Abstract

In 2013, an inventory of Victoria’s wetlands listed 23,739 natural wetlands covering 604,322 hectares and 11,060 artificial wetlands covering 170,613 hectares [1]. Defined by DELWP (2016), a wetland is a waterway and is valued because as a watercourse it helps transports water vital to cities and communities to support life, essential services and for recreational purposes. This case study focused on two contrasting sites from which to review the wetland restoration initiatives of Victoria, Cheetham wetlands and Darebin parklands. Against the backdrop of the Victorian government‘s vision for integrated catchment management, these two areas have catchment management authorities that have site specific goals. Cheetham was chosen because of its Ramsar status and Darebin for its proximity to urban areas. Both are under siege from encroaching urbanization that has proven very challenging for the natural fauna and flora.