Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation Discussion Paper - Victorian ...

2.2.3 WETLANDS
Prior to European settlement, Melbourne contained
extensive wetlands. A description of the widespread
wetland systems historically present in metropolitan
Melbourne is provided in section 2.3.
Many wetlands across the region were drained and
converted to new uses, mostly agriculture. These
freshwater habitats are now one of the most depleted
and altered environments across the region. Changes
to water extraction, river manipulation and the extended
dry period are having ongoing and signifi cant impacts on
wetland environments.
Victoria has lost more than one third of its wetland area,
largely due to drainage, fi lling and other modifi cation. 46
This loss of wetlands is refl ected within the investigation
area. Since European settlement, deep freshwater
marshes (such as Koo-wee-rup) have been almost
completely depleted, with less than one per cent
remaining, and less than ten percent of shallow freshwater
marshes (such as Carrum Carrum Swamp) remain. Public
land within the investigation area has retained a much
higher proportion of original wetlands than private land.
New wetland environments such as reservoirs, storm
water treatment ponds and sewerage treatment plants
have also been created within the investigation area, and
now account for almost three-quarters of wetlands within
metropolitan Melbourne.
Major wetlands in the investigation area today include
the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands (the remains of Carrum
Carrum Swamp) and Cheetham Wetlands (which were
created through the activities of a former saltworks). One
of the least known areas is the northern Western Port
coastline. This area is the remnant of one of the great
swamp landscapes: Koo-wee-rup and Tobin Yallock
swamps. 6 Across the area, channels have been excavated
to drain the swamps but in places, natural drainage lines
are still present.
2.2.4 COASTS
The coastline is an important resource for Melburnians
and all Victorians with our beaches providing important
environmental, scenic and recreation values.
The coastline of the investigation area stretches
approximately 186 kilometres from Port Phillip Bay in the
west and south, from Werribee to Frankston; and Western
Port to the south-east, from Warneet to Lang Lang. Almost
the entire coastal foreshore within the investigation area (94
per cent) is Crown land. About two-thirds of metropolitan
Melbourne’s coastline is in parks and reserves such as Point
Cook Coastal Park-Cheetham Wetlands, Altona Coastal
Park, Truganina Coastal Park and numerous coastal and
foreshore reserves.
Coasts within the investigation area range from rocky
pebble beaches to steep sea cliffs and shallow mangrovelined
mudfl ats. A description of the geomorphology of
metropolitan Melbourne’s coasts is provided in section
2.1.2.
The coast contains a range of vegetation communities,
including coastal alkaline scrub, coastal dune scrub, coastal
saltmarsh and coast banksia woodland. Melbourne’s richly
diverse intertidal and coastal environment is home to a
number of endemic species but also provides important
habitat and breeding sites for migratory birds from places
such as Japan and China.
Metropolitan Melbourne’s beaches and foreshore areas are
popular recreation sites. A variety of facilities have been
installed such as piers, beach boxes, boat sheds, dressing
pavilions, band stands, sailing club rooms and surf lifesaving
clubs. Many of these facilities have local and state heritage
values, and are evidence of a long and close association
with the beach. Most beaches and foreshores provide
opportunities for activities such as walking and cycling and
group gatherings such as picnics and barbecues. Piers such
as St Kilda Pier provide opportunities for other recreation
activities such as fi shing.
Melbourne’s coastal environment is subject to pressures
such as increasing urbanisation and recreational use,
introduced plants and animals and coastal erosion and
sedimentation. The emergence of the “sea change” lifestyle
has brought more people to the coast as permanent
residents, exacerbating some of these pressures. 17 Coastal
environments are also susceptible to the predicted impacts
of climate change such as rising sea levels (see chapter 7 for
more detail). For example, coastal saltmarsh communities
along parts of the western coast of Melbourne grow in
muddy intertidal zones that are inundated daily with seawater.
Rises in sea levels due to climate change may lead to
the permanent inundation of some saltmarsh communities. 47
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