Point Cook Coastal Park
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Point Cook Coastal Park Victoria |
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IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
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 Point Cook Coastal Park
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| Nearest town or city | Point Cook |
| Coordinates | 37°54′20″S 144°45′32″E / 37.90556°S 144.75889°ECoordinates: 37°54′20″S 144°45′32″E / 37.90556°S 144.75889°E |
| Established | 1978 |
| Area | 8.63 km2 (3.3 sq mi) |
| See also | Protected areas of Victoria |
The Point Cook Coastal Park covers an area of 863 hectares (2,130 acres) and includes the Cheetham Wetlands. The park extends from the RAAF Williams Point Cook Base northeast along the coast to the Laverton creek which comprises its northern boundary. The park is approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Melbourne in a southwesterly direction along Port Phillip Bay. The park is adjoined by the Point Cook Marine Sanctuary, which extends around the point to the south and the east. The northwestern boundary to the park is residential housing.
The Point Cook Coastal Park was created in 1978 and officially opened for public use in 1982. The area was owned by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works until 1994. It was then managed by Melbourne Parks and Waterways up to 2001 before becoming Crown land. Management was then organized by Parks Victoria. The park is listed for public purposes under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978. The park is located within the Victorian Volcanic Plains Bioregion.
The park is primarily used for recreational purposes however it has areas of high conservation significance such as Spectacle Lake and the RAMSAR listed wetlands. It also has areas of historical and cultural significance. The parklands have a variety of facilities for visitors including shelters, barbecue areas, walking trails as well as an information centre. Activities undertaken in the park include picnicking, bushwalking, bird watching, swimming as well as learning about the heritage and conservation values of the area.
The parks vegetation has been altered over years of different land uses. The coastal park had been used for agricultural practices prior to reservation. Areas of the Cheetham Wetlands were used as salt evaporation pans since the 1920s. The park is now has a variety of vegetation types varying according to topography and other ecological values.
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