Protecting Western Port Ramsar Wetlands Through Partnerships
LOCATION
Western Port
TRADITIONAL OWNERS
Bunurong
ACHIEVEMENTS
- 0.5 hectares of Mangrove Restoration
- 1,116 hectares of pest animal control
- 39 hectares of pest animal control
- One management agreement
- One social media post
INVESTMENT
Victorian Government $1.51M year one of four
PARTNERS
- Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
- Parks Victoria
- French Island Landcare
- Bass Coast Landcare Network
- Deakin University
- Phillip Island Nature Parks
- Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
The Western Port Ramsar site, stretching nearly 60,000 hectares across wetlands, tidal flats and seagrass meadows, is a biodiversity hotspot of global significance.
As one of only twelve Ramsar wetlands in Victoria, the Western Port Ramsar site plays a critical role in supporting threatened migratory birds, hosting the southernmost mangroves in the world, and sustaining more than 1,350 species in its diverse estuarine ecosystems.
In 2024-2025, a key milestone was reached with the expansion of the Restoring Western Port project, bringing new partners on board and delivering the largest seagrass restoration trials in the site’s history.
This work, co-delivered with community, Traditional Owners, and research partners, builds on years of collaborative planning and positions the site for long-term resilience against climate change.
Western Port faces significant and growing pressures, from climate change and urban development to habitat loss and invasive species. To protect and enhance the site’s ecological character, Melbourne Water leads a coordinated partnership approach involving Traditional Owners, local councils, Landcare groups, conservation organisations, tourism operators, and state and federal agencies.
As the official site coordinator, Melbourne Water combines scientific expertise, cultural knowledge, and collaborative action to keep Western Port healthy. Together, partners are restoring seagrass beds, managing invasive Spartina, monitoring ecological change, and working with landholders to improve wetland health on private land. Equally important is the strong partnership with the Bunurong of the Kulin Nation, whose living culture and knowledge continue to guide and shape care for Country.
Through Melbourne Water’s Healthy Waterways Strategy, this collective effort is delivering tangible improvements, supporting native species, improving water quality, and ensuring decisions about the region’s future recognise the wetland’s ecological significance. Western Port is more than just a Ramsar site, it is a living example of how strong partnerships and place based stewardship can safeguard natural values now and for generations to come.
The Restoring Western Port project is supported by the Victorian Government through the Victorian Water Programs Investment Framework.
