Cheetham Wetlands Ramsar Bid: Bay Trail Extension, Birdlife, Eco-Tourism

Cheetham Wetlands are a protected coastal habitat where people can walk, watch birds, and learn about wetland conservation. A proposed international listing and a shared trail are bringing fresh attention to how Point Cook uses and protects its coast.

This report explains what the nomination means, how the trail changes access, and what visitors can do to reduce disturbance. It also sets out the conservation pressures that will shape the wetlands' future.

Cheetham Wetlands viewed from the viewing deck. Photo: Haycar29 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cheetham_Wetlands.JPG

Ramsar Nomination Recognises Global Significance

The Allan Labor Government announced the nomination on 13 October 2025 following extensive public consultation. Minister for Water Gayle Tierney said the four areas, Point Cook Cheetham Coastal Park and Marine Sanctuary, Moolap Wetlands, Edwards Point Swan Bay Wildlife Reserve, and Lake Connewarre Complex Conservation Reserve, will extend the existing Ramsar boundary by roughly 1361 hectares. The nomination acknowledges Cheetham's role as a refuge for thousands of migratory shorebirds each year, including the critically endangered curlew sandpiper, red knot, and far eastern curlew. Read the Premier's announcement on the Ramsar nomination.

Covering more than 1200 hectares of saltmarsh, lagoons, and coastal habitat, Cheetham Wetlands already forms part of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar site, but only the area south of Skeleton Creek is currently included. The proposed expansion would bring the northern section, from Skeleton Creek to Laverton Creek, under the same international protection. The Commonwealth Government will make the final decision on the boundary extension.

Ramsar listing does not alter permitted recreational activities but strengthens conservation and management standards for internationally significant habitats. The Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site: Strategic Management Plan identifies key threats and proposes strategies to combat them. Any proposed development in a Ramsar area must undergo an Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act assessment as a minimum. See WyndhamTV coverage of the Cheetham Wetlands Ramsar bid.

The Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971, is the only global treaty focused on a single ecosystem type. Australia was a founding signatory. The Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula site was listed in 1982. The nomination process involves state government assessment, public consultation, and Commonwealth approval. The Minister for the Environment makes the final decision based on the site's ecological character and international significance.

The nomination also reflects the state's effort to strengthen protection for wetlands with high ecological value. Wetlands support birds, vegetation, water management, and public education. Protecting Cheetham Wetlands in full would add a clearer conservation framework while securing these benefits for a rapidly growing urban population.

Bay Trail Boardwalk Opens Across Wetlands

The Bay Trail extension at Point Cook was completed and opened in January 2024 as part of the Victorian Government's $21 million Urban Parks Active Wellbeing Program upgrading 21 parks across Melbourne. The missing link between Sanctuary Lakes South Boulevard and Skoda Court traverses Cheetham Wetlands via an elevated boardwalk on stilts, designed to minimise ground disturbance to the surrounding Ramsar wetlands. View the Parks Victoria project page for the Bay Trail extension.

Parks Victoria delivered the northern 260-metre section on Crown land, while private developer Aveo Group constructed the southern 155-metre section on freehold land. The project reduces a 3.8 kilometre detour to just over 400 metres of continuous, flat, off-road journey for pedestrians and cyclists travelling from Williamstown to Point Cook Coastal Park. The trail extension was developed with a Cultural Heritage Management Plan in partnership with Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, and community engagement occurred through meetings and a pop-up event in April and May 2022.

Point Cook Coastal Park, located on Bunurong Country, spans 443 hectares and was created in 1978 to preserve the historic homestead, basalt plains grasslands, freshwater lakes, and coastal dune ecosystems. The park officially opened to the public in 1982. Together with the 420-hectare Cheetham Wetlands and the 290-hectare Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary (proclaimed in 2002), the parklands comprise a total of 1153 hectares. The parklands attract approximately 200,000 visitors annually, a figure expected to rise with population growth in Wyndham.

The boardwalk provides a direct, flat route while keeping visitors above sensitive ground. Its elevated construction helps reduce disturbance to the wetland surface and maintains the separation between public access and habitat. Interpretive material can help visitors understand the connection between coastal ecology, migratory birds, and Bunurong cultural values. Visitors should remain on the marked path and follow any temporary closures.

The project demonstrates a practical way to improve access in a sensitive environment. Parks Victoria delivered one section, while Aveo Group constructed the other. The Cultural Heritage Management Plan supported appropriate management of Aboriginal cultural heritage during the works. The completed boardwalk gives residents a direct connection between the residential area and the coastal park while keeping most visitor movement on a defined route.

