Local Environmental Program Contributes to National and State Priorities

After almost four years of environmental works that have engaged the local community in planting days, training and schools’ education days, Limeburners Link is to target the major threat to the environmental values at the site - weeds.  Limeburners Link is part of the Port Phillip Bay Ramsar-listed wetland. The project will be contributing to the national Caring for Our Country Objectives of protecting Coastal Hotspots and Ramsar-listed wetlands as well as meeting the priorities of the State Government’s recently announced Biodiversity White paper.

Shell Geelong Refinery Communications Manager, Joan McGovern, said she is delighted the program has attracted Caring for Our Country funding.

“One of our objectives in relation to the Limeburners Link is to help it become a long-term sustainable program and attracting additional funding certainly contributes towards this,” said Joan.  Hovells Park Reserve lies within the Western Volcanic Plains, one of the State Government’s identified flagship areas and a priority for conservation efforts.  According to the Biodiversity White Paper: “The primary objective for the management of flagship areas is the protection and enhancement of the natural assets within them focusing on the ecosystem services they provide.”

The Hovells Creek estuary and Limeburners Bay seagrass beds provide the necessary habitat for the replenishment of fish stocks.  Through the control of invasive weeds at the saltmarsh/grassland interface, Limeburners Link will protect the integrity of this ecosystem and the services that it provides.  Australia has an international obligation to protect Ramsar-listed areas such as Limeburners Bay that provide habitat for migratory birds.

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For more information please contact Danny Reddan on 03 9450 5309 or email dreddan@gavic.org.au