]]
Publications
Victoria Case Study November 1993
2.1.1 Location and Boundaries
The Westernport region comprises the Westernport catchment, and Western Port itself. The total length of the coastline, including French and Phillip Islands, is 263 km. The area of Western Port itself is 680 square kilometres, of which 270 square kilometres is intertidal mudflats.
Municipalities within the region are:
Shire of Bass (directly adjoins Western Port)
Shire of Cranbourne (directly adjoins Western Port)
Shire of Flinders (directly adjoins Western Port)
Shire of Hastings (directly adjoins Western Port)
Shire of Korumburra
Shire of Mornington
Shire of Pakenham
Shire of Phillip Island (directly adjoins Western Port)
Borough of Wonthaggi
Shire of Woorayl.
The Case Study is largely restricted to the coastal and marine environments of Western Port itself, however regional issues such as catchment management are also of relevance to the study area, thus involving all of the Westernport Region to some extent. The case study area is shown on Figure 1.
Figure 1. Location Map and Strategy Area
Urban development in the Westernport Region is restricted to fringes of the Melbourne urban area extending through Cranbourne, Pakenham and the Mornington Peninsula, particularly on the Port Phillip Bay shore and a number of smaller towns and settlements. Settlements in the region, in particular those located close to the shore, are holiday resorts and have a high proportion of holiday homes and tourist accommodation.
Major streams within the region are the Bunyip, Bass and Lang Lang Rivers. There is also an extensive network of drains from the former Koo Wee Rup Swamp.
2.1.2 Major Biophysical Features
(a) Coastal Landforms and Processes
Physical Characteristics
Western Port is a drowned embayment extending from the Mornington Peninsula in the west to the South Gippsland Highlands in the east and the Great Dividing Range to the north. The Bay exhibits a wide range of geomorphological features, largely influenced by the amount of shelter from wind and waves that is available.
The southern part of the Westernport coast, including the south coast of Phillip Island and the shores of the Western Passage and the Eastern Entrance are high energy shores, characterised by cliffs, wave cut platforms and reefs, dune systems and pocket sandy beaches.
The northern shore of Phillip Island, the southern shore of French Island and the shoreline between San Remo and Settlement Point are moderate to low energy coastlines, with some rocks and cliff, interspersed by sandy beaches and mudflats.
The northern part of the Bay and the north coast of French Island is a low energy coastline and consists of extensive intertidal mudflats with deeper tidal channels cut into them, and occasional rocky platforms, cliffs and sandy beaches.
Coastal Processes
Coastal processes in Western Port are dominated by tidal and wave action.
Tidal influence in the Bay is strong, with a rise and fall varying between 2.3 and 3.1 metres. Approximately 270 square kilometres of intertidal mudflats are exposed at low tide. The pattern of tidal flow is influenced by the presence of French and Phillip Islands and net tidal flow is in a clockwise direction around each of these islands. Tidal action has cut deep channels into mudflats and sediment movement within the Bay is largely associated with tidal currents (Shapiro 1975).
While there is some sediment and sand movement in the Bay, coastal changes in Western Port are generally driven by erosion of bedrock by waves and to a lesser extent surface runoff and wind, rather than build up of sediment (Shapiro 1975). While coastal erosion is a natural process, it has been exacerbated by human activities such as removal of vegetation and interference with sand and sediment movement (Western Port Bay Strategy 1992). This is particularly problematic as erosion is now threatening many buildings and other structures which were originally located close to the shoreline.
Prevailing winds are predominantly north to north westerly in the period April to September and southerly in the period October to March (Shapiro 1975).
Important Landforms
Western Port is characterised by varied and distinctive landforms, many of which have particular scenic or scientific value.
Sites with international and national geological and geomorphological significance were identified in the Western Port Bay Strategy (WRPCC 1992) from a study by Rosengren (1984).
Sites identified as having international significance are:
Sites identified as having national significance are:
The locations of these formations are shown in Figure 2 of the Strategy.
Figure 2 - Sites of Geological and Geomorphical Significance
Further details on morphological features and sediment movement and distribution is found in Shapiro (1975). This report also presents an analysis of the marine chemistry of Western Port.
