Overview
| Overall Area | 68,124 hectares |
| Population | 79,167 |
| Climate | 627 mm per annum at Drysdale |
| Main Towns | Leopold Torquay Ocean Grove Barwon Heads Point Lonsdale Portarlington Drysdale Queenscliff Indented Head St Leonards |
| Land Use | Viticulture Horticulture Sheep and Cattle Grazing |
| Main Industries | Tourism Hospitality Agriculture |
| Main Natural Features | Coast Swan Bay Lake Connewarre Reedy Lake Lake Victoria Barwon River Barwon Heads Bluff Ocean Grove Spit Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve |
Landscape
The Bellarine and Surf Coast is one of the smaller landscape systems, and is located in the south eastern corner of the Corangamite region. It is bounded by the bass strait to the south, and around into Port Phillip Bay. Geelong City and its surrounding urban areas is situated to the north, with the Barwon Plains and Otway Coast wrapping around the western edge.
This Landscape System contains the area south of the city of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula that is primarily for habitation and recreation, it does not include the urban area of Geelong. It is an area of very productive broadacre agriculture, intense horticulture and lucrative viticulture as well as a variety of other industries. Much of this landscape is also used for habitation and lifestyle purposes. The townships of Leopold, Torquay, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Point Lonsdale, Portarlington, Drysdale, Queenscliff, Indented Head and St Leonards are in this area. It also contains parts of the City of Greater Geelong, all of the Borough of Queenscliffe, parts of Surf Coast Shire and Golden Plains Shire local government areas. The Traditional Owners are the Wadawurrung.
Very little remnant vegetation remains within this area, with most of it occurring along linear reserves such as roads and waterways. There are areas of high value intensive agriculture including vineyards, market gardens, orchards and groves.
The area has high visitation rates, given its proximity to Melbourne and Geelong, with an extensive, readily accessible coastline. Many of the residents within this area either work in the area or commute to Geelong or Melbourne for employment. The area has a history of industrialisation, but this has changed substantially within recent years to a more service-based and commercial focus.
Other natural values include significant native fish, such as Yarra pygmy perch, amphibians including the Growling grass frog and a range of bird species including the Hooded Plover and the Orange Bellied Parrot. The Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar sites are also highly significant.
Livelihood
Relative soil productivity on private agricultural land on the Bellarine and Surf Coast is highly variable. The lowest relative productivity is located near coastal areas and around the Lake Connewarre Complex wetlands, and is moderate to higher towards the west.
There are a variety of land uses across this landscape system with a variety of different sized holdings producing a variety of commodities. Grazing for cattle and sheep is a major agricultural pursuit in this area. Viticulture and horticultural industries are also well established with numerous vineyards and market gardens evident.
Tourism, hospitality and recreational pursuits are also major industries within the Bellarine and Surf Coast area. The summer holiday period is the peak time for visitation as well as public and school holidays and weekends, given its close proximity to Geelong and Melbourne.
Lifestyle
The Bellarine and Surf Coast is also known for its stunning coastline and beautiful beaches attracting large numbers of tourists annually, with the population more than doubling in the warmer months. It is known for its attractive rural hinterland, boutique wineries and artisan producers. With historic towns such as Queenscliff, Drysdale and Portarlington and popular holiday destinations such as Torquay, Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads, all with excellent beaches, it is a tourism and recreation destination.
The Bellarine and Surf Coast has a population of just under 80,000 – almost 20% of the total region population. This landscape system is the second most populated area of the Corangamite region after Geelong City. This is the third smallest landscape system by area, with numerous towns throughout. The most densely populated areas are in and around the coastal townships of Torquay, Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, Point Lonsdale/Queenscliff and Portarlington, as well as Drysdale and Leopold further inland.
Recreation including swimming, surfing, fishing, game hunting, picnicking, sightseeing, walking tracks and motor and non-motor boating are key pursuits in this area.
The main Landcare groups in this area are Torquay, Bellarine, and Connewarre Landcare Groups.
Assessment of current condition and trends
Water
High value natural assets within this landscape system include Ramsar wetlands, the Barwon River and other waterways, estuaries, coasts and beaches. The Karaaf wetlands are also of particular importance as they contain coastal saltmarsh, a nationally vulnerable ecological community. The Port Phillip (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar complex is a key asset within this Landscape System.
The waterways in the Bellarine and Surf Coast landscape system are largely valued for their environmental condition, with internationally significant wetlands scattered throughout the landscape.
Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve (which includes Lake Connewarre) is the largest area of native vegetation remaining on the Bellarine Peninsula and includes extensive areas of saltmarsh on the surrounding salt flats, and White Mangroves, which line the shores of the Barwon River Estuary and extend up into Lake Connewarre.
The waterways of the Bellarine and Surf Coast fall within the Otway Basin to the west and Barwon River Basin to the east. Major waterways include the lower Barwon River, flowing into the Lake Connewarre Complex, part of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site. Major waterways in the area from the Otway Basin include Spring Creek and Thompson Creek and its tributaries (including Merrijig Creek), both flowing into the Bass Strait.
The Victorian Index of Stream Condition (ISC), assessed in 2010, found the Bellarine and Surf Coast to be in mixed condition, ranging from very poor to moderate. Spring Creek’s reaches were the healthiest of the area, in moderate condition, with most of Thompson Creek and tributaries in poor condition, and the lower Barwon River around the Lake Connewarre Complex in very poor condition. The reaches of Spring Creek and Thompson Creek exhibit elevated levels of phosphorus.
Corangamite Waterwatch, a citizen science volunteer program, regularly monitors water quality parameters at many sites across the catchment. As the Barwon River enters the estuary at the lower breakwater the water quality is relatively healthy. During winter flooding, flows in the catchment completely flush the estuary of saltwater and it becomes freshwater dominated. High turbidity occurs at this time, however is short-lived and the tidal salt wedge pushes back up the estuary. Occasionally over summer, as river flow declines and saltwater dominates, the effect of evaporation increases the salinity above that of seawater (hypersaline) in the upper reaches of the estuary in Lake Connewarre. Also over summer there can be an increase in algal growth in the surface waters and on the bottom substrate particularly. As the river flows into the shallow Lake Connewarre this effect is increased; at times the bottom waters become super saturated with dissolved oxygen, likely due to benthic algal mats photosynthesising. As the river exits Lake Connewarre, there is evidence of salt wedge development with salinity stratification at times. Water quality is generally good, though potential algal growth may increase dissolved oxygen levels over summer and autumn. Turbidity levels are likely influenced by tidal movement out of Lake Connewarre, particularly over summer.
As the river nears the estuary mouth to Bass Strait the water quality is very good. During seasonal high river flows the water presents as freshwater for a brief period; most of the time the water presents as seawater due to the strong tidal influence.
The salinity of the waters of the Spring Creek estuary indicate it to be mostly brackish. There is a seasonal trend of lower electrical conductivity mostly in winter and spring, resulting from increased freshwater river flows. Depending on the river flow, not all salt water is flushed from the estuary at these times. As river flows decline, tidal sea water re-enters the estuary and stratification is evident. In the closed estuary stratification is greatly reduced. At times when the estuary is stratified, the oxygen levels in the bottom waters become lower than that observed in the top waters; the further up the estuary the lower the oxygen levels in the bottom waters. On several occasions high oxygen levels were observed, indicating potential algal growth in the water column. Whilst oxygen levels fluctuated, they were mostly in the healthy range. The pH levels were mostly in the healthy range, and turbidity levels were mostly low with higher levels occurring in the bottom waters than the top on many occasions, indicating possible tidal related disturbance of the bottom substrate.
In the freshwater reaches of Thompson Creek, the water quality was marginal to poor, displaying relatively healthy pH and low turbidity. Marginally low oxygen levels, high salinity and phosphorus levels reduce the water quality. High salinity at times of low or no river flow indicates potential intrusion of saline groundwater.
Water quality monitoring in the estuarine reaches of Thompsons creek indicate the estuary is mostly tidal dominated and occasionally closes to the ocean. The water level within the estuary fluctuates depending on tidal influences and river flow; at times of estuary closure and no river flow over summer the water level lowers due to evaporation. This results in an increase in salinity in the estuary and a hypersaline environment. The large spread of the estuary wetland system and shallow depth of the estuary also contribute to this. Outside of these times, the estuary is mostly brackish with a short period of near freshwater at times of increased river flows during winter and spring. Nearer the estuary mouth, the salinity commonly represented that of sea water due to good tidal exchange. Mild stratification was only evident during times of increased freshwater flows in winter.
Biodiversity
Key values identified within the area include known rare and threatened species, significant Ecological Vegetation Classes, significant bird species and important bird habitat, significant amphibian species, significant fish species and areas of drought refuge. The highest biodiversity values are in the public land blocks, the thin shoreline strip and the wetlands.
