Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre prospectus

HOBSONS BAY

WETLANDS CENTRE HOBSONS BAY CITY COUNCIL

www.twitter.com/HobsonsBayCC

115 Civic Parade, Altona PO Box 21, Altona 3018

www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

www.facebook.com/HobsonsBayCityCouncil

Contents.

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Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre

The Request

The Benefits

Partners

References

Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre “A place for everyone to connect with nature, improve health and wellbeing and be inspired to care for our precious natural environment” Vision of Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre Inc.

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PROJECT COST: APPROX. $16 M

Council, Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre Inc, and all project partners invite funding partnerships to build the Wetlands Centre – a regional wellbeing and environmental centre for all ages, stages and abilities.

The wetlands of Port Phillip Bay’s north-western shoreline including the internationally recognised Ramsar-listed Cheetham Wetlands, support critical eco-systems of diverse flora and fauna.

Over 150 species of birds, frogs and the rare Altona Skipper butterfly have been identified in Hobsons Bay’s wetlands.

Up to 65,000 migratory shorebirds journey the East Asian Australasian Flyway to visit these wetlands and waterways each summer. An array of saltmarsh and coastal plants flourish providing habitat and blue carbon storage benefits in the face of climate change.

The Wetlands Centre will be an Australian first in biophilic and community co-design architecture and located at HD Graham Reserve in Altona Meadows near the Cheetham Wetlands and other biodiversity hotspots.

The site will feature visitor and research facilities; nature and water-based play; indoor/outdoor public spaces; a café, retail and office space; accessible walking trails and boardwalks; landscaping and an ephemeral wetland.

This unique, natural habitat of Melbourne’s west, amidst a transforming industrial landscape, provides the perfect place to: • Provide a ‘green dose’ to enhance physical and mental wellbeing • Bring economic benefit of eco-tourism to the west • Create living laboratories for learning, teaching and cutting-edge research • Celebrate country and protect habitat that supports rich and rare biodiversity

This Wetlands Centre, located on the lands of the Bunurong people of the south eastern Kulin Nation, will protect and enhance this key natural area while attracting people to visit, explore, learn and recreate.

PROJECT TIMELINE HD Graham Master Plan endorsed by Council

MID 2019

MID 2020

HD Feasibility Study completed

Centre architects appointed by Council (project MID 2021 manager)

MID 2021

Traditional Owners engagement

Centre concept plans developed

LATE 2021

LATE 2021 / EARLY 2022

Partnership/ funding discussions with government, corporations and philanthropic trusts

Community engagement

EARLY 2023

Construction commences

2022

Centre detailed design development

EARLY 2024

2025

Estimated centre opening

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The Request Funding support of approximately $16 million is sought to build the Wetlands Centre.

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The Wetlands Centre will be located at HD Graham Reserve, Altona Meadows on Crown Land with Hobsons Bay City Council as the Committee of Management.

Operational costs for The Wetlands Centre will be met by leasing educational, laboratory, office, community, café and retail spaces. Ongoing maintenance will be supported

by Hobsons Bay City Council.

Investment opportunities There are a multitude of investment opportunities for government, corporations and philanthropic trusts including: • Construction of community and research buildings • Indigenous welcome and gathering space, pedagogical walking trails, references to country, spaces for knowledge sharing, artworks and remediation of landscaping • Constructed ephemeral wetlands • Connected walking trails • Nature play spaces • Programming initiatives

Strategic alignment The Wetlands Centre connects with the following policies and strategies: • Plan Melbourne 2017 - 2050 • Victorian Government’s Infrastructure Victoria Strategy 2021-51 recommendations • Victorian Government’s Climate Change Strategy and the Marine and Coastal Policy • Melbourne Water’s Healthy Waterways Strategy 2018-2028 • Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, 1971), Wetlands of International Significance • United Nations Sustainable Development and Philanthropy Goals » Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development » Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing

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The Benefits A ‘green dose’ that improves health and wellbeing outcomes • A place for people of all ages, stages and abilities to relax, refresh and connect to nature as we emerge from the impact of COVID-19 • An Australian architecture first - a biophilic design to connect people inside to the nature outside • Active recreation opportunities with access to bike paths, walking trails and outdoor exercise Increased chronic disease, mental health concerns and social exclusion are major issues impacting Melbourne’s west. Our recent experience with COVID-19 has demonstrated the need for greater access to green spaces that have been havens for communities during lockdown and decreased the demand for health services.

