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Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site
The Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site incorporates a number of different areas along the Western Shoreline of Port Phillip Bay:
- Skeleton Creek to Point Cook
- Western Treatment Plant
- The Spit Nature Conservation Reserve
- Avalon Airfield
- Point Wilson to Limeburners Bay
- Swan Bay
- Mud Islands
- Lake Connewarre and Reedy Lake.
This unique site was chosen for the representative quality of its natural wetlands and the large numbers of waterbirds supported on both its natural and artificial wetlands, especially migratory shorebirds. Features of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site are:
- More than 579 non-marine plant species, of which 332 are native. Additionally, a recent discovery was made of the nationally endangered Spiny Rice flower (Pimelea spinescens).
- More than 304 animal species, of which 285 are native including 50% of the global population of the endangered Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster).
- An important drought refuge for waterbirds when inland lakes and wetlands dry out.
- Abounding in sites of cultural heritage due to wetlands plentiful in resources that have attracted Aboriginal tribes for thousands of years.
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Further details can be found in the following Information Sheet, Site Management Plan and Site Map.
Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Information Sheet (PDF - 40 Kb)
Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site Strategic Management Plan (PDF - 1.2 Mb)
Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Map (PDF - 586 Kb)
Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the
Adobe web site.
