Coastline Summer Update 2011/2012

Coordinators Message: Victoria Guess, Coastcare State Coordinator, DSE

Hello, and welcome to edition 58 of Coastline, Coastcare’s quarterly magazine. As 2011 comes to a close and we gear up for another Summer by the Sea, it’s a good time to pause to reflect upon some of the excellent work undertaken by Coastcare groups over the past year.

This year, over 9000 volunteers have been out in force along the Victorian coastline planting seedlings, protecting threatened species, undertaking weed removal and engaging with local communities about coastal conservation and management. A statewide snapshot of activities undertaken by Coastcare groups in an average year includes over 450 hectares of weed control, 420 hectares of pest animal control, 247 hectares of erosion control, 150 hectares of threatened species protection and over 100 kilometres of fencing for protection of remnant vegetation.

Many of these works have been undertaken with the help of grant funding through DSE and the Coastcare Community Grants program. The passion, initiative and dedication of coastal volunteers amount to significant statewide value, not only in sustainably managing the state’s coastal environments, but also in building and strengthening the social fabric of many Victorian towns and their communities. I would like to thank all coastal volunteers for their ongoing contribution to the management of our beautiful Victorian
coastline.

As occurs every year, Coastcare and DSE are preparing for the annual Summer by the Sea
festival. Coastcare facilitators have worked hard to provide the Victorian community with over 300 free holiday activities along the coast from 2–22 January. For more information, refer to the Summer by the Sea article in this edition of Coastline or visit our website at www.dse.vic.gov.au/summerbythesea for a
more detailed copy of the program guide.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all our Coastline readers. We wish you an enjoyable and safe summer by the sea in 2012.

Click here to view the Coastline Summer Update 2011, Edition 58 ISSN 1329-0835

In this issue
State Coordinator’s Message Pg2
DSE and Coastcare Celebrate Summer by the Sea Pg3
Marine Ranger Interns Hit the Coast Pg4
Latest Coastal Science Released Pg5
2011 Victorian Landcare Awards Pg6
The Menace of Plastic in the Sea Pg7
Coastcare Volunteer Guide Pg7
Wildlife Forum at Wonthaggi Pg8
Coastal Erosion in the Southwest Pg8
The 8th Annual Bringing the Care Day Pg9
Fishing for Diversity Pg9
Western Port Biosphere Reserve Pg10
Where Will You Count Fish this Year? Pg11
Coastcare Community Grants 2011 Pg12
The Australian Coastal Society Pg14
Coastal Processes Shaping Coastcarers Pg14
What’s Happening Along the Barwon Coast? Pg15
Coastcare Group Update Pg16
A Coastal Volunteer Group Leads the Way Pg17
Coastcare Group Update Pg17
Cup Moth – Friend or Foe? Pg18
Regional Updates Pg19
Coastcare Contacts Pg24