Barwon Water wants to turn Bellarine Basin into new Wallington nature reserve

An old Barwon Water site would become a big public nature reserve with hiking trails, under a plan put to council.

Bellarine Catchment Network biodiversity officer Ash Baldwin, left, and Barwon Water strategic project co-ordinator Tony Belcher at Murrkngubitj Yarram Yaluk. Picture: Alison Wynd

Plans to transform the former Bellarine Basin in Wallington into a 30-hectare fully accessible public open space have been lodged Geelong’s council.

The proposal, led by Barwon Water in collaboration with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, aims to create a nature reserve known as Murrk Ngubitj Yarram Yaluk (MNYY) on the corner Grubb and Swan Bay roads.

It seeks to upgrade and construct new walking trails, develop a carpark, and remove some native vegetation that would be associated with the construction of the new access and part of the walking trails.

Barwon Water proposes new walking trails around the site, which will link up with existing maintenance tracks that will have a new gravel surface.

The new trails will include a combination of gravel and boardwalks, designed to minimise impacts on native vegetation.

The area would be open from sunrise to sunset.

Barwon Water general manager of planning, delivery and environment, Seamus Butcher, said the site would “be set aside to protect native biodiversity, both on land and in the water”.

“As the site is no longer required for operational purposes, we have an exciting opportunity to

work with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, the Bellarine Catchment Network (BCN), and the local community to reimagine the space as one of the few publicly accessible parklands on the Bellarine Peninsula,” Mr Butcher said.

“We’re working with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners to shape the site’s design and incorporate Caring for Country principles, and – led by the Bellarine Catchment Network – volunteers are assisting with bush regeneration activities.”

Barwon Water received $650,000 funding under the Victorian government’s Distinctive Areas

and Landscapes program and has contributed the same amount to the $1.3m project to

remove the former basin and restore the headwaters of Yarram Creek.

A further $440,000 grant has been received via the government’s Nature Fund to provide public access and regenerate the natural habitat of the site.

It is anticipated that an average of 10 people per day will visit the area with slightly more people during weekends.

The site will operate similar to other Barwon Water reservoirs that are open to the public and will require visitors to take any waste with them when they leave as no bins are proposed as part of the application.

Originally published as Barwon Water wants to turn Bellarine Basin into new Wallington nature reserve