The lower Barwon River, north of the Lake Connewarre Complex displays some of the worst condition vegetation of the entire Barwon River Basin. The lower reach and estuarine area of Thompson Creek both rate poorly in terms of vegetation condition.
The Barwon River Environmental Entitlement is actively managed through Reedy Lake and Hospital Swamps, part of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site. These wetlands consist of a diverse range of aquatic vegetation communities and provide important feeding and breeding habitat for native fish and a number of wetland dependent bird species, including the nationally vulnerable Australian Painted Snipe and the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot. In addition, these wetlands have high recreational value to the communities surrounding Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula. The Barwon River Estuary is also an important ecosystem for water birds including migratory species.
Swan Bay contains a variety of ecosystems that make it environmentally important for waterbirds and migratory waders. These include salt marsh, intertidal mudflats and vast seagrass beds on which almost everything living in the bay relies for food. Although much of the surrounding land is farmland, some remnant woodland survives in the adjoining Edwards Point Nature Reserve and Swan Bay itself. The bay has been recognised as having international importance and the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park almost entirely occupies the bay.
DELWP’s Habitat Distribution Models identify 27 species with more than 5% of their Victorian range in this landscape area. This includes 17 plants with more than 5% of their Victorian range in the area. Notably, Bellarine Yellow-gum (endangered, 67%), Eel-grass (poorly known, 61%), Australian Grass-wrack (rare, 24%), Tasman Grass-wrack (rare, 22%), Coast Wirilda (rare, 20%). There are also nine bird species with more than 5% of their Victorian range in the area. Notably, Orange-bellied Parrot (critically endangered, 39%), Whimbrel (vulnerable, 6%), Sanderling (near threatened, 6%), Black-faced Cormorant (near threatened, 6%).
The Bellarine Yellow Gum Eucalyptus leucoxylon subsp. bellarinensis is an important species that is listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 occurring in the Grassy Woodland Ecological Vegetation Class that currently occupies only 2% of its former range. Endangered Ecological Vegetation Classes in the landscape system are: Plains Grassy Woodland, Plains Grassland, Coastal Saltmarsh/Mangrove Shrubland Mosaic, Damp Sands Herb rich Woodland, Wetland Formation, Grassy Woodland, Plains Sedgy Wetland, Estuarine Wetland, Swampy Riparian Woodland, Grassy Forest, Floodplain Riparian Woodland.
Land
Relative soil productivity on private agricultural land on the Bellarine and Surf Coast is highly variable. The lowest relative productivity is located near coastal areas and around the Lake Connewarre Complex wetlands, and is moderate to higher towards the west.
DELWP’s Victorian Land Cover Time Series provide a snapshot of the changes in land cover types in seven five-year increments between 1985-2019.
The most common land cover class in the Bellarine and Surf Coast landscape system is non-native pasture. Urban, native trees, irrigated horticulture and seasonal wetlands also constitute moderate proportions of the total land cover.
In the last 30-year period, non-native pasture decreased moderately, but still dominates the area, dropping from 60% to around 55%. Native trees, originally the second most common land cover, increased slightly from 6% to 7% of the total area, and urban areas increased significantly from around 4.5% to almost 8%, becoming the second most prevalent land cover type. Dryland cropping and exotic woody vegetation increased from 1% to over 3%, and exotic woody vegetation from over 1% to 3.5%. Irrigated horticulture decreased from around 7% to 5% of the total landscape system. Native grass herb and seasonal wetlands also decreased slightly, while saltmarsh increased in coverage a small amount.
Coast and Marine
Visitation to the Surf Coast increased at a rate of 7.5% per annum over the period of 2011-12 to 2015-16 (Source: Surf Coast Shire Visitor Insights, Australian Bureau of Statistics). Similar patterns could be expected for the rest of the Corangamite region’s coastline. Coupled with extensive housing development and an increasing population in the region, coastal habitats are under sustained and increasing pressures.
Community
The Bellarine and Surf Coast has a population of just under 80,000 – almost 20% of the total region population. This landscape system is the second most populated area of the Corangamite region, after Geelong City. This is the third smallest landscape system by area, with numerous towns throughout the area. The most densely populated areas are in and around the coastal townships of Torquay, Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, Point Lonsdale/Queenscliff and Portarlington, as well as Drysdale and Leopold further inland.
Recreation, including swimming, fishing, game hunting, picnicking, sightseeing, walking tracks and motor and non-motor boating are key pursuits in this area.
The main Landcare groups in this area are Torquay, Bellarine, and Connewarre Landcare Groups. They are supported by the Surf Coast and Inland Plains Network and the Bellarine Catchment Network.
