Port Phillip Bay

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Port Phillip Bay Ecological descriptions of the significant marine environmental assets of Victoria: Interim Report Julia Kent and Greg Jenkins December 2012 Fisheries Victoria Department of Primary Industries If you would like to receive this Author Contact Details: Greg Jenkins information/publication in an Fisheries Research Branch, Fisheries Victoria accessible format (such as large PO Box 114, Queenscliff Victoria 3225 print or audio) please call the Authorised by the Victorian Government, Customer Service Centre on: 2a Bellarine Hwy, Queenscliff, Victoria 3225 136 186, TTY: 1800 122 969, Printed by DPI Queenscliff, Victoria or email Published by the Department of Primary [email protected] Industries. Copyright The State of Victoria, Department of Copies are available from the website: Primary Industries, 2012. www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance General disclaimer with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not Preferred way to cite: guarantee that the publication is without flaw of Kent, J., and Jenkins, G.P. (2012) Ecological any kind or is wholly appropriate for your descriptions of the significant marine particular purposes and therefore disclaims all environmental assets of Victoria: Interim Report. liability for any error, loss or other consequence Fisheries Victoria Technical Report No. 177, 69 which may arise from you relying on any pages. Department of Primary Industries, information in this publication. Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. ISSN 1835‐4785 ISBN 978‐1‐74326‐355‐6 (Print) Marine assets of Victoria: Interim report ii Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 Objectives .................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Methods ................................................................................................................... 3 Port Phillip Bay ...................................................................................................... 4 Major assets ................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Port Phillip Bay sediment basin (> 10 m) .............................................................................................................. 4 Background .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Potential threats to the asset .................................................................................................................................. 5 Asset condition ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Uncertainties ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 Key References ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Assets of State significance ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Mud Islands ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Background .............................................................................................................................................................. 7 Asset description ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Potential threats to the asset .................................................................................................................................. 8 Asset condition ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 Uncertainties ............................................................................................................................................................ 9 Key References ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Port Phillip Heads Canyon .................................................................................................................................... 10 Background ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 Asset description ................................................................................................................................................... 10 Potential threats to the asset ................................................................................................................................ 11 Asset condition ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 Uncertainties .......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Key References ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 Swan Bay ................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Background ............................................................................................................................................................ 13 Asset description ................................................................................................................................................... 13 Potential threats to the asset ................................................................................................................................ 13 Asset condition ...................................................................................................................................................... 14 Uncertainties .......................................................................................................................................................... 14 Key References ...................................................................................................................................................... 14 Western Treatment Plant Coastline ...................................................................................................................... 15 Background ............................................................................................................................................................ 15 Marine assets of Victoria: Interim report iii Asset description .................................................................................................................................................. 15 Potential threats to the asset ............................................................................................................................... 16 Asset condition ..................................................................................................................................................... 16 Uncertainties ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Key References ...................................................................................................................................................... 