Merri Wetlands: September 2012

MERRI RIVER WETLANDS

and

SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT

CONTENTS

1. LOCATION

2. SUBDIVISION PLAN

3. INTRODUCTION

4. LIFE IN THE WETLANDS

5. POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF DEVELOPMENT

6. PROPOSAL FOR AN ALTERNATIVE USE OF THE LAND

7. REPORT FROM THE STANDARD NEWSPAPER

8. SUBMISSION TO THE WARRNAMBOOL CITY COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT RECREATIONAL PLAN.

9. WETLAND DEVELOPMENTS

REFERENCE PHOTOS TAKEN IN THE AREA P.10 – P.16

1. LOCATION

The ‘Merri River Wetland’ I speak about here is located on the western coastal fringe of Warrnambool.

The full parcel of land covered in this report comprises 77 acres between Swinton Street and the proposed O’Brien Street. Southern boundary is coastal sand dunes and the northern boundary is the Merri River cutting

2. SUBDIVISION PLAN (2011)

3. INTRODUCTION

PERSONAL HISTORY

My husband and I have lived on five acres adjoining the eastern boundary of the land at the end of Younger St for over 20 years.

I have composed this report to highlight some of the concerns that I have about the proposed use of the land. I have keenly observed the area during the time we have lived here. I want to share with you, my observations about the rich diversity of wildlife and bring attention to the drawbacks of high density housing.

Most importantly I want to suggest we consider preserving the wetlands and developing a world class, eco-friendly tourism development. Many towns have addressed their surrounding natural lands and have turned them into an eco-friendly space. A study of recent holiday choices shows people are increasingly turning to responsible tourism and are seeking out eco-friendly options. Warrnambool is already a popular destination for environmental enthusiasts, with the whales, Tower Hill, Thunder Point, Lake Pertobe, foreshore bird watching and the Botanic Gardens, this concept could be an important boost to the towns reputation.

The ‘Merri River Wetlands’ that I talk of stretches from O’Brien Street at the east through to Swinton street in the west and adjoins wetland further to the West. The eastern portion comprising approx 20 acres has been ear-marked for development by the Warrnambool Golf Club.

This area of land is a water-locked paradise. When the Merri cutting was put through to the north of it's original course at the back of the sand dunes and on through the golf course, perfect conditions for wetlands developed. This land has been privately owned for many years and human impact has been minimal. We are lucky that this stretch of land has been seen as undesirable to live in to date and left mostly untouched. Birds and animals have been left in comparative isolation to thrive without major human interference.

During summer months the majority of the land is relatively dry due to drainage by previous owners, except the original watercourse that forms a series of permanent billabongs. In winter the banks of the Merri overflow and water gathers in low-lying land. This refreshes the wetland ponds and provides the birdlife feeding and breeding grounds. These areas could be held for a longer period of time if the drains back into the Merri where closed.

Since living at Younger Street I have ridden horses and walked over the ‘Wetlands’, some times daily, to Levy’s Point and down to the beach. With my passion for bird watching and nature, I have recorded much of the wildlife and environment of this unique part of our city.

I would like to offer the benefit of my firsthand knowledge and experience, in highlight my concerns about the proposed development and impact of un-managed human intrusion into this unique environment. I hope this assist in ensuring all facets of the proposed future for this land are fully understood and the best outcome achieved.

4. LIFE IN THE WETLANDS

INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENT

Over many centuries wetlands have been a source of food for the indigenous people of the time. Numerous shell middens along with stone artefacts can be seen in the undisturbed land fringing the southern boundaries.

ANIMALS THAT HABITAT THIS AREA

Birds

Frogs

Wallabies

Snakes

Rabbits

Fox

Fish

Insects & Microfauna – an important part of maintaining the life cycle.

