Wetland spaces of Rippleside. This is a great spot to stop, with a Extensive areas of reed swamp across the lake Ramsar Listed fabulous playground, toilets and BBQ’s. Rippleside is also R provide excellent habitat for wildlife with tall stands of Phragmites prolific in some areas and Juncus home to the infamous Recycled Plastic Boardwalk that winds P Places of Interest over the top of amazing seagrass meadows. Interpretive rushland along parts of the lake shore. The lake signs tell the stories of the boardwalk and give some insight itself harbours extensive seagrass meadows which to the importance of the seagrass, together with highlighting provide important spawning and nursery sites for the magnificent geological cliffs that frame this area. vegetation to create a continuous green corridor The lower lake was deepened in the 1980’s creating an island indigenous fish species. Over 20 species of fish have P – Emily Street Wetlands; a man-made wetland that been recorded. Managed by Parks Victoria. through the heart of the Bellarine Peninsula. at the Western end. It is fed by a large stormwater drain which catches stormwater from new developments and eventually P – Geelong’s Waterfront; places to eat drink and get impacts on the quality of the water within the lake. It is used directs water into . an amazing view of the bay. by various waterbirds but is not as popular as the upper lake. 4. LAKE LORNE F 10. BREAMLEA Flora and Fauna Reserve S F P – The National Wool Museum. 7. LAKE VICTORIA Wildlife Reserve S “A unique lineal coastal reserve system” “A great example if a vegetated freshwater wetland” 6. SWAN BAY, Port Phillip – Geelong Botanic Gardens. R S P “A special sub-coastal wetland” The township of Breamlea is located behind Lake Lorne is a natural shallow freshwater wetland of Heads Marine National Park a large open dune system that is vegetated approximately 12 hectares. Substantial variation in water Lake Victoria is a natural shallow saline lake approximately 3. POINT HENRY “The most significant ecosystem in Port Phillip Bay; with coastal grassland and shrubland vegetation, S levels occurs in the lake, often showing a lag in the extremely high ecological value” 139 hectares in size and is separated from Bass Strait by a providing habitat for many birds including the response of the prevailing climatic conditions. It is a very “An amazing wetland oasis within an industrial zone” narrow strip of coastal dunes, however it lies below sea level. threatened Hooded Plover. Permanent saline important area for a diverse range of birds. Large numbers Swan Bay is a diversely rich marine habitat with seagrass Water and salinity levels are highly variable. Over the past Point Henry is not only home to Alcoa, one of Australia’s wetlands surround the northern face of the of roost on the islands late in the afternoon meadows, foreshore dunes, mudflats, saltmarsh meadows decade the lake has been known to dry out and at low levels, biggest producers of alumina and aluminum but it also is Breamlea Township; Beaded Glasswort is one and evening, whilst a range of water birds frequent the lake. and remnant woodlands. Vast underwater seagrass extensive mudflats and limestone outcrops are exposed. The home to an extensive and precious wetland environment. of the major plants in this saltmarsh environment Species to watch out for are the rare Blue-billed Duck, Black meadows provide essential nursery areas for fish such as plant communities consist of salt tolerant species typical of King George Whiting and Yellow-eyed Mullet. which plays an important role as habitat for the This site has international significance as it provides Swan, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Grey and coastal dune woodland and saltmarsh in the region. Ancient Orange-bellied parrot. Managed by Parks Victoria. habitat for migratory birds, including two internationally Chestnut Teal and Eurasian Coot. The Workers Community Habitat types found within the park include seagrass beds, Moonah trees, Melaleuca lancelota, surround the lake, which significant species, eight nationally significant and three Group for Wetlands have been undertaking a very successful sheltered intertidal mudflats, intertidal sandy beaches and are recognised as a threatened species. P – Breamlea Caravan Park; great surf, great views, state significant species. These species include Little beautiful beaches! nest box breeding program, at Lake Lorne for many years. rocky shores, subtidal soft substrata and rocky reefs, as well Lake Victoria is of international significance for Red-necked Terns, Curlew Sandpipers and Red-necked Stints. as the open water environment. The diversity and abundance Stints, Banded Stilts and the globally endangered Orange- of marine flora and fauna in this region are greater than many Take a walk through the wetlands and admire the 5. MACLEOD’S WATERHOLES F bellied Parrot and of state significance for the nationally 11. JERRINGOT WETLANDS F interpretative signage and the various bird hides throughout. comparable habitats elsewhere in the world. The Swan Bay vulnerable Hooded Plover and for the Little Egret which is (turn left off Geelong Portarlington Rd in to Granville St) area is renowned for its diversity of migratory wader birds critically endangered in Victoria. Managed by Parks Victoria. “A very valuable wetland environment” P – “Bellarine Rail Trail” - Walk it, jog it or ride it. The and includes various sites listed under a number of treaties Jerringot Wetland is a freshwater marsh consisting of Bellarine Rail Trail stretches some 33 kilometres, linking McLeods Waterholes comprises of two freshwater lakes. including the Ramsar Convention, designed to protect 8. BEGOLA WETLAND F two main wetland areas and is linked to the beautiful Geelong to Queenscliff and providing an inspiring passage These have important historical significance as they migratory bird habitat. Managed by Parks Victoria. “An interesting wetland environment existing in urban Barwon River Floodplain. It is home to many native to the many tourist attractions across the Peninsula. provided the early natural spring water supply to the local surroundings”. plants and a high concentration of native species. community. They are named after a local pioneer, Angus P – Queenscliff; the main street is filled with great little shops, The surrounding reserve features areas of remnant, It is home to the Yarra Pygmy Perch and contains McLeod and are important in respect to aboriginal heritage. cafes, pubs and the best fish and chips on the Peninsula! Begola Wetland is a freshwater wetland replenished solely indigenous vegetation, creating a safe and tranquil 12 species of plants which are considered regionally by stormwater run-off. The wetland has significant habitat environment for users. A community supported The upper lake is much smaller and shallower and is a popular P – Point Lonsdale; great cafes and restaurants and during significant, including the rare Common Nardoo & value, providing habitat for a range of flora and fauna revegetation program will link the areas of existing site for various waterbirds, including the rare Blue-billed Duck. October - November you may get a chance to see Henry the Seal! Water Plantain.