Clifton Springs Curlewis Coastcare Group

Waterwatch:
Monday 5th August
9.30am, Jetty Road Boat Harbour
Access via Jetty Road, a traffic light is in place

Waterwatch Victoria is a program which encourages and supports community members to become actively involved in monitoring local waterways. Join Clifton Springs Curlewis Coastcare group as we collect, test, and log data on the health of two local water outflows into the bay, Griggs Creek and Edgewater Drive.
https://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/cb_pages/welcome_to_waterwatch_victoria.php

Water quality impacts the balance of ecosystems within the bay
The Eco Reef looks back

Habitat Restoration: Clifton Springs
Wednesday 17/7
meet at 9.30am, beach access opposite 34 Edgewater Drive

Join Clifton Springs Curlewis Coastcare group and COGG Environmental Staff to assist with the removal of invasive w**ds growing on our local beach

BYO garden trowel, eye protection, gloves.
Spares will be available

photo credit: Hans Heine

Thanks to all volunteers who helped the Clifton Springs Curlewis Coastcare Group remove about 20 cubic meters (a truck load) of w**ds from the Clifton Springs foreshore.
The woody w**ds Flax-leaf broom (Genista linifolia) and Boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) as well as the herbaceous w**ds Sea Spurge (Euphorbia paralias) and Cretan trefoil (Lotus creticus) were some of the main targets for the w**ding activity.
The activity was supported by Tess and Matt from City of Greater Geelong Nature Reserves team, the group learned how to identify the w**ds and the impact they have in displacing indigenous vegetation.
CSCC group meets every third Wednesday of the month for habitat restoration activities on the foreshore. The next w**ding activities are planned for 17 July and 21 August.
If you are interested in Waterwatch testing activities, we meet at Clifton Springs boat harbour car park every first Monday of the month 9.30am. Our next water testing will be on Monday 1 July.

Everyone is welcome to help protect the biodiversity of our beautiful foreshore area.

FLOW: STORIES FROM THE WETLANDS

Wander across to The Hive Gallery and Studios, Ocean Grove in the month of June to see a wonderful group exhibition called Flow: Stories from The Wetlands. The exhibition features the inspirational works of more than twenty artists that raise awareness of the beauty and importance of wetland ecosystems.

https://www.facebook.com/thehiveoceangrove

The Hive Ocean Grove An artisan retail gallery displaying bronze sculpture for the garden and home, art and furniture fro

Edit: Please note date has been changed
Habitat Restoration:
Wednesday 26th June, 9.30am, Edgewater Drive Beach Access (opposite 34 Edgewater Drive)

Join Clifton Springs Curlewis Coastcare Group, Bellarine Catchment Network and City of Greater Geelong as we tackle the spread of Sea Spurge, sea Rocket and some of the woody w**ds invading our local beach.

A small garden trowel, garden gloves and glasses for eye protection are advised, spare supplies will be available

Waterwatch:
Monday 3rd June, 9.30 am, Clifton Springs Boat Harbour

Thanks to those that participated and contributed to May's Waterwatch event, it was great to see the interest within our community.
https://oceangrovevoice.com.au/news/16-05-2024/waterwatch-in-clifton-springs/
Join Clifton Springs Curlewis Coastcare Group Waterwatch group
Monday 3rd June as we test water that flows from Grigg's Creek and Edgewater Drive in to our bay.
Please note access to Boat Harbour is open via Bayshore Ave, a traffic light is in place

https://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/cb_pages/welcome_to_waterwatch_victoria.php

Come and join us Wednesday 15th May, 9.30am, Jetty Rd Boat Harbour and learn more about Waterwatch monitoring in Curlewis and Clifton Springs.
Waterwatch Victoria is a citizen science program that is supported by Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. It encourages community engagement by supporting local community members to become actively involved in monitoring the health of local waterways.
Event will be hosted by Deirdre Murphy
Regional Citizen Science Project Officer, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
Please note:
access to the Boat Harbour is open via Bayshore Ave

Photo credit: Hans Heine
Grigg's Creek flowing into the bay at low tide

Common Reed (Phragmites australis) is a wetland grass that is often seen around lakes, rivers and wetland habitats.
It tolerates brackish, alkaline water ...
but really! ...
in Clifton Springs and Curlewis it grows on our beaches, metres away from the salty bay water ...
mineral springs are dotted all along our shoreline

https://www.facebook.com/cityofgreatergeelong/posts/pfbid0kMuwRRtNmVkWbYD5r7eoHot3k2s4hH9SWhDciqjDpQSzoV4A2Y7PxJM7LkRgiXEBl

are you interested in the quality of water that flows into the bay?

Waterwatch Victoria is a citizen science program that is supported by Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. It encourages community engagement by supporting local community members to become actively involved in monitoring the health of local waterways.