(b) Sites of Natural/Biological Significance
A number of studies have identified sites of natural/biological significance in the Western Port areas, including Opie et al (1984), Andrews et al (1984), and Shapiro (1975).
International Agreements
Three International Agreements to which Australia is a signatory are of relevance in the Western Port area. The whole of Western Port, including adjacent coastal areas is nominated on the Ramsar Convention on wetland and migratory bird protection, to which Australia is a signatory. Wetlands nominated under this agreement are considered to have international significance as habitat for water birds, or for ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological or hydrogeological value.
A number of birds listed on the Japan-Australia Migratory Birds Agreement (JAMBA) and the China-Australia Migratory Birds Agreement (CAMBA) are found in Western Port and adjacent coastal areas. As a signatory to these agreements, Australia is bound to preserve the habitats of birds listed in the agreement. Birds listed on the Agreements which are known to occur in Western Port are given in Appendix 3 of the Western Port Bay Strategy.
Parks and Conservation Reserves
There is considerable public land along the coast and environs of Western Port. Much of this public land has been set aside for conservation purposes. Major parks and reserves in and around Western Port include:
The Register of the National Estate
In addition to reservation of Crown Land for conservation purposes, sites considered to be of National importance, due to high ecological, cultural historical or other values may be placed on the Register of the National Estate.
Sites in the Western Port environs that are listed on the Register of the National Estate are as follows:
Locations of these sites are given in Figure 3
Figure 3 - Areas on the Register of the National Estate.
Other Areas of Natural/Ecological Significance
A number of other sites on and around Western Port were identified in the recommendations of the Land Conservation Council in 1977, or by Shapiro (1975) in the Western Port Environmental Study.
These sites include:
The Western Port Bay Strategy (1992) also identifies the following proposed Wildlife Reserves;
Landscapes
Sections of undeveloped coastline backed by farmland, and with only occasional villages creates high quality landscapes around Western Port.
The Western Port Bay Strategy (1992) identifies the following areas as being particularly visually sensitive:
These areas are shown in Figure 4
Figure 4. Visually Sensitve Landscapes
Many of these areas are classified or recorded by the National Trust. There are shown in Figure 5
Figure 5 - National Trust Classified and Recorded Lanscape
The quality of these landscapes can be reduced by inappropriate siting of building or other structures and by clearing or reduction of vegetation.
(c) Vegetation and Fauna of Western Port
Vegetation along the more sheltered shores of Western Port shows a progression from subtidal and intertidal seagrass beds and mudflats, through mangroves, saltmarsh zones and dryland forest and woodlands. These vegetation associations provide important habitat.
Seagrass Beds
Seagrass beds exist on intertidal and subtidal mudflats and provide important food sources and habitat for birds and fish. The main species of seagrass are Zostera muelleri, Heterozostera tasmanica and Amphibolis antarctica (Western Port Bay Strategy 1992). Algae, in particular Caulerpa cactoides are also important flora in seagrass communities (Shapiro, 1975, Opie et. al. 1984).
Mangroves
Mangroves occur in the intertidal zone along sheltered coastal strips and play an extremely important role in the ecology of the Bay, providing food for birds and marine animals, nursery areas for fish and stabilisation of the coastline. The main species occurring in Western Port is Avicennia marina. Mangroves in Western Port are at the southern extent of their range (Australia's southern most mangroves occur at Corner Inlet, slightly further south than Western Port) (Shapiro 1975, Opie 1984).
Saltmarsh
The saltmarsh fringe lies between the intertidal zone and the hinterland. An unusual characteristic of saltmarsh occurring around Western Port is the overlap between the northern extent of typical saltmarshes vegetation, and the southern extent of mangroves. This occurs only in southeast Australia.
Saltmarsh vegetation communities are made up of a number of different species. Typical species associations occurring in Western Port saltmarsh are given by Bridgewater and Hughes (in Shapiro, 1974) and include:
Saltmarshes are often backed by Melaleuca woodlands, marking the transition from tidally-influenced to coastal terrestrial communities.
