Frequent visitation by marine mammals (Merri MS) * Flora and fauna traditionally accessed by local Aboriginal groups (Merri MS) Threatened shorebirds (Merri MS) * Surf Coast Sandy beach Intertidal rocky reef with rockpools Deeper water reef with abundant fish life Biota of Ingoldsby Reef, including leafy sea-dragon Seagrass beds - Amphibolis Subtidal soft sediments, with abundant epibenthos providing shelter for fish Pt Addis limestone - State geological significance Availability of biota for fishing and food collection by local Aboriginal people Presence of Australian Fur Seals and dolphins High wave-energy shoreline (suitable for surfing - Bells Beach) Varied geology (sandstone & basalt) with platforms, pools, fissures & boulder fields Diversity of invertebrates on rock platforms (intertidal and subtidal) Subtidal kelp forests Opisthobranch fauna - 96 species, 20% of which are undescribed High invertebrate diversity on limestone substrate Barwon Bluff Sandstone and basalt reefs with thick patches of giant and bull kelp Shore platforms with diversity of marine life (used extensively for marine education) Spectacular subtidal sandstone arches and gutters Complex geology - basalt from flow from Mt Duneed & old sandstone formed under ancient seas Probable foraging area for nearby Hooded Plovers (endanged sp; FFG listed) Port Phillip Heads High invertebrate diversity on intertidal calcarenite reef (Pt Lonsdale) Algal diversity and abundance on Lighthouse Reef (Pt Lonsdale) Undercut structure of Lonsdale Reef (feature seldom found on Vic open coast) (Pt Lonsdale) Diverse fish and invertebrate communities on Lonsdale Wall (Pt Lonsdale) Shorebird feeding habitat of State significance - calcarenite shore and reef platforms (Pt Lonsdale) Presence of threatened marine mammals (Pt Lonsdale) Islets and shoals of Mud Islands - highly unusual feature and of significance (Mud Islands) Dense seagrass beds supporting invertebrates and juvenile fish (Mud Islands) Shorebird habitat of international significance (RAMSAR & Register of National Estate) (Mud Islands) Salt marsh communities largely protected from human disturbance (Mud Islands)
Frequent visitation by marine mammals (Merri MS) * Flora and fauna traditionally accessed by local Aboriginal groups (Merri MS) Threatened shorebirds (Merri MS) * Surf Coast Sandy beach Intertidal rocky reef with rockpools Deeper water reef with abundant fish life Biota of Ingoldsby Reef, including leafy sea-dragon Seagrass beds - Amphibolis Subtidal soft sediments, with abundant epibenthos providing shelter for fish Pt Addis limestone - State geological significance Availability of biota for fishing and food collection by local Aboriginal people Presence of Australian Fur Seals and dolphins High wave-energy shoreline (suitable for surfing - Bells Beach) Varied geology (sandstone & basalt) with platforms, pools, fissures & boulder fields Diversity of invertebrates on rock platforms (intertidal and subtidal) Subtidal kelp forests Opisthobranch fauna - 96 species, 20% of which are undescribed High invertebrate diversity on limestone substrate Barwon Bluff Sandstone and basalt reefs with thick patches of giant and bull kelp Shore platforms with diversity of marine life (used extensively for marine education) Spectacular subtidal sandstone arches and gutters Complex geology - basalt from flow from Mt Duneed & old sandstone formed under ancient seas Probable foraging area for nearby Hooded Plovers (endanged sp; FFG listed) Port Phillip Heads High invertebrate diversity on intertidal calcarenite reef (Pt Lonsdale) Algal diversity and abundance on Lighthouse Reef (Pt Lonsdale) Undercut structure of Lonsdale Reef (feature seldom found on Vic open coast) (Pt Lonsdale) Diverse fish and invertebrate communities on Lonsdale Wall (Pt Lonsdale) Shorebird feeding habitat of State significance - calcarenite shore and reef platforms (Pt Lonsdale) Presence of threatened marine mammals (Pt Lonsdale) Islets and shoals of Mud Islands - highly unusual feature and of significance (Mud Islands) Dense seagrass beds supporting invertebrates and juvenile fish (Mud Islands) Shorebird habitat of international significance (RAMSAR & Register of National Estate) (Mud Islands) Salt marsh communities largely protected from human disturbance (Mud Islands)
19_2067.docx