Neil Daly

The mangrove challenge continues

10/1/2025

An iconic mangrove tree in Western Port. Photo: Jim Worrall

By Neil Daly

APART from one or two small isolated coves along the Lang Lang foreshore, the goal of restoring mangroves in sufficient numbers to arrest coastal erosion along the eastern arm of Western Port may be over.

This was the message I took away from the Western Port Biosphere Foundation's mangrove symposium, “Mangrove planting around Western Port: past experience and future potential”. Held at Grantville on 2 December 2024, it featured key speakers from the Western Port Seagrass Partnership and Deakin University’s Blue Carbon Lab.

The Bass Coast Landcare Network, Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, The University of Melbourne and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) were invited but did not attend. OzFish, AgPath Pty Ltd and the Corinella Foreshore Reserve Committee sent apologies. Melbourne Water was represented.

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Western Port plan in limbo

14/4/2024

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The plan will drift unless the four bayside councils are united. Photo: Jim Worrall

By Neil Daly

In response to my article The battle for Western Port, Christine Grayden reminded us that “Politicians are not mind readers. They rely on us to be responsible citizens and let them know our concerns loud and clear”.

That time has come, for the proposed strategic framework for Western Port highlighted in my article is in limbo.

The framework calls for a:

new strategic plan for Western Port;
new collaborative management partnership; and
dedicated Western Port fund, similar to the current Port Phillip Bay approach.

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What price clean energy?

11/12/2023

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Western Port is under threat once more, this time from a proposed
offshore wind terminal at Hastings. Photo: Linda Cuttriss

By Neil Daly

IN MARCH 2021, when sinking the AGL gas import terminal proposal at Crib Point, the Andrews government said in defence of Western Port’s fragile tenure, “This project would cause unacceptable impacts on the Western Port environment and the Ramsar wetlands — it’s important that these areas are protected.”

Fast forward to September 2023 and once more Western Port’s environmental future is under threat thanks to the Andrews government announcement that the Port of Hastings has been selected as the most suitable port to assemble offshore wind infrastructure. “With the benefits of large areas of zoned land it is close to existing port precincts, has deep water channels and is close to the offshore wind projects off the coast of Gippsland.”

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The battle for Western Port

19/9/2023

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Successive threats to Western Port have been stopped only by massive public opposition.
Image: Anitra Carmichael, The Current

By Neil Daly

THE arduous journey for champions of Western Port started in 1971 when the Save Western Port Coalition, representing 16 environmental groups, published The Shame of Western Port – Speculator’s Dream … Environmental Nightmare.

The report was in response to confidential plans by the Westernport Regional Planning Authority to fill in large areas of the bay, build wharves and shipping berths on French Island, and construct two causeways and a tunnel to the mainland.

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The mangrove challenge

18/9/2023

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Grand plans for blue carbon sinks in Western Port need to tackle the low success rate of mangrove planting projects. Photo: Neil Daly

By Neil Daly

In my article A chance encounter of the seedling kind, I called for a Western Port Mangrove Restoration Symposium as a matter of urgency as, over the past 20 years or so, many attempts by various agencies to increase the number of mangrove stands in parts of Western Port had failed. I finished by saying the Federal Government and the Victorian State Government should note the situation for until there are many hectares of mangroves growing along the eastern arm of Western Port the blue carbon project in this region will not achieve its intended outcome.

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One DAL down, one more to go

16/5/2023

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Photo: Jim Worrall

By Neil Daly

ALONG with, I suspect, many hundreds of people, I followed the Bass Coast Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) advisory committee hearing. It ended on Thursday 27 April, 2023 after 27 days of proceedings, 747 submissions, 72 personal presentations, 32 expert witnesses and 570 documents.

The committee’s report will be presented to the Andrews government and, by the end of this year, Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny will make the final decision, presumably based on the committee’s report.

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A chance encounter of the seedling kind

17/4/2023

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“All in a good cause” said one “Blue Carbon” researcher. Photo: Blue Carbon Lab, Deakin University.

