Glenelg Plain
Bioregion: Glenelg Plain

The Bioregional Landscape
The Natural Capital of the Landscape
Land Management Themes
Biodiversity Condition
Management Responses
Tables and Charts for the Glenelg Plain

The Bioregional Landscape
The Glenelg Plain is located in the south-western corner of Victoria and comprises the Victorian part of the Naracoorte Coastal Plain IBRA region.

The Glenelg Plain extends from south-east of Edenhope, for some 230 kilometres to the southern Victorian coastline. The bioregion abuts the west end of the Warrnambool Plain bioregion near the rural township of Heywood. Portland Bay is the south-eastern coastal limit of the Glenelg area.

The bioregion is predominantly flat and low lying, with all sections ranging from sea level to less than 200 metres above sea level. The IBRA region features parallel dune limestone ridges with intervening swamps, closed limestone depressions and young volcanoes at Mount Gambier. Floristically, the bioregion is varied. Coastal communities are composed of beach and dune vegetation, coastal cliffs and saltmarshes. Wet heathlands occur on very infertile soils that are frequently waterlogged. These heath communities, up to 2 metres high, are interspersed with tree-heaths, having scattered low trees. Woodlands occur through much of the region, particularly in the north. Heathy Woodlands make up a large proportion of this and there are lowland forests, predominantly Brown Stringybark, providing the basis for hardwood logging in the south-eastern portion.

The Glenelg River is the area’s most significant waterway. Its listing as a Heritage River south of Dartmoor to its mouth at Nelson, reflects its important biodiversity values. Several smaller rivers flow on the south-eastern portion of the Plain, particularly the Fitzroy and Surrey rivers, and Darlots Creek.

The Buandig and Dhauwurd wurrung were the Aboriginal peoples of this area prior to European settlement. It seems that the people here were able to form relatively permanent settlements due to the greater predictability of seasonal food supplies such as eels. Evidence of these settlements is seen at Lake Condah, where the remains of stone huts associated with fish traps can still be found.

Large expanses of the bioregion have been cleared for agriculture, although approximately 30 per cent of the area is reserved Crown land. Significant reserves include Lower Glenelg, Mount Eccles and Mount Richmond national parks, Dergholm and Mount Napier state parks, Crawford River Regional Park and Discovery Bay Coastal Park. State forests include Cobboboonee, Curracurt, Narrawong, Weecurra, Drajurk and Dergholm.

Most of the bioregion is situated within the rural municipality of the Shire of Glenelg and is within the Glenelg Catchment Management Authority’s area of responsibility.

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The Natural Capital of the Landscape
The Glenelg Plain supports four BVTs. The most prominent community in this diverse region is Heathy Woodland, dominated by Brown Stringybark. To the south east of the bioregion, Lowland Forest dominates. Several areas of Plains Grassy Woodland, once dominated by Red Gum and easily converted to pasture have generally been cleared and modified. The Coastal Grassy Woodland, once occurring between Casterton and Coleraine, was quickly settled and replaced with exotic pasture species.

The bioregion supports a wide variety of reptiles, birds of prey, waterbirds, woodland and ground-dwelling birds, and an array of mammal species. Threatened species include the Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Brolga, Rufous Bristlebird, Hooded Plover, Powerful Owl, Heath Mouse, Brush-tailed Phascogale, and numerous orchids including at least four spider-orchids and the Leafy Greenhood. One species of fish, the Variegated (Ewen’s) Pygmy Perch, is restricted to south-western Victoria and adjacent areas of south-eastern South Australia.

Much of the sandy soil areas of the Glenelg Plain have been cleared for agriculture and plantation establishment. Broad-scale drainage works have drained numerous wetland systems throughout the bioregion, although several wetland systems of national significance remain: the Glenelg River estuary, Mundi-Selkirk wetlands, Long Swamp complex at Discovery Bay Coastal Park and Lindsay Werrikoo wetlands.

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Land Management Themes
Portland was the first European settlement in Victoria where activities were generally confined to the coast until native grasslands were discovered between today’s townships of Casterton and Coleraine. Graziers then moved further afield into the plains and grassy woodlands described by Major Mitchell as ‘Australia Felix’ during his journey of 1836. An expanding pastoral industry was quickly established.

