DOCSLIB.ORG

Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) & Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description December 2020 OFFICIAL Photo credit Red-necked stints at Point Wilson, Andrew Morrison, Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority Acknowledgment We acknowledge and respect Victorian Traditional Owners as the original custodians of Victoria's land and waters, their unique ability to care for Country and deep spiritual connection to it. We honour Elders past and present whose knowledge and wisdom has ensured the continuation of culture and traditional practices. We are committed to genuinely partner, and meaningfully engage, with Victoria's Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities to support the protection of Country, the maintenance of spiritual and cultural practices and their broader aspirations in the 21st century and beyond. © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2020 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria as author. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs or branding, including the Victorian Coat of Arms, the Victorian Government logo and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) logo. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ISBN 978-1-76105-386-3 (pdf) Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please telephone the DELWP Customer Service Centre on 136186, email [email protected], or via the National Relay Service on 133 677 www.relayservice.com.au. This document is also available on the internet at www.delwp.vic.gov.au. Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) & Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description December 2020 Acknowledgements Rhonda Butcher, Water’s Edge Consulting (expert advice and review) Danny Rogers, Australasian Waders Studies Group (expert advice) Halina Kobryn, Murdoch University (mapping and GIS) Rob Clements - Australasian Wader Studies Group (provision of data) Andrew Silcocks - Birds Australia (provision of data) Peter Menkhorst - DELWP, ARI (expert advice) Bob Swindley - DELWP, ARI (expert advice) Steering committee members: Dr Graham Mitchell, Chair – DELWP Yvette Baker - DELWP Anne Brady - DAWE Dr Rosalind Jessop – Central Coastal Board Richard Loyn – DELWP, ARI Mark Rodrigues - Parks Victoria Anne-Marie Tenni - Department of Defence Steve Tuohy - Parks Victoria Dr William Steele – Melbourne Water Mark Smith- Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority Donna Smithyman – Corangamite Catchment Management Authority Author Jennifer Hale Citation Jennifer Hale, 2020, Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) & Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description, for Catchments, Waterways Cities and Towns, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Site details .................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of purpose ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Relevant treaties, legislation and regulations ........................................................................................ 3 1.4 Preparing the ECD ..................................................................................................................................... 5 2. General Description of the PPB Ramsar Site ............................................................. 6 2.1 Locations .................................................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Land tenure ................................................................................................................................................ 7 2.3 Wetland types ............................................................................................................................................ 8 2.4 Ramsar criteria ......................................................................................................................................... 11 2.4.1 Criteria under which the site was designated ................................................................................. 11 2.4.2 Assessment based on current information and Ramsar criteria .................................................. 12 2.5 Heading 2 .................................................................................................................................................. 19 2.5.1 Heading 3 ............................................................................................................................................ 19 3. Components, processes, services and benefits ...................................................... 21 3.1 Definitions ................................................................................................................................................ 21 3.2 Identifying critical components and processes ................................................................................... 21 3.3 Supporting components and processes ................................ ............................................................... 22 3.3.1 Climate ................................................................................................................................................ 23 3.3.2 Geomorphic setting ........................................................................................................................... 25 3.3.3 Water quality ....................................................................................................................................... 26 3.4 Critical components and processes ...................................................................................................... 28 3.4.1 Hydrology ........................................................................................................................................... 