20. Social and cultural values:
The Discovery Bay Shorebird Site has a long history of Aboriginal use dating back at least 11, 300 years BP. Significant Aboriginal archaeological sites recorded for Discovery Bay include extensive shell middens, earth oven remains and numerous lithic materials such as edge ground axes, basalt grinding stones and flint artefacts. The greatest concentration of middens occurs between the freshwater swamps and the sea at the western end of Discovery Bay. Most sites are within 100m of the beach. Sites near Nelson include ear bones from Mulloway probably taken from the Glenelg River (Parks Victoria, 2004).
Discovery Bay Coastal Park is popular for walking, sightseeing and scenic drives. Numerous recreational activities are undertaken, including: camping, fishing, diving, surfing, water skiing and cycling. There are special areas for dune buggy driving, horse riding and walking dogs on leads.
21. Land tenure/ownership:
Area of the shorebird site | Land status |
Discovery Bay Coastal Park
|
Public land proclaimed under Schedule Three of the National Parks Act 1975.
|
The part of Discovery Bay Marine National Park between high and low water mark.
|
Public land proclaimed under Schedule Seven of the National Parks Act 1975.
|
22. Current land use: -
the site: conservation and recreation.
-
the surrounding area: private property used for agriculture and pine forests, public land used for forest products and recreation and Victorian coastal waters.
23. Adverse factors affecting the ecological character of the site: -
Recreational activities require careful management to avoid adverse impacts on shorebird habitat and general disturbance to birds, particularly breeding birds. The use of 4WDs and dune buggies and the presence of horses and dogs are of particular concern.
-
Pest animals, particularly cats and foxes, require careful management to reduce their impact on breeding birds.
-
The invasion of Coastal Tea-tree and Coastal Wattle over the last 150 years has greatly impacted the natural vegetation communities but has not affected coastal areas of importance to shorebirds.
-
Long term changes affecting the Glenelg River Estuary, such as clearing of vegetation and erosion upstream of the site, impact on water quality in the river.
24. Conservation measures taken:
Discovery Bay Coastal Park was first proclaimed under Schedule Three of the National Parks Act on 26 April 1979 with an area of 8350 hectares. Additions of land in 1981, 1987 and 1997 have increased its area to 10,460 hectares (Parks Victoria, 2004). Discovery Bay Marine National Park was proclaimed under Schedule Seven of the National Parks Act in November 2002.
Discovery Bay Coastal Park and Discovery Bay Marine National Park are managed by Parks Victoria. A management plan for Discovery Bay and other nearby coastal parks was published in 2004 (Parks Victoria 2004). Management plans for marine national parks will be prepared in the near future.
The management plan that covers Discovery Bay outlines an implementation program as follows: ‘management programs for the planning area are prepared annually, in accordance with Parks Victoria’s Corporate Plan and as a part of statewide prioritised program delivery. The performance of the plan’s implementation will be measured and reported on as part of these statewide programs as implemented to June each year’.
The local community is involved in managing the Park with the main groups being: the Friends of the Great South West Walk, the Bridgewater Coast Action Group and the Portland Field Naturalists Club. The local indigenous people are also active in the Park, with the principal groups being: the Gournditch-Mara and the Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation.
25. Conservation measures proposed but not yet implemented:
The Management Plan for Discovery Bay (Parks Victoria 2004) sets out aims and management strategies in relation to management of: flora and fauna, rivers and wetlands, geological and landform features, fire, pest plants and animals, soil, cultural heritage and visitor recreational activities and facilities. These strategies provided the guideline for developing a set of targeted management actions for shorebird conservation in the Park (see Appendix 3).
26. Current scientific research and facilities:
Volunteers conduct a Little Tern monitoring program with the assistance of Parks Victoria. The Australasian Wader Studies Group conducted summer and winter counts of all shorebirds in the 1980’s. Reactivation of this program is being investigated.
