A Nelson boat hire operator says the nomination of the Glenelg River estuary and adjoining Discovery Bay as a Ramsar wetlands of international importance should not cause problems if government sticks by its promises.
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Nelson Boat Hire owner Brett Carson said the nomination proposal had initially caused lots of concern the river mouth might not be artificially opened as often as it had in the past, causing boat ramps and landings used by tourists to be flooded.
However he said he could not foresee problems if government stuck by its promise that a Ramsar listing would not alter the current decision-making process for opening the river mouth.
The current process on mouth openings considers environmental, cultural and socio-economic values.
The state government’s nomination follows an exhaustive three-year consultation process by the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority.
It builds on the larger profile being sought for the south-west’s environmental and cultural assets with the federal government recently endorsing an application for UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape around Budj Bim (formerly called Mount Eccles).
The Ramsar nomination will go to the federal government for consideration.
Water Minister Lisa Neville said she was “really proud to endorse this site for Ramsar listing – it will mean that this wonderful sanctuary will be internationally recognised and protected for future generations.”
The Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay site covers about 22,300 hectares, including part of the Lower Glenelg National Park, Discovery Bay Coastal Park and the Nelson Streamside Reserve.
The site meets five of the required Ramsar criteria by supporting unique wetlands, providing habitat for 95 birds, with 24 species migrating from Russia and China.
The site is also home to threatened plants and animal species, and provides habitat for fish, such as black bream and estuary perch.
The site has three main systems including the freshwater wetlands of Long Swamp, Bridgewater Lakes and Swan Lake, the Glenelg Estuary, Oxbow Lake and the dune fields, as well as beach along 50 kilometres of the Discovery Bay Coastal Park.
Parks Victoria is the land manager and has been very supportive of the proposed Ramsar listing and the international recognition and tourism opportunities it will bring to the region.
The Gunditjmara people are one of the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage of the area, and provided information on cultural values and a statement illustrating the importance of this site to support the nomination.