29 3.4.2 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................................... 30 3.4.3 Native fish ........................................................................................................................................... 36 3.4.4 Waterbird diversity and abundance ................................................................................................. 37 3.4.5 Waterbird breeding ............................................................................................................................ 40 3.5 Cultural services ...................................................................................................................................... 41 3.5.1 Recreation, education and tourism .................................................................................................. 41 3.5.2 Aboriginal cultural values ................................................................................................................. 41 3.5.3 Scientific research ............................................................................................................................. 41 3.6 Critical benefits and services ................................................................................................................. 42 3.6.1 Provides physical habitat for waterbirds......................................................................................... 42 3.6.2 Provides nursery habitat for fish ...................................................................................................... 45 3.6.3 Supports threatened species ............................................................................................................ 46 3.6.4 Ecological connectivity ..................................................................................................................... 48 4. Limits of Acceptable Change ..................................................................................... 52 4.1 Process for setting Limits of Acceptable Change ............................................................................... 52 4.2 Limits of Acceptable Change for the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site .................................................................................................................................. 53 Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) & Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site i OFFICIAL Ecological Character Description 5. Threats to ecological character ................................................................................. 59 5.1 Climate change .......................................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • DUCK HUNTING in VICTORIA 2020 Background
    DUCK HUNTING IN VICTORIA 2020 Background The Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012 provide for an annual duck season running from 3rd Saturday in March until the 2nd Monday in June in each year (80 days in 2020) and a 10 bird bag limit. Section 86 of the Wildlife Act 1975 enables the responsible Ministers to vary these arrangements. The Game Management Authority (GMA) is an independent statutory authority responsible for the regulation of game hunting in Victoria. Part of their statutory function is to make recommendations to the relevant Ministers (Agriculture and Environment) in relation to open and closed seasons, bag limits and declaring public and private land open or closed for hunting. A number of factors are reviewed each year to ensure duck hunting remains sustainable, including current and predicted environmental conditions such as habitat extent and duck population distribution, abundance and breeding. This review however, overlooks several reports and assessments which are intended for use in managing game and hunting which would offer a more complete picture of habitat, population, abundance and breeding, we will attempt to summarise some of these in this submission, these include: • 2019-20 Annual Waterfowl Quota Report to the Game Licensing Unit, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries • Assessment of Waterfowl Abundance and Wetland Condition in South- Eastern Australia, South Australian Department for Environment and Water • Victorian Summer waterbird Count, 2019, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research As a key stakeholder representing 17,8011 members, Field & Game Australia Inc. (FGA) has been invited by GMA to participate in the Stakeholder Meeting and provide information to assist GMA brief the relevant Ministers, FGA thanks GMA for this opportunity.
    [Show full text]
  • Sampling and Analysis of Lakes in the Corangamite CMA Region (2)
    Sampling and analysis of lakes in the Corangamite CMA region (2) Report to the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority CCMA Project WLE/42-009: Client Report 4 Annette Barton, Andrew Herczeg, Jim Cox and Peter Dahlhaus CSIRO Land and Water Science Report xx/06 December 2006 Copyright and Disclaimer © 2006 CSIRO & Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. To the extent permitted by law, all rights are reserved and no part of this publication covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means except with the written permission of CSIRO Land and Water or the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. Important Disclaimer: CSIRO advises that the information contained in this publication comprises general statements based on scientific research. The reader is advised and needs to be aware that such information may be incomplete or unable to be used in any specific situation. No reliance or actions must therefore be made on that information without seeking prior expert professional, scientific and technical advice. To the extent permitted by law, CSIRO (including its employees and consultants) excludes all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from using this publication (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it. From CSIRO Land and Water Description: Rocks encrusted with salt crystals in hyper-saline Lake Weering. Photographer: Annette Barton © 2006 CSIRO ISSN: 1446-6171 Report Title Sampling and analysis of the lakes of the Corangamite CMA region Authors Dr Annette Barton 1, 2 Dr Andy Herczeg 1, 2 Dr Jim Cox 1, 2 Mr Peter Dahlhaus 3, 4 Affiliations/Misc 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Living Lakes Goals 2019 - 2024 Achievements 2012 - 2018