16 Altona‐Point Cook reefs ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Background ........................................................................................................................................................... 17 Asset description .................................................................................................................................................. 17 Potential threats to the asset ............................................................................................................................... 17 Asset condition ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 Uncertainties ......................................................................................................................................................... 18 Key References .....................................................................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • SPECIAL Victoria Government Gazette
    Victoria Government Gazette No. S 279 Friday 18 August 2017 By Authority of Victorian Government Printer Fisheries Act 1995 FISHERIES NOTICE 2017 I, Travis Dowling, Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Fisheries Authority, as delegate of the Minister for Agriculture and having undertaken consultation in accordance with section 3A of the Fisheries Act 1995 (the Act), make the following Fisheries Notice under sections 67, 68A, 114 and 152 of the Act: Dated 17 August 2017 TRAVIS DOWLING Chief Executive Officer FISHERIES (CENTRAL ABALONE ZONE – REVISED) NOTICE 2017 1. Title This Notice may be cited as the Fisheries (Central Abalone Zone – Revised) Notice 2017 2. Objectives The objective of this Notice is to: a. fix minimum size limits for blacklip abalone and greenlip abalone taken under an Abalone Fishery Access Licence in the central abalone zone. b. address sustainability concerns for Victorian Central Abalone Zone abalone stocks and related management issues by closing specified marine waters to commercial abalone harvest. 3. Authorising provision This Notice is made under sections 67, 68A, 114 and 152 of the Act. 4. Commencement This Notice comes into operation at the time it is published in the Victoria Government Gazette and the VFA website. 5. Revocation The Fisheries (Central Abalone Zone) Notice 2017 is revoked. 6. Definitions In this fisheries notice – ‘AFAL’ means an Abalone Fishery (Central Zone) Access Licence; ‘central abalone zone’ means all Victorian waters between longitude 142° 31ʹ East and longitude 148° East; ‘CEO’
    [Show full text]
  • 20 August 2011 BL Ltrdate Verd
    3 April 2017 Infrastructure Victoria Level 16, 530 Collins St Melbourne VIC 3000 Submitted via: yoursay.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/ports/submissions Re: Second Container Port Advice. BirdLife Australia is an independent science-based conservation organisation with more than 13,000 members and 100,000 supporters throughout Australia. We have an extensive ongoing program of bird conservation research and a range of citizen science projects that engage thousands of Australians. Our primary objective is to conserve and protect Australia's native birds and their habitat. We have an extensive ongoing program of bird conservation research, including our Shorebirds 2020 program, developed to address the ongoing decline of Australia’s resident and migratory shorebirds. Our Special Interest Group, the Australasian Wader Studies Group (AWSG) conducts and promotes shorebird research and conservation throughout Australasia. Through our Shorebirds 2020 program and the work of the AWSG, BirdLife Australia is recognised as a leading authority on the ecology and conservation of Australia’s shorebirds. BirdLife Australia has established a regular monitoring program for important shorebird sites throughout Australia including the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula, and Western Port Ramsar sites. Both sites are recognised as providing internationally important habitat for waterbirds including a large number of migratory and threatened species listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). BirdLife Australia has a long history of involvement in recovery actions for the Critically Endangered Orange-bellied Parrot, including ongoing coordination of the mainland monitoring program for the species. As Australia’s leading bird conservation advocate, BirdLife Australia should be considered a key stakeholder in future planning for the location of Victoria’s second container port.
    [Show full text]
  • Longevity in Little Penguins Eudyptula Minor
    71 LONGEVITY IN LITTLE PENGUINS EUDYPTULA MINOR PETER DANN1, MELANIE CARRON2, BETTY CHAMBERS2, LYNDA CHAMBERS2, TONY DORNOM2, AUSTIN MCLAUGHLIN2, BARB SHARP2, MARY ELLEN TALMAGE2, RON THODAY2 & SPENCER UNTHANK2 1 Research Group, Phillip Island Nature Park, PO Box 97, Cowes, Phillip Island, Victoria, 3922, Australia ([email protected]) 2 Penguin Study Group, PO Box 97, Cowes, Phillip Island, Victoria, 3922, Australia Received 17 June 2005, accepted 18 November 2005 Little Penguins Eudyptula minor live around the mainland and Four were females, two were males and one was of unknown sex offshore islands of southern Australia and New Zealand (Marchant (Table 1). The oldest of the birds was a male that was banded by the & Higgins 1990). They are the smallest penguin species extant, Penguin Study Group as a chick before fledging on Phillip Island breeding in burrows and coming ashore only after nightfall. Most on 2 January 1976 in a part of the colony known as “the Penguin of their mortality appears to result from processes occurring at sea Parade.” This bird was not recorded again after initial banding (Dann 1992). The average life expectancy of breeding adult birds until it was five years old and was found raising two chicks at the is approximately 6.5 years (Reilly & Cullen 1979, Dann & Cullen Penguin Parade. This individual had a bill depth measurement 12% 1990, Dann et al. 1995); however, some individuals in southeastern less than the mean for male penguins from Phillip Island (Arnould Australia have lived far in excess of the average life expectancy. et al. 2004), but was classified as a male based on the sex of its mates (sexed as females from the presence of cloacal distension Approximately 44 000 birds have been flipper-banded on Phillip following egg-laying or from their bill-depth measurements).