Forests and woodlands
A variety of eucalypts, leptospermum, casuarina, allocasuarina and acacias grow in the region, as well as smaller shrubs and grasses. One tree of special note is the manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalis ssp. viminalis) which is an important food source for koalas. There is also a number of introduced species, some of which have become problem is in that they compete successfully with indigenous vegetation. Coastal vegetation is preserved to some extent in State parks and Wildlife reserves of the region. Important remnant vegetation is also thought to exist although a survey of remnants has not been carried out. Based on previous investigations (eg Opie 1984), the Western Port Bay Strategy identifies two areas of particular importance, being Sandy Point (land currently incorporated into Crib Point naval Base) and coastal land around Warneet.
Inland swamps
In addition to coastal wetlands, there are a number of inland swamps that are important, especially as habitat for birds.
The main swamps are shown in Figure and are;
Other swamps in the Western Port area have been drained and reclaimed for agriculture, in particular the Koo Wee Rup swamp, making these remaining swamps particularly important to bird life.
Birds
Western Port supports a large number of birds, including many migratory waterbirds listed on the JAMBA and CAMBA agreements between Australia and the Japanese and Chinese Governments respectively. A list of birds on these treaties that are found in Western Port is given in Appendix 3 of the Western Port Bay Strategy (1992). Another bird of particular note is the fairy penguin (Eudyptula minor). The fairy penguin colony at Summerland Beach is a popular tourist attraction.
Protection of water birds is largely related to the protection of habitat, which includes feeding grounds, food sources, roosting areas and nesting areas. The major feeding grounds are the intertidal mudflats. At high tide, water birds generally roost to conserve energy and these roosts are vulnerable to disturbance by boats (especially jet-skis), hovercraft, walkers, dogs and such like. Birds become agitated when disturbed which destroys their rest and may lead to impacts on bird health in the longer term. Continued disturbance or degradation of roosting sites may lead to birds not returning to the area.
The locations of high tide roosting sites identified by the Bird Observers Club in their submission to the Western Port Bay Strategy (1992) are shown in Figure 6. Sites vulnerable to disturbance are:
Figure 6 - High Tide Roosting Sites for Wading Birds
Other high tide roosts that are sufficiently inaccessible from human access to provide adequate protection from disturbance are Sandy Point, Long Island Point, Chilcot Rocks (French Island), Fairhaven (French Island), Blue Gum Point (French Island), Yallock Creek Mouth, and Pioneer Bay.
The inland swamps listed previously are also important habitats.
Mammals and Marsupials
A number of well known native animals such as kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and echidnas occur in the Western Port area. The region is also famous for its koala population which has become a tourist attraction, especially on Phillip Island. Of particular importance are the introduced koala populations on French Island and at Sandy Point which are free of the disease Chlamydia which is affecting populations elsewhere (Western Port Bay Strategy 1992). These animals are transported elsewhere throughout the state. One of two major Australian fur seal colonies is located at Seal Rocks, off the Nobbies, at the south west tip of Phillip Island. Seal Rocks has been declared a wildlife reserve for protection of Australian fur seals.
Fisheries
Western Port is a popular recreational and commercial fishing area, with main species caught including King George Whiting and Rock Flathead. Commercial fish catches appear to be declining over recent years with an average catch of 260 tonnes per annum during the 1960's declining to an average of 150 tonnes during the mid 1980's. (Western Port Bay Strategy 1992).
Estimates suggest that the recreational catch is probably similar to the total commercial catch.
There is one mariculture operation (mussels) established at Flinders at the western entrance to the Bay and a number of other proposals have been raised.
2.2.1 Population
The Western Port Region consists of ten municipalities, five of which adjoin Western Port. Census populations for 1986 and 1991 for these municipalities are shown in Table 1.
Municipality Population Population Percent annual
(1986 Census) (1991 Census, change,
preliminary) 1986-1991
Bass* 4,217 4,901 3.0
Cranbourne* 49,227 70,835 7.2
Flinders* 34,900 36,510 0.01
Hastings* 23,700 28,746 3.8
Korumburra 7,250 7,576 0.01
Mornington 28,500 29,960 0.01
Pakenham 23,600 27,590 0.03
Phillip Island* 4,347 4,992 0.03
Wonthaggi 6,226 6,446 0.01
Woorayl 11,240 11,003 -0.004
Total Regional 193,207 228,559 3.3
* denotes municipality adjoining Western Port
TABLE 1: Population in the Westernport Region, 1986-1991.
