Capturing an elusive fox on Dream Island, tackling weed infestations and keeping watch over threatened beach nesting birds are just some events in the compelling story of the past year of Gippsland Catchment Management Authority’s (CMA) Corner Inlet Connections project. 

“It’s been another successful year of dedicated work in the Corner Inlet Ramsar site where, for nearly two decades, we’ve been working with partners and community to protect the inlet’s significant natural values,” said Tanya Cowell, Waterways Officer for West Gippsland CMA. 

“We’re pleased to share what’s been achieved in partnership with Parks Victoria, Trust for Nature, Birdlife Australia and specialist contractors,” said Tanya. 

“Every effort is an important step towards our shared goal of a healthy and resilient inlet that we can all enjoy – whether you are a fisher, farmer, birdwatcher, walker or boater. We all love the inlet in our own special way and want it cared for.”  

A huge effort was in tackling Spartina infestations across the entire Ramsar site to protect habitat. The weed was treated in summer and autumn by ground and air. The coordinated approach with Parks Victoria saw remote and previously inaccessible areas that flow into the Marine Park treated. Long term monitoring shows this consistent annual treatment is significantly reducing this threat – a major win for the environment and wildlife. 

Protecting an additional 20 hectares of habitat was another great win with Trust for Nature leading a  program to protect saltmarsh through weed control and fencing from stock on private properties in the Tarraville and Hedley areas.  Multiple landholders have expressed interest in being involved with the project and the Trust is currently assessing projects for future years.  Landholders wanting to come on board can  contact Billie Emmett, Trust for Nature, at billiee@tfn.org.au  

Foxes are the number one predator for the Inlet’s beach nesting birds including Hooded Plovers and Small Terns.   

Partners at BirdLife Australia monitored for foxes on the Inlet’s four barrier islands (Dream, Box bank, Clonmel and Snake). 

An elusive resident fox on Dream Island was caught thanks to a determined contractor. The (approximately) 500 hectare Island is critical habitat for vulnerable beach nesting bird species to breed, and the removal of this fox will increase the likelihood of breeding success. Remote sensing cameras detected another fox that will be targeted in 2025-26. 

Summer and winter monitoring of beach nesting birds by BirdLife Australia and a team of highly skilled and dedicated volunteers showed generally low success in chicks fledging despite the birds putting in their best efforts.  Hooded Plovers made 27 nesting attempts across four islands, yet only two fledglings were produced on Dream Island.  Similarly low fledgling rates were seen for the Inlet’s Pied Oystercatchers, Crested, Caspian, Fairy and Little Terns.  These failures are largely due to predators, high tides and people.

“Disappointingly, human impacts to these remote islands are also a key factor.  We have  frequently seen off leash dogs, illegal campfires and dumped rubbish.  We will work on further management actions to limit threats to future breeding seasons. We are all in this together and ask everyone who uses the inlet to play their part in creating a healthy future.”    

So, it’s off and running for works planned for 2025-26 that will once again focus on protecting key Ramsar values.  

This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by West Gippsland CMA, a member of the Commonwealth Regional delivery Partners panel.

West Gippsland CMA is responsible for over 40,000 kilometres of designated waterways across the region and delivers programs for healthy and resilient catchments. All these waterways flow to the Victorian coast, discharging through the Gippsland lakes, or directly into Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean.

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