    Living Lakes Goals 2019 - 2024 Achievements 2012 - 2018 We save the lakes of the world! 1 Living Lakes Goals 2019-2024 | Achievements 2012-2018 Global Nature Fund (GNF) International Foundation for Environment and Nature Fritz-Reichle-Ring 4 78315 Radolfzell, Germany Phone : +49 (0)7732 99 95-0 Editor in charge : Udo Gattenlöhner Fax : +49 (0)7732 99 95-88 Coordination : David Marchetti, Daniel Natzschka, Bettina Schmidt E-Mail : [email protected] Text : Living Lakes members, Thomas Schaefer Visit us : www.globalnature.org Graphic Design : Didem Senturk Photographs : GNF-Archive, Living Lakes members; Jose Carlo Quintos, SCPW (Page 56) Cover photo : Udo Gattenlöhner, Lake Tota-Colombia 2 Living Lakes Goals 2019-2024 | Achievements 2012-2018 AMERICAS AFRICA Living Lakes Canada; Canada ........................................12 Lake Nokoué, Benin .................................................... 38 Columbia River Wetlands; Canada .................................13 Lake Ossa, Cameroon ..................................................39 Lake Chapala; Mexico ..................................................14 Lake Victoria; Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda ........................40 Ignacio Allende Reservoir, Mexico ................................15 Bujagali Falls; Uganda .................................................41 Lake Zapotlán, Mexico .................................................16 I. Lake Kivu; Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda 42 Laguna de Fúquene; Colombia .....................................17 II. Lake Kivu; Democratic
    [Show full text]
  • Mangroves and Salt Marshes in Westernport Bay, Victoria Robyn Ross
    Mangroves and Salt Marshes in Westernport Bay, Victoria BY Robyn Ross Arthur Rylah Institute Flora, Fauna & Freshwater Research PARKS, FLORA AND FAUNA ARTHUR RYLAH INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 123 BROWN STREET (PO BOX 137) HEIDELBERG VIC 3084 TEL: (03) 9450 8600 FAX: (03) 9450 8799 (ABN: 90719052204) JUNE 2000 0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The following people assisted in gathering information for this review: Michele Arundell, Dale Tonkinson, David Cameron, Carol Harris, Paul Barker, Astrid d’Silva, Dr. Neil Saintilan, Kerrylee Rogers and Claire Turner. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................1 MANGROVE-SALT MARSH MAPPING IN WESTERNPORT BAY....................................................................................................4 MANGROVE–SALT MARSH MONITORING IN WESTERNPORT BAY..................................................................................................10 MANGROVE-SALT MARSH MONITORING IN NEW SOUTH WALES ..................................................................................................20 SEDIMENT ELEVATION TABLE (SET).........................................................................22 SUMMARY.........................................................................................................................23 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................25 APPENDIX I Westernport Contacts .......................................................................................................30
    [Show full text]
  • SWC Master Brochure 240X32
    ENJOY life by the bay FKP0176_Master_Brochure_spreads_FA4.indd 1 11/09/12 12:10 PM Enjoy life by the bay Saltwater Coast ENJOY lif e at s altw ater coast Life at Saltwater Coast is all about We have carefully transformed an the fresh sea air and wide open area of natural beauty into a place spaces. Sounds ideal doesn’t it? we are sure will only further enhance Well, it’s all within your reach at our Melbourne’s position as one of the exclusive master planned community world’s most livable cities. With 22 just 20km from the Melbourne CBD. hectares of preserved coastal marshlands and wetlands abundant with migrating birdlife, we’ve struck a perfect balance where your family and nature can coexist. FKP0176_Master_Brochure_spreads_FA4.indd 2 11/09/12 12:10 PM FKP0176_Master_Brochure_spreads_FA4.indd 3 11/09/12 12:10 PM Enjoy life by the bay Saltwater Coast ENJOY e v e r y mom e n t of lif e Saltwater Coast has a unique Our unique facilities include: philosophy that only comes from • Parkland and wetlands the relaxed nature of living by the • BBQ’s bay. We are about enjoying a BBQ • shelters with neighbours, playgrounds for sunny • Playgrounds weekends, bicycle trails for a family • Boardwalks outing and sports ovals to see your • Walking and bicycle trails little ones become future heroes. • sports ovals • Fitness stations • Planned primary schools • Planned childcare facilities • P lanned neighbourhood shopping centre • lifestyle centre FKP0176_Master_Brochure_spreads_FA4.indd 4 11/09/12 12:10 PM FKP0176_Master_Brochure_spreads_FA4.indd 5 11/09/12 12:11 PM Enjoy life by the bay Saltwater Coast N CHEETHAM MELBOURNE 20KMS ENJOY WETLANDS a shared vision SALTWATER From the very beginning saltwater RESERVE PLANNED CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL Coast has planned for over 2,300 exquisite homes.