    [Show full text]
  • Mapping and Distribution of Sabella Spallanzanii in Port Phillip Bay Final
    Mapping and distribution of Sabellaspallanzanii in Port Phillip Bay Final Report to Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC Project 94/164) G..D. Parry, M.M. Lockett, D.P. Crookes, N. Coleman and M.A. Sinclair May 1996 Mapping and distribution of Sabellaspallanzanii in Port Phillip Bay Final Report to Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC Project 94/164) G.D. Parry1, M. Lockett1, D. P. Crookes1, N. Coleman1 and M. Sinclair2 May 1996 1Victorian Fisheries Research Institute Departmentof Conservation and Natural Resources PO Box 114, Queenscliff,Victoria 3225 2Departmentof Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Monash University Clayton Victoria 3068 Contents Page Technical and non-technical summary 2 Introduction 3 Background 3 Need 4 Objectives 4 Methods 5 Results 5 Benefits 5 Intellectual Property 6 Further Development 6 Staff 6 Final cost 7 Distribution 7 Acknow ledgments 8 References 8 Technical and Non-technical Summary • The sabellid polychaete Sabella spallanzanii, a native to the Mediterranean, established in Port Phillip Bay in the late 1980s. Initially it was found only in Corio Bay, but during the past fiveyears it has spread so that it now occurs throughout the western half of Port Phillip Bay. • Densities of Sabella in many parts of the bay remain low but densities are usually higher (up to 13/m2 ) in deeper water and they extend into shallower depths in calmer regions. • Sabella larvae probably require a 'hard' surface (shell fragment, rock, seaweed, mollusc or sea squirt) for initial attachment, but subsequently they may use their own tube as an anchor in soft sediment . • Changes to fish communities following the establishment of Sabella were analysed using multidimensional scaling and BACI (Before, After, Control, Impact) design analyses of variance.
    [Show full text]
  • The Following Notice to Mariners Is
    LOCAL NAVIGATION WARNING GIPPSLAND PORTS The following navigation warning is published for general information. AUSTRALIA - VICTORIA LNW NO.1 OF 2021 GIPPSLAND PORTS NAVIGATION ADVICE OCEAN ACCESS BAR CROSSINGS ARE DANGEROUS DATE: Tuesday 9th March 2021 PREVIOUS Local Navigation Warning No10 of 2018 is referred. NOTICE: DETAILS: A recent Marine Incident has occurred at McLoughlins Beach ocean access entrance highlighting the risks involved for vessel operators attempting to make passage through and across ocean entrance sand bars. Gippsland Ports is the Local Port Manager for 5 Local Ports; Each of the following ports is a recognised Bar Port. • Port of Corner Inlet and Port Albert • Port of Gippsland Lakes • Port of Anderson Inlet • Port of Snowy River (Marlo) • Port of Mallacoota Inlet. Only the Ports of Corner Inlet, Port Albert and the Gippsland Lakes (Lakes Entrance Bar) have recognised aids to navigation to guide the Mariner through and across their respective ocean entrance sand bars. The entrances to these ports remain open at all times, however sound local knowledge and favorable environmental conditions are required to make a safe passage. The Port of Snowy River (Marlo), Port of Mallacoota Inlet and Port of Anderson Inlet are dynamic in nature with ever changing channel configuration and depths. Ocean access can be closed off at Marlo and Mallacoota during times of drought. There are no aids to navigation to guide the mariner through and across their respective ocean entrance sand bars. Lake Tyers - Sydenham Inlet and Tamboon Inlet, all remain closed until sufficient back up of water creates an ocean access entrance.
    [Show full text]
  • Cape Liptrap Coastal Park Visitor Guide
    Cape Liptrap Coastal Park Visitor Guide Stretching along the coast from the sand barrier of Point Smythe, to the sheltered waters of Waratah Bay - Cape Liptrap Coastal Park has strikingly beautiful scenery. The coastal park transforms from being a peaceful coastal area to wild, windy and awe-inspiring in stormy weather. With Cambrian rocks and Recent sands, the occurrence of about 270 species of flowering plants including 27 orchids, as well as supporting threatened flora and fauna species – Cape Liptrap Coastal Park is a highly valuable area in Victoria’s parks and reserves network. Getting there Dogs Cape Liptrap Coastal Park is 4,175 ha in size and is situated 160 Dogs are permitted in the following areas of Cape Liptrap Coastal kilometres south east of Melbourne. Park: Things to see and do between Walkerville North and Walkerville South between Venus Bay Number 1 and Number 5 Beaches Walking between Waratah Bay township and Cooks Creek Dogs in the above areas are required to be on a lead at all times and Point Smythe Walk – 6km, 1 hour one way are prohibited from these areas between 9am – 6pm from 1st December until 31st March. These measures protect the Hooded Grade 3 Plovers; a ground nesting bird listed as Vulnerable. Dogs are This circuit takes you through thick coastal vegetation leading to the prohibited in all other areas of Cape Liptrap Coastal Park. beach at Point Smythe. The track is particularly sheltered on windy days. Horse Riding Horse riding is permitted within the park on the intertidal area of Bald Hills Wetland Walk – 750 metres, 15 minutes beach below the high-water mark, between the ocean outfall one way pipeline of Venus Bay and Arch Rock.