The Geelong Environment Council (GEC) was formed in 1972 to assist in the protection of the environment in and around Geelong.
Geelong Sustainability is a community group focused on sharing information, building community resilience, advocating for the environment and supporting effective action.
Other environmental groups:
- Barwon Estuary Project
- Barwon Heads Association
- Bellarine Bayside Foreshore COM
- Bellarine Landcare Rabbit Action Group
- Birdlife Australia – Bellarine Peninsula
- Breamlea Coast Action
- Caring For Our Bays
- Clifton Springs Curlewis Coastcare
- Drysdale/Clifton Springs Community Association- Foreshore
- Festival of the Sea
- Fishcare Victoria Inc – Geelong and Bellarine
- Friends of Begola Wetlands
- Friends of Buckley Park
- Friends of Edwards Point Nature Reserve
- Friends of Manerim Memorial Indigenous Garden
- Friends of Mud Island
- Friends of Ocean Grove Nature Reserve
- Friends of Point Addis Marine National Park
- Friends of Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve
- Friends of Taylor Park
- Friends of the Bellarine Rail Trail
- Friends of the Bluff
- Friends of the Hooded Plover – Bellarine
- Friends of the Hooded Plover – Breamlea
- Friends of The Lobster Pot
- Friends of Yellow Gums Ocean Grove
- Geelong Field Naturalists’ Club
- Greater Torquay Alliance (GTA)
- Jan Juc Coast Action
- Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre
- Ocean Grove Coastcare Group
- Ocean Grove Park Inc
- Point Lonsdale Sand Monitoring Program
- Queenscliffe Community Plant Nursery
- Surf Coast Rabbit Action Network
- Surfers Appreciating Natural Environment
- Surfrider Foundation – Surf Coast Branch
- Swan Bay Environment Association
- Torquay Coast Action
Major threats and drivers of change
The population of the Bellarine-Surf Coast is expanding fast with residential developments occurring in most towns in this system, principally along the lower Barwon River corridor at Armstrong Creek. Urban growth has placed pressure on existing infrastructure and land use, with the potential for associated impacts to adversely affect the values of the area.
The natural and agricultural landscape of the Bellarine and Surf Coast has continually been encroached upon by residential development and use over time. This has led to consideration of interventions such as the two Distinctive Areas and Landscapes process in this landscape system. Threats linked to urban development and increased recreational use includes storm water run-off and degraded water quality, soil disturbance, bank erosion and degradation of native riparian and estuarine vegetation.
Emerging issues include lack of connectivity and access for community along the length of the Barwon River and the wetlands, and potential conflict with hunting activities in the Connewarre game reserve. A lack of integrated landscape scale planning across the Bellarine-Surf Coast has been identified as an issue by community in the past (Barwon MAC 2019). There are also a number of waterways, including Yarram Creek and Frederick Mason Creek, that flow into and have the potential to impact the Ramsar-listed Swan Bay. Water quality and flows within Thompson Creek have an effect on the salt marsh at Breamlea and the functioning of the estuary.
The proximity of the Bellarine and Surf Coast landscape system coast to both Geelong and Melbourne places high levels of stress by visitation on the natural resources of this area, particularly over summer. There is also a high level of demand for land within this area especially by residential land development that has seen a shift of land use away from agricultural towards residential. This has resulted in further stress on the land, biodiversity, waterways and wetlands within this area due to the higher footprint presented by urban and peri-urban development.
Parts of the lower Barwon River and associated tributaries and wetlands have been subjected to grazing pressures. Livestock access to waterways can erode banks, damage riparian vegetation and reduce water quality through sedimentation and effluent contamination.
Additional threats identified include rising sea levels, littering, inappropriate land use, invasive species, coastal erosion, dogs, fire timing, wildfires, illegal tracks, increased visitation, and mining of shell grit.
Water
The population of the Bellarine and Surf Coast is expanding fast with residential developments occurring in most towns within this system.
Urban growth has placed pressure on existing infrastructure and land use, with the potential for associated impacts to adversely affect the water values of the area. Threats linked to urban development and increased recreational use include storm-water run-off and degraded water quality, soil disturbance, bank erosion and degradation of native riparian and estuarine vegetation.
Parts of the lower Barwon River and associated tributaries and wetlands have been subjected to grazing pressures. Livestock access to waterways can erode banks, damage riparian vegetation and reduce water quality through sedimentation and effluent contamination.
Spartina (Spartina spp.) has been identified as a threat in a number of wetlands in this landscape.
