Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Farmers link land practices with health of Western Port
Natural vegetation corridor dominated by Swamp Paperbark
Native ground plants in natural vegetation corridor
Natural vegetation corridor dominated by Swamp Paperbark
Landholders south-east of Melbourne are rejuvenating degraded farmland as part of a project to restore ecological health to Victoria's second largest bay.
The Bass Coast Landcare Network has been working to stem the flow of soil and nutrients from farming properties in the Bass River catchment into the internationally-important Western Port ecosystem.
Funding
The project received $140,000 from the Australian Government and support from the Victorian Government.
Additional support came from the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (CMA), the Bass Coast Shire Council, Origin Energy and Holden.
Work undertaken following the Western Port Sediment Study, which found catchment activities contribute significant sediment loads to Western Port via waterways. The study was produced with the support of the CSIRO, EPA Victoria and Melbourne Water.
Activities
A key aim was to control the amount of runoff-draining sediments into Western Port which, while it supports millions of plants and animals, is under severe ecological stress. As a result of sedimentation about 70 per cent of the original extent of seagrasses and more than half the mangroves and saltmarsh communities have been lost or drastically modified.
Excessive runoff occurs when large volumes of water in the high rainfall Strzelecki Ranges area flow down steep, denuded slopes into waterways such as the Bass River. With very little native vegetation left to help dissipate the power of the rain, soil and nutrients such as phosphorus are washed away with the fast flows, often creating damaging erosion in the process.
Project Officer Joel Geoghegan said landholders from about 20 dairy, sheep and cattle properties participated in the project to restore valuable vegetative cover.
"They understand the catchment supports their farming activities and other industries in the region, and they want to see an improvement in the quality of water flowing in the catchment and into Western Port," Joel said.
The project involved fencing existing areas of valuable bushland for protection against stock. Sections of the Bass River were replanted with some 30,000 local native plants to stabilise the banks and control bank erosion.
About 25 people attended field days to discuss land practices that can affect waterway and bay health. Participants toured a number of properties to discuss erosion and sediment control, as well as the importance of soil sampling for managing nutrients, which can cause toxic algal blooms.
More information
- Joel Geoghegan, Bass Coast Shire Council Landcare Project Officer: (03) 5951 3318 or j.geoghegan@basscoast.vic.gov.au
- Bass Coast Shire Council website: www.basscoast.vic.gov.au
- Port Phillip & Westernport CMA website: www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au
See also
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