Seaford Wetlands Viewing platform, shelter, and SUP realignment
June – September 2024
Residents and visitors will soon be able to enjoy even better views of Seaford Wetlands and the many species of flora and fauna that call the wetlands home.
Work will begin in June on a new three-level, accessible shelter and viewing platform to replace the existing platform at Austin Road, Seaford. It will be about 1m higher than the existing platform and constructed in accordance with Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) requirements.
The platform upgrade also incorporates an accessible drinking fountain, bike hoops, new carefully selected plantings, realigned path to safely connect to the new shelter and platform ramp, and six interpretative signs with information about the wetlands, its environmental and heritage value and the flora and fauna within the wetlands.
The new platform will be set back slightly away from the wetlands than the existing facilities to reduce impact on the natural environment, while providing a better view.
As part for the project, the shared user path (SUP) connecting to the platform at Austin Road will also be realigned and purpose-built to provide a safer and more stable rider and walker experience and better access to the new ramps for people in wheelchairs.
The works are stage two of the Seaford Wetlands Rejuvenation Project which is part of the Victorian Government’s $315 million Suburban Parks Program to create more than 6,500 hectares of new and upgraded parks and trails across Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
Construction impacts
Due to the environmental sensitivity of the wetlands, and particularly the area surrounding the viewing platform, noisy works can only be carried out between May and July.
The existing viewing platform will be closed during work and the current pathway for pedestrians and bike riders will be diverted through the grassed area to make way for the new shared user path.
Work hours are 7am-5pm weekdays.
Environmental requirements
A formal self-assessment* was undertaken on Council’s behalf by ecological consultants Practical Ecology to determine the potential impacts of the proposed upgrades associated with the Seaford Wetlands Rejuvenation Project on Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) as listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
To inform the impact assessment, a thorough desktop review was undertaken followed by fieldwork and detailed reporting. Consultation with Frankston City Council, DEECA, Melbourne Water, and Bird Life Australia occurred frequently throughout to discuss a variety of considerations around the project and its potential impacts.
The Friends of Edithvale – Seaford Wetlands (FESWI) were informed and consulted during the preparation of the report.
Findings of the self-assessment were:
- Except for the viewing platform, all the proposed upgrade works are located at some distance from important habitat for MNES and therefore it is not expected that a significant impact would occur given that standard mitigation measures are put in place.
- The upgraded viewing platform occurs in the direct vicinity of habitat for MNES, in particular migratory shorebirds.
- While it is not expected that ongoing use of the viewing platform would significantly impact MNES, construction-related disturbance has the potential to deter various species.
- Because of this, works on the viewing platform must not occur when migratory shorebirds are present (August to April) and during the breeding seasons for Australasian bittern (October to February) and reedwarbler (October to December) and therefore must be restricted to the months of May to July to avoid the potential of a significant impact to MNES. However, low noise construction works can be undertaken beyond July.
Provided that prescribed mitigation measures are put in place, neither a referral under the EPBC Act, nor the completion of an Environmental Effects Statement were required.
Note: a ‘self-assessment’ is a formal tool provided by the Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, as a first step for project proponents to determine whether their project requires a referral to the Department under the EPBC Act 1999.