Some of the estuaries in this landscape system intermittently open or close depending on the prevailing conditions, such as freshwater flows, weather vagaries, and tidal movements. Estuary closures can result in social and economic impacts through flooding of adjacent land. However, inundation is a natural process and has an important role in the life cycle of many species and the cycling of nutrients. Artificially opening estuaries under certain conditions can result in adverse impacts to the surrounding environment and the species that live there. To address these impacts, a careful risk based approach needs to be taken to manage the intermittent opening of estuaries.
Serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma) is known to adversely impact waterways through outcompeting other species and reducing aquatic and riparian biodiversity.
The Corangamite Waterway Strategy 2014-2022 outlines priority management activities to address water quality threats in the Lower-Barwon and Thompson Creek landscapes. These include:
- Establish terrestrial pest animal control – rabbit control (Thompson Creek, Duneed Creek, Merrijig Creek)
- Establish terrestrial pest animal control – fox control (as part of a large scale coordinated program) (Barwon River, Hospital Swamp, Reedy Lake, Lake Connewarre, Lake Murtnaghurt, Thompson Creek)
- Establish native indigenous vegetation
- Install riparian/wetland fencing
- Establish stewardship/management agreement
- Implement best management practice on grazing properties (Reedy Lake)
- Ensure acid sulfate soils are considered in land use planning, works on waterways and water management decisions (Hospital Swamp, Reedy Lake, Lake Connewarre)
- Undertake non-woody weed control – spartina (Lake Connewarre, Salt Lagoon, Barwon River)
- Deliver water to wetlands as per current entitlement (in consultation with the community and informed by the best available information) and develop long-term planning for environmental watering of the lower Barwon wetlands (EWMP) (Barwon River, Reedy Lake, Hospital Swamp)
- Continue to adopt a risk-based approach to estuary mouth opening (Thompson Creek)
- Investigate freshwater flows from adjoining land use (Lake Murtnaghurt)
- Establish estuarine vegetation management plan (Barwon River)
- Undertake an assessment of instream habitat (large wood) density (Barwon River)
- Establish non-woody weed control (Thompson Creek, Spring Creek)
- Establish woody weed control – gorse (Duneed Creek)
- Undertake an assessment and management of fish barriers (Thompson Creek)
- Investigate and manage tidal barrage structural integrity (Barwon River)
- Implement the Barwon River Parklands Strategy for management of the lower Barwon River corridor
- Adopt ‘whole of water cycle management’ principles for new and existing developments (Barwon River)
- Fill knowledge gaps relating to impacts of water management at Reedy Lake and Hospital Swamp
- Investigate and manage urban stormwater/water quality impacts (Barwon River, Hospital Swamp, Reedy Lake, Lake Connewarre)
- Maintain EstuaryWatch groups collecting baseline data on estuary condition
- Maintain Waterwatch groups collecting baseline data on waterway condition
Biodiversity
Spartina (Spartina spp.) has been identified as a threat in a number of wetlands in this landscape. Spartina invades and alters plant communities, notably saltmarsh vegetation communities, with both species in Victoria known to be a very serious threat. Serrated tussock and Chilean Needle Grass have been identified as a threat in a number of locations in this landscape system.
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and cats (both feral and roaming domestic) are a threat to significant native fauna species. Rabbits also present a major threat to native vegetation.
DELWP’s 2019/2020 Biodiversity Response Planning identifies the most cost-effective threat control actions for significant biodiversity improvement in the region. The most beneficial actions are control of rabbits, weeds, foxes and cats.
The diversity and abundance of fauna in Reedy Lake, particularly waterbirds, is threatened by poor diversity of vegetation due to the historic lack of variation in water levels. Due to the continually high-water levels that were in place for many years until 2016-17, several vegetation communities that rely on low water levels or periodic inundation, including the nationally vulnerable coastal saltmarsh, may have been outcompeted by tall reeds, however further assessment is required to confirm this. Wetting and drying cycles support a diversity of habitats and species. Periods of both higher and lower water levels will ensure the variety of species dependent on the seasonally fluctuating range of water levels within the wetlands can be protected for future generations.
Land
Acid sulphate soils, gully/tunnel erosion, sheet/rill erosion, wind erosion, soil structure decline, nutrient decline, water logging, secondary salinity and soil acidification are the major threats to soil and land use in this landscape (see Static Maps section for mapped soil threats).
Infrastructure and coastal assets are threatened by landslides along the northern coast of the Bellarine Peninsula. especially at Clifton Springs. They also occur along the coastline south of Jan Juc.