Migratory Shorebirds and Conservation Programs

Cheetham Wetlands began as natural salt marsh and grassy woodlands before becoming a saltworks in the 20th century. The saltworks operation created the lagoon system that now attracts diverse birdlife. In 1996, the land was set aside for conservation under Melbourne Parks and Waterways, now Parks Victoria. The wetlands support migratory birds that travel from Siberia and Alaska each summer, including the double-banded plover, curlew sandpiper, red-necked stint, sharp-tailed sandpiper, and pied oystercatcher.

Active conservation programs include Melbourne Water and Hobsons Bay Council planting a four-kilometre stretch of indigenous vegetation to restore canopy and habitat connectivity. The "Revive our Wetlands" focus project (2004 to 2006) engaged the community in conservation, improved water quality, reduced litter, and improved wildlife records. Salt marsh regeneration and planting of thatching grass (Gahnia filum) support the critically endangered yellow sedge-skipper butterfly. Invasive boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) removal reduces competition with native vegetation.

The Shorebird Conservation Project, funded by the Natural Heritage Trust and coordinated by WWF Australia, increases local awareness and involvement in habitat conservation. The Ramsar Protection Plan, funded by Caring for our Country, installs rabbit-proof fencing across 200 hectares and controls pest plants and animals. The River Health Program implements priority actions from the Melton and Wyndham Stormwater Management Plan to improve water quality entering the bay.

Water regime management depends on pumping seawater from the Skeleton Creek estuary. A suspension of pumping in the late 1980s caused summer waterbird counts to drop by 85 percent; resumption brought immediate recovery. This underscores the wetlands' sensitivity to hydrological management.

The migratory shorebirds undertake extraordinary journeys. The curlew sandpiper breeds in the Siberian Arctic and migrates 13,000 kilometres to Australia. The red knot flies from the New Siberian Islands. The far eastern curlew, the world's largest migratory shorebird, travels from northern China and Russia. These species depend on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, a corridor of coastal wetlands spanning 22 countries. Cheetham Wetlands provides critical staging habitat where birds rest and feed before continuing south or preparing for the return migration.

Migratory birds need suitable feeding and roosting areas at different stages of their journey. The lagoon system provides shallow water, mudflats, and saltmarsh edges where birds can search for food and rest. Their presence connects Point Cook to wetlands across the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Protecting local habitat therefore supports a wider network rather than an isolated reserve.

Threats and Management Challenges

The Cheetham Wetlands face pressure from urban encroachment as Wyndham City expands. Melbourne 2030 identified the Werribee growth area as one of five growth corridors, with the urban boundary abutting Point Cook Coastal Park to the west and north. Increased housing demand alters the parklands' character. Stormwater treatment, drainage, and hard rubbish degrade water quality. Water levels are managed by pumping and flow controls; incorrect operation risks sediment and nutrient pollution.

Visitor access is regulated through designated walking tracks, boardwalks, and two viewing decks including The Tower. A 2008 study found people accessing restricted areas, particularly during holidays, prompting additional signage and peak-time patrols. Climate change poses longer-term risks: sea-level rise, altered rainfall, and temperature shifts threaten saltmarsh ecosystems. Those risks make careful monitoring and flexible management important.

The urban edge creates a hard boundary between development and conservation. Stormwater from new estates carries nutrients, sediments, and pollutants into the wetland system. Altered hydrology from impervious surfaces changes the frequency and magnitude of inflow events. Light spill from streetlights and housing disrupts nocturnal bird behaviour. Domestic cats and dogs from adjacent suburbs can affect ground-nesting birds. The management plan addresses these edge effects through buffer zones, stormwater treatment wetlands, and community education.

Climate change adds another layer of uncertainty. Changes in rainfall, temperature, inundation, and coastal erosion can alter saltmarsh conditions and the availability of shallow feeding areas. Managers must monitor water quality, vegetation, bird numbers, and visitor pressure over time. That evidence helps determine when access rules, restoration work, or water management need to change.

Eco-Tourism and Community Access

Ramsar recognition would elevate Cheetham Wetlands as an eco-tourism destination, attracting birdwatchers, walkers, and photographers from Australia and overseas. The wetlands already draw visitors for birdwatching and peaceful coastal walks. The Tower viewing deck provides elevated observation over the lagoons. Guided tours run periodically; Humanitix and Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre have offered bus tours with pickup from the Homestead Entrance Road carpark, showcasing migratory waders from Siberia and Alaska alongside resident species.