Much of the regional growth is occurring in the Shire of Cranbourne with spill over into the adjacent Shires of Bass and Hastings. This area is designated as the South-east growth corridor by the Department of Planning and Housing.
While much of this growth will not be close to the coast of Western Port, indirect impacts of population increases, such as increased recreational pressure, industrial and domestic effluent and alteration of drainage and runoff patterns will affect Western Port.
In addition, most settlements on or close to the Bay will continue to grow slowly, creating additional impacts such as clearing of coastal or inland vegetation and disturbance to wildlife. Settlements around the Bay with populations greater than 200 are given in Table 2.
Town/ 1981 1986 Town/ 1981 1986
Settlement population population Settlement population population
Flinders 380 453 Grantville >200 323
Merricks/Ba 1,060 1,551 Corinella >200 235
lln-arring Beach
Somers 608 758 Coronet Bay >200 300
Crib Point 2,085 4,180 San Remo 462 576
Hastings 5,633 5,271 Newhaven 279 323
Tooradin 564 655 Rhyll >200 225
Koo Wee Rup 1,047 1,081 Cowes 1563 2251
Lang Lang 582 569
TABLE 2: Major Settlements Around Western Port
2.2.2 Land Tenure and Use
Almost all of the coastal strip around Western Port Bay, extending inland for approximately 100-500 metres is contained in Crown land reserves. In addition, approximately half of French Island and small portions of Phillip Island and the mainland are Crown Land.
This Crown land is set aside for a number of different purposes, with an emphasis on recreation and conservation, including:
Inland, apart from reserves as discussed in Section 2.1.2, land is mostly freehold, with the exception of the Crib Point Naval Base (HMAS Cerberus) which is Commonwealth land.
The status of land in the Western Port area is shown in Figure 7.
Figure 7 - Coastal Land Status
The majority of freehold land in the Western Port region is used as farmland. Farmland occupies 336,900 hectares, or 52 % of the Westernport Region (including the Shire of Buln Buln and the Rural City of Warragul in this case) (1988-89 figures, Annett and Morton, 1990).
There is only one major industrial area in the immediate Western Port area, being the Hastings Port Industrial Area. This is a commercial port and is the only port in Victoria suitable for deep draught shipping (for example bulk oil tankers). 3,120 hectares of land adjacent to the port is zoned Port Related Uses under the Statement of Planning Policy No 1 (1970).
Current industrial uses within this zone are:
The actual water body is used for commercial shipping and recreational boating. Deepwater channels through the Western Passage allow access to the Port of Hastings. Yachting, sail-boarding, water-skiing, power boating and swimming are among the popular recreational uses of the Bay. Commercial and recreational fishing is also a major use. A fishing fleet is based at San Remo/Newhaven.
2.2.3 Cultural, Social, Industrial and Economic Features
Cultural Features
Traditional Landowners in the Western Port Region were the Bunurong tube. A number of archaeological sites have been identified in the area and it is thought that many more exist but are unrecorded (Western Port Bay Strategy 1992). The sites mostly consist of middens and surface-scatters.
Areas of high to medium archaeological significance are:
These areas, together with areas of moderate to low archaeological sensitivity are shown on Figure 8.
Figure 8 - Areas of Archaelogical Sentivity
European settlement in the Western Port Area began in the 1820's and Victorias earliest colonial settlements were at Corinella, Rhyll and Churchill Island.
Many of the remains of these early settlements have been lost or degraded, however a number still remain in varying conditions. The Western Port Bay Strategy records thirty-three sites around the coastal area of Western Port, ranging from historic monuments to old farmhouses. A high density of historic sites is found on French Island. Where disturbance has been much lower. Locations of these sites are shown in Figure 9
Figure 9 - Historic Sites
Major threats to cultural heritage sites are disturbance by the public, and natural processes such an erosion and decay.
Social Features
The Westernport Region is characterised by both urban and rural societies. Urban societies are concentrated in the western part of the region, comprising Mornington Peninsula - Cranbourne - Pakenham. Urban settlements around Western Port are listed in Table 2.
