Management plan sets 20-year direction for Point Richards reserve

A LONG-TERM vision has been set for one of the Bellarine Peninsula’s most significant natural areas, with the release of the first-ever management plan for the Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve.

The final plan outlines priorities for the Portarlington reserve’s protection, restoration and use over the next 20 years and follows extensive community consultation.

All respondents reported overall support for the plan, with more than four in five also calling for stronger connections to Wadawurrung culture.

Bellarine Bayside will work closely with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to strengthen cultural and environmental links across the reserve, while also improving visitor access and facilities.

The plan outlines five primary objectives, each with associated strategies, which will guide the conservation and protection of the reserve.

These objects include supporting connections to culture and Country; maintaining the integrity of the wetlands; improving habitat quality and maintaining biodiversity; reducing the impact of pest animals like rabbits and foxes; and enhancing the visitor experience. Planned upgrades include better signage and seating, a new major entrance from Boat Road and the delivery of an accessible walking track.

Bellarine Bayside planning and environment manager, Kate McMahon, said the reserve was a rare and valuable landscape on the peninsula.

“Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve is one of the largest remaining areas of remnant woodland and ephemeral wetlands on the Bellarine Peninsula and we are committed to protecting it for its cultural, environmental and community values,” she said. “We are proud to release this management plan which will guide our work in the Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve for the next 20 years.”

Volunteer group Friends of Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve, which has spent more than two decades caring for the site, will continue to play a key role in on-ground works.

Bellarine Bayside says the group has welcomed the plan’s focus on balancing cultural heritage protection, biodiversity conservation and sustainable public access.

The reserve’s wetlands, which provide habitat for the vulnerable growling grass frog and a range of waterbirds, remain a central focus.

The plan identifies threats including declining water quality and invasive plants and animals, and calls for coordinated action across multiple agencies to address them.

Development of the management plan and associated operational plans was funded by the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action.

To view the plan, head to conversations.bellarinebayside.com.au