BIRDS

The list below has been compiled over many years some with accompanied photos. Many birds are seasonal and numbers vary depending on the time of year, and conditions inland. (72 unofficial sightings

Arctic Tern	Sterna paradisea
Australasian Bittern	Botaurus poiciloptilus
Australasian Shoveler	Anas rhynchotis
Australian Hobby	Falco longipennis
Australian Magpie	Gymnorhina tibicen
Australian Pelican	Pelecanus conspicillatus
Australian Shelduck	Tadorna tadornoides
Australian White Ibis	Threskiornis molucca
Australian Wood Duck	Chenonetta jubata
Azure Kingfisher	Alcedo azurea
Black Swan	Cygnus atratus
Black-Sholdered Kite	Elanus axillaris
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus
Blue-billed Duck	Oxyura australis
Brown Songlark	Accipiter fasciatus
Brown Thornbill	Acanthiza pusilla
Brush Bronzewing	Phaps elegans
Cattle Egret	Ardea ibis
Chestnut Teal	Anas castanea
Clamorous Reed-Warbler	Acrocephalus stentoreus
Common Blackbird	Turdus merula
Common Skylark or Pipit	Alauda arvensis
Common Starling	Sturnus vulgaris
Crimson Rosella	Platycerus caledonicus
Darter	Anhinga melanogaster
Dusky Moorhen	Gallinula tenebrosa
Eurasian Coot	Fulica atra
European Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis
European Greenfinch	Carduelis chloris
Galah	Cacatua roseicapilla
Golden-headed Citicola	Cisticola exilis
Great Cormorant	Phalacrocoarax carbo
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Grey Fantail	Rhipidura fuliginosa
Grey Shrike-Thrush	Calluricincla harmonica
Grey Teal	Anas gracilis
Hoary-Headed Grebe	Poliocephalus poliocephalus
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus
Intermediate Egret	Ardea intermedia
Jack Winter	Microeca fascinans
Little Bittern ?	Ixobrychus minutus
Little Black Cormorant	Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Little Eagle/Pale morph	Hieraaetus morphnoides
Little Pied Cormorant	Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
Little Raven	Corvus mellori
Magpie Goose	Anseranas semipalamata
Magpie-Lark	Grallina cyanoleuca
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos
Masked Lapwing	Vanellus miles
New Holand Honeyeater	Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
Pacific Black Duck	Anas superciliosa
Pied Oyster Catcher	Haematopus longirostris
Purple Swamphen	Porphyrio porphyrio
Red Wattlebird	Anthochaera carunculata
Royal Spoonbill	Platalea regia
Scarlet Robin	Petroica multicolor
Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper	Calidris acuminata
Silver Gull	Larus novaehollandiae
Silvereye	Zosterops lateralis
Singing Honeyeater	Lichenostomus virescens
Spotted Turtle-Dove	Sterptopelia chinensis
Straw-necked Ibis	Threskiornis spinicollis
Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo	Cacatua galerita
Swamp Harrier Male	Circus approximans
Wedge-Tailed Eagle	Aquila audax
Welcome Swallow	Hirundo neoxena
White -Faced Heron	Egretta novaehollandiae
White-Bellied Sea-Eagle imm	Haliaeetus leucogaster
White-Fronted Chat	Epthianura albifrons
Yellow-Billed Spoonbill	Platalea flavipes
Yellow-Faced Honeyeater	Lichenostomus chrysops
Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo	Calyptorhynchus funereus

Snakes

There are a large number of Brown and Tiger snakes living this area to the extent that it is dangerous to walk through this area in summer months.

Frogs

I have not studied these in detail but we find two species of frogs around our house and you can hear at least three different calls at night. There are a large number, given the sound they make.

Fish

I have seen Brown Trout, yellow-eye mullet and/or sea mullet, and short-finned eel in the river along with other smaller fish, the area is known for trout and eel fishing

Flora

There are some delicate native grasses surviving in the area especially where land has been fenced to keep the cattle out. There are tussock grasses and a lot of reeds and other grasses along the river and around the wetland ponds areas making ideal nesting and hiding places for the birds. There is introduced grass which is largely kept under control by the cattle currently grazing the block.

Orange Bellied Parrot (OBP) – there is a grass that I believe could be a species that the OBP feed on – I believe I saw an OBP in the dunes, but not well enough to report.

5. POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF DEVELOPMENT

If the land is subdivided into 31 blocks, assuming 3-4 people in one family house on each block, this equates to upwards of 124 people living in this area. The impact of this many people along with, if each household has say one pet the impact on the wildlife will be devastating.

