Fears 'once in a century' chance to preserve bird habitat could be lost to residential development
Conservationists are concerned a key feeding and resting ground for critically endangered birds in Victoria's south west could be in danger because of development plans.
Moolap flats near Geelong is part of a 1,200 hectare area that the State Government wants to revitalise, with a master plan to be released by the end of the year.
Birdlife Australia has identified the flats, near a former salt works and Alcoa's aluminium smelter, as one of 19 key biodiversity areas across the country that are under serious threat.
The curlew sandpiper is critically endangered and flies from Siberia to use flats for stocking up its fat stores before returning home to breed.
The tiny Red-necked Stint also travels from Siberia and Alaska, and uses the area as a pit stop before journeying home.
Conservation officer Connie Warren, from Birdlife Australia, said migratory shore birds were one of the most endangered group of species in the world.
"They're pretty incredible. Some of these birds are only 14 centimetres high and they fly all the way from the Arctic to Australia and back again in a year," she said.
"We're the last stop in their journey for a lot of these birds and they need to rest here for several months before they can build up the energy to get back to their breeding grounds.
"Migratory shore birds tend to come back to the same places that they've visited for years on end so if we lose a site like Moolap these birds won't necessarily be able to move across to a different wetland. We will probably lose those birds."
Decommissioning salt works, Alcoa smelter opens possibility of development
There are three major landholders for the area – some of it is crown land, while Alcoa and Ridley Corporation own the rest.
Ideas to redevelop the land started in 2007 when the former salt works were decommissioned.
When Alcoa's aluminium smelter began the same process in 2015, hundreds more hectares became a possibility for redevelopment.
Ideas include rezoning parts of the area into residential space for up to 2,000 homes, a marina and tourism and retail precinct.
While there are plans to keep some of the salt flats as an environmental asset, Ms Warren said there was not enough detail in the draft plan, and no interim management for the salt works set up.
"The plan in its current state is very high level and there's a lot of conversations that need to be had about how this site will be managed and whether it will be managed appropriately for birds," she said.
"Once the plan is signed off, we want to begin consultation as to what management of the site will actually look like.
"And we need to get to that stage as soon as possible."
Park and recreation zone not enough to protect the flats
A spokesperson for the Environment Minister said all submissions received through the consultation period about how to use the area will be considered in the final plan.
One option is the flats could be rezoned into a public park and recreation zone.
But Birdlife Australia said that did not go far enough.
"We've seen a huge crash in [the curlew sandpiper] population over the last few years. So it's really important to protect all of the habitat that that bird uses," Ms Warren said.
The area is also popular with bird watchers.
Craig Morley from the Geelong Field Naturalist Club said they have been surveying the area twice a year since 1981.
"We see a fabulous opportunity - a once in a lifetime, once in a century opportunity for the City of Greater Geelong to really grasp an opportunity where there can be a green space all the way through Moolap and beyond," he said.
"We are really excited that the draft plan that's been released has identified the environmental values of the salt works.
"But there's still a lot of work to be done to ensure that this site is managed for the endangered birds that rely on it."
Birds from Siberia and Alaska are due to start arriving at the flats in August.