Come and join us Wednesday 15th May, 9.30am, Jetty Rd Boat Harbour and learn more about Waterwatch monitoring in Curlewis and Clifton Springs.

Event will be hosted by Deirdre Murphy
Regional Citizen Science Project Officer of the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority

Discover and Enjoy
some of the different plant communities that grow in our local area.
Bellarine Catchment Network has some great booklets available online:
Coastal plants;https://www.environmentbellarine.org.au/resources/BCN_Booklet_Coastal_Plants.pdf
Inland plants;https://www.environmentbellarine.org.au/resources/BCN_Booklet_Inland_Plants.pdf
Clifton Springs and Curlewis Coastal Reserves;https://www.environmentbellarine.org.au/resources/Clifton%20Springs%20Curlewis%20Booklet.pdf

www.environmentbellarine.org.au

Habitat Restoration:
The battle with Sea Spurge begins!
Clifton Springs Curlewis Coastcare Group with support of Bellarine Catchment Network is assisting City of Greater Geelong to tackle an environmental scourge called Sea Spurge.
Sea Spurge ( Euphorbia paralias) is an introduced, invasive coastal w**d that has spread along our local beaches. It colonises in the sandy foredunes at the back of the beach, preventing natural sand movement and changing dune structure. It forms dense thickets which compete with native vegetation and will spread inland from these areas.
Thanks Alison Marchant - Member for Bellarine and a great group of community volunteers that gathered yesterday to tackle this invasive w**d.

See you in June if you'd like to join us tackle the scourge of Sea Spurge ...

HABITAT RESTORATION
Wednesday 17th April, 9.30am

are you interested in our local Coastline?

Environmental w**ds such as Sea Spurge compete with native plant species for nutrients, water, sunlight and space. They can form dense areas of vegetation that shade and smother native species therefore negatively impacting Coastal ecosystems.

Join us and City of Greater Geelong staff to learn about invasive w**ds that affect our Coastline and assist with w**d removal from one of our beautiful beaches.

Wednesday 17th April, 9.30am
Meet west of Beacon Point, beach access ramp Edgewater Drive
Sturdy shoes, Long sleeves and long pants are sensible
Bring your gardening gloves and hand fork/small trowel
(Equipment and gloves will be available)
See you there!

Happy Wrensday!
Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) are one of our beautiful little Australian Native birds that forage, shelter and breed along our coastline.
Fairywrens live in family groups, the female wears a golden eye mask and the male is adorned in bright blue breeding plumage. Other family members are usually males from previous broods, they remain in non breeding plumage (brown with blue tails, but without blue cap and vest). They are encouraged to stay to help feed and protect the next brood.
These little birds weigh a tiny 10grams, they skip along flicking their tails as they forage stirring up insects for a tasty meal.
Fairywren use spider webs and loosely woven grass to construct their nest. They nest in thickets of low shrubs, usually within a metre from the ground.
Please remember to stay on designated paths in Coastal Reserves, give our local flora and fauna some space to do it's thing!

photo credits: Donna Pearce
Male Superb Fairywren, female Superb Fairywren, and a cute little fledgling Fairywren

Happy World Seagrass Day!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/9x2sMYHHQrc2ZBzy/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Upcoming marine biology talk! 🐟🌿🦀

In a couple of weeks time, join Ocean Grove Coastcare for an arm-chair adventure through the depths of the Great Southern Reef with Dr Prue Francis, senior lecturer in Marine Science at Deakin University, and Madi O'Brien, a local marine biologist. Both Prue and Madi are engaging presenters who are passionate about promoting ocean literacy as a means to build our collective understanding and appreciation of marine environments.

🐟 Thursday 29th February
🐟 7pm - 8:30pm
🐟 Bellarine Training and Community Hub, 1 John Dory Drive, Ocean Grove
🐟 No booking required and FREE.

Follow Ocean Grove Coastcare for more awesome coastal and habitat protection events on Wadawurrung Country.

fun facts about Cormorants
-their feathers are semi-permeable to water
-they can dive 20+ metres when fishing
-they face the wind and spread their wings to dry

further reading
https://connectedtoportphillip.com/2019/03/25/spot-these-5-cormorants-around-port-phillip-bay/

Photo credits: Donna Pearce

Shout out to local photographers

We are producing a new information booklet that will be circulated among local schools and community groups

Do you have a landscape photo showing our iconic views across the bay?

If you'd like to see your photograph as the cover of this exciting new booklet send your submissions to [email protected]
No limit to entries

Good luck!

