Anderson Inlet (23876)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Anderson Inlet
Central coordinates: Latitude: -38.6577, Longitude: 145.7948
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 2
Area of KBA (km2): 23.29666
Protected area coverage (%): 0.33
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA consists of the whole estuary of the Tarwin river, including all areas of saltmarsh and fringing vegetation. Anderson Inlet is one of the largest estuaries on the Victorian coast, situated between Westernport and Corner Inlet. A series of spits developed across a former embayment to create the inlet which has in-filled with estuarine sediment. Large areas of mudflats are exposed at low tide. The ocean beach on the seaward side of the spits (outside the IBA boundary) is sandy and supports few birds.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The site also regularly supports significant numbers of the following species but they do not exceed the thresholds: Double-banded Plover max. count 275 in 2003, Eastern Curlew max. count 300 in 2000, Chestnut Teal max. count 553 in 2003 and Pacific Gull max. count 68 in 2006. Hooded Plover along beach of Venus Bay west of IBA (recorded maximum count was 28, with 24 in 2006). The biome-restricted Striated Fieldwren is frequently encountered in vegetation around the margin of the inlet (Atlas of Australian Birds database).
Other site values: Managed by Victorian State Government DSE and several Committees of Management.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | hunting | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 48 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Introduced Vegetation | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Need to control Spartina and other weeds from encroaching onto mudflats. Consider controlling human access to Mate's Landing.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: AWSG wader count database (accessed 2006). DEWHA (2008) Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/database/ accessed 2008. Weston, M. (2003) Managing the Hooded Plover in Victoria. Unpublished report to Parks Victoria, Melbourne.
Contributors: Bird data supplied by the AWSG Victorian Branch and Jim and Anthea Whitelaw with consultation with Brian Martin - Parks Victoria.