Collaboration for the coordinated protection, management and enhancement of Port Phillip Bay Ramsar values
Wetlands are important feeding grounds and nurseries for land, marine and freshwater animals. Hundreds of bird species depend on wetlands around the world as part of their life cycle. The Port Phillip Bay western shoreline is listed as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Since 2010, the Port Phillip & Westernpot Catchment Management Authority (now Melbourne Water) has coordinated a Ramsar Protection Program bringing various organisations and community members together to maintain and improve the ecological values of the Port Phillip Bay western shoreline by delivering collaborative projects that manage threats including pest animals and invasive weeds.
Significant emphasis is also placed on community engagement activities to raise awareness of the environmental values of this Ramsar-listed wetland and how to help protect it.
There is opportunity to expand and/or complement the existing program with additional on-ground and community engagement projects, and to extend the program into future years.
Themes and Local Areas
| Primary Theme: | Wetlands |
| Other Themes: | Native vegetation, Native animals, Coasts, Estuaries, Marine environments, Communities, Climate change |
| Primary Local Area: | Port Phillip Bay |
| Other Local Areas: | Moorabool, Melton, Wyndham & Greater Geelong, Urban Melbourne |
| Project location: | Various coastal and marine locations in the Port Phillip Bay western shoreline Ramsar site |
| Scale of the project: | Landscape – multiple sites |
| New or continuing work: | Continuing/building on previous work |
Project partners
| Lead organisation: | Melbourne Water |
| Key partners: | Parks Victoria, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Hobsons Bay City Council, Wyndham City Council, City of Greater Geelong, Zoos Victoria, Birdlife Australia, Conservation Volunteers Australia |
| Registered Aboriginal Party/s relevant to the project or its area: | Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation |
Investment opportunities
| Opportunities for investors within this project start from: | $$ (Tens of thousands of dollars) |
| Estimated scale of investment for full project implementation: | $$$$ (Millions of dollars) |
| Estimated timeframe for full project implementation: | 2-10 years |
Contribution toward targets
| Primary Regional Catchment Strategy target: | Ramsar wetlands – The ecological condition of the Port Phillip Bay western shoreline Ramsar wetland is maintained or improved from 2021 to 2050 |
| Relevant Biodiversity 2037 goal: | Support people take action for nature through volunteering for nature or engaging in citizen science |
| Relevant National Landcare Program priority: | Ramsar wetlands – Port Phillip Bay western shoreline |
