Projects

The Love Our Lakes program is made up of 48 projects, 22 partners and a whole lot of love for making a difference to the health of the Gippsland Lakes.

Explore our projects and discover the latest updates via the interactive map below.

The Gippsland Lakes Priorities Plan 2021-2024 has been developed through the Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee to help identify where funding should be allocated to help maintain or improve the health of the Gippsland Lakes.

The Gippsland Lakes Priorities Plan has also been used to allocate funding for the Gippsland Lakes Community Grants Program with nine new projects announced in 2022 building on the 16 projects previously funded by the Victorian State Government.

All

1 - Jones Bay & Lake King

2 - Lake Wellington

3 - Outer Barrier Islands

4 - Aquatic Habitat

5 - Ramsar

6 - Community

7 - Environment Report

All

Community

Cultural Heritage

Habitat

Ramsar

Wildlife

Clear

Map List

Algal Blooms

7 - Environment Report

Habitat

The indicator for algal blooms was assessed as “fair” for all lakes, due to the number of blooms in the past two decades (eight since 2001).

Around the fringes

1 - Jones Bay & Lake King

Habitat

This project will assess and develop the best ways to care for the priority fringing wetlands next to Jones Bay.

Burrunan Dolphins

7 - Environment Report

Habitat

In 2011 a new species of dolphin, the Burrunan dolphin was described from south-eastern Australia.

Conserving Flannigan Island forever

3 - Outer Barrier Islands

Habitat

This freehold Flannigan Island is a significant haven for birds including Borun (pelicans) and special plants.

Controlling pests in Lower Latrobe Wetlands

2 - Lake Wellington

Habitat

This project will control pest plants and animals at Sale Common and surrounds.

Cultural mapping for climate change

3 - Outer Barrier Islands

Cultural Heritage

This project will improve cultural knowledge of the Outer Barrier Islands and protect priority sites from climate change impacts.

Cultural sites of Significance eDNA Sampling

4 - Aquatic Habitat

Ramsar

This project will integrate cultural values and environmental values to help build a clearer picture of biodiversity and health in the Lakes.

Developing a saltmarsh monitoring framework

5 - Ramsar

Ramsar

Saltmarsh is an important vegetation community and critical component component of the Ramsar Site.

Dirty Rivers

2 - Lake Wellington

Habitat

This project identified priority reaches within the Lake Wellington catchment.

Fish

7 - Environment Report

Habitat

The Gippsland Lakes are recognised as important for recreation fishery and support diversity of native fish.

Freshwater Wetlands

7 - Environment Report

Habitat

There are only two large freshwater complexes of wetland vegetation remaining in the Gippsland Lakes.

Homes for frogs and fish

1 - Jones Bay & Lake King

Wildlife

This multi-faceted project will restore habitat and wildlife populations at Macleod Morass.

Inspired Landcarers loving our Lakes

6 - Community

Community

Romawi Landcare will deliver two projects to fortify Forge Creek and to protect the Pygmy Perch of Forge Creek

Lake King Water Quality

7 - Environment Report

Habitat

Salinity in the Gippsland Lakes is influenced by rainfall, river flow and tidal exchange.

Lake Victoria Water Quality

7 - Environment Report

Habitat

Salinity in Lake Victoria has been assessed as good and there has been no sustained change.

Lake Wellington fringing vegetation re-establishment

2 - Lake Wellington

Habitat

This project is creating a trial in Lake Wellington to align with design work to address shoreline erosion.

Lake Wellington Water Quality

7 - Environment Report

Habitat

There is some evidence of an increasing trend in total nitrogen in Lake Wellington.

Lower Latrobe Wetlands Flora and Fauna Monitoring

2 - Lake Wellington

Ramsar

Fringing wetland vegetation communities are an important indicator to the health of the Gippsland Lakes.

Macleod Morass water regime monitoring

5 - Ramsar

Ramsar

Macleod Morass is one of only two freshwater wetlands within the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site.

Monitoring the extent of the Lakes seagrass

5 - Ramsar

Ramsar

Seagrass is an essential part of the Lakes and an essential indicator of their health.

Monitoring the Lakes' precious waterbirds

5 - Ramsar

Ramsar

The Gippsland Lakes supports over 20,000 waterbirds including resident and migratory birds and endangered species.

Monitoring the Lakes' threatened frogs

5 - Ramsar

Ramsar

Gippsland Lakes is home to two nationally threatened frogs - the Growling Grass and Green and Golden Bell frogs.