The percentage of primary school-aged children is generally higher for the Westernport Region than for the Melbourne Statistical Division (MSD). The percentage of secondary school-aged children is slightly lower for the Westernport Region than for the MSD. This indicates that a high proportion of young families (ie with children) live in the region, compared to the proportion in the total MSD. This is associated with the extension of the urban settlement into the Mornington Peninsula and through Cranbourne that has occurred in the 1980's. Lower numbers of school-aged children in the Shires of Flinders, Bass and Phillip Island may indicate a higher proportion of retired people.
Unemployment in the region is currently variable across the region. The following figures were supplied for the June quarter, 1992, and represent the percentage of people receiving unemployment benefits in each municipality:
(Source: Dept of Education, Employment and Training)
Industrial and Economic Features
With the exception of the Hastings Port Industrial Area, there are no major heavy industrial zones in the Western Port area. Light and moderate industrial zones occur in the region, usually located within significant population centres.
Agriculture is a major industry in the region. Major agricultural products in each municipality are as follows:
Agricultural products of French Island are beef and sheep.
Tourism is also a major economic feature of the Western Port Area. Major tourist attractions include:
With its proximity to Melbourne, and range of tourist attractions, the region has captured a share of the international travel market as well. A number of day and half day tours operate from Melbourne, typically taking in several of the tourist attractions en-route to Phillip Island, and culminating in a visit to the penguin parade in the evening.
In addition to visiting these attractions, many people visit the area for recreational purposes, especially water based activities such as swimming, surfing, boating and fishing.
The number of domestic visits to the Westernport Region (that is, visitors from Victoria who stayed at least one night) was 388,000 in 1987/88 (Western Port Bay Strategy). The average stay in the region is 4 nights. The tourist season peaks in the summer months and approximately 60% of visitors stay with friends or in their own holiday homes.
2.3.1 Environmental Changes and Trends
European settlement in the Western Port area has led to a number of changes to the environment, both within the Bay and on surrounding land. Clearing and modification of vegetation has led to not only reduced vegetative cover but also loss of habitat for native animals. More recently, increased environmental awareness has highlighted the need to protect remaining vegetation and animal habitat, and to take steps to improve the environment wherever possible.
Seagrass
Several species of seagrass occur in the subtidal and intertidal mudflats of Western Port including Zostera, Heterozostera and Amphibolis.
Significant losses in seagrass have been recorded in the last twenty years, although current reports suggest that seagrass beds have been recovering in recent years (Western Port Bay Strategy, pg 41). Seagrass coverage and seagrass loss in Western Port is shown in Figure 10.
Figure 10 - Seagrass Coverage
Note: There is no more recent survey of information available than 1983, although some bay users report regrowth of seagrass in some locations.
The exact cause of seagrass die-back has not been established. It is believed that a major factor is increased sediment load in Bay waters due to increased surface runoff. The sediment is thought to block light from seagrass, thus preventing growth. Another factor may be chemical water pollutants. Sources of chemical pollutants in the waters of Western Port include oil, industrial effluent and agricultural chemicals (Western Port Bay Strategy, p 39).
Mangroves
Mangroves in Western Port are discussed in Section 2.1.2.
When European settlement began in the 1820s, mangrove coverage was extensive along the more sheltered shorelines of the Bay. By 1939, aerial photos showed that mangrove coverage had been severely denuded in most areas. More recently, there has been a reasonable recovery of mangroves, although overall reduction since the
1820s is still significant. Mangrove coverage in 1842, 1939 and 1980 is shown in Figures 11(a), (b) and (c) taken from the Western Port Bay Strategy (1992).
Figures 11(a), (b), (c)
The major cause of mangrove die-back is thought to be increases in sand and silt around the root zone which damages roots and prevents oxygen uptake by the mangrove. This is partly due to increases in sediment load in the Bay's waters, but is largely attributed to changes in water movements around mangroves, caused by breaching of the continuous mangrove fringe. Breaches such as those made for boating channels, ramps and jetties are probably the major cause of localised mangrove die-back in Western Port (Western Port Bay Strategy, 1992). Other possible causes of die back identified by Shapiro (1975) include: blanketting by dead seagrass, frost damage (mangroves are vulnerable to temperatures below about 3oC), increases in salinity and water pollution.
Saltmarsh
Saltmarsh vegetation occurs between the intertidal zone and dryland vegetation along much of the Western Port shore.