There is a high potential for acid sulphate soils mostly in coastal and estuarine wetlands of the lower Barwon River and estuary, the Breamlea wetlands and lower Thompson Creek.
Wind erosion is a threat, mostly in the Wallington, Drysdale, Bellarine, Indented Head and St Leonards areas. Coastal dune movement is prevalent in the Queenscliff, Point Lonsdale, Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads areas.
Grazing land and cropping land with sandy soils (developed on the marine sands of Pliocene age) on the Bellarine Peninsula are highly susceptible to nutrient decline under agricultural production and are also susceptible to soil acidification.
Nearly all of the land used for agriculture in this landscape system is highly susceptible to soil structure decline.
The vast majority of grazing lands in the low elevation landscapes of the Moolap Sunkland along the lower Barwon River estuary are susceptible to water logging. Alluvial soils in the low-lying. poorly-drained landscape positions are also very highly susceptible to waterlogging.
Land that is susceptible to soil erosion by water occurs on agricultural land, almost all of which is grazing land on the edges of elevated parts.
Coast and Marine
The Victorian Marine and Coastal Policy identifies that the health of the marine and coastal environment is under threat from multiple sources, including climate change and growth in towns, cities and industries that interact with their local marine and coastal ecosystems.
Victoria has experienced record population growth over the past decade (DELWP 2018), with suburbs and towns around Port Phillip Bay, and within two hours’ drive of Melbourne, including the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast, recording big increases in both population size and density.
These threats can lead to negative impacts on water quality and quantity, pollution and debris, invasive species, marine pests and diseases, disturbance and loss of plants and animals, and loss of access to beaches from the effects of sea walls, infrastructure and erosion. Degradation occurs over time and space, and the impacts in marine and coastal areas are varied and complex.
Climate change is increasing the pressure on the marine and coastal environment by exacerbating existing threats and introducing new ones, including:
• rising sea levels, leading to more inundation and erosion
• increased frequency and severity of storms and other extreme weather events
• changes in ocean temperatures, currents and acidification
• changes to waterway flows, levels and regimes
• changes in the range, distribution and abundance of both introduced and native plants and animals, taking advantage of a changed climate.
Growth in resident populations and visitor numbers puts pressure on the health of the marine and coastal environment. Population growth also increases pressure on recreational infrastructure such as walking tracks and visitor facilities. This, in turn, leads to more demand for alterations to beaches, foreshores, wetlands and natural processes through groynes, sea walls and dredging to support use and development.
A key challenge within this landscape system into the future will be inundation of large areas of low lying areas under sea level rises driven by climate change. This is especially the case in areas including Portarlington, Indented Head, Saint Leonards, Swan Bay, Point Lonsdale, Queenscliff, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and Breamlea.
Community
This landscape system is well represented by a range of community organisations, especially the Bellarine Catchment Network and the Surf Coast Inland Plains Network. There are also a number of other community based natural resource management organisations playing a key role in engaging with the local community including Coastcare, Waterwatch and others. Maintaining participation and capacity into the future will be a key issue.
The area is also becoming more and more urbanised and the ability to engage urban communities in caring for their landscape is an emerging issue, especially in a predominantly residential area. Having an informed community is key to ensuring appropriate consideration is given to the way they access and use the natural assets within their immediate area and within the broader environment.
Peri-urban land owners often need appropriate guidance on how to manage their little patch of paradise; the need for a variety of sources of information for this segment of the community is becoming more apparent.
Large areas of public land within this landscape system are managed by committees of management. This public land is within close proximity to the coast and has both natural and built assets. Engaging with these committees, their managers and staff will be a key issue going forward, especially with regard to their Marine and Coastal Management Strategies and the way that they interact with the general community in their areas.