Geological reports of sand areas further west towards the South Australian border suggested appropriate sites for broad-scale establishment of Pinus radiata plantations, which was achieved following the Second World War. Today, plantation establishment of both pine and Blue Gum is increasing throughout the entire bioregion, with establishment rates nearing 2500 hectares per year. Hardwood logging occurs throughout State forests, which constitute almost 30 per cent of the bioregion.

Drainage of shallow wetlands continues throughout the bioregion, with sites usually being planted to exotic pasture species once drained. As a result, native marsh and riparian vegetation and dependent species are becoming depleted throughout the area. There is an increase in centre-pivot irrigation systems in the northern section of the bioregion.

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Biodiversity Condition
Approximately half of the Glenelg Plain has been cleared and sown to exotic pasture or plantation species, with the other half remaining as native vegetation. Of this, national parks and reserves managed by Parks Victoria make up some 40 per cent. About 10 per cent of existing native vegetation remains on private land.

A range of threatened birds and one mammal found on the Glenelg Plain are a focus for conservation management. Species include Brolga, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Plains-wanderer, Hooded Plover, Little Tern, Rufous Bristlebird, Orange-bellied Parrot, Grey-crowned Babbler and the Heath Mouse which is now restricted to this bioregion and East Gippsland. Several of these species depend on private land for habitat. Australasian Gannets have, over recent years, established mainland Australia’s first recorded gannet colony, at Point Danger, south of Portland. The most apparent threats to the colony, as with many other colonial native fauna species, are fox predation and human disturbance.

Much of the bioregion remains reserved Crown land. Land for Wildlife is increasingly adopted by landholders with remnants of native habitat on their properties, and several Public Authority Management Agreements (PAMAs) are in place with local governments to protect endangered species. Botanic Guardians groups are increasing also, with several voluntary groups currently working to protect native grasslands, particularly in cemetery grounds.

Of the 59 known threatened species and undetermined number of threatened ecological communities in this bioregion there are:

• 49 listed vertebrates and plants, of which 17 have Action Statements;
• no listed invertebrates;
• no listed communities.

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Management Responses
Strategies being implemented towards ensuring sustainable biodiversity management include Coast Action, Landcare, Botanic Guardians, Public Authority Management Agreements, Whole Farm Planning and in one instance (Portland Aluminium) special arrangements within an industrial development area. Further, a review of local government planning schemes has seen the development of overlay controls to protect biodiversity values. Private landowners are increasingly being encouraged to practise sustainable land management, including preservation of remnant vegetation and the habitat within it, through programs like Land for Wildlife, Landcare and Farm$mart. Increasing effort towards the eradication of foxes and rabbits is protecting biodiversity values. The ‘mission’ of the recently formed Catchment Management Authorities is to ‘ensure the sustainable development of natural resource-based industries, the protection of land and water resources and the conservation of natural and cultural heritage’. Private forestry developments are being encouraged and companies involved are seeking cleared land for plantations.

Together with the state-wide key directions outlined earlier, land and water managers and planners in the bioregion should consider the following priorities.

• Complete EVC mapping program of all native vegetation on the Glenelg Plain, identify sites of biological significance in the Glenelg and West Wimmera shires in conjunction with local government, and encourage appropriate use of this information in Local Planning Schemes.
• Finalise the West Regional Forest Agreement Process for the bioregion.
• Establish PAMAs with public authorities managing all grassland and significant woodland sites, particularly roadsides.
• Encourage conservation and enhancement of streamsides and Plains Grassy Woodlands and efforts to promote natural recruitment in these areas.
• Target Land for Wildlife and property planning extension to properties supporting Plains Grassy Woodland, areas supporting the habitat of the Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, areas of natural wetlands and areas that will increase the viability of biolinks.
• Develop and implement ecological fire management regimes, especially for the Heath Mouse and Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, as part of integrated processes outlined in the Code of Practice for Fire Management.
• Prepare and/or implement management plans for parks and reserves with priority given to those that support nationally threatened species (e.g. Hooded Plover in Discovery Bay).