Edithvale Seaford Wetlands Discovery Centre: Melbourne Water

Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Discovery Centre

The concept plan
Community consultation
Location
Release of the concept plan
Technical reference group
Environmentally sustainable guidelines
Visitor guidelines
School participation
Department of Environment and Heritage approval
Local council approval
Next steps
More information
Meeting minutes and presentations

The State Government’s Water Plan has allocated $3 million to provide wetlands education facilities at the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands.

The concept plan

The current bird-hide required upgrading and this provided the opportunity for the development of a concept plan for wetlands education in the south-east suburbs of Melbourne. Full consultation was conducted with the range of key stakeholders.

In 2004, Melbourne Water commissioned Minifie Nixon as environmental sustainable design contractors to conduct a feasibility study and present an integrated concept plan, covering the three-wetland areas (two at Edithvale and one at Seaford).

The concept plan recommends a preferred site for an education centre - at the car park, along the two-lane Edithvale Road. The concept plan also considers protection of the site’s wildlife values and sustainable design building layout. The plan demonstrates the use of sustainable materials, sustainable technology and sustainability practices to visitors.

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Community consultation

Extensive consultation was carried out between January and August 2005. The following key stakeholders were consulted:

Melbourne Water’s Edithvale-Seaford Community Liaison Committee, with representation from:

Frankston City Council
Kingston City Council
Friends of Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Inc.
Birds Australia
Bird Observers Club of Australia
Aspendale Gardens Residents Association Inc.
Seaford Community Group, Kingston Conservation and Environment Council

Friends of Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands
Traditional owners, the Boonerwrung / Bunurong community
Frankston City Council
Kingston City Council
Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority
Local schools

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Location

All areas at Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands were considered either as potential sites for the education centre or interpretive nodes.

The following criteria were used to assess the best location:

Access (vehicular and pedestrian)
Profile and visibility
Relationship to water and birdlife - ensuring that bird communities are protected while allowing the public to experience something of the uniqueness of the wetlands
Connection to a potential interpretive trail
Ownership of the site / potential partnerships (Melbourne Water / public land)
Site area and flood level (to ensure flood protection).

The Edithvale site (existing viewing platform, four minutes walk from current bird-hide) has been recommended as the preferred location for the new Education Centre.

Minifie Nixon indicated that this site has emerged after considering the location criteria and extensive consultation and research. A cultural heritage assessment of the preferred site will be undertaken with representatives of the Boonerwrung / Bunurong community.

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Release of the concept plan

Former Minister for Water, John Thwaites, released the Melbourne Water Wetlands Discovery Centre concept plan in September 2005. This was only the first step in the process of delivering wetlands education in the area.

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Technical reference group

In February 2006, a technical reference group was established, representing key stakeholders. This group helped to guide us through the design and planning process.

Throughout 2006, the reference group was involved in planning the design and operation of the centre, which will be small-scale.

To find out more about the membership of this group, download the Technical Reference Group Membership document (PDF 365 kb).

Technical reference group meetings are open to interested observers and publicised in local media. An example is listed below:

Community Update, May 2006 - local papers (PDF 356 kb).

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Environmentally sustainable guidelines

Our priority is to make sure that the ecological values of the wetlands are protected. This means that the education facilities will be built to strict environmentally sustainable guidelines and in accordance with the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Ramsar Management Plan.

We will ensure that the Discovery Centre and the car park are low key and are located outside of the Ramsar buffer zones (as defined in the Ramsar Management Plan - Discovery Centre beyond 60m / the car park beyond 120 m).

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Visitor guidelines

It’s important that the community understands and appreciates the importance of the wetlands and the actions they can take to help protect this wonderful natural asset. However, we are committed to keeping visitors restricted to small groups, using an education program booking system.

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School participation

The local Mordialloc Schools Cluster has confirmed the educational value of the proposed centre. This cluster is represented through Aspendale, Aspendale Gardens, Chelsea, Chelsea Heights, Edithvale and Mordialloc primary schools, Mordialloc College and Yarrabah School.

The Mordialloc Schools Cluster is represented on the project's reference group to help plan the most appropriate environmental education facilities at the Centre. In February 2006, students from Mordialloc College launched the Melbourne Water/Mordialloc Schools Cluster partnership, with a fantastic presentation to 140 teachers.

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Department of Environment and Heritage approval

In late 2006, Melbourne Water applied to the Federal Department of Environment and Heritage for Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act approval to proceed. Draft schematics, produced in collaboration with the technical reference group during the year, were included in our submission.

In 2007, we received Federal Department of Environment and Heritage approval and proceeded to finalise the centre's schematic design and interpretive content, and undertake geotechnical and cultural heritage investigations. These steps were required before submitting a town planning permit application to local council in October 2007.

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Local council approval

Pending local council approval, building is expected to commence in 2008. This is in line with Federal Department of Environment and Heritage recommendation that external construction is limited to autumn and winter months to accommodate migratory bird visits at other times.

Next steps

Melbourne Water will continue to work with local councils and other key local stakeholders to ensure that the centre becomes a valued community asset. If you have any questions or feedback on progress so far, please send them through our Feedback form.

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