Below is the document that the Bird Observers Club of Australia has
submitted to Melbourne Water regarding the new arrangements for bird
watching at the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee.
We feel the main points are the first two 'dot' points under the heading
'Impact of the proposed Melbourne Water changes' on page 2 of the document.
It is important as many people as possible, both permit holders and
other interested bird watchers, contact Melbourne Water to lobby for
continued access to these very special areas.
If you want further information the original plan can be found at
www.melbournewater.com.au/wtpaccess.
The address for your comments is: Melbourne Water, Reply Paid 4342
Melbourne 8060.
No stamp is required. These must be received no later than Friday 2
April 04.
Please pass on the information to others who may not be aware of the
proposed changes.
These documents,maps etc. will be on display at BOCA Head Office 183-185
Springvale Rd Nunawading Vikctoria 3131 (ph 03 9877 5342) from Fri 19 March.
Thanks for your help.
Jill Plowright
President
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12 March 2004
Mr Brian Bayley
Managing Director
Melbourne Water
GPO Box 4342
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
Dear Mr Bayley
WESTERN TREATMENT PLANT
DRAFT ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN
The Bird Observers Club of Australia (BOCA) is pleased to provide the following
comments on the Draft Access Management Plan for the Western Treatment Plant
(WTP).
BOCA and WTP
The objectives of BOCA are summarised as:
Appreciation
Education
Conservation
To these ends, the Club provides its members with the widest range of
birdwatching experiences, subject to its Ethical Birdwatching Policy to
minimise disturbance to the birds or their environment; it provides
appropriately-supervised educational activities for all age groups and it
contributes through its publications, submissions and grants to a wide range of
conservation initiatives, Australia wide.
For more than 50 years members of BOCA have been appreciative users of the
Western Treatment Plant (WTP) for their personal birding, enjoying the very
wide variety of species to be found within its boundaries. The Club uses the
area in its educational programs to highlight the variety and use of habitats
by birds in changing environmental conditions. Among other important issues,
WTP demonstrates:
A number of different habitat types (open grasslands; wetlands of differing
depths, salinity and cover; coastal mudflats and rocky foreshores, each
attracting different bird species).
Changes in habitat in different seasons (e.g. dry and wet phases in ephemeral
wetlands) and thus changes in bird species.
Movements of birds associated with changes in tidal levels and exposure of
mudflats.
Significant changes in bird numbers associated with migration cycles, in
particular the annual influx of migratory waders.
- 2 -
WTP is also a crucial site for regular monitoring and surveying of wetland bird
movements.
BOCA acknowledges Melbourne Water's concerns over security, health and safety
issues at WTP; however, it should be noted that in the 50 years or more of BOCA
interaction with WTP we have no record of any such problems.
Appreciation of the work done by Melbourne Water
BOCA wishes to record its appreciation of the work done by Melbourne Water:
In maintaining the bird habitat values of this important Ramsar site and
developing and maintaining the special birdwatching areas such as the
Conservation Lagoons and Borrow Pits. BOCA understands that Melbourne Water is
proposing to create new birdwatching areas in the area of the T-Sections
lagoons and applauds this initiative.
In establishing and continuing to use the Wildlife Consultative Committee (WCC)
as a forum which enables organizations such as the BOCA to have input into
policy decisions associated with the management of the WTP.
In setting up, administering and planning to upgrade permit-controlled access
to the WTP for BOCA members and the Club's educational activities.
In planning to upgrade signs (warning, directional & interpretive) and to
improve roads, car parking and lookout facilities for birdwatching with
stakeholder consultation on such requirements.
BOCA Objection to Proposed Changes to Melbourne Water access to WTP
The Club is most concerned with some of the planned changes by Melbourne Water
for access to WTP. These changes are at odds, in some respects, with the
advice of the Wildlife Consultative Committee (WCC) and will significantly
affect the activities of members of BOCA. The Club believes that the proposed
policies are unnecessary impositions on responsible birdwatchers who have used
the WTP, for so many years, without problems to themselves or the WTP
management.
Impact of the proposed Melbourne Water changes
Problems relating to changes to access as proposed by Melbourne Water include:
Closure of access to the east bank of Little River to general birdwatching.
The east bank of Little River provides the best viewing of crakes and rails
adjacent to reedbanks on the west bank, and the best visibility of mudflats at
Little River mouth during certain stages of tide and day. It also provides
optimal morning birdwatching along the Little River and its mouth (as viewers
from the west bank at this time are looking into the sun).
Closure to general birdwatching of the Conservation Lagoons and the Borrow Pits
* at times these afford some of the best birdwatching on the WTP. Continued
amateur access to these sites will play an important role in demonstrating the
value of Melbourne Water's management initiative in establishing them.
Closure of Ryans Swamp area except at times of inundation. Comparison of wet
and dry season usage of an ephemeral wetland area can't be made if access is
only permitted when wetland is inundated.