Point Cook Coastal Park offers picnic areas, beach access at low tide, and views of vintage aircraft operating from RAAF Base Point Cook. The Bay Trail extension now links the park to the broader metropolitan trail network connecting Williamstown to the western suburbs. Completing gaps in the Bay Trail is a priority in both Melbourne 2030 and the Linking People & Spaces strategy.

Eco-tourism creates a reason to protect the landscape while supporting nearby businesses. Visitors can combine birdwatching with a coastal walk, a picnic, or a visit to Point Cook's heritage sites. Ramsar recognition would give the wetlands a clearer identity for nature tourism. The boardwalk provides a direct flat route for walkers and cyclists. School groups and community organisations can use guided visits to connect local conservation with practical environmental education.

The Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre, located at the park's northern edge, serves as a hub for education and research. The centre runs school holiday programs, citizen science monitoring days, and professional development for teachers. Volunteer programs engage residents in bird surveys, vegetation monitoring, and litter collection. These programs build community stewardship and generate data that informs management decisions.

What Residents Can Expect

If the Ramsar extension proceeds, conservation standards will tighten without restricting current recreation. The Bay Trail boardwalk is open now, providing a direct cycling and walking route across the wetlands. Wyndham and Hobsons Bay residents gain improved access to a nationally significant nature reserve on their doorstep. Population growth in Point Cook and surrounds will increase visitor numbers, making the management framework critical.

Residents can track the Commonwealth's decision on the Ramsar nomination via the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Parks Victoria's Point Cook Coastal Park page provides updates on conditions, closures, and visitor advice. The Wyndham City Council What's On page lists guided wetland tours and community events. Visitors who want to support the wetlands can choose the boardwalk, keep dogs outside restricted areas, carry out rubbish, and report damaged signs or fencing to the relevant park manager. These simple actions reduce disturbance while helping agencies identify maintenance problems early. Visitors planning a low-impact outing can check the Point Cook directory for the local area before setting out.

A responsible visit also means checking conditions before departure. Coastal paths can become slippery after rain, and tidal areas change quickly. Binoculars help visitors observe birds without approaching roosts. Early morning and late afternoon usually provide better light for photography, but visitors should remain on designated routes. Keeping noise low protects feeding and resting birds. The same habits apply whether Ramsar approval arrives this year or later, because the wetland's ecological value already warrants careful access.

The conservation message is especially relevant as Point Cook continues to grow. More residents mean more potential volunteers, school groups, and citizen scientists, but also more pressure on paths, parking, water quality, and wildlife. Local participation can make the difference between a reserve that is simply visited and one that is actively cared for. Guided walks, bird counts, planting days, and litter surveys give residents practical ways to learn the site and contribute useful observations.

Visitors can make a low-impact trip easier by preparing before they leave home. Check the official conditions page, plan parking or the cycling route, carry water, and allow time to return before changing light or weather. Keep a safe distance from feeding and roosting birds. Do not enter fenced areas or lagoon edges. A quiet, predictable visitor pattern helps rangers protect habitat and gives future visitors the same chance to experience the coast.

The wetlands also provide a useful place to discuss how cities grow. Point Cook needs recreation areas, transport links, and housing, while the wetlands need clean water, habitat, and controlled access. Good planning does not treat these needs as mutually exclusive. It places paths carefully, manages runoff, protects buffers, and gives residents clear information about why some areas remain closed. The Ramsar nomination brings that planning question into sharper focus.

Explore Point Cook's Natural Neighbours

The Laverton listing provides a nearby comparison for visitors approaching from the north. The Werribee listing covers another nearby Wyndham suburb. The Wyndham LGA category brings together local coverage. For related nature reporting, see Victorian Waterfalls.

Works Cited

WyndhamTV. "Cheetham Wetlands Near Global Listing." WyndhamTV, 13 Oct. 2025, www.wyndhamtv.com.au/cheetham-wetlands-near-global-listing/.

Parks Victoria. "Bay Trail extension at Point Cook." Parks Victoria Projects, www.parks.vic.gov.au/projects/melbourne-region/urban-parks-active-wellbeing-program/bay-trail-extension-at-point-cook. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

Premier of Victoria. "Victorian Wetlands A Step Closer To Ramsar Listing." Premier of Victoria Media Centre, 13 Oct. 2025, www.premier.vic.gov.au/victorian-wetlands-step-closer-ramsar-listing.

Parks Victoria. "Point Cook Coastal Park and Cheetham Wetlands Future Directions Plan 2005." Parks Victoria Management Plans, www.parks.vic.gov.au/-/media/project/pv/main/parks/documents/management-plans/point-cook-coastal-park-and-cheetham-wetlands-fdp.pdf. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.