    [Show full text]
  • PDF File: 2.0 Mb
    ARTICLE IN PRESS Quaternary Science Reviews xxx (2008) 1–15 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Quaternary Science Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/quascirev Episodic intraplate deformation of stable continental margins: evidence from Late Neogene and Quaternary marine terraces, Cape Liptrap, Southeastern Australia Thomas Gardner a,*, John Webb b, Claudia Pezzia a, Terri Amborn a, Robert Tunnell a, Sarah Flanagan a, Dorothy Merritts a, Jeffrey Marshall a, Derek Fabel c, Matthew L. Cupper d a Keck Geology Consortium, Department of Earth and Environment, Franklin & Marshall College, P.O. Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA b School of Environmental Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia c Department of Geographical and Earth Sciences, East Quadrangle, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK d School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia article info abstract Article history: The Waratah Fault is a northeast trending, high angle, reverse fault in the Late Paleozoic Lachlan Fold Belt Received 4 February 2008 at Cape Liptrap on the Southeastern Australian Coast. It is susceptible to reactivation in the modern Received in revised form intraplate stress field in Southeast Australia and exhibits Late Pliocene to Late Pleistocene reactivation. 7 October 2008 Radiocarbon, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), and cosmogenic radionuclide (CRN) dating of Accepted 9 October 2008 marine terraces on Cape Liptrap are used to constrain rates of displacement across the reactivated Available online xxx Waratah Fault. Six marine terraces, numbered Qt6–Tt1 (youngest to oldest), are well developed at Cape Liptrap with altitudes ranging from w1.5 m to w170 m amsl, respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • CHURCHILL ISLAND We Hope You Enjoy the Tranquillity and History of This Special Island
    WELCOME TO CHURCHILL ISLAND We hope you enjoy the tranquillity and history of this special island. First used by Indigenous people, the island later became the first farmed site in Victoria. to walk track DAILY ACTIVITIES No Entry Services Area • 1.00pm – 1.45pm Horse Wagon rides* Cocky Blacksmsmiith Works Shop Weekends, School & Public Holidays – Weath- Toilets Shop er Permitting • 2.10pm Shearing Car Park Whip Shed Cow milking Wash Cracking O Please note that p House o r • D 2.30pm we have had to change h c a Machinery o Sheep shearingour farm activities due C Visitor Cow Milking Shed to physical distancing Centre • Stables 2.45pm requirements and to keep Herrb Whip cracking Garrden Rogerrss Animal our visitors safe. Cottttagess Nursery Amess House Hay Shed • 3.05pm Please refer to Working dogs www.penguins.org.au Kiittchen Gardrden for updated details of • 3.20pm available activities. Sheep shearing Weather permitting Working Dogs ALL DAY ACTIVITIES to walk Orchard track • Animal nursery Chooks Map not to scale • Gift shop • Café open from Lavender 10am - 5pm Monday to Friday Garden 9am - 5pm Saturdays Wagon Rides Please call (03) 5951 2830 for more details or check out www.penguins.org.au Help the environment – please return map to front desk if you don’t want to keep it. NORTH POINT The northern most point of Churchill Island CHURCHILL ISLAND is a good place to see OLD MOONAHS bird life, especially WALKS at low tide when the The gnarled trees with trunks that BASALT BEDROCK mud flats are revealed. The circuit track offers look like twisted rope are Moonahs.
    [Show full text]
  • Climatic and Oceanographic Effects on Survival of Little Penguins in Southeastern Australia
    SCIENTIA MANU E T MENTE CLIMATIC AND OCEANOGRAPHIC EFFECTS ON SURVIVAL OF LITTLE PENGUINS IN SOUTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Lucia-Marie Ganendran Applied and Industrial Mathematics Research Group, School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy. December 2017 PLEASE TYPE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Ganendran First name: Lucia-Marie Other name/s: Billie Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Faculty: UNSW Canberra Sciences Title: Climatic and Oceanographic Effects on Survival of Little Penguins in Southeastern Australia Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) Climate change can impact on the survival of seabirds. While many studies have investigated the influences of climatic and oceanographic variables on seabird breeding, fewer have been able to capture the processes affecting survival. In this study, I carried out a mark-recapture analysis on a 46-year penguin dataset to study the effects of some climatic and oceanographic variables on the survival of little penguins Eudyptula minor in southeastern Australia. A priori knowledge of the birds' annual cycle and patterns of movement informed my selection of meaningful and biologically sensible variables. Two age classes of penguins were considered, based on their differing patterns of movement: first-year birds and adult birds in their second and subsequent years of life. The climatic and oceanographic variables considered in this study were wind strength, sea-surface temperature, east-west sea temperature gradient, air temperature, rainfall, humidity and chlorophyll a concentration.