27. Current conservation education:
Local schools use the Discovery Bay Coastal Park and are provided with education materials. The Great South West Walk that runs through the Park is used extensively by school groups involved in outdoor education and leadership development training. Notice boards, nature trails, site-specific and fauna-specific (eg. Hooded Plover) information located throughout the site provides education for park visitors.
28. Current recreation and tourism:
Discovery Bay is popular for walking, sightseeing and scenic drives. Numerous recreational activities can be undertaken, including: camping, fishing, diving, surfing, water skiing and cycling. There are special areas for dune buggy driving, horse riding and dog walking.
29. References:
Australian Wetlands Database. http://ea.gov.au/water/wetlands/database/.
Australasian Wader Studies Group (AWSG) and Birds Australia (RAOU) Unpublished Database - from Australian regular count project, 1981-1990. Birds Australia, Melbourne.
Environment Australia (2001). A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. Third Edition. Environment Australia. Canberra.
Hewish, M. (1989). Hooded Plovers, Pied Oystercatchers and a windy weekend at Discovery Bay, Victoria. The Stilt 15, 24-26.
Murray H.A. & Reside, J. (1994). Management of the Little Tern in Victoria 1994-95. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Victoria.
OzEstuaries Database. http://www.ozestuaries.org. National Land and Water Resources Audit.
Parks Victoria (2004). Discovery Bay Parks Management Plan. Parks Victoria, Melbourne.
Watkins, D. (1993). National plan for shorebird conservation in Australia. Australasian Wader Studies Group, Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union and World Wide Fund for Nature, RAOU Report no. 90.
Wetlands International (unpublished). Guidelines for preparation of site nomination documentation for the East Asian-Australasian Shorebird Site Network. Wetlands International, Oceania, Canberra. http://www.deh.gov.au/water/wetlands/mwp/guidelines/index.html
Wetlands International (2002). Waterbird Population Estimates – Third Edition. Wetlands International Global Series No.12, Wageningen, The Netherlands. 226pp.
Appendix 1. Threatened flora for Discovery Bay Coastal Park
Scientific name
|
Common name
|
Status
|
Habitat
|
Acrotriche cordata
|
Coast Ground-berry
|
r
|
CS
|
Arachnorchis fragrantissima var. fragrantissima
|
Scented Spider-orchid
|
R e N
|
He,HW,EF,CS.
|
Asperula charophyton
|
Elongate Woodruff
|
R k
|
|
Atriplex billardierei
|
Glistening Saltbush
|
x
|
CS
|
Austrofestuca littoralis
|
Coast Fescue
|
r
|
|
Baumea laxa
|
Lax Twig-sedge
|
r
|
Sw
|
Corysanthes despectans
|
Coast Helmet-orchid
|
v
|
CS
|
E. leucoxylon spp. megalocarpa
|
Yellow Gum variety
|
e
|
W
|
Exocarpus syrticola
|
Coast Ballart
|
r
|
CS, He
|
Haloragis myriocarpa
|
Prickly Raspwort
