Environment

Melbourne's west is more than its industrial areas.  It has a diverse and valued natural environment. 

In Melbourne's west we have Ramsar wetlands on parts of the western shoreline of Port Phillip Bay, popular beaches at Williamstown and Altona and boating access to the Bay from Newport, Williamstown, Altona and Werribee South. At the Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve adjacent to Williamstown you can see water birds such as ducks, coots and moorhens, several species of cormorant and grebe, swans, herons, spoonbills and pelicans.

We have three major river systems - the Maribyrong River, Werribee River and Little River - as well as significant creeks being brought back to life (such as Kororoit Creek and Stony Creek). 

In Melbourne's west we also enjoy a diverse collection of parks and gardens, offering everything from manicured ornamental gardens and sculpture walks to bush parks with extensive walking trails. 

On the fertile volcanic Werribee Plains we now have 15,000 hectares of native grasslands reserves. They are an internationally significant asset; the largest concentration of remaining grassland of this type anywhere in the world.  They provide habitat for several listed rare or threatened species, including the Golden Sun Moth, Striped Legless lizard, Growling Grass Frog, Spiny Rice-flower, and Button Wrinklewort (a wildflower).

Communities in Melbourne's west aim to enhance the environment rather than damage it. LeadWest, the councils of Melbourne's west and other organisations (such as the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Western Alliance for Greenhouse Action - WAGA) have collaboratively developed and are now implementing the Werribee Plains Regional Environmental Sustainability Framework.

LeadWest's Western Agenda details some of the ways in which we are helping the region face itss challenges and opportunities in waste generation, biodiversity, global warming, the looming energy crisis and its low rainfall.