Bellarine and Surf Coast 6 Year Outcomes
Water
By 2027, compared to 2022 baselines:
The efficiency of consumptive water use in the Bellarine and Surf Coast Landscape System will be improved through the use of cost effective alternate water sources and demand management strategies that results in less take from source water. BSCWO1
The hydrological regime of Reedy Lake and Hospital Swamp is managed to achieve the outcomes of the review of the ecological flow study supporting the ecological character of the Ramsar site. BSCWO2
There is an improvement in riparian extent and condition and water quality in priority reaches as defined in the Corangamite Waterway Strategy. BSCWO3
Improve waterway amenity through the implementation of the Kitjarra-dja- bul bullarto langi-ut Masterplan in the Bellarine and Surf Coast Landscape System. BSCWO4
Maintain or improve the ecological character of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar complex. BSCWO5
Improve the condition of other important wetlands of the Bellarine and Surf Coast Landscape System. BSCWO6
Increase the community understanding and awareness of water values. BSCWO7
Understand and enhance the Wadawurrung values of the Bellarine and Surf Coast Landscape System waterways and ensure the Wadawurrung People have a strong voice in their management. BSCWO8
Biodiversity
By 2027, compared to 2022 baselines:
Achieve a net gain in the overall extent, connectivity and condition of Bellarine and Surfcoast habitats across land, waterway and coastal environments. BSCBO1
Achieve a net gain where possible in suitable Bellarine-Surfcoast habitat expected over six years from sustained improved public and private land management and community involvement for threatened and culturally significant local species. BSCBO2
Achieve a net gain where possible in all species with positive % change in suitable Bellarine-Surfcoast habitat and improved species balance expected over six years from sustained improved public and private land management and community involvement. BSCBO3
Improve flows in Bellarine lake systems to enhance biodiversity values. BSCBO4
Increase effectiveness of interagency collaboration in their ability to respond to climate change and development pressures on Bellarine and Surfcoast biodiversity. BSCBO5
Improve understanding of integrated catchment management with regard to Bellarine lake system biodiversity. BSCBO6
Increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity values of the Bellarine and Surf Coast Landscape System. BSCBO7
Land
By 2027, compared to 2022 baselines land within the Bellarine and Surf Coast is sustainably managed for a variety of purposes within its capability and suitability to maintain and improve its natural capital and to prevent both on and off-site impacts. BSCLO1
Coast and Marine
By 2027, compared to 2022 baselines proactive management of the catchment and the coast by all stakeholders contributes to a continued improvement in the health and resilience of the region’s highly valued coastal and marine environment. BSCMO1
Communities
By 2027, compared to 2022 baselines:
Bellarine and Surf Coast communities (and visitors) are encouraged, educated and enabled to further connect with and responsibly care for the natural environment. BSCCO1
Bellarine and Surf Coast communities (and visitors) have an increased awareness and understanding of the connection between human activities and impacts on the environment. BSCCO2
The increased capacity of the Wadawurrung Traditional Owner group enables their increased involvement in decision making that effects their Country. BSCCO3
Bellarine and Surf Coast 6 Year Priority Directions
Six year regionally applicable priority directions have been developed for each of the Themes and are applicable to this landscape System, these can be accessed via the following links:
Six year priority directions for the Bellarine and Surfcoast are provided in the following table. Where these priority directions apply to a theme this is indicated by the relevant shading. To access definitions of terms and acronyms click on the following link.
Code |
Priority Direction |
Relevant Theme | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Biodiversity | Land | Community | Coast and Marine | Lead | Collaborators | ||
| BSC1 | Bellarine and Surf Coast landscape partners and the community collaborate to deliver a coordinated approach to natural resource management to build resilience and successfully respond to changing circumstances with clear roles and responsibilities communicated. | CCMA | DELWP, EPA, CoGG, SCS, PV, GORCAPA, BB, BC, BW | |||||
| BSC2 | Develop enduring partnerships with the Wadawurrung people to: 1) acknowledge and enhance Wadawurrung values of natural assets; 2) ensure the Wadawurrung people have a strong say in management of natural assets; 3) identify and implement appropriate mechanisms for sharing Wadawurrung stories and history; and, 4) identify and implement opportunities for Wadawurrung people to own and manage water on their country |
CCMA | WTOAC, DELWP, BW, CoGG, SCS, GORCAPA, BB, BC | |||||
| BSC3 | Encourage Bellarine Surfcoast landowners to apply best practice land management by: 1) using property management planning; 2) use of Landcare networks; 3) actively researching and facilitating market drivers that promote sustainable ag/land management practices; and, 4) designing and delivering a comprehensive engagement program to support and empower farming communities |
