Edwards Point (Victoria)

Edwards Point (Coordinates: coord|38|13|S|144|41|E|type:point_region:AU-VIC|display=inline,title) is a 4 km long sand spit extending southwards between Swan Bay and Port Phillip Bay, at the eastern end of the Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria, Australia.

The township of St Leonards lies at its northern end. With Duck Island and Swan Island it forms the part-barrier that separates Swan Bay from Port Phillip.

The spit is entirely included within the Edwards Point State Faunal Reserve, established in March 1971 to protect the vegetation communities and fauna of the area. These communities include woodland, saltmarsh and beach. The adjacent Swan Bay contains extensive areas of intertidal mudflats that are important for waterbirds and migratory waders. The end of the spit is a high tide roost for waders. [http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources05/05_0639.pdf Park Notes: Edwards Point] - pdf file downloaded 28 February 2007]

Birds of conservational significance for which the area is known include the Critically Endangered Orange-bellied Parrot as well as Little Tern, Fairy Tern, Eastern Curlew, Lewin's Rail and White-bellied Sea-eagle. It has also supported over 1% of the Australian population of four wader species: Grey Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Double-banded Plover and Eastern Curlew.

References

External links

* [http://home.vicnet.net.au/~sbea/ Swan Bay Environment Association]