The residential development would see the introduction of poisons, fertilizers and introduced plants in the development of gardens, if not controlled this will be detrimental to the waterways and existing native fauna.

If this land is to be opened to development, lower density occupation would lessen the impact to the fragile environment surrounding it.

6. PROPOSAL FOR AN ALTERNATIVE USE OF THE LAND

The possibility of this land being preserved and developed into a world renowned wetland should not be overlooked and should be considered for the future planning and management of this land.

Warrnambool has been applauded for the preservation of its coastal reserve and wetlands such as Lake Pertobe. The promenade is recognised as a great initiative of the City and now the rail trail part running along the north bank of the Merri. The inclusion of Merri Wetlands to the extensive walking initiatives already in place should not be overlooked.

This land could be used for education and research into the fragile environments that exist there, with the further benefit that they will be preserved for future generations.

Within the planning process consideration should be taken into account for the effect on the Merri Marine Sanctuary http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/merri-marine-sanctuary

7. REPORT FROM THE STANDARD NEWSPAPER

Golf club plan back on books

GREG BEST and SHANE FOWLES June 26, 2007

AN EXPANSION of Warrnambool Golf Club's 18-hole course is again being considered as a bid to allow housing development is reviewed.

A state independent planning panel will consider if farming land on Younger Street can be rezoned to host residential lots.

The city council last night voted to ask Planning Minister Justin Madden to appoint a panel to consider the application.

The move has attracted seven submissions, although only four of those raised any concerns about rezoning.

If successful, it will allow the club to sell blocks in a combined 20.5-hectare area and generate millions of dollars to help bankroll a major extension.
Draft plans forecast that 70-80 new dwellings could be built at the western end of Younger Street.

The club last year said it had shelved expansion plans, despite them being re-worked many times during a 14-year gestation.

However, secretary-manager Gary Parsons now says all options will be considered if the rezoning is given the green light.

He said the club's re-development options couldn't be determined until the land had been rezoned and the amount of dollars a sale would fetch known.

``The rezoning will give us an option as to what things we are likely to proceed with,'' Mr Parsons said.

``The next two years will be really exciting for the club, it has been a long time coming.''

The club bought the land from the council for $320,000 in 2004.

The city paid the same price for it back in 1992 when it agreed to hold the site pending a decision by the club on expansion of its course.

Any redevelopment would have to gain the approval from the council which inserted a clause to protect public interest.

Mr Parsons said the club would assess its options once it knew how much money a residential sell-off could generate.

8. SUBMISSION TO THE WARRNAMBOOL CITY COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT RECREATIONAL PLAN.

A vision for a world standard wetlands reserve

The Merri River Wetland located on the Western coastal fringe of Warrnambool provides a unique opportunity. Incorporating the wetland with the Mahogany walk, Promenade and Rail Trail, consolidating the coastal reserves.

The full parcel of land incorporates approximately 80 acres between Swinton Street and the proposed O’Brien Street. The southern boundary is coastal sand dunes and the northern boundary the Merri River cutting. These spectacular wetlands have been privately owned for many years with limited human impact.

The vision is to develop a world class, eco-friendly tourism attraction and bird sanctuary incorporated the Mahogany Trail, the Promenade and Rail Trail. Imagine a bird watching trail offering opportunities for education and research into our fragile environment.

A study of holiday choices shows people are increasingly turning to eco-tourism. Warrnambool already has a reputation as a popular destination for environmental enthusiasts, which includes the whales, Tower Hill, Lady Bay, Thunder Point, Lake Pertobe and the Botanic Gardens.

These wetlands are an invaluable asset and should be preserved, nurtured and marketed.

Reference

Ramsar Report on Wetlands

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/conservation-and-environment/biodiversity/wetlands/ramsar-wetlands

Disclaimer: This paper has been compiled in good faith and passion for the environment. Bird sightings have not been verified other than by photograph. This is a privately compiled paper to bring notice to others. No responsibility is taken for incorrect recording. Amanda King - 2004 revised 2012

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