By Neil Daly

WEDNESDAY 12 October, 2022. The rain was pelting down; the wind had destroyed my flimsy umbrella but Jason Noonan and I had a job to do: counting mangroves as part of the citizen scientist mangrove restoration program we had just started.

On such a day, only the dedicated or the fool-hardy would be walking along the Queensferry foreshore. Perhaps we were both, so it was a surprise to see three, wet-weather-protected figures in the gloomy distance.

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Further, wider, stronger

15/2/2023

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Western Port and the woodlands are inextricably linked. Photo: Irene Proebsting

By Neil Daly

THE response to my article Let’s get together has shown there is support for a community- based forum. The 12 agenda items have struck a chord of approval, and some have presented their ideas and are ready to discuss the future of the Western Port Region.

I’d like to expand on two of the agenda items:
Item 3. “Extend the UNESCO Western Port Biosphere Reserve to encompass a greater percentage of the Western Port catchment area.”

If the Biosphere is to fulfil its role of becoming a major contributor to reducing carbon emissions and offering greater climate resilience for the region, its north and north-east boundary should be extended beyond its narrow coastal strip.

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Let’s get together

25/1/2023

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In 2014 75 participants from 40 organisations gathered on Phillip Island to develop a visionary manifesto for the future of Western Port.
Photo: Natalie Davey, courtesy of VNPA

By Neil Daly

When it comes to Western Port, the story of Robert the Bruce comes to mind as he watched the spider trying to spin its web. It eventually succeeded and Robert taking heart from this returned to the battle and eventually overcame the English.

In this scenario, the English are our politicians.

Throughout the long Western Port campaign spanning some 50 years, the community has faced one battle after another.

For example, the current Save the Western Port Woodlands conflict has escalated, but so far the politicians still hold the high ground and are not likely to yield or seek a peaceful resolution. This is an unfortunate situation and now lawyers have been engaged to argue over what could be considered a “Rights of Nature” case.

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Power to the people

16/10/2022

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When I grow up will the world be a better place? I hope so,
for it’s in your hands! Photo: Sally McNiece.

By Neil Daly

THE Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) has tackled the issue of climate change head on through its webinar series Earth Laws Month September 2022.

ALEA’s mission is to increase the understanding and practical implementation of Earth-centred governance, with a focus on law, economics, education, ethics and the arts. The seminars, spread across the month, dealt with 35 topics and gave its 65 international and home-based scholarly speakers the chance to analyse the subject and chart a way forward.

Perhaps “way forward” is the key phrase. From the Andes Mountains to the shores of Western Port, the pressures that governments are putting on communities and the natural environment in the quest to satisfy the economic bottom line are taking a toll. It’s time the people set the ground rules.

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Caring for Western Port Country

21/9/2022

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Governments and developers will have carte blanche
on Western Port until we fix our “box mentality”.
Photo: Golden whistler by Jackie Newman.

By Neil Daly

THROUGH my articles I have attempted to encourage Victorian MPs to pick up the theme that Western Port belongs to all Victorians, and there is a need to care for Country by embracing the holistic approach so well understood by the First Nations people.

However given our European ways of dividing the natural environment into areas determined by “boxes”, we ignore the Aboriginal people’s understanding that sea, land and waterways are interdependent and know no boundaries.

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Hello Earthlings

17/8/2022

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Image of the Earth rising over the Moon from Apollo 8. Photo: NASA

By Neil Daly

FOR those who have followed my call for a Western Port Strategic Management Plan, I haven’t given up on the concept nor have I been indulging in strange substances, but I have taken time out and joined in the webinar series Space Exploration: An Update for Earthlings conducted by the Australian Earth Laws Alliance. The six-hour seminar spread across three sessions gave the audience the chance to connect with space engineers, space archaeologists, space lawyers, and governance experts from across the world.

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All hands on deck

30/6/2022

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Western Port belongs to all Victorians - your vote can determine its future. Photo: Mark Farr (VicScreen)

By Neil Daly

I have to report that Matthew Guy MP doesn’t want my help to rebuild Victoria.

Neither he nor his parliamentary colleagues have replied to my latest email and it would seem they are not interested in the comments generated by my article A chat with Matt.