|
v
|
CS
|
Hibbertia pallidiflora
|
Pale Guinea-flower
|
r
|
|
Hibbertia spathulata
|
Rock Guinea-flower
|
R r
|
|
Ixodia achillaeoides ssp. arenicola
|
Ixodia
|
V v
|
CS,
|
Lachnagrostis adamsonii*
|
Adamson's Blown-grass
|
E v L
|
|
Lachnagrostis rudis
|
Ruddy Bent
|
r
|
|
Logania ovata
|
Oval-leaf Logania
|
r
|
CS
|
Lotus australis
|
Austral Trefoil
|
k
|
|
Hydrorchis orbicularis
|
Swamp Onion-orchid
|
v
|
|
Prasophyllum frenchii
|
Maroon Leek-orchid
|
E e L
|
Gr,He,GW
|
Prasophyllum litorale
|
Sandhill or Coastal Leek-orchid
|
|
CS,He,Gr
|
Prasophyllum parviflorum
|
Slender Leek-orchid
|
v
|
|
Pterostylis cucullata*
|
Leafy Greenhood
|
V v L
|
CS,W
|
Pterostylis tenuissima
|
Swamp Greenhood
|
V v
|
CS, Sw
|
Pultenaea canaliculata
|
Coast Bush-pea
|
r
|
|
Schoenus carsei
|
Wiry Bog-sedge
|
r
|
|
Stackhousia spathulata
|
Coast Stackhousia
|
k
|
|
Veronica hillebrandii
|
Coast Speedwell
|
v
|
CS, He
|
Keys:
Threatened status
National threatened status:
E endangered
V vulnerable
R rare
Victorian threatened status:
e endangered
v vulnerable
r rare
k species poorly known
x extinct
FFG Act Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act
L listed under the Act
N nominated under the FFG Act
|
Habitat:
Be Beach GW Grassy Woodland
CS Coastal Shrubland He Heath
DV Dune Vegetation HW Heathy Woodland
EF Eucalypt Forest Sw Swamp
Es Estuary W Woodland
Gr Grassland
|
Source: Parks Victoria (2004). Discovery Bay Parks Management Plan. Parks Victoria, Melbourne.
Appendix 2. Threatened fauna for Discovery Bay Coastal Park
Scientific name
|
Common name
|
Status
|
Habitat
|
Mammals
|
|
|
|
Antechinus minimus
|
Swamp Antechinus
|
NT L
|
DV, He
|
Arctocephalus pusillus
|
Australian Fur seal
|
Vul
|
Cl
|
Arctocephalus tropicalis
|
Subantarctic Fur seal
|
V
|
Cl
|
Dasyurus maculatus
|
Spot-tailed Quoll
|
V End L
|
|
Eubalaena australis
|
Southern Right Whale
|
E CEn L
|
|
Mirounga leonina
|
Southern Elephant Seal
|
V
|
|
Potorous tridactylus
|
Long-nosed Potoroo
|
V End L
|
CS, W
|
Birds
|
|
|
|
Accipiter novaehollandiae
|
Grey Goshawk
|
Vul
|
W
|
Actitis hypoleucos
|
Common Sandpiper
|
Vul
|
|
Alcedo azura
|
Azure Kingfisher
|
NT
|
|
Anas rhynchotis
|
Australasian Shoveler
|
Vul
|
Sw/l
|
Ardea alba
|
Great Egret
|
End L
|
Sw/L
|
Ardea intermedia
|
Intermediate Egret
|
CEn L
|
Sw/L
|
Aythya australis
|
Hardhead
|
Vul
|
Es/L
|
Biziura lobata
|
Musk Duck
|
Vul
|
Sw/L
|
Botaurus poiciloptilus
|
Australasian Bittern
|
End L
|
Sw
|
Burhinus grallarius
|
Bush Stone-curlew
|
End L
|
|
Calidris canutus
|
Red Knot
|
NT
|
|
Calyptorhynchus banksii
|
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo
|
E End L
|
EF
|
Cereopsis novaehollandiae
|
Cape Barren Goose
|
NT
|
|
Chlidonias hybridus
|
Whiskered Tern
|
NT
|
|
Dasyornis broadbenti
|
Rufous Bristlebird
|
NT L
|
He, CS
|
Diomedea cauta
|
Shy Albatross
|
V Vul L
|
|
Diomedea chrysostoma
|
