Parks Victoria – Healthy Parks Healthy People

More than Victoria's Parks

Parks Victoria is the custodian of a diverse estate of significant parks in Victoria and of the recreational management of Port Phillip Bay, Western Port and the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers.

Specifically the estate includes:

• 45 national parks
• 13 marine national parks
• 11 marine sanctuaries
• 3 wilderness parks
• 25 state parks
• 30 metropolitan parks
• 60 other parks (including regional and reservoir parks)
• More than 2,00 natural features reserves and conservation reserves
• 10,412 formally registered Aboriginal cultural heritage sites
• More than 2,500 non-Indigenous historic places
• These assets total more than 4 million hectares (about 17 per cent of Victoria) – total area of parks and reserves

Parks Victoria supports recreational and tourism opportunities on public land and waterways. The parks and waterways attract 88.5 million visits each year. Of these visits, 49 million are to parks and 39.5 million are to piers and jetties around the bays.

Vision and Purpose

Parks Victoria is committed to preserving the natural and cultural values of the areas we manage. Our vision is for an outstanding park and waterway system protected and enhanced, for people, forever.

Parks Victoria exists to

•  conserve, protect, and enhance natural and cultural values
•  provide quality experiences, services and information to its customers
•  provide excellence and innovation in park management
• contribute to the environmental, social and economic wellbeing of Victorians.

http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

Port Phillip Bay and Surrounds
 
Covering 1,950 square kilometres, Port Phillip is the entrance to Australia's busiest port and is one of Victoria's most popular recreational destinations. Every year millions of people enjoy its vast coastline, world-class swimming beaches and coastal parks. An entirely different perspective however is available to those who explore the Bay by boat. Island, shipwrecks and marine reserves dot the Bay, while scuba diving and fishing reveal the colourful diversity of the Bay's marine life.

Over 3.2 million people live around its shore, making Port Phillip Bay Australia's most densely populated catchment. The bay is a large expanse of water that is surprisingly shallow in many places. Nearly half the bay is less than 8 metres deep. Its greatest depth is 24 metres.

Studies show that Port Phillip is a dynamic and self sustaining ecosystem which is healthier and cleaner than comparable bays near large cities. The shallowness of the water aids aeration and the many marine plants and organisms keep the bay in good condition.

Things to Do and Places to See

Parks Victoria's role is to carefully preserve the natural conservation values of the Bay while sensitively integrating the endless range of recreational activities. Parks Victoria is responsible for the management of piers, jetties, marine reserves and coastal parks and seeks to provide a wide range of recreational opportunities which are environmentally sustainable on the Bay.

• Point Lonsdale
• Queenscliff Harbour
• Portarlington
• Cheetham Wetlands
• South Channel Fort
• South Channel Pile Light
• Point Nepean

http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=58

Bays and Maritime Initiative

As managers of over 4 million hectares of land and water, including the local ports of Port Phillip and Westernport (the Bays), which have over 40 piers, jetties, marinas and boat ramps, Parks Victoria are committed at both a national and local level, for healthy and vibrant maritime environments, communities and industries. Each year over 40 million visits are made to piers and jetties on the Bays, both on and off water.

Parks Victoria understands the important role that the Bays play in providing opportunities for both recreational users and also the economic contribution that the Bays play to Victoria.

The Bays have widespread appeal and support a wide range of uses, whether it is boating, fishing, swimming, relaxing or promenading on the water's edge, all of which are key ingredients of Melbourne's liveability.

The public maritime infrastructure that supports these activities, such as piers, jetties and boat ramps are vital community assets, however they are ageing and some of them are not meeting community expectations. Recreational boating in particular is an increasingly popular pursuit, with rates of boat ownership rising in recent years.

The Bays and Maritime Initiative supports the development of better environment outcomes at key precincts, improved community access, upgrade of maritime infrastructure and improved planning and management for key precincts and activity nodes with benefits to recreational users, maritime, tourism and aquaculture industries. 

The Initiative aligns closely with key government policy documents including the draft Victorian Coastal Strategy 2008 and the Central Coastal Board's Boating Coastal Action Plan.

Parks Victoria is excited about its bays and maritime responsibilities, and looks to continue to work at facilitating opportunities to improve the environmental, recreational and health benefits of Port Phillip and Westernport.