    [Show full text]
  • Regional Development Victoria Annual Report RDV Annual Report 2006/07
    2006/07 Regional Development Victoria Annual Report RDV Annual Report 2006/07 Contents Section 1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................4 1.1 Chief Executive Foreword ..............................................................................................................5 Section 2.0 Overview of Regional Development Victoria ....................................................................................8 2.1 Profi le of Regional Development Victoria .........................................................................................9 2.2 Structure of Regional Development Victoria ..................................................................................10 2.3 Regional Development Advisory Committee .................................................................................12 Section 3.0 Year In Review ............................................................................................................................14 3.1 Highlights 2006/07 .....................................................................................................................15 3.2 Case Studies 2006/07 ................................................................................................................31 3.3 Regional Infrastructure Development Fund projects in review .........................................................44 3.4 Small Towns Development Fund projects in review .......................................................................51
    [Show full text]
  • Werribee, Point Cook & Surrounds
    OFFICIAL VISITOR GUIDE Werribee, Point Cook & Surrounds KIDS ARE FREE! WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO * An African Adventure Experience an African adventure on over 200 hectares of beautiful natural surrounds. Get on board for a guided safari across the unique open range savannah and spot rhinos, giraffes and zebras! Come face to face with a pride of lions, visit one of the world’s largest gorilla exhibits, see cheeky monkeys at play and discover a family of hippos in their wetland home. Welcome to CONTENTS POINT COOK & SURROUNDS 4 Getting here A region bursting with personality and unique experiences, at the gateway to the famous Great Ocean Road within an 6 Werribee Visitor easy 30-minute drive of Melbourne. Information Centre 8 GetWerribee in the zone We’ll wow you with our world-class attractions – discover 14 On a road to somewhere them clustered in the Werribee Park Precinct and along the Bay West Driving Trail. We’ll intrigue you with pioneering 16 Adventures in aviation aviation history, energise you in natural environments and 18 Nature at her glorious best charm you with our hidden secrets. 22 Delve into the past Relax, settle in and experience it all. 23 Discover arts and soul 26 Come out and play 27 It’s all about you What I enjoy about Werribee“ is the feel of the town. 28 Shop style and substance We can be at Pacific Werribee with all the shops and feel like we’re in a large city, wander into Watton Street for the cafés 30 Food, glorious food and shops and we’re in a country town.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 the Joint Select Committee on Future Gaming Marke
    THE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON FUTURE GAMING MARKETS MET IN COMMITTEE ROOM 2, PARLIAMENT HOUSE, HOBART ON FRIDAY, 18 AUGUST 2017 Ms LEANNE MINSHULL, DIRECTOR, THE AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE TASMANIA WAS CALLED VIA TELECONFERENCE AND WAS EXAMINED. CHAIR (Mr Gaffney) - Thank you, Leanne, for agreeing to discuss your paper and present to the committee. Ms MINSHULL - Thanks for the opportunity. CHAIR - We have received a copy of your report and have tabled that as part of our evidence. That is why it is important for us to speak to you, because then it can be used to help us with our report. Leanne, please give an introduction and overview of the report and how it came about. After that, members might like to ask questions about specifics within the report. Ms MINSHULL - Okay, great. I am sitting in an airport so occasionally there will get announcements in the background, but I will just plough on. The Australia Institute Tasmania is a national institute that has been in operation since about 1994. They have a long history in looking at economic policy issues, in particular jobs, unemployment and what direct and indirect jobs can be attributed to specific industries. We looked at the gaming industry, in particular, in Tasmania for two reasons. One is because we recently started a branch there. We've been open in Tasmania for about six months. It is obviously a contested issue in the community. As part of our national work we look at Australian Bureau of Statistics statistics every time the quarterly statistics come out. We noticed a few anomalies between what was being reported as direct and indirect employment in Tasmania in the gambling industry and what we would normally see using some of the ABS data.
    [Show full text]
  • Blue Carbon’ Within Corangamite
    The Distribution and Abundance of ‘Blue Carbon’ within Corangamite A report for the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority Funded by the Australian Government February 2015 Authors: Paul Carnell, Carolyn Ewers, Ellen Rochelmeyer, Richard Zavalas, Bruce Hawke, Daniel Ierodiaconou, Jonathan Sanderman and Peter Macreadie (corresponding author) Cover photo: Saltmarsh at Breamlea Executive Summary Vegetated coastal habitats—seagrasses, saltmarshes and mangroves—have recently been identified as one of the most effective carbon sinks on the planet. Such habitats can bury carbon at a rate 35-57 times faster than tropical rainforests and can store carbon for thousands of years. Recent global data estimate that vegetated coastal habitats contribute 50% of carbon burial in the oceans – termed “blue carbon”. These features make vegetated coastal habitats ideal candidates for carbon offset programs and nature-based climate mitigation initiatives. In 2014 the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) identified a lack of information on the distribution and abundance of blue carbon within the catchment. Such information is critical for guiding the spatial prioritisation of conservation efforts. To address this knowledge gap, the Corangamite CMA commissioned researchers from Deakin University to conduct Corangamite’s first blue carbon stock assessment, focussing on sedimentary organic carbon. The major findings of this program are as follows: Corangamite has an estimated total blue carbon sediment stock of 431,502.02 Mg and a total carbon value of $6,472,530 over the top 30 cm of sediment at $15 Mg-1. It should be noted that because current sampling was confined to the top 30 cm of sediment, the carbon estimates given here are highly conservative.