CCMA | AgVic, Landcare | |||||
| BSC4 | Best land management practices are also implemented across other Bellarine Surf Coast cohorts including agencies, developers, and the broader catchment community | CCMA | DJPR, PV, DELWP CoGG, SCS, GORCAPA | |||||
| BSC5 | Continue to implement the 2018 Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site Management Plan including monitoring actions from the Ramsar site MERI Plan. | CCMA | CoGG, DELWP, PV, PPWCMA, ARI, BLA, MW | |||||
| BSC6 | Enhance riparian management within priority waterways of the Bellarine & Surf Coast as defined in the Corangamite Waterway Strategy and improve in-stream habitat in priority areas along the Lower Barwon River and tributaries. | CCMA | CoGG, PV, Landcare, OzFish, VRFish, RRV | |||||
| BSC7 | Ensure estuary management is managed consistent with State policy to reduce impact on natural environment and mitigate risk to human related assets | CCMA, PV | CoGG, SCS, GORCAPA, BC, BW | |||||
| BSC8 | Ensure development planning considers, minimises and where possible avoids adversely impacting floodplains, biodiversity, land and water assets including encouraging water sensitive urban design and use of integrated water management principles and requiring developers to: 1) protect and enhance native vegetation and habitat 2) protect and enhance floodplain function 3) protect and enhance coastal and marine environments 4) protect cultural heritage |
CoGG, SCS | CCMA, DELWP, PV | |||||
| BSC9 | Ensure the assessment of applications for new or transfers of groundwater entitlements from the Jan Juc Groundwater Management Area takes into account the impact of extraction on connected waterways and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs) | SRW | CCMA | |||||
| BSC10 | Explore and implement cost effective water efficiency measures including demand reduction initiatives and alternative water sources by implementing the following plans and strategies: 1) Barwon Water Urban Water Strategy 2) priority projects identified by the Barwon Integrated Water Management Forum; and, 3) relevant actions from the 2021 Central and Gippsland Sustainable Water Strategy |
BW | CCMA, DELWP, COGG, SCS | |||||
| BSC11 | Plan and deliver the approved annual hydrological regime for Hospital Swamp and Reedy Lake to deliver outcomes within the FLOWS study and formal reviews. | CCMA | VEWH | |||||
| BSC12 | Develop an integrated masterplan for Kitjarra-dja- bul bullarto langi-ut (Barwon River Parklands) and implement high priority projects | CCMA | CoGG, BW, PV, Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine, WTOAC, DELWP, GPS, G21, DHHS, SRV, BC | |||||
| BSC13 | Help farmers prepare for a more variable and uncertain future by: 1) Supporting farmers with the information and tools to build resilience 2) Preparing farmers for a range of future scenarios 3) Helping farmers manage climate risk so they remain productive and profitable under a changed climate 4) Delivering the agriculture skills of the future |
AgVic | CCMA, DELWP, Landcare | |||||
| BSC14 | Ensure community education and engagement activities are grounded in the most recent and relevant social research available and target local demographics. | CCMA | DELWP, CoGG, SCS, BW, PV, GORCAPA, BB, BC | |||||
| BSC15 | Build research and knowledge, including Traditional Owner knowledge of coastal / marine systems and threatening processes to inform adaptive management and mitigation. | DELWP | GORCAPA, BB, BC, CCMA, PV, CoGG, SCS, WTOAC, Universities | |||||
| BSC16 | Explore carbon sequestration opportunities to deliver both climate and catchment/biodiversity benefits. | Deakin Uni | DELWP, PV, CCMA | |||||
| BSC17 | Encourage and enable community participation (volunteering) 1) in on-ground environmental works to restore and protect environmental assets 2) citizen science programs |
CCMA | Landcare, COGG, SCS | |||||
| BSC18 | Engage with the community on the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change and its impacts. | CCMA | DELWP, Landcare, GORCAPA, BB, BC, COGG, SCS | |||||
| BSC19 | Design and deliver a comprehensive education program to engage new urban and peri-urban communities in the growth corridors to connect them with their local environment and empower them to participate in NRM activities. | CCMA | CoGG, SCS, Landcare | |||||
| BSC20 | Action Plans are developed for each of the Landscape Systems that leads to a 25% increase of non-Govt investment into the region to address high priority biodiversity actions | CCMA | DELWP, CoGG, SCS, Landcare | |||||
| BSC21 | Develop best practice management actions to achieve an overall net gain of ‘Suitable Habitat’ for priority species by 2027 | CCMA | DELWP | |||||
| BSC22 | Implement additional areas of sustained predator, herbivore and weed control in priority locations, reflecting Biodiversity Response Planning outputs, Strategic Management Prospects and other regional plans | DELWP | CCMA, PV, CoGG, GORCAPA, BB, BC | |||||
| BSC23 | Within the Coastal and Marine environment 1) review targets in relevant strategies to identify and reduce stressors on coastal and marine environments 2) develop and implement a process for the provision of coastal erosion advice for long term planning, management and adaptation. |
DELWP | CCMA, CoGG, SCS, GORCAPA, BB, BC | |||||
