A RESIDENTS’ group to look after Seaford foreshore is being formed at a meeting on Wednesday 19 February.
Seaford Foreshore Friends will work with Frankston Council rangers to look after the five kilometres of beach and its parallel sand dunes.
The foreshore is one of the oldest reserves in the Frankston area, and contains important habitat for birds and reptiles.
It was set aside for public use in 1873 and designated a conservation and recreation zone in 1987.
It is acknowledged as having the finest example of coast banksia woodland in Melbourne.
Indigenous plants in the reserve include resilient grasses such as hairy spinifex and blue tussock grass – which help bind the dunes – coast tea-tree, white correa and coast daisy bush, with coast banksia and coast beard heath on secondary dunes closer to Nepean Highway.
More than 100 species of birds visit the foreshore on their way to Kananook Creek, Seaford Wetlands and Port Phillip destinations. About 14 species, including the eastern yellow robin and yellow thornbill, breed in coastal vegetation on the foreshore.
The reserve is also home to many lizard species including the rare White’s skink, once common in inner urban Melbourne.
A walking track is parallel to the beach through the reserve between Keast Park and Mile Bridge.
Meeting co-convenor Alison Kuiter said it was important to recognise the fragility of the indigenous bushland and dunes.
She said a friends group worked in the reserve for many years regenerating and replanting indigenous species and removing environmental weeds but lapsed when volunteer numbers fell.
“There is a lot of interest in reforming the Friends group and concentrating on working in the reserve rather than attending meetings,” she said.
Seaford beach stalwart Barb Kuhl said the meeting would give people a chance to meet council rangers and residents “who want to help protect and enhance this special foreshore area”.
She said potential Friends did not need experience or have to make a long-term commitment “just some enthusiasm for doing something practical for our local environment.”
– Friends of Seaford Foreshore meeting, 6-7pm Wednesday 19 February, Seaford Life Saving Club, Seaford Beach, end of Station St, Seaford, email: environment@frankston.vic.gov.au