News

The Gippsland Lakes are a significant and unique landscape. Coastal saltmarsh protection works have been undertaken around Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park, Lake Reeve and Blond Bay Wildlife Reserve Halfmoon swamp. 

Expressions of interest are sought for the Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee. The Committee provides advice to the Minister for Water on environmental issues and priorities withing the Gippsland Lakes and its catchment.

World Wetlands Day on Sunday 2 February is a great chance to stop and reflect on the magnificent Gippsland Lakes – renowned internationally for their beauty and importance –– and the great programs happening to keep them healthy. 

There have been amazing results from the latest round of Love our Lakes projects, that were delivered across five main areas and themes. A total of 48 projects were delivered across the Gippsland Lakes and delivered by 22 partners.

West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (the CMA) is proud to have delivered five projects for the Love Our Lakes program across the Gippsland Lakes ranging from protecting and enhancing wetlands to creating homes for fish in the Lower Avon River.

Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee is proud to lead the Love Our Lakes program of Traditional Owners, partners and community working together to monitor, understand and protect Talikatoor (Gippsland Lakes) on Gunaikurnai Country.

Ten new seagrass-friendly swing moorings have been installed for recreational boaters at popular destinations across the Gippsland Lakes. Gippsland Ports oversaw this project that has provided new temporary mooring opportunities.

It’s great news for frogs in the Gippsland Lakes with researchers recording their first metamorph (young) Green and Golden Bell Frog and catching Growling Grass Frogs “in the act” of breeding in newly established ‘frog bog’ wetlands in the Lower Avon and Perry River areas.   

It's been all go out at Flannagan Island as the Trust for Nature team continue weed control, bird monitoring and habitat restoration on the seventy-seven hectare privately owned island, that is protected by a conservation covenant.

Wellington Shire is putting the finishing touches on projects to protect the Lakes' saltmarsh and enhance freshwater wetlands by creating new frog habitat.

An important multi-partner project led by Gippsland Ports to renourish sand islands in the Gippsland Lakes is underway to restore habitat for beach nesting birds.

The 2023-24 Gippsland Lakes Annual Report is now available highlighting key works, achievements and investment into improving the health of the Ramsar listed Gippsland Lakes.  

West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority has completed a project on the lower Avon River on Gunaikurnai Country to understand resident fish populations, create more habitat for them to thrive and improve facilities for fishers and river users. 

All year round, Landcare volunteers and community-led groups are working to protect and enhance the health of the Lakes and this Landcare Week we say thank you to everyone - because Landcare IS for everyone!

Meet and hear from Glenys Watts - Chair of the Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee that oversees the Love Our Lakes program made up of 48 projects delivered by 22 partners.

In great news for the Gippsland Lakes, the most recent assessment of the condition of saltmarsh communities has shown them to be in ‘good to excellent’ condition. 

WGCMA staff along with ecologist Doug Frood took the opportunity to survey the important and diverse wetland plants on Durt’Yowan (Latrobe River) floodplains as waters began receding after multiple wet years.  

Private landholders and partners enhance water quality and reconnect freshwater wetlands to give them room to move along rivers flowing into the Gippsland Lakes, preservation and enhancement of these wetlands is a high priority.

Results from the summer season of frog Results from the summer season of frog monitoring in the Gippsland Lakes have been verified by the Australian Museum.

EGCMA is currently renewing the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site Management Plan, the plan establishes the framework for the maintenance of the sites unique ecological character.

This National Volunteer Week, BirdLife Australia is putting a call out to the community to be a part of a once in a decade project to monitor the Lakes’ majestic, White-bellied Sea-eagles, results will contribute to a long-term study.

After a summer spent feeding in the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar wetland, thousands of migratory shorebirds are preparing for take-off and their long-haul flight back to the northern hemisphere to breed.  

Everyone is invited to join BirdLife Australia’s Great Borun (Pelican) Count 2024 on Sunday 24 March across the Gippsland Lakes and contribute to the bigger picture of understanding and protecting these iconic birds.

At Perry Bridge on Gunaikurnai Country on the shoreline of Lake Wellington, is the focus of a new partnership project funded by the Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee (GLCC).

The summer census was the first in a two year monitoring project of the birds across their breeding season. Results will inform the next instalment of population surveys in the Gippsland Lakes.

Seagrass is an essential part of the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar site ecosystem. It provides food, habitat, filtering and a nursery for baby fish, crabs, shrimps and seahorses.

The Draft Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site Management Plan 2023-28 is now ready for your feedback. View the Plan and have your say by 11.59pm on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

Bird researchers are excited to report the first sightings of Small Terns in the Gippsland Lakes this year signalling their return to breed in the internationally recognised wetland.

Spring is breeding season for the majestic White-bellied Sea-eagles in the Gippsland Lakes and this year it’s also time for a once in a decade survey to track the vulnerable species over the long term.

The 2022-23 Gippsland Lakes Annual Report is now available highlighting the activities completed, partnerships in action and investment into the projects improving the health of the Ramsar Listed Gippsland Lakes. 

There is a transformation taking place on Crooke Street in East Bairnsdale with a suburban drain about to become an urban wetland and contribute to a healthier Gippsland Lakes.

The Great Pelican Count is an annual citizen scientist event run by Birdlife Australia that invites people of all ages and abilities to survey pelicans. Anyone can be involved in the count – you could get involved in 2024.

The Andrews Labor Government is supporting the delivery of community led projects that will help improve the health and amenity of the Gippsland Lakes.

More than $270,000 has been allocated to nine projects aimed at improving the health of the iconic Gippsland Lakes.