Historically, the saltmarshes of Western Port have not suffered widespread disturbance as has occurred in Port Phillip Bay and South Australia. Present localised disturbances however could lead to more serious degradation in the future. Particular threats to the saltmarshes include vehicle access, grazing of domestic livestock and introduction of intertidal weeds such as Spartina grass.
Remnant Coastal Woodland and Scrub
In common with rural land all over Victoria, much of the indigenous terrestrial vegetation in the Western Port catchment has been cleared to allow for cropping and grazing. Additional pressures are placed on remnant terrestrial vegetation around Western Port due to the high level of recreational use of the area. Dune vegetation is particularly vulnerable to disturbance, and also plays a vital role in maintaining dune structure.
Inland Swamps
A number of inland swamps in the Western Port Area have been drained and reclaimed for agricultural purposes. In particular, the draining of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp which began in the 1890's has led to loss of a large area of wetland habitat. In addition, increased run-off and sediment from the Koo Wee Rup Swamp is thought to be affecting water quality and plant and animal life in Western Port.
Birds
The whole of Western Port is a wetland habitat of international importance for wading birds. Changes to coastal vegetation and coastal developments have degraded this habitat by reducing food sources and reducing the number of locations where birds can roost undisturbed.
Birds are also disturbed by recreational users, including powerboats which have access to sensitive locations from the sea.
The large Fairy Penguin colony at Summerland beach on Phillip Island has become an important tourist attraction. Unfortunately, the large number of visitors, combined with the effects of feral animals and general development in the area, has led to declines in the population. Strict controls on visitors and the creation of reserves about the colony have been implemented to reduce the disturbance to penguins, and the situation is being carefully monitored.
Land Animals
Reduction in the number of native mammals and marsupials in the Western Port area is directly related to the reduction in terrestrial vegetation and predation by introduced species. Two species are now known to be regionally extinct, these being the Short-nosed Potoroo and the New Holland Mouse.
The area is well known for its koala populations. Significant reductions in koala populations have occurred as a consequence of habitat loss and infection by chlamydia. Only populations on French Island and at Sandy Point are free of the disease. The French Island Population is introduced and is used to re-establish populations elsewhere in the state. Reserves have been set aside on Phillip Island to protect important koala habitat, and much of French Island is now State Park, providing important protected areas for koalas.
Fisheries
Figures supplied by the Department of Conservation and Environment indicate a general decline in the commercial fish catch from 1970 to 1985 (Western Port Bay Strategy 1992). This decline is documented in Section 2.1.2.
The cause of this decline has not been established but is believed to be a combination of overfishing and loss of food sources and nursery habitats such as seagrass and mangrove.
Actions to reserve environmentally significant areas
Recent awareness of the importance of protecting and conserving the environment has led to the declaration of a number of wildlife reserves in the Western Port Region. These are discussed in Section 2.1.2.
A number of other areas discussed in Section 2.1.2 are considered worthy of protection. These include areas recommended by the Land Conservation Council (1977), and areas identified by Shapiro (1975) in the Westernport Bay Environmental Study. A range of studies aimed at identifying sites of significance in Western Port were conducted during the 1980's and form the basis of many management actions in place today (eg Andrew et. al. (1984), Opie et.al. (1984), Rosengren (1984)). It is possible that, with the current trend to environmental protection, these areas will also be set aside.
2.3.2 Social and Cultural Changes and Trends
Westernport regional population, and changes in population between 1986 and 1991 is given in Section 2.2.1. In addition, population changes in settlements around Western Port is given in Table 2.
Department of Treasury projections (1989) give the following average annual population growth rates for municipalities within the study area over the period 1986 to 2011:
- Shire of Bass 3.6%
- Shire of Cranbourne 4.4%
- Shire of Flinders 1.0%
- Shire of Hastings 2.1%
- Shire of Korumburra 1.1%
- Shire of Mornington 1.0%
- Shire of Pakenham 6.3%
- Shire of Phillip Island 1.8%
- Borough of Wonthaggi 1.4%
- Shire of Woorayl 1.9%
- Victoria 1.3%
- Melbourne Statistical 0.8%
Division
The above figures show that growth rates in the region are generally slightly above the average annual growth rate for Victoria and all are above the average annual growth rates for the Melbourne Statistical Division.
