Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site

Internationally significant wetlands

Located on the western shoreline of Port Phillip Bay between Melbourne and Geelong and on the Bellarine Peninsula, the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar site comprises six distinct areas listed under the Ramsar convention:

• Point Cook/Cheetham
• Werribee/Avalon
• Point Wilson/Limeburners Bay
• Swan Bay, Mud Islands
• the Lake Connewarre complex

The site includes freshwater wetlands, estuaries, intertidal shorelines, sub-tidal beds, inland saline wetlands and a wastewater treatment facility. Extensive areas of coastal saltmarsh and seagrass occur within the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar site, with smaller areas of freshwater vegetation within the Lake Connewarre complex.

Ramsar wetlands are those included on the List of Wetlands of International Importance developed under the Ramsar Convention. Wetlands achieve Ramsar status through their rarity and ability to support biological diversity.