The Wetlands Centre, together with project partners, will see the intersection of primary health, social care and environmental management to deliver a ‘green dose’ of physical and psychological benefits for all.

A place to relax, refresh and connect Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, reduce depression and anxiety and help children with learning and concentration. Those with greater access to green space experience lower levels of health inequalities linked to income deprivation (Mitchell & Popham, 2008).

The Centre will provide an opportunity for the community to relax, refresh and connect to nature via: • Ephemeral wetlands • Educational and sensory landscapes • Site access, seating, path networks and trails for people of all abilities • Formal and informal, nature-based play spaces • A café and amenities to refresh and connect

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A biophilic design to connect occupants to nature The design of The Centre building and landscaping will assist in healing of country and our community.

The ephemeral wetlands and trails, visitor and research facilities and site interpretation will be an Australian first in biophilic architecture – design which connects people inside to the nature outside – which has been co-designed with local government, university and community project partners and community stakeholders including Traditional Owners.

Access to active recreation opportunities The Centre will be a connection point for a myriad of nearby active recreation opportunities including: • Altona Sports Centre, soccer and cricket facilities, skate and BMX facilities • Truganina Swamp • Truganina Explosives Reserve • Truganina Park and the 100 Steps of Federation • A corridor for bicycling, running and walking via the nearby » Laverton Creek and Laverton Creek Trail » Bay Trail extending from Williamstown to Sanctuary Lakes • Public transport via bus routes, and short distances from two train stations (Laverton and Westona)

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Altona Sports Centre

Queen S

treet

H D Graham Reserve

Proposed Wetlands Centre Location Laverton Creek Trail

Laverton

Creek

Truganina Wetland Truganina Park 100 Steps of Federation

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Bringing economic benefits of eco-tourism to the West “Ecotourism is a fast-growing sector amongst overseas visitors to Australia”.

(Tourism Research Australia, 2018)

• A ‘nature’ destination of choice for all ages, stages and abilities • Accommodating nature-based businesses that provide local jobs and opportunities to volunteer

Destination of choice The Wetlands Centre will activate one of the largest natural open spaces in Melbourne’s west.

The design and cultural and natural values of the Wetlands Centre will elevate the site as a landmark.

By providing a base for visitors from near and far, the Wetlands Centre amenities, information and interpretation will help people to safely explore and appreciate a unique section of Port Phillip Bay’s western coastline.

By locating next to long-distance bike paths, a variety of walking trails of all grades, and favourite viewing lookouts, the Wetlands Centre will improve opportunities for outdoor exercise, educational programs, research, nature-based businesses and volunteerism.

The Wetlands Centre will be a destination of choice for a range of visitors: • local and regional communities in Melbourne’s west • Prep to PhD students • Teachers and specialist researchers of conservation, ecology, biophilic architecture, wetlands and blue carbon • Friends-of groups, bird watchers and nature lovers • walking and cycling groups • international and interstate visitors

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Local Employment The Wetlands Centre will provide local employment for: • Design and construction teams (40 full time over 24-month construction) • Centre operations – Centre Manager and casual staff • Café proprietorship (as part of a social enterprise or commercial partnership) • Specialist instructors/guides for community and education programs • Facilities maintenance and servicing (contractors)

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Teaching wetlands, learning laboratories and cutting edge research “Education is a natural process carried out by the human individual and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences in the natural environment.”

Maria Montessori

• Immersive learning for preps to PHDs • Cutting edge research

Immersive learning COVID 19, and our reliance on the internet, has irrevocably changed the way students learn. Now more than ever students need an immersive, engaging learning environments to observe, notice and respond to changes in the environment and understand the impact of human activity.

Innovative Research Solutions The Wetlands Centre research facilities will enable cutting edge university research across environment and health sciences fields.

