Devilbend Reservoir

Devilbend and Bittern Reservoir is on the Mornington Peninsula southeast of Melbourne, Australia.

History

Bittern Reservoir was commissioned in the 1920s and Devilbend Reservoir in the 1960s. They provided backup drinking water to the peninsula until made redundant by Cardinia Reservoir. So much clearing for agriculture, residential development, industry and roads has taken place that now the only sizeable fragments of bushland habitat are at Point Nepean (about 333 hectares), Green’s Bush (about 1100 hectares), HMAS Cerberus (about 1700 hectares) and Devilbend (1057 hectares). Less than 5% of the original peninsula bushland remains.

The Plan

Melbourne Water submitted a plan to subdivide and sell about 4 square kilometres of the 10.57 km² reserve and create a park on the remaining land, which includes the Devilbend and Bittern Reservoirs. The plan provided for the park to be established using proceeds from the sale of orchard and grazing land on its perimeter. The 4 km² including 8 houses would be sold in 56 lots. In addition, managed fishing, overnight and day accommodation and environmental education were also identified as a source of management funding.

A community forum on the issue drew a large crowd. The vast majority of attendees strongly supported the alternative proposal by "Friends of Devilbend Reserve" which is, in essence, keeping it in one piece rather than in disjointed fragments. Representatives of the Friends of Devilbend Reserve were able to present their proposal to Environment Minister John Thwaites at the State Government’s Community Cabinet on 8 September (year?). “The leased farmland could be restored to good bushland habitat with minimum cost over a period of time.”

Conclusion

It is evident that the need for protected habitat for bush birds, waders and water birds is critical on the Mornington Peninsular and the adjacent Westernport Ramsar site. It would be even more beneficial if the larger suitable areas were to be connected by bush restoration on private land. The best management of Point Nepean and Devilbend would appear to be possible if they were made into National Parks under the administration of one authority. Money is available. It is a matter of priorities.

Action

The main issues are:
*The dwindling biodiversity on the peninsula must be arrested.
*Management under one authority is the only efficient way.
*Devilbend as a whole:
**has high value for biodiversity and
**can be restored in time if passive pursuits only are permitted.
*Devilbend fragmented is ecologically unsustainable.