Grey-headed Albatross
|
V Vul L
|
|
Diomedea exulans
|
Wandering Albatross
|
V End L
|
|
Egretta garzetta
|
Little Egret
|
End L
|
Sw/L
|
Falco subniger
|
Black Falcon
|
Vul
|
|
Gallingo hardwickii
|
Latham’s Snipe
|
NT
|
|
Grus rubicundus
|
Brolga
|
Vul L
|
Sw
|
Haemotopus fuliginosus
|
Sooty Oystercatcher
|
NT
|
|
Haliaeetus leucogaster
|
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
|
End L
|
Be, Cl
|
Halobaena caerula
|
Blue Petrel
|
V
|
|
Larus pacificus
|
Pacific Gull
|
NT
|
Es, Be
|
Lophoictinia isura
|
Square-tailed Kite
|
Vul L
|
CS
|
Macronectes giganteus
|
Southern Giant-Petrel
|
E Vul L
|
Of, Be
|
Neophema chrysogaster
|
Orange-bellied Parrot
|
E CEn L
|
DV
|
Numenius madagascariensis
|
Eastern Curlew
|
NT
|
|
Scientific name
|
Common name
|
Status
|
Habitat
|
Nycticorax caledonicus
|
Nankeen Night Heron
|
NT
|
|
Oxyura australis
|
Blue-billed Duck
|
End L
|
Es, Ss
|
Pachyptila turtur
|
Fairy Prion
|
V Vul
|
Of, Be
|
Pelagodroma marina
|
White-faced Storm-Petrel
|
NT
|
|
Pelecanoides urinatrix
|
Common Diving-Petrel
|
NT
|
|
Pezoporus wallicus
|
Ground Parrot
|
End L
|
Sw
|
Phalacrocorax fuscescens
|
Black-faced Cormorant
|
NT
|
|
Phalacrocorax varius
|
Pied Cormorant
|
NT
|
|
Platalea regia
|
Royal Spoonbill
|
Vul L
|
|
Pluvialis squatarola
|
Grey Plover
|
NT
|
|
Rallus pectoralis
|
Lewin’s Rail
|
Vul L
|
Es, Sw, He
|
Sterna albifrons
|
Little Tern
|
Vul L
|
Es, Be
|
Sterna caspia
|
Caspian Tern
|
NT L
|
|
Sterna nereis
|
Fairy Tern
|
End L
|
Es, Be
|
Sterna nilotica
|
Gull-billed Tern
|
End L
|
|
Sterna striata
|
White-fronted Tern
|
NT
|
|
Thinornis rubricollis
|
Hooded Plover
|
Vul L
|
Es,Be
|
Reptiles and amphibians
|
|
|
|
Aprasia striolata
|
Striped Worm-lizard
|
NT L
|
CS, EF
|
Dermochelys coriacea
|
Leathery Turtle
|
V CEn L
|
|
Egernia coventryi
|
Swamp Skink
|
Vul L
|
Sw, He
|
Hemiergis peroni
|
Four-toed Skink
|
NT
|
CS, DV
|
Litoria raniformis
|
Growling Grass Frog
|
V End L
|
|
Fish
|
|
|
|
Galaxiella pusilla
|
Dwarf Galaxias
|
V Vul L
|
Sw/L
|
Nannopercha obscura
|
Yarra Pygmy Perch
|
V NT L
|
Sw/L
|
Nannopercha variegata
|
Variegated Pygmy Perch
|
V End L
|
Sw/L
|
Invertebrates
|
|
|
|
Euastacus bispinosis
|
Glenelg Spiny Cray
|
Ins
|
Esw
|
Hesperilla flavescensflavescens
|
Altona Sedge Skipper Butterfly
|
–
|
Es, Sw/L
|
Source: Parks Victoria (2004). Discovery Bay Parks Management Plan. Parks Victoria, Melbourne.
Threatened status
National threatened status:
E endangered
V vulnerable
Victorian threatened status:
CEn critically endangered
End endangered
Vul vulnerable
NT near threatened
DD data deficient
FFG Act Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act status:
L listed under the Act
N nominated for listing under the Act
|
Habitat codes:
Be Beach Es Estuary
Cl Cliffs He Heath
CS Coastal Shrubland Of Offshore
W Woodland Sw/L Swamp or Lake
DV Dune Vegetation Sw Swamp
EF Eucalypt Forest L Lake
| |