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202. North Coast of French Island

This information has been developed from one or more of these publications:

  • Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Westernport Bay Catchment (1984) by Neville Rosengren.
  • Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Western Region of Melbourne (1986) by Neville Rosengren
  • Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance on the Coast of Port Phillip Bay (1988) by Neville Rosengren.
  • Sites of Environmental Significance in the Flood Plain of the Upper Yarra Valley Region (1983) by Neville Rosengren, Douglas Frood and Kim Lowe (as part of a study of Sites of Environmental Significance by the University of Melbourne for the then Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Authority).
Geological heritage sites, including sites of geomorphological interest and volcanic heritage sites, are under regular revision by the Geological Society of Australia, especially in the assessment of significance and values. Reference should be made to the most recent reports. See the Earth Science Heritage section of the Geological Society of Australia website (external link) for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.


Location:
Barrallier - 500585 to Palmer - 620590. Mangrove and salt marsh fringe of the northern coastline of French Island between River Point and The Duck Splash.
Image: Sites of Significance Westernport Bay
Lagoons, tidal channels, mangrove and
fringe at The Duck Splash, Site 202.

Access:
Coast Road, Bullock Road, The Causeway.

Ownership:
Crown land.

Geology/Geomorphology:
The northern shoreline of French Island exhibit’s a well developed mangrove-fringed salt marsh in front of a formerly sandy shoreline. The vegetation community of the salt marsh displays high species diversity and is considered to be a focus of botanical importance in Westernport Bay (Bridgewater, 1975). Numerous tidal channels have developed across the salt marsh, and in low lying areas several shallow lagoons have formed. The lagoons are best developed in the Salicornia community at the rear of the salt marsh, with tidal channels meandering through the mangrove fringe and the Arthrocnemum communities at the front of the salt marsh. The most prominent and best developed of these groups of tidal lagoons occurs at ‘The Duck Splash’ west of Palmer Point. The mangrove fringe in the north-west of French Island (Scrub Point) is rapidly dying back under the influence of a rapid and recent influx of sand which is forming beaches and sand cheniers.

Significance:
State. The area includes one of the main mangrove and salt marsh resources of Victoria and is a major site to study the sedimentary processes of such a system.

Management:
Class 1. No disturbance to the mangrove fringe should be permitted. Cutting of the mangrove, clearing or degrading of channels through the mangrove fringe, or filling or reclamation of any area of the site should not be permitted.

References:
Bridgewater, P.B. (1975). Peripheral vegetation of Westernport Bay. Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict. 87 (1) 69-78.

Image: Sites of Significance Westernport Bay
 Vigorous growth of mangrove near
The Duck Splash, Site 202.
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