| The Corner Inlet catchment (including Corner Inlet Ramsar wetland) | |
|---|---|
| Name & Location of Priority Site | Corner Inlet is an intricate network of waterways and islands of outstanding environmental significance and scenic beauty. The Inlet consists of shallow marine waters, isolated granite islands, intertidal mudflats and a complex of over 40 sand barrier islands. Corner Inlet is located in the West Gippsland region of Victoria.
|
| Values to be protected | Corner Inlet has a significant commercial fishing industry, as well as recreational fishing and water based activities. The islands of Corner Inlet are of national botanical significance. Biodiversity of the area includes nationally listed threatened flora and fauna, extensive seagrasses and wetland habitats including coastal salt marsh Corner Inlet is home to a large proportion of Victoria's migratory wader population. |
| Ramsar site |
|
| Key risks & pressures | Agricultural and urban development has resulted in excessive nutrient loads to the lakes, extensive annual algal blooms and fish kills. The Gippsland lakes are a significant hub for commercial and recreational fishing and recreational water use all of which are threatened by poor water quality. |
| Previous relevant Australian Government funded projects |
|
| Key stakeholder/ Agency leads on previous projects | |
| Port Phillip Bay and Western Port catchments (including the western shoreline of Port Phillip Bay, Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar wetland and Western Port Ramsar wetland) | |
|---|---|
| Name & Location of Priority Site | The Port Phillip and Western Port region is an area of 12,000km².
|
| Values to be protected | Port Phillip Bay and Westernport contain a mixture of unique and complex ecosystems. The catchments in the Port Phillip and Westernport Region have significant environmental, social and economic values. It includes a population of 4.3 million people. The bays and beaches as well as the 8000 kilometres of rivers and creeks are vitally important natural assets to the community. Agricultural productivity and commercial and recreational fisheries are important activities of the catchment. Areas of important wetland habitat in both Bays are listed as wetlands of international significance (Ramsar wetlands) and include areas of Victoria's most depleted wetland habitats. They support threatened species and large numbers of waterbirds many of which are protected under migratory bird agreements. |
| Ramsar site |
|
| Key risks & pressures | The health of Melbourne's bays and waterways can be directly linked to human activities. As the population of Melbourne and surrounding areas continues to grow, the difficulty of protecting water quality and biodiversity increases. Sediment and nutrients from urban, agricultural and industrial stormwater and wastewater discharges threaten the health of Port Phillip Bay and Western Port including a risk to seagrasses which play an important role in the Bay ecosystems. Other threats include:
|
| Previous relevant Australian Government funded projects | A number of interim projects are under development that will support the development and implementation of the Water Quality Improvement Plan:
|
| Key stakeholder/ Agency leads on previous projects |
|
Community Coastcare fact sheets
Further information
Other sources of funding
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window