Continued closure of Murtcaim Road through the north-east grassland areas and
the new closures of Metropolitan Farm Road and 160 South Road west to the
Princes Highway. A wide range of species, especially raptors, can be seen in
this area.
- 3 -
Continued closure of vehicular access to Werribee River from Old Boundary Road
and new closure of access via 160 South Road. BOCA acknowledges that access to
the Werribee River may be eventually reopened through extension of the linear
path along the Werribee River by Parks Victoria.
WTP, a Ramsar Site
WTP has world-wide renown and a huge measure of respect as an outstanding
Ramsar site.
It is Victoria's most popular Ramsar site for birdwatching and ornithological
studies, and further curtailment of these activities would be very unpopular.
Opportunity for a Significant Tourism Asset
Looking to the future a plan could be developed to establish WTP as an
international ecotourism venue, with an emphasis on birdwatching. BOCA
frequently receives enquiries from overseas and interstate birdwatchers about
access. The WTP is on the agenda for many international visitors, collectively
adding millions of dollars to Victoria's economy.
It is recognised that this could involve significant costs for control of
visitors, information and interpretation. Volunteer assistance could be
provided by BOCA and other organisations. Given the potential returns to the
State and the Werribee region, tourism funding of this development should be
possible.
Given that 40% of visitors to Victoria pursue some form of nature-based tourism
(ROYAL AUTO, Nov 2003), the infrastructure for WTP should be widened to support
increased but appropriately supervised visits to widen public appreciation of
the importance and conservation of wetlands. This would be a mechanism for
promoting Ramsar concepts (which is Commonwealth policy) and bringing further
tourism dollars into Victoria.
Locations at WTP to which bird watching access is required
To enable full appreciation of the significance of the relationship of habitat
to species variety and bird numbers, BOCA requires access under a general
permit to the following areas of the WTP.
Austin Road and T-Section Lagoons
Paradise Road Lagoons
Ryans Swamp (whether wet or dry)
Lagoons between Chirnside Road and Little River, which incorporates Lake Borrie
and its adjacent lagoons
Coast from Kirk Point to Little River mouth
Little River (both east and west banks and overlook of the mudflats at the
river mouth)
Coast road from Little River mouth to the Borrow Pits
Conservation Lagoons & Borrow Pits
North-east grasslands adjacent to Murtcaim Road, Metropolitan Farm Road and 160
South to the Princes Highway
Plantations along the western border
Werribee River
In addition:
Ideally for birdwatching it would be best if the WTP could provide access to
the Conservation Lagoon area from the east as well as the west (e.g. via
Metropolitan Farm Road and 65 West Road once the major reconstruction in the
areas adjacent to 65 West is complete). This could permit egress from WTP
without backtracking the length of WTP if ingress was from Paradise Road (and
vice versa).
- 4 -
Proposed Lookout Tower
BOCA supports the proposal for a Lookout Facility overlooking the southern end
of the operations area. If strategically located, this may give some views of
the main cormorant-breeding and ibis roosting sites.
Proposed Access and Permit System
BOCA supports a permit system which enables Melbourne Water to record and track
visitors to WTP. The proposed swipe card technology should provide this
capability.
BOCA agrees with the proposal in the Draft Plan that there should be two types
of bird observing permits * a general permit and a special/research permit.
The Special/Research Permit would allow access to "operational areas" under
strict conditions determined by Melbourne Water, including induction training.
The General Permit would not allow access to operational areas.
While the Draft Plan recognises the need for special short-term permits for
"overseas, interstate or other irregular visitors", such permits should be
available through person-to-person contact, such as a telephone call: the
requirement for a written application, while desirable, is very restrictive and
not practical for persons arriving without prior knowledge of the permit system.
The Draft Plan shows a broad area as "WTP Operations". BOCA questions whether
all of this is required for operations, especially the land adjacent to Little
River and the coast from Little River mouth to the Borrow Pits.
It is not clear why the Draft Plan proposes such strict controls over the area
west of Little River which is outside the "WTP Operations" area. Some specific
issues relevant to this are:
The road on the west side of Lake Borrie is very important for bird observation.
Roads around T-Section and Western lagoons are important for bird observation.
Paradise lagoons should be coloured green on the map.
Consideration should be given to identifying the entire area to be accessed by
the General Permit rather than delineating specific roads on the map. For
example, Figure 1 would appear to indicate that there is no "Bird Watching
Access Road" to the bird hide on Little River. Roads which are not available
to Permit holders could be gated or signposted accordingly.
In closing, BOCA emphasises that WTP is one of the most important bird watching
sites in Australia. It is important from the aspects of conservation, tourism
and good-will that the Access Plan optimises the opportunity for interested
observers to enjoy bird watching at WTP, consistent with Melbourne Water's
management responsibilities.
BOCA appreciates having the opportunity to comment on the Draft Plan. If you
require further information or clarification of any points raised in the above
submission please contact BOCA President, Jill Plowright.
Yours sincerely
Jill Plowright
President
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