Hobsons Bay’s wetlands have been tested as a ‘teaching wetlands’ for Deakin University’s Blue Carbon Lab with researchers and citizen scientists to demonstrate climate change mitigation benefits of sequestering carbon in coastal saltmarsh.

The health and medical benefits of spending time in nature through ‘green prescriptions’ will be optimised through programs and potential research at the Wetlands Centre, capitalising on its biophilic design elements.

The Wetlands Centre will feature: • ‘Hands on’ learning laboratories • An outdoor learning amphitheatre • Exploratory trails and formal and informal, naturebased play areas • Connection to country with indigenous interpretation and programs • Programs such as: » Hobsons Bay City Council’s ‘Ranger Ramblings’ conservation talks » ‘Friends of’ planting, conservation, and clean up days » Bush Kinder and ‘Nature Play for Children’ » Exposure to STEM learning and career pathways » ‘Citizen Science’ to fight climate change and contribute to research

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Celebrating country and protecting habitat that supports rich and rare biodiversity “Tread softly on the land as this land holds the stories of our grandmothers.”

JAPANANGKA Errol West | BUNURONG EDUCATION WARRIOR

Celebrating country The Wetlands Centre will be located on the lands of the Bunurong people of the south eastern Kulin Nation and near one of the most important areas of urban biodiversity in Australia. The Wetlands Centre is a place where everyone can connect to Country, improve their health and wellbeing and be inspired to care for our previous natural environment.

Utilising insights generated from consultation with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, the concept design includes welcome and gathering space, pedagogical walking trails, referencing country, spaces for knowledge sharing, artworks and remediation of landscaping.

Site history Around the time of European arrival, the custodians of the coastal strip of land around Port Phillip Bay and Western Port were the Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation.

The Yalukit-willam group lived in the area now known as Hobsons Bay (Clark, 2011).

A 2017 Cultural Heritage Assessment by BIOSIS found evidence of large campsites and redeposited Aboriginal cultural heritage (from ground disturbance when the Laverton Channel was constructed) in the northern end of HD Graham Reserve.

Non-indigenous land use Predominant non-indigenous land uses near and including HD Graham Reserve were grazing (initially squatting runs from the early 1800s, and formal landholdings from the 1850s and 60s) and an Explosives Reserve from 1896.

By 1982 the area had been reserved for a public park and recreational use, although it was fenced off. The Altona Sports Centre was constructed in the 1980s.

A “Living Coastline” The northwest shore of Port Phillip Bay is a “Living Coastline” protecting both internationally significant, Ramsar – listed, wetlands and ultimately providing a buffer between Port Phillip Bay and thousands of home.

The importance of the site touches wildlife and waterways, coastlines and climate.

Wetlands are susceptible to the impacts of a changing climate and increased urban development. They play an important role in maintaining our local ecosystems, improve water quality, provide flood and storm mitigation, act as a carbon sink and provide habitat for biodiversity and threatened species.

Conservation, research and volunteer programs hosted at the Wetlands Centre will contribute to growing awareness of the importance of protecting local habitat and ecosystems.

Habitat for Biodiversity Wetlands are breeding grounds for a diversity and abundance of birds, including: • threatened beach and shore nesting birds • over 150 species of birds with many migratory birds returning each year • up to 65,000 migratory shorebirds visit each summer, making it the sixth most important site for shorebirds in Australia • rare bird species, notably the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot (RSIS 1998) and the Swift Parrot, recently sighted in woodlands adjacent to HD Graham Reserve.

Several areas of wetlands in Hobsons Bay, including Cheetham Wetlands, were recently recognised by BirdLife Australia, the country’s largest organisation devoted to the future of our native birdlife, as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) for collection of data to determine national and global conservation priorities.

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Partners Local government

Strategic Partners

The Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre is located on Crown Land at HD Graham Reserve and is managed by Committee of Management by Hobsons Bay City Council.

In February 2021, HBWC Inc signed a Memorandum of Understanding with its Strategic Partners: Hobsons Bay City Council, Deakin University, Ecolinc, (Department of Education and Training), Melbourne Water, Greater Western Water, Cirqit Health and BirdLife Australia.