Highest average annual growth rates are predicted to occur in the Shires of Pakenham and Cranbourne. Lowest growth rates are predicted to occur in the Shires of Flinders and Mornington on the Mornington Peninsula. This is consistent with the State Government's Urban Development Strategy (1992) which designates Pakenham and Cranbourne as growth corridors for the next twenty years.
As discussed in Section 2.2.3, there is a high percentage of primary school-aged students in many of the municipalities in the region. This is a characteristic of designated urban growth areas as first home buyers and young families move to the area to purchase cheap housing. It would be expected that there will be a continued high level of primary school-aged children in the Cranbourne-Pakenham area where new housing will be available. In addition, there will be an influx of secondary school children as existing primary school children age.
The region is also popular with retired people, especially on the Mornington Peninsula and at Phillip Island.
2.3.3 Economic Changes and Trends
South Eastern Growth Corridor
A major feature which will affect the economic future of the Westernport Region is the Cranbourne-Pakenham (south-eastern) growth corridor. Population growth in this corridor would be expected to lead to associated growth in service industries. It is not anticipated that major industrial development will occur in the growth corridor, because of the close proximity of Dandenong which is intended to be developed as a major activity and employment centre.
In Shaping Victoria's Future, A Place To Live (1992), the State Government stated its plans for continued growth in the south-eastern growth corridor for the next twenty years. Beyond this time, it is planned to redirect growth to regional centres such as Bendigo and Ballarat.
Ports
The Port of Hastings is Victoria's only deepwater port, and one of the few sheltered, deepwater ports in Australia. Should large scale importation of crude oil, utilising very large or ultra large supertankers be required, the port may become important as a harbour and storage location (U.S.E. Consultants 1992). Future proposals for bulk oil/petroleum storage facilities within the Port of Hastings Industrial Zone already exist. The likelihood of Western Port receiving more oil imports is high as Bass Strait oil reserves decline and increased imports of Middle East oil occur.
Agriculture
The amount of land devoted to agricultural production in the region and the types of agriculture being undertaken have undergone some changes in the last ten years. Table 3 shows the area of land under various crops in 1979 and 1989 and the change in total area.
Overall, the area under cropping has increased slightly in the ten year period and there have been changes in the types of crops grown. Table 4 shows the number of head of each principal type of livestock in the region in 1979 and 1989 and changes in these numbers (Annett and Morton, 1990). Given that the only major increase in livestock numbers is for poultry for meat, and that this particular form of livestock production requires only a small area relative to the number of animals, it would appear that overall area used for livestock production has decreased between 1979 and 1989.
Crop Type Area Under Area Under Percent Change
Cultivation, 1979 Cultivation, 1989 1979-1989
(Hectares) (Hectares)
Market Gardens 2056 1684 - 18
Other 444 1257 + 183
Vegetables
Orchards 1856 1417 - 23
Potatoes 2990 2956 -1
Nurseries 230 475 +107
Berry Fruit 20 52 +160
TOTAL 7,596 7,841 +3
TABLE 3: Change in Cropping Industry 1979-1989
Livestock Type Total Animals 1979 Total Animals 1989 Percentage Change Dairy Cattle 199,090 159,238 -16 Meat Cattle 277,991 270,713 -3 Sheep (1) 223,717 254,715 +14 Poultry (meat) 14,927,316 23,288,202 +56 Poultry (eggs) 730,377 628,686 -14%
(1) mostly lambs for slaughter
TABLE 4 Changes in Livestock Numbers, 1979-1989
With increased growth planned in the south-eastern growth corridor over the next twenty years the area available to agriculture would be expected to decrease.
Tourism
While the tourist industry is subject to fluctuation, it appears that tourism in the region will continue to grow. Figures for the number of visitors, and number of visitor nights given in the Western Port Bay Strategy show that while the total number of overnight visitors has fallen slightly, the length of stay (average 4 nights) has increased. Most visitors to Westernport are from Melbourne. More than 1.5 million visitor nights were spent in the region in 1987/88. The Penguin Parade on Phillip Island attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year including many international tourists.
Figures reported by the Westernport Development Council indicate that visits to major tourist attractions (see Section 2.2.3) have generally increased over the period 1984-1991.
Next Chapter: Chapter 3. Existing management arrangements