Coastal habitat restored across vast area in Melbourne's west

Native saltmarsh unique to the western shores of Port Phillip Bay has been re-established across hundreds of hectares as part of a project to create a vast conservation and recreation reserve.

Hobsons Bay City Council has worked closely with locals to restore original habitat to about 300 hectares of parkland in Williamstown and Altona in Melbourne's inner west.

Funding

The project received more than $140,000 from the Australian Government as well as contributions from the Victorian Government.

The project has also attracted strong support from the local community, including the Friends of Altona Coastal Park and the Altona City Rotary Club, which have been involved in planting work.

Activities and achievements

Invasive weeds such as Chilean needle grass and spiny rush have been controlled while thousands of native species such as Chaffy Saw-sedge have been planted in and around the Jawbone Reserve, Truganina Park and Altona Coastal Park.

By enlarging and enriching the landscape, the project has effectively linked the parklands for the benefit of native birds and animals such as the threatened Altona Skipper Butterfly. The butterfly depends on a single plant for its survival, the Chaffy Saw-sedge, which thrives in the sunny, damp and salty conditions of local swamps.

Hobson's Bay Mayor Carl Marsich said it was hard to believe that the area used to be an industrial wasteland, including a tip site.

"While the Altona Skipper is vulnerable, the coastal parklands we've created have increased its habitat, making possible its long-term survival," he said.

The council has created wetlands at Truganina Park and Jawbone Reserve to biologically filter stormwater and replace the concrete stormwater drains. They are vital habitat for migratory birds and local species such as the Royal Spoonbill, a few of which have begun feeding at Jawbone Reserve.

Adjacent to Truganina Park, the Truganina Explosives Reserve was once an area for handling and shipping explosives. After being fenced off and undeveloped for a century, the site had retained much of its original flora and fauna.

Funding has been used to re-establish original habitat by replanting woodlands of She-oak and River Redgum, as well as native grasses and herbs.

Inside the Altona Coastal Park a sensitive area of saltmarsh and mangrove has been fenced off where replanting activities are ongoing.

More information

• Andrew Shannon, Parks and Environment Team Leader, Hobsons Bay City Council: (03) 9932 1194 or ashannon@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au
• Hobsons Bay City Council website: www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au
• Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority website: www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au

Australian Government NRM Team
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
1800 552 008 (toll-free)

DEWHA  | DAFF  | australia.gov.au  | NAP  | NHT 
Caring for our Country is an Australian Government initiative jointly administered by the Australian Government departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts