The Cheetham Wetlands are 420 hectares of artificial and natural lagoons, created on old salt works land on the western shores of Port Phillip Bay, Australia. The wetlands are approximately southwest of Melbourne, and sit within the Municipal Councils of Hobsons Bay and Wyndham City.
The wetlands are part of the Point Cook Coastal Park and are crown land for conservation purposes. The area is currently managed by the Department of Sustainability & Environment and Melbourne Water, with Parks Victoria informally managing the area to the north of the wetlands. They are protected under the Ramsar Convention.
Land use
The Cheetham Wetlands were originally a natural salt marsh and grassy woodlands; the area was later used as a saltworks. The later use created the lagoons, which attract many birds to the area. In 1996, the land was set aside to protect the wetland system and its diverse fauna and flora, including migratory birds.
Ecological processes
Even though Cheetham Wetlands is made up of artificial wetland lagoons, the ecological processes that they create are significant in sustaining values under the Ramsar Convention. The wetlands also provide the following functions: Ground water recharge or discharge; Water purification; Water storage; Nutrient recycling; Sewage treatment; Shoreline stability; and Retention of sediment.
Significant species
The Cheetham Wetlands has been known to support over two hundred species of birds, with many birds returning each year. The birds found in the area breed mainly in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer months and migrate to the Southern Hemisphere between July and November; bird numbers peak in the Point Cook Coastal Park area between September and March.
The Wetlands currently support significant populations of: Red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis) Red-necked avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae) Sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) Double-banded plover (Charadrius bicinctus) Common greenshank (Tringa nebularia) Marsh sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) Curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) Orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) Fairy tern (Sterna nereis) Common tern (Sterna hirundo) Yellow sedge-skipper (Hesperilla flavescens)
Environmental threats
Wetland areas have been identified as some of the most threatened habitats in the world. The Cheetham Wetlands are no exception and are currently under threat by a number of natural and man-made sources.
Urban encroachment
One of the biggest threats is encroachment on the land, especially from the rapidly expanding municipality of Wyndham City. In Victoria’s integrated planning document, Melbourne 2030, the Werribee growth area was identified as one of five growth areas. The urban land boundary for Wyndham abuts Point Cook Coastal Park to the west and north. The increased demand for housing and development in the area has and will continue to change the nature and character of Point Cook Coastal Park and Cheetham Wetlands.
Water quality
Decreasing water quality of the wetlands due to storm water treatment, drainage and hard rubbish has also been identified as a threat. The wetlands' water levels are managed by pumping and water flow controls onsite. The correct maintenance and operation of these processes is critical to maintaining the Ramsar sites. Pumping water into the wetlands when there are high freshwater flows can result in sediment and nutrient pollution from storm water.
Pests
Further threats have been identified in the area, with disturbance of migratory shorebirds and their habitats by human activities. Examples are allowing pets in the area and the area being used as a recreational reserve. There is also a significant threat posed by introduced or exotic fauna and flora species, including feral cats, foxes and rabbits.
Management and conservation programs
Cheetham Wetlands has been identified as a significant environmental area and as such management, conservation and protection plans have been implemented are currently implemented or being developed for the future.