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. 

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. Groups collect and sow 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.

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.