Budj Bim Connections Flagship Project

The Budj Bim Connections Flagship Waterway Project continues to protect, restore and connect priority waterways, wetlands and aquatic habitats within the World Heritage Listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape. It supports the aspirations of the Gunditjmara for the Cultural Landscape and provides an integrated approach to waterway management.
 
The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is unique for the range of cultural, environmental, recreational and natural values it possesses. Since being recognised and inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in August 2019, Glenelg Hopkins CMA and Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (GMTOAC) have worked collaboratively to support actions to protect the 2 key waterways and associated wetlands within this landscape – Darlot Creek/Killara and the Fitzroy River/Palawarra. Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation (including the Budj Bim Rangers) as well as other land managers also continue to work together to protect the Cultural Landscape.

The landscape of wetlands, waterways and estuary shaped by the lava flow from Budj Bim (previously Mt Eccles) supports important cultural and ecological values, including nationally listed threatened species – Australasian bittern, Growling grass frog, South-west Victorian blackfish, Glenelg spiny crayfish and Curly sedge. Federal and State listed Little Galaxias, Pygmy Perch, Musk duck and Blue-billed duck have also been recorded. Critically endangered Floodplain Violet and Shredded Spleenwort are located at Tyrendarra Flora Reserve as well as the reserve being the only known location of Swamp Shield-fern in Victoria. Threatened Swamp Scrub community (Woolly Tea Tree) is also present.
 
Community engagement activities include engaging the local landholders and school groups in on-ground action and improving the understanding of the broader community about the values of the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape.
 
On-ground works will improve the condition of priority riparian areas. These areas also connect significant patches of remnant vegetation including Budj Bim National Park, Kurtonitj IPA, Tyrendarra IPA and the Tyrendarra Flora Reserve, providing benefits to both terrestrial and aquatic species.
 
Woody weeds threaten aquatic and riparian habitats in the project area and impact on cultural values. Continued willow removal and native species revegetation will occur. Italian Buckthorn also threatens riparian values at Tyrendarra Flora Reserve and surrounding properties.
 
Fencing to manage stock access and revegetation are other riparian restoration activities to be delivered through this project. Many wetlands are disconnected and degraded by invasive weeds. Rehabilitation by undertaking weed control, fencing to exclude stock and revegetation will assist in protecting water quality and prevent the loss of native species by protecting and providing habitat.
 
The project also continues to improve understanding of the aquatic species of the landscape, their populations, movement and habitat needs. A range of monitoring activities including eDNA sampling has taken place cooperatively with the CMA and Traditional Owners, and will be extended to provide more information about making decisions to best manage water across the Cultural Landscape.

Budj Bim Connections Flagship waterways project 2020-2024

The Victorian Government-funded Flagship Project, funded between 2020 -2024 undertook a range of activities on Country with Traditional Owners and built on the previous project’s outputs to further enhance the biodiversity, connection and understanding of the cultural landscape. See the video of the project below:

More videos are available on our YouTube Channel

Budj Bim Cultural Heritage Landscape

Project Partners

Parks Victoria, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Corporation, Glenelg Shire Council, landholders, Community Groups including the Fitzroy River Public Purposes Reserve Incorporated Committee of Management and local field naturalist groups.