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Caring for Western Port Country

21/9/2022

13 Comments

 
PictureGovernments 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.

As I’ve tried to present this concept and broadcast that Western Port and its surrounding lands should be considered as one entity, I keep running into “boxes”.
​
The first box is the Bass Coast Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) project.  As things stand, it ends at the border between the Bass Coast Shire and Cardinia Shire.  I find this perplexing, considering that the DAL principle is built on four broad interrelated objectives that, to me, apply equally to the other shires bordering Western Port.

These objectives are:
  • “recognise the importance of distinctive areas and landscapes to the people of Victoria and to protect and conserve their unique features and special characteristics;
  • enhance the conservation of the environment in declared areas including unique habitats, ecosystems and biodiversity;
  • enable the integration of policy development, implementation and decision-making through Statements of Planning Policy; and
  • recognise the connection and stewardship of Traditional Owners.” 

The second box is the Marine and Coastal Policy, March 2020.  While it looks to protect the Victorian marine and coastal environment, it abruptly stops five kilometres inland from the median high-water mark, thus ignoring what happens on the other side of the boundary.  In so doing, it snubs the wider catchment area and all that it encompasses.  Differentiating between cows grazing or sand mining either side of the arbitrary border at Grantville does not take into account the need to recognise and treat the area as part of a regional ecosystem.  Be it the extremities of the catchment area or the waters of Western Port and its Ramsar site, it is an interconnected environment and the current anomaly should be addressed.

Picking up on the sand mining process and the fact that it is carving up the Western Port Woodlands is puzzling, for one would think that mining inside the five kilometre boundary would not be sanctioned under the Marine and Coastal Policy.  But it is, for there is another “box” to contend with: the Minister’s prerogative to make the call. 

In this case, the call enabled the government to expand the mining lease, thus destroying the very thing the coastal policy should protect.  It would seem that from the government’s perspective the Western Port Woodlands and its surrounding agriculture land and natural habitat are not as important as paving the streets of Melbourne with concrete and ignoring the inherent rights of nature.    

On the other hand, Phillip Island benefits from the coastal strategy for it is just on ten kilometres at its widest point, thus ensuring its holistic integrity is maintained. One cannot imagine it ever suffering the indignity of extracting the resources it may be hiding or destroying its flora and fauna – it would seem it is in no danger of ecocide.

The same cannot be said, however, for the rest of the Western Port region, and I fear if we do not develop a plan underpinned by statutory law that takes into account the whole catchment area including Western Port itself, the “box mentality” will win the day and give successive governments and developers carte blanche.  When it comes time to make a decision about the Lang Lang Proving Ground, it should make for a very interesting test case for much of it lies within the five kilometre boundary.

It would be in the interest of all to marry the Indigenous and Non-indigenous approaches to the issues I’ve touched on.  Starting with the premise that there is no “environment box”, let’s work as one to develop a shared vision and future for Victoria’s “Western Port Country”.  There’s no doubt it is a distinctive area and landscape and as Barbara Oates said in her comment to my article Hello earthlings, “A plan is needed to sustain, support and improve all things Western Port.  It is important to look beyond today.” 
​
In my search for nirvana, it’s been hard to find a sitting MP who can “look beyond today” when it comes to Western Port.  Voting in the upcoming state election will be challenging, but if you come across a candidate who can present a vision based on an ecologically sustainable future for the region, why not give them a go, for your vote may make all the difference.  Waiting another four years in the hope that biodiversity will survive as you would like it may be too late.
​
So I say adieu for now and thank all who have taken part in the journey of trying to lead our politicians to the Promised Land.  I hope it has been helpful.
13 Comments
Neil Rankine
21/9/2022 06:35:54 pm

To the point as always Neil (the one many can't or won't 'see', unfortunately). We really are at the pointy end of loosing biodiversity values we may never see again. I'd suggest we all write to every candidate standing to represent us at the upcoming election and ask what their commitments to Western Port and it's last woodland are.

Reply
Neil Daly
22/9/2022 11:47:13 am

Thanks Neil. You’re right when you say we’ve got to the environmental “pointy end”. It is time for the people to say what’s needed to secure Western Port Country’s future. There is a model for this close by: the “Just Transition South Gippsland” organisation. Its aim is to “transform South Gippsland into a sustainable, democratically empowered, culturally rich and prosperous community that is better positioned to respond to the challenges of climate change, one that is more resilient, driven by mutual support and the common good, with a strong commitment to fairness and justice, and a commitment to reconciliation with the indigenous community.” Let’s look to them for guidance.

Reply
George
22/9/2022 11:41:05 pm

Great article and so very true. Your visionary thinking and dissecting the current inadequacy of our managing authorities. You have put forward what the evidence in ecological science says and shows is correct for future sustainability of our Western Port Country . Removing the boxes as you say are artificial and a constraint, is like unbossing the unnatural divisions of the environment, freeing up the thinking as a whole for proper managing for sustainability.
Well done Neil your writing should be viewed by all involved in Victorian foreshore or coastal managing as well all elected government members, local council , State. and Federal . Good luck please continue the message.

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Meryl Tobin link
23/9/2022 10:58:32 am

Another commonsense article, thanks, Neil. Let’s hope whoever wins the next State election is of a like mind already or else listens to your message and, before it is too late, wakes up and stops sacrificing irreplaceable natural assets for a quick buck in an unsustainable developer’s pocket or a quick ‘cheap’ fix to a problem without counting the hidden costs.

For decades, we have already had the David Attenboroughs and Tim Ealeys of this world sending like messages. Though the late Tim Ealey of Coronet Bay started the Master of Environmental Science course at Monash University, the first course of its kind in Australia and one of the largest in the world with over 100 candidates enrolled, sadly believed humans were going to ‘stuff up’ the world. In Wendy Ealey’s musical tribute to her father, Tim Ealey––Dr Mangrove, she sings, “And he says that the planet will recover one day when we’re all extinct and well out of the way. In the meantime, he does the few things that he can to counteract the ravages and greed of man.”

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Jeni Jobe
23/9/2022 01:59:10 pm

Thanks for the link to your article Neil, beautifully written. As a community independent candidate in the state election for Bass. I can guarantee that I will continue my work of the last decade of advocating on behalf of Western Port Bay. When elected I will be an even more effective voice in Spring St sharing my knowledge on the bay where I grew up. Talking about the importance of a circle economy and reducing our dependence on a extraction focused mindset. Government needs to plan ahead and protect our natural assets, and value what remains of the unique natural environment we all are blessed to live in.
Jeni Jobe Community Independent for Bass

Reply
Pam Bannister
23/9/2022 02:12:24 pm

Thank you Neil for your continued insightful articles on the issues surrounding the various agencies adhoc management approach to Westernport and it continues to beggar belief some of arbitrary boundaries & resultant decisions made.
Hats off to you in your