Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Discovery Centre
- Discovery Centre open days
- The project
- Project timing
- Community consultation
- Education Program
- The wetlands
Discovery Centre open days
Melbourne Water will be opening the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Discovery Centre to the public every Tuesday between 2 - 4pm for the month of February and March 2012 at this stage.
You will have the opportunity to see the sustainable features of the building, view the wetland and read about the history of the wetlands and their biodiversity significance.
Only 40 people are allowed in the building at one time. If you have a group of 10 or more, please call 13 17 22 to arrange a time on a Tuesday between 2 – 4pm.
The project
Melbourne Water has completed construction of the new wetlands discovery centre at the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands. Funding was allocated in the State’s Water Plan to construct this new facility, following keen interest from the local community.
In designing this education centre we ensured that it complied with the site’s Ramsar Management Plan, maintaining the bird habitat and preserving the wetlands special significance. In addition to this, the centre was built to meet strict environmental and sustainability standards including installing water tanks, composting toilets, solar panels and a rain garden.
The new education centre is located in the Edithvale Wetlands, on Edithvale Road.
Project timing
Construction of the new education centre began in April 2010 and was completed in October 2011.
As a requirement of the Federal Government’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conversation (EPBC) act, most construction works occurred in the autumn and winter months, to accommodate for migratory bird visits during other seasons. Due to this there was no construction between September 2010 and March 2011.
Community consultation
To guide us through the planning and design phase a Technical Reference Group was established comprising of representatives from local council, government departments, community/ resident groups, and environmental groups.
This group was involved in the entire design process and were presented with the final set of drawings in 2009.
Key stakeholders within Melbourne Water’s Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Community Liaison Committee have also been kept up to date throughout the planning, design and construction phase.
Education Program
The new education centre has been designed to provide school students the opportunity to participate in practical, fun, and hands-on activities that show:
- how the wetlands work
- the plants and animals of a wetland
- the area’s indigenous and European history
- the sustainable building design.
Access to the Discovery Centre will be available to schools by prior arrangement from the start of 2012.
Limited opening times are necessary to care for the wetlands which are protected under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, known as the Ramsar Convention.
The wetlands
The Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands are remnant ecosystems in the southern part of the City of Kingston and northern part of the City of Frankston. They are the last remnants of the once extensive Carrum Swamp that occurred between Mordialloc and Frankston at the time of European Settlement. The Edithvale Wetlands are owned and managed by Melbourne Water and the Seaford Wetlands are owned and managed jointly by Melbourne Water and the City of Frankston. They are internationally significant and an important habitat for a variety of birds and other wildlife.
Contact us
Telephone: 131 722
Contact us online
Downloads
- Discovery Centre Bulletin - 2010-04 (PDF, 206kb)
- Discovery Centre Bulletin - 2010-05 (PDF, 92kb)
- Discovery Centre Bulletin - 2010-08 (PDF, 121kb)
- Discovery Centre Bulletin - 2011-03 (PDF, 114kb)
- Discovery Centre Bulletin - 2011-10 (PDF, 84kb)
- Discovery Centre Open Day Invitation (PDF, 202kb)
- Discovery Centre Update - August 2011 (PDF, 134kb)
You will need Adobe Acrobat to access the above PDF documents. 