    [Show full text]
  • Bass Coast Walks and Trails
    Contact Details Bass Coast Visitor Information Centres Walks and Trails Our Visitor Information Centres are able to provide you with information, book accommodation, tickets and tours, and assist you with planning your holiday throughout Bass Coast. Cowes Visitor Information Centre 91-97 Thompson Avenue Cowes VIC 3922 1300 366 422 Inverloch Visitor Information Centre 16 A’Beckett Street Inverloch VIC 3996 1300 762 433 Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre 895 Phillip Island Road Newhaven VIC 3925 1300 366 422 Wonthaggi Visitor Information Centre 1 Bent Street Wonthaggi VIC 3995 National Relay Service For people with communication difficulties 13 36 77 Website For more information visit us online: www.visitbasscoast.com.au Thanks to all those who assisted with checking walks information including Bass Coast Shire Council staff and volunteers, Parks Victoria, Phillip Island Nature Parks and Friends of Wonthaggi Heathland & Coastal Reserve. Main cover image by Phoebe Honey. While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this brochure, Bass Coast Shire Council does not accept any responsibility for inaccuracies, omissions, incorrect information or any action taken as a result of any information detailed. Information supplied is correct as at 1/9/2016. Melbourne C431 Melbourne M420 Walks and Trails 1 hr 30 mins C432 A440 Bass Coast Cape Paterson C434 1 Bass Coast Rail Trail 2 Cape Paterson Foreshore Walk Bass Grantville & Surrounds A420 Coast 3 Grantville Foreshore Walk 4 Corinella Foreshore
    [Show full text]
  • Bass Coast Shire, Mainland the Gurdies Nature Reserve
    Bass Coast Shire, Mainland The Gurdies Nature Reserve to Melbourne S Cardinia 1 O U 1 T Shire GURD H Pioneer IES - ST This reserve protects one of the few significant Western Bay H E Port L I E Y Quarry R RD remnants of coastal woodland on Western Port. W H B Jam Jerrup A S S The Gurdies There is a small wayside stop opposite Pioneer Bay on S A S B Nature GIP Conservation the Bass Highway. Another access point is via PSL AND Reserve Dunbabbin Road, off Stuart’s Road. There is a good French Island H W Grantville D UN parking area with magnificent views over Western Port. BA Y B B H R I RD W D N Near the top of the main trail a side track to the north Y R IE G The L U E 2 leads to a gully where Bassian Thrush, Rufous Fantail and H D R ST. R Pier D Gurdies Boat Ramp I E S- er Eastern Whipbirds can be found. S Pioneer Bay T v S . H - i M A R Western Port E R Y 1 L O T I Y H E R N Woodleigh E D RD U N B W A T O R B R O Other birds seen in The Gurdies Nature D B A D . Grantville IN LEIGH-ST HELIER R W D Western Port E D GU Tenby T R ST Y RD GR S Kernot Reserve include parrots, thornbills, robins, AN T T 2 Point V FF S Y IL O T N L N W E O GUY - U treecreepers, sittellas and honeyeaters.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Full Article 4.7MB .Pdf File
    . https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.1979.40.04 31 July 1979 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF SOUTH GIPPSLAND, VICTORIA By K. C. Norris, A. M. Gilmore and P. W. Menkhorst Fisheries and Wildlife Division, Ministry for Conservation, Arthur Ryiah Institute for Environmental Research, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084 Abstract The South Gippsland area of eastern Victoria is the most southerly part of the Australian mainland and is contained within the Bassian zoogeographic subregion. The survey area contains most Bassian environments, including ranges, river flats, swamps, coastal plains, mountainous promontories and continental islands. The area was settled in the mid 180()s and much of the native vegetation was cleared for farming. The status (both present and historical) of 375 vertebrate taxa, 50 mammals, 285 birds, 25 reptiles and 15 amphibians is discussed in terms of distribution, habitat and abundance. As a result of European settlement, 4 mammal species are now extinct and several bird species are extinct or rare. Wildlife populations in the area now appear relatively stable and are catered for by six National Parks and Wildlife Reserves. Introduction TOPOGRAPHY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY {see Hills 1967; and Central Planning Authority 1968) Surveys of wildlife are being conducted by The north and central portions of the area the Fisheries and Wildlife Division of the are dominated by the South Gippsland High- Ministry for Conservation as part of the Land lands (Strzelecki Range) which is an eroded, Conservation Council's review of the use of rounded range of uplifted Mesozoic sand- Crown Land in Victoria. stones and mudstones rising to 730 m.
    [Show full text]