FRANKSTON NATURE CONSERVATION RESERVE
Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve is 3.5 kilometres south-east of the Frankston City Centre and occupies an area of 98 hectares in total. The 10 hectare impoundment for the water body was built in 1921 on the east branch of Sweetwater Creek, with a capacity of 660 megalitres.

Geology
Three geological formations exist within the reserve. Tertiary sediments comprise the western section of the reserve and the eastern section is underlain with marine sandstones and mudstones of Ordovician or Cambrian origin. In addition, granodiorite outcrops in the north-west area as exposed by the excavation for the water tank. The soil reflects its underlying geology, with sandy loams developed on the Baxter sandstone and shallow soils with an increased clay or silt content developed on the Ordovician sediments. In general the terrain of the Reserve is undulating, with slopes which vary between gentle and moderate in gradient. The elevation of the area rises from 78 metres above sea level at the edge of the water body (dam wall) to more than 120 metres above sea level at the southern end of the Reserve.

Vegetation
Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve is notable as a relatively large remnant area of bushland, within an urban setting, which contains flora and fauna species which are of National, State, Regional and High Local Significance. Six Ecological Vegetation classes (EVCs) occur within the Reserve and all of the habitat zones have been considered in accordance with the Native Vegetation Framework to be of Very High or High Conservation Significance, resulting in all EVCs having been assigned State Significance. More than 240 indigenous flora species are recorded, of which 17 species are listed as rare in the Gippsland Plain Bioregion and at least 57 species are considered rare in the Melbourne metropolitan and Mornington Peninsula regions.

Wildlife
Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve is an important habitat area and refuge for Australian wildlife. The reserve supports over 100 species of native wildlife including the Nationally threatened Growling Grass Frog. Both the Musk Duck and Blue-billed Duck which are listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Vic.) and therefore have State significance have been identified within the Reserve. Despite its somewhat small size Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve provides a diversity of both terrestrial and aquatic fauna habitats. More than 100 indigenous mammal, bird, reptile, frog and aquatic species are recorded from the Reserve

Cultural Heritage
Aboriginal people have lived in Victoria for tens of thousands of years. Evidence of this occupation is present throughout the landscape in the form of Aboriginal cultural heritage places and in the personal, family and community histories of Aboriginal people. The site of the Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve is within the traditional lands of the Boonwurrung people and provides a strong link with Boonwurrung culture and economy. The intact bushland is much more representative of the preEuropean landscape than most other areas in Boonwurrung country are at present. This area is rich in Indigenous culture with scatter items found within the reserve. This site is a culturally sensitive landscape and much of the Reserve is a designated site of cultural heritage sensitivity (Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2006, Areas of Cultural Heritage Sensitivity in Victoria, 7921 Westernport Mapsheet). It is suggested that the Boonwurrung peoples would have utilised this area seasonally. Freshwater pools would have been present along the course of the Sweetwater Creek, particularly after summer thunderstorms. Numerous middens are found along the nearby coast and the site is relatively close to the highly productive Carrum swamp.

Management                                                                                                                                                                                                               The reserve is managed by an incredible volunteer Community Committee of Management appointed by the Minister for Environment. The Committee of Management was first appointed by the Hon Ryan Smith MP in 2014, and has overseen the transition of the reserve from closed water supply catchment to a publicly accessible reserve with the primary focus on nature conservation.

This dedicated group of locals have donated thousands of hours to improve the values of the reserve and to ensure that the reserve is a safe and educative place for Victorians. Community management has enabled a great uptake in community participation and support, and the opportunity to invest locally.

All of the project management, planning and organization that you see at the reserve has been completed by volunteers from the Frankston community.

The Committee of Management is supported by the wonderful Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve Guardians Inc. (formerly known as Friends of Frankston Reservoir Inc.), who are the friends group for the reserve and donate their time on a monthly basis to assist in habitat restoration and fundraise for the reserve. They have been doing this for more than 10 years!

The reserve receives no recurrent funding and is reliant on the generosity of its management team, volunteers and donors. Please consider how you may support the reserve.