More habitat for fish in the Lower Avon

4 - Aquatic Habitat

Habitat

Large structural habitat is typically degraded, reduced or missing in many parts of the large tributaries of the Gippsland Lakes.

Nicholson River Landcare leading the charge

6 - Community

Community

Nicholson River Landcare Group is another inspiring example of how these community grants improve waterways and unite community.

Nutrient Loads

7 - Environment Report

Habitat

Nutrients entering into the Gippsland Lakes are strongly driven by rainfall in the catchment and river flows.

Protecting Cultural Heritage

1 - Jones Bay & Lake King

Cultural Heritage

This special project will protect Cultural Heritage and enhance environmental values on the Lower Tambo River.

Protecting Lake Reeve's precious saltmarsh

2 - Lake Wellington

Habitat

This project will manage public access to protect Lake Reeve - a unique and significantly important wetland.

Protecting precious plants

1 - Jones Bay & Lake King

Habitat

This project will protect and enhance habitat for rare and threatened plants including the metallic sun orchid.

Refuge for frogs and wildlife

2 - Lake Wellington

Habitat

This project will enhance eight of the highest priority wetlands within the Lower Avon/Perry River target area.

Restoring Coastal Saltmarsh wetland

2 - Lake Wellington

Habitat

This project will take action for saltmarsh based on recent Coastal Saltmarsh condition assessments of the Gippsland Lakes.

Room to Move

2 - Lake Wellington

Habitat

This project will assess and prioritise best practice options to maintain and improve the condition of priority fringing wetlands.

Saltmarsh

7 - Environment Report

Habitat

There is over 10,000 hectares of saltmarsh in and around the Gippsland Lakes, including over 4000 hectares within the Ramsar Site.

Sand for seabirds

4 - Aquatic Habitat

Habitat

This project will add sand to critical bird habitat and review boating rules to minimise shoreline damage near Crescent Island.

Seagrass

7 - Environment Report

Habitat

Seagrass in the Gippland Lakes is important habitat for fish and waterbirds.

Seagrass Friendly Moorings

4 - Aquatic Habitat

Habitat

Boating activity including anchoring and mooring can have impacts on seagrass as it is an essential part of the ecosystem.

Seagrass restoration

4 - Aquatic Habitat

Habitat

Recent satellite mapping reveals that the Lakes' seagrass meadows have reduced.

Shoreline Stability

7 - Environment Report

Habitat

Shoreline erosion is a loss of the land due to the removal of beach and dune material.

Tackling the Lakes' pests

3 - Outer Barrier Islands

Habitat

This project uses innovative and traditional methods to manage the spread of pest plants and animals.

Understanding Water Quality in the Lakes

5 - Ramsar

Ramsar

The Gippsland Lakes contains series of wetlands that support a significant number of waterbirds and frog species.

Variably Saline Wetlands

7 - Environment Report

Vegitation in the wetlands of the Gippsland Lakes that experience variably saline regimes are often dominated by swamp paperbark.

Waterbirds

7 - Environment Report

The Gippsland Lakes supports a diversity and abundance of waterbirds across all the habitats and wetlands.

Wetlands winding to the Gippsland Lakes

1 - Jones Bay & Lake King

Habitat

Reducing nutrients in the Crooke Street Wetlands has an important impact on the Gippsland Lakes.

Where sea-eagles fly

1 - Jones Bay & Lake King

Ramsar, Wildlife

This once in a decade project will look at the health of white-bellied sea-eagles in the Gippsland Lakes.

The Priorities Plan identifies actions and strategies within four priority program areas and associated projects.

PROJECT AREA 1

Improving the wetlands of Jones Bay and Lake King

Improve environmental conditions for native flora and habitat for native fauna in the fringing wetlands and shorelines of Jones Bay and Lake King on both private and public land.

PROJECT AREA 2

Enhancing connectivity and condition around Lake Wellington

Implement actions to improve Lake Wellington and its fringing wetlands through management of water regimes and reducing inputs of nutrients and sediments; and improve habitat for native flora and fauna in those wetlands through works to enhance vegetation communities.

PROJECT AREA 3

Protecting significant Gunaikurnai Country of the Gippsland Lakes outer barrier

Improve and enhance habitat for native flora and fauna on the Gippsland Lakes outer barrier by reducing pressure from invasive species; and protect cultural values by improving our understanding of the distribution and significance of these places and addressing key risks.

PROJECT AREA 4

Understanding and improving aquatic habitats and ecosystems

Improve the condition and availability of habitat for native fauna and flora dependant on aquatic ecosystems, through actions based on improved understanding of priority species and communities, and habitat protection and enhancement.