I don’t necessarily agree there is a need to “recover and rebuild Victoria” as Matthew Guy suggests, but even if I did agree, the point I was making in my previous article was that any attempt by the Opposition to develop its policy platform must include Western Port and its region.

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A chat with Matt

2/6/2022

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Neil Daly is ready and willing to help Opposition Leader Matthew Guy ‘Recover and Rebuild Victoria’.

By Neil Daly

HAVE you ever had a chat with Matt?

I haven’t, though he invited me, and I imagine many others, to contact him. His email of April 23 2022 said:

“Dear Neil,
As Victoria heads towards a State Election in November this year, it is more important than ever that I hear from you on what matters most and how we can rebuild following two years of lockdowns, lost learning, a mental health crisis, cost of living pressures and attacks on small business.”

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Let’s join the dots

19/4/2022

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Treating Western Port and the region as an entity is the best way to safeguard it. Photo: Western Port Protection Council

By Neil Daly

IN THE series of articles I’ve written in the Bass Coast Post concerning Western Port and its environs, I’ve presented a case that Western Port and its region should be considered as an all-inclusive entity.

The reason I raise this is that the State Government, ably supported by the work of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and input from the Bass Coast community, has tabled the Bass Coast Distinctive Area and Landscape - Draft Bass Coast Statement of Planning Policy document for public consultation.

Depending on your perspective, the Bass Coast Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL) project may be a good or a flawed plan.

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Your election form guide

25/3/2022

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What would Greta say? Graphic: Shutterstock

By Neil Daly

LAST year I invited all political parties in the Victorian State Parliament to nominate for the Western Port Strategic Management Plan Group 1 Handicap to be run on Saturday, November 26.

Prize: The satisfaction that comes from helping the people of Victoria safeguard Western Port and its bioregion.

The acceptance requirements are:

an election policy plank presenting a visionary concept for Western Port and its region;

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A recipe for fun

23/2/2022

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"At last, a chance to help make Western Port a better place” was the chorus. Photos: Andrew Morrison

By Neil Daly

IT WAS Friday December 10, 2021. Twenty-four Grade 4 children from Bass Valley Primary School and their teachers were strolling along the Queensferry foreshore. I think it would have pleased the late Tim Ealey OAM, affectionately known as “Dr Mangrove”, for it was his pioneering seagrass and mangrove work with the school that was the forerunner of what was about to unfold - they had come to plant mangroves.

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It’s time we set the agenda

27/1/2022

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Hartley Tobin and ‘Old Man Grass Tree’, one of the ancient giants of the Grantville grass tree forest. Photo: Meryl Brown Tobin

By Neil Daly

I WOULD like to thank two remarkable environmentalists, Meryl and Hartley Tobin, for giving me permission to use the photo of the “Old Man Grass Tree”, and for their tireless work in helping to preserve our natural environment.

In our discussion, Meryl said “The Old Man Grass Tree has probably stood here since long before George Bass landed nearby at the mouth of the Bass River in 1798 and has seen our wildlife come and go for maybe 300-400 years or even longer.”

The longevity of this amazing plant reminded me that Western Port and its region is an ancient and precious ecosystem dating back to long before George Bass started us on the road to European civilisation.

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Swan & Clarke - a visionary team

1/12/2021

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John Swan

By Neil Daly

JUST under a year ago, I contacted a number of state MPs about the urgent need for a strategic management plan for Western Port and its hinterland, or as we now recognise it as, Bunurong Country.

John Clarke

I based this plea on the visionary work of two pioneering conservationists: the late Emeritus Professor John Swan AO and the late John Clarke.

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Back to the future

4/11/2021

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Neil Daly asks whether the blue carbon method could redress much of the damage to Western Port caused by a century of drainage works and land clearing. Photo: Greg Brave

By Neil Daly

IT WOULD seem the issues I raised in A bolt from the blue, The Cyan Way and Time to walk with nature were on the right track when it comes to carbon sequestration.

In these articles, I indicated how some of Western Port’s foreshore lands could once more become carbon sinks and, on a smaller scale, replicate the natural carbon capture processes the Koo Wee Rup swamp and coastal wetlands once provided.

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