    [Show full text]
  • SWAN BAY ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER NO 84 – February 2020 P.O
    SWAN BAY ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER NO 84 – February 2020 P.O. Box 143, Queenscliff 3225 Reg. No: A 00 1 7279 U http://sbea.webuda.com NURSERY NEWS SWAN BAY ENVIRONMENT Our nursery plants are loving the recent rains and ASSOCIATION high humidity. Sarah Roberts, the nursery’s coordinator, is very busy in the nursery at this Notice of Annual General Meeting time of year and also provides advice to gardeners 17th April 2020 who drop in to buy plants on Wednesday 7.30pm mornings and every third Sunday morning. Queenscliff Uniting Church Sarah is also finding a new use for old potting mix, which she is popping it into a compost bin Guest Speaker: Dr Danny Rogers for later use on veggie gardens. Another project is “Birds of Swan Bay” the development of the nursery’s seed bank, which volunteers are helping organise. Danny is one of Australia’s best known shorebird ecologists with an unsurpassed knowledge of birds of Swan Bay. He is a research biologist at Arthur Rylah Institute (Dept Environment, Land, Water and Planning) and is a co-author of the recently published “Australian Bird Guide”. Martin Gill, CEO, QBC will also address progress on Council’s climate emergency plan Membership renewals are due at the AGM. You may pay by direct deposit to 633-000 136521358 or by mail to PO Box 143, Queenscliff VIC 3225 If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else to the SBEA Committee, nominations should be submitted by Volunteers busy in the nursery on a Sunday morning. 10 April 2020.
    [Show full text]
  • ANNUAL REPORT Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative 2
    ANNUAL REPORT Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative 2 Welcome to Country Kim Barne Barre Wadawurrung, • Local Aboriginal community driven Kitarra ngitj. Gin Gin bail wada • Local Aboriginal community owned nidg, Bar Nar Weering Nidj. These three principles underpin Self-determination and Sovereignty “Welcome to Wadawurrung which have been cultural custom and practice since the first Aboriginal Country, let us walk together and organisation was formally established in 1972. learn in peace” ‘In Our Community’s Hands’ We would like to thank and pay respect to the Traditional Our Purpose Owners of this land – the As Traditional Owners and custodians of Wathaurong land, we are Wadawurrung people. committed to working together to provide a secure future for our community We would also like to by upholding the dignity of our ancestors, respecting our Elders and others, acknowledge and pay respect and instilling a sense of cultural pride and belonging in our children and our to our Elders, both past and children’s children. present, to the members of the The Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative Limited welcomes all Aboriginal Aboriginal community and to people and provides a place where community members experience social the community leaders. and cultural connectedness and unity, have a voice, celebrate culture and identity; promoting self-determination, community healing, well-being and Our Vision advancement. We are here to support and politically advocate for the community: to The primary purpose of the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative Limited is provide culturally appropriate health, education, aged, disability, housing to provide holistic, culturally sensitive and secure service responses to meet and cultural services, provide and advocate for sustainable employment the specific needs of the Aboriginal community.
    [Show full text]
  • Hobsons Bay Friends Group Conservation Activities 2018
    Hobsons Bay Hobsons Bay park locations Friends Group 4. Kororoit Creek, Altona North Brooklyn Kororoit Creek is one of the major waterways for Melbourne’s west. It is 80km conservation in length with the upper catchment starting in Sunbury. In Hobsons Bay, industry South Kingsville Spotswood plays a big part in the landscape of the creek as it runs through areas like activities 2018 Altona North Brooklyn and Altona North. The creek runs into Port Phillip Bay at the Altona Coastal Park, between Altona and Williamstown. 4 5 Newport 2 5. Newport Lakes, Newport At approximately 33ha in size, Newport Lakes is a recycled park, as it was Williamstown North created from a former bluestone quarry. The park is an urban bushland oasis and when walking along the meandering trails you could easily forget that you are in Altona the suburbs of Melbourne. The park is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. 3 1 8 Williamstown Laverton Seaholme 6. Skeleton Creek, Altona Meadows 9 Skeleton Creek lies adjacent to the Cheetham Wetlands/Point Cook Coastal 1. Altona Coastal Park, Seaholme Park which is a wetland of international significance (RAMSAR Site). You can 6 Altona Meadows be guaranteed to see a vast variety of bird life around Skeleton Creek. Seabrook The Altona Coastal Park comprises of 70ha of terrestrial land and 70ha of intertidal and 7. Truganina Park, Altona Meadows 7 saltmarsh zones. The park boasts a variety of habitats including Truganina Park has been converted into a major park. The site provides one regionally significant white mangrove (Avicennia of the largest stands of Chaffey Saw Sedge (Gahnia Filum) in Hobsons Bay.
    [Show full text]