Seaview Park

Seaview Park is not well known; it is the privately-owned-by-Council land between McIntyre foot bridge and View Street, Belmont. Seaview Park includes the eastern section of the Belmont Escarpment and abuts the Riverview Terrace sewer easement which Barwon Water has partially planted with indigenous species.

The area beyond the top of the escarpment is regularly-mown exotic grass; it includes a small children's play area, an agreed site for a Memory Seat featuring three local rocks and pathway nature-strips for demonstrating small indigenous plants. A modified filled area at the northern end of Eastview Parade will demonstrate indigenous shrubs and a few trees.

The Belmont Escarpment, which carries grassland/shrubland species of state, regional and local significance, is the only partially intact remnant of the endangered Limestone Woodland Complex remaining in the City of Greater Geelong (CoGG). Our club made a credible submission when CoGG Commissioners were intent on selling Seaview Park for residential development in July 1995. Since that time, a Master Plan (that needs amending) has been prepared by a Council Steering Committee. Contributors were Mark Trengrove (Management Guidelines for the Indigenous Vegetations), Noel Schleiger (Geological report), Peter Moulton (Fire Management Strategy), Ecology Australia (CoGG Biodiversity Survey) and information for interpretive signage by club members. I (Dick Southcombe) was the Belmont Community representative,

On 11 May 2000, Council passed the role of managing Seaview Park from the Steering Committee to a nucleus Friends Group. Since then many hours have been spent on site and at Barwon Water's Community Nursery by 25+ club members and Belmont Primary School Students. Polly Cutcliffe has led groups collecting and sowing seed, transplanting tubes and planting out. Unfortunately the recent drought years have caused disheartening results but some plants are now well established and many more are to be planted soon. Boxthorn and other weeds have been removed but more needs to be done. Dave King is using photo points to record seasonal and post fire growth, Gordon McCarthy is taking plants-in-flower photos which can be used on display boards, I (Dick Southcombe) have been monitoring plants flowering.

In a relatively short time all but one of the Seaview Park volunteers were GFNC members; this prompted our club committee to form a Seaview Park Special Interest Group which overcame issues which arise when forming a new group, and more importantly, associates Seaview Park with a high profile club respected for its ongoing commitment to Geelong's natural environment.

The Belmont Escarpment is worthy of protection by a conservation covenant, and my hope is that one day it will be annexed to Geelong Botanic Gardens, this small patch of pre-settlement vegetation will give enjoyment to the Belmont and wider community ad infinitum.
...Dick Southcombe (2003)

Page last modified 09/10/2004