Nooramunga Land & Sea

Accelerating the protection of critical saltmarsh ecosystems in South Gippsland

Guardians of South Gippsland’s Saltmarsh communities

Nooramunga Land & Sea Ltd. (NL&S) is a not-for-profit Local Landholding Entity established with Biodiversity Legacy’s support in 2022 to protect the unique and ecologically-significant saltmarsh ecosystems of South Gippsland, Victoria. NL&S is responsible for the long-term protection of saltmarsh land titles and for ensuring their ongoing management for biodiversity values.

A Scalable Solution

In 2022, NL&S took its first step toward the large-scale protection of these landscapes by securing Little Dog Island in Corner Inlet. In 2025, the organisation reached another major milestone by acquiring the adjacent Bullock Island, a place of striking beauty and rich biodiversity (made possible thanks to a generous contribution from the Upotipotpon Foundation).

Both islands will now be safeguarded forever – living proof of what’s possible when pioneering governance structures meet dedicated people, purpose and place-based conservation. Explore these remarkable places below.

"

Little Dog Island

Nestled between the iconic Wilsons Promontory to the south and Gippsland’s rolling green hills to the north, Little Dog Island is a 60-hectare jewel of pristine coastal saltmarsh – a vital sanctuary for wildlife, especially migratory shorebirds.

Since its protection, Little Dog Island has become a focal point for restoration works and long-term conservation efforts in Corner Inlet. Its value extends far beyond its beauty – these saltmarsh ecosystems lock away vast stores of blue carbon, filter water, buffer the coast from storm surges and provide ecosystem services to the region.

Explore Little Dog Island

Bullock Island

Lying alongside Little Dog Island within the intricate network of islands and estuaries in Corner Inlet, Bullock Island covers 72 hectares of near-pristine saltmarsh, sweeping mangrove stands, sheltered wetlands and rare plant communities.

Acquired in 2025, Bullock Island offers refuge for threatened species, from migratory waders and fish species to small mammals and reptiles. By connecting habitat and ecosystems, NL&S is strengthening the ecological integrity of the region and ensuring these landscapes will thrive for generations to come.

Explore Bullock Island

Why Nooramunga?

Critical saltmarsh ecosystems

Coastal saltmarsh is one of Victoria’s most distinctive ecological communities. It is only found within inter-tidal zones where there are suitable mudflats sheltered from the ocean. The community is dominated by succulent plant species that have evolved special adaptations to cope with the extreme environment of high salt levels, water-logged soils and periodic disturbance.

Saltmarsh communities are home to a range of different habitats, including mangrove wetlands, seagrass and saline meadows, which provide fish breeding grounds and nurseries, as well as grasslands, sedgelands and estuarine shrublands.

Blue carbon

Blue carbon refers to the ability of coastal ecosystems – like saltmarshes, mangroves and seagrass beds – to remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it safely in their living biomass and soils.

According to researchers at the Blue Carbon Lab, coastal wetlands can capture carbon 30 to 50 times faster than terrestrial forests and, once stored in the mud, it can stay locked away for thousands of years. However, when these ecosystems are degraded, they release CO² back into the atmosphere and become carbon sources. The long-term protection of coastal wetlands makes a vital contribution to mitigating global climate change.

Threatened species

Visitors to South Gippsland saltmarshes include:

  • Critically endangered Far Eastern Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit Great Knot and Orange-bellied Parrot
  • Endangered Lesser Sand Plover, Red Knot and Brittle Star; and vulnerable Hooded Plover.

While in Australia, these birds spend their time feeding in mudflat and saltmarsh habitats and must fatten up sufficiently in order to travel home to breed. Coastal saltmarsh is therefore critical for the survival of these species.

Ecosystems under threat

Saltmarsh ecosystems have suffered extensive degradation along the South Gippsland coastline. Primary threats include coastal development, rising sea levels, weed invasion and other factors.  Saltmarsh ecosystems can take decades to (and may never) fully recover following disturbance. With remaining intact coastal saltmarsh factors dwindling, the remaining habitat requires urgent and long-term protection. NL&S is committed to this mission.

The NL&S team

The group behind NL&S are recognised leaders in private and public conservation:

  • Tim D’Ombrain, a leading Victorian ecologist (Biodiversity Services).
  • Karl Just, an ecologist (Karl Just Consulting) with over 20 years’ experience mapping Victoria’s native vegetation and leading restoration projects.
  • Dr Steve Enticott, co-director of Carbon Landscapes and an expert in environmental investment.
  • Kristin Monie, Ecological Researcher.

Jim Phillipson (Rendere Environmental Trust) also provided support for the initiative.

Partners and Supporters

The success of NL&S wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the generous support and contributions from our network partners and collaborators:

Secret Link