It consists of public land set aside to conserve and protect species, communities, and habitats of indigenous plants and animals.

Together the north and south spits are approximately four kilometres long and vary in shape and size depending on the tide and, over longer periods, the onshore currents.

This environment provides an area that is an extremely important feeding ground for a variety of birds, especially waders and waterbirds.

The salt marsh is important, as it is one of the main wintering sites for the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot.

There is no general public access to the reserve, though visitors with birdwatching permits to the sewage farm can observe the birdlife from the boundary.