We had a great day Beachcombing at Clifton Springs, thanks to those that ventured down to join us at The Dell.
It was fantastic to meet so many local children, our future Coast care guardians
If you missed our Beachcomb, wander down at low tide and enjoy the marine life that live on our coast.
Remember to leave what you find so others may enjoy it too!
Great educational video, thanks Bellarine Catchment Network

Environmental Action: A Practical Guide - Beachcombing In this video series, Bellarine Catchment Network will show you how you can stay connected with your local environment in different ways. This video is an in...

Seagrass meadows are a vital part of our marine ecosystem
check out this awesome video from Bellarine Catchment Network
to learn more
YOU CAN MAKE SMALL CHANGES THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

Environmental Action: A Practical Guide - Seagrass Discovery In this video series, Bellarine Catchment Network will show you how you can stay connected with your local environment in different ways. This video is an in...

IMPORTANT NOTICE …

Blue Ringed Octopus have been sighted at the beach at the Clifton Springs boat ramp and The Dell.
Keep a watch and avoid all contact with these creatures as they are deadly .
Remember -
Do NOT walk through seagrass
Do NOT put your hands in seagrass or under rocks
Do Not lift rocks up.
Do NOT attempt to touch or move the octopus
Please read this information from Surf Life Saving Australia

UPDATE: This activity has been cancelled due to the weather and is now running on Tuesday the 9th of January! Book here: https://events.humanitix.com/beachcomb-at-clifton-springs-9

We are also hosting another beachcomb at the Dell, Clifton Springs, on Friday the 19th of January. Book here: https://events.humanitix.com/beachcomb-at-the-dell

All our January events can be seen at: www.bgevc.com

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Join us on a free beachcomb adventure at Clifton Springs on the 8th of January! 🌿🦀🐟

This free, family-friendly beach activity will include a beachcomb where participants will look for creatures and artefacts along the shoreline. So far this summer, on our beaches we have found wonderful seaw**d species of all colours, squid eggs, bryozoans and sponges, shells and more. This activity is being facilitated in partnership with the Clifton Springs Curlewis Coastcare Group.

Activity Details:
🌿 Monday the 8th of January 2024
🦀 10am - 11:30am
🐟 Clifton Springs Beach, west of the Clifton Springs Boat Ramp on Jetty Road, Wadawurrung Country (see registration link for exact location information)
🎫 Register at: https://events.humanitix.com/beachcomb-at-clifton-springs

This event is made possible with the support of the

We have a busy summer ahead of us with a range of activities along the beaches of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula ☀🐚🦀🐟🪸

Grab your hat and sunnies, and discover the fantastic creatures of our beaches, rockpools and dune systems! We have a huge program covering Breamlea, Barwon Heads, Clifton Springs, Eastern Beach, Geelong, Indented Head, Ocean Grove, Portarlington, St Leonards and Queenscliff. Meet some of our local community groups like Friends of the Bluff, Ocean Grove Coastcare, Clifton Springs Curlewis Coastcare Group and the Friends of Edwards Point Reserve Inc.

Our full program can be viewed/downloaded at: www.bgev.com or via https://bit.ly/bcnsummer2024

☀ Beach and Bush Walk at Royal Park: https://bit.ly/beachandbushwalk
🐚 Canoeing on Swan Bay: https://bit.ly/canoeswanbay
🦀 Enviro Stall at Eastern Beach: https://bit.ly/envirostall
🐟 Beachcomb at Clifton Springs: https://bit.ly/cliftonspringsbeachcomb
🪸 Coastal Discovery Stall at Ocean Grove: https://bit.ly/oceangrovestall

These events are supported by Barwon Coast, Bellarine Bayside the Borough of Queenscliffe, the City of Greater Geelong, the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and Coastcare Victoria.

Dell Eco Reef wins international acclaim - City of Greater Geelong

Our Eco Dell Reef was announced as the winner of Sustainable Design (building product) 2023 in London recently

Dell Eco Reef wins international acclaim - City of Greater Geelong

Happy Coastcare week

7 Coastcare tips that you can do all year round to protect our coast

1. At the beach, keep on the walking tracks. This protects the vegetation that provides habitat for local native birds and other animals and prevents erosion.
2. Woof woof! Ensure your dogs are kept on a lead in areas where dune vegetation is vulnerable. Landcare and Coastcare groups work on these sites to enhance the habitat for native animals to
protect them.
3. Take a bag with you to the beach to collect rubbish on your next walk.
4. Every piece of plastic removed from the marine environment can save an animal’s life and reduce the amount of microplastic created. Pick up rubbish and recycle.
5. Take the slow lane, walk instead of driving on beaches (4WD on beaches can rip up plants, destroy sea bird nests and eggs, destroy the sediment profile and more).
6. Use reef safe sunblock to protect marine life from harmful chemicals.
7. Volunteer with your local group and support their community events or donate to help them buy materials for their activities.

Coastcare Week 2023 - Landcare Australia Coastcare Week is an annual campaign celebrated...