Hobsons Bay’s rich natural environment is one of its greatest assets. Open space contributes significantly to the quality of life of Hobsons Bay residents, covering 24 per cent of the municipality’s land area. Hobsons Bay has over 20 kilometres of coastline and is home to significant coastal wetlands, five creek systems, remnant native grasslands, and important flora and fauna habitats.

The Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre is underpinned by Council’s commitments including: • Council Plan 2021-25 commitment • $800,000 budget allocation for concept and detailed design and project management • Climate Change Policy, Community Greenhouse Strategy 2013-30, Environmentally Sustainable Development Policy Statement

Key community partner Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre Inc (HBWC Inc) in the key community partner. HWBC Inc is a community group with charity status, who proposed the vision for ‘a place for nature’ when it formed in 2018.

HBWC Inc is driven by the knowledge that spending time in nature is vital for health and happiness, which also promotes environmentally responsible behaviour. HBWC Inc aims to enhance the natural environment along the Western Shoreline of Port Phillip Bay by: • Providing opportunities for the community to engage in nature-based activities to benefit their health and wellbeing and enrich their appreciation of nature • Providing facilities where people of all ages can learn about the natural values of the area and ways to care for it • Protecting the biodiversity of the wetlands for future generations through conservation and research • Establishing an accessible and inclusive centre to inspire people to work together for the benefit of the wetlands

Partners

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Deakin University Deakin University’s strategic support for the Wetlands Centre aligns with its commitment to environmental sustainability, wetlands-based research (including integrative ecology and blue carbon), and the health benefits of connecting with nature. It recognises the opportunity for a field studies centre to facilitate teaching programs delivered by the School of Life and Environmental Science, and School of Health and Social Development and specialised research by the Blue Carbon Lab.

Ecolinc Science & Technology Innovations Centre (Department of Education & Training) Ecolinc Science & Technology Innovations Centre, based in Bacchus Marsh, is focused on the development and delivery of innovative educational programs on environmental sustainability aligned with the Victorian Curriculum for primary and secondary students. The Wetlands Centre will provide Ecolinc with an opportunity to expand its offsite, outreach and fieldwork m as student populations continue to grow in the west.

Melbourne Water Melbourne Water is committed to enhancing life and liveability for the greater Melbourne region, and manages and protects the city’s major water resources for the community. It supports healthy waterways, manages flood risks and increases community flood preparedness.

Melbourne Water supported the initial development of the Wetlands Centre by the provision of $10,000 from the Liveability Fund for the development of the Feasibility Study and provides ongoing support to HBWC Inc through its citizen science and other collaborative community programs.

Greater Western Water (formerly City West Water) Greater Western Water provides drinking water, sewerage, trade waste and recycled water services to customers across inner Melbourne and the western suburbs. It promotes healthy liveable communities through sustainable water management. Greater Western Water supports the wetlands centre development through advice and support for stormwater harvesting to increase the wetlands areas around the proposed site.

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Cirqit Health Cirqit Health facilitates innovative social responses to health and wellbeing for people in Melbourne’s -west , complementing general practice services provided by the Altona North Medical Centre. Cirqit Health supports the Wetlands Centre providing spaces for communityled care initiatives including local health and wellbeing groups, building resilience, fostering social connections and exploring the innovative practice of ‘green prescriptions’.

Birdlife Australia

Other local Organisations Local organisations in support of the Wetlands Centre include: Western Metropolitan Tourism, LeadWest, Greening the West, multiple Friends-of groups and Altona Village Traders Association.

International Partnerships The Wetlands Centre will connect with other wetlands centres internationally with the help of Wetland Link International (WLI), East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership, BirdLife International.

BirdLife Australia is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to achieving outstanding conservation results for native birds and their habitats.

The organisation, which currently has over 10,000 members and a further 65,000 supporters, has roots back to the early 1900s. It has welcomed the HBWC Inc as an affiliate which has adopted the role of Guardian of the nationally significant Key Biodiversity Area of Cheetham Wetlands and Altona.

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References Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre Feasibility Study (LOCI, 2020)

HOBSONS BAY CITY COUNCIL

www.twitter.com/HobsonsBayCC

115 Civic Parade, Altona PO Box 21, Altona 3018

www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

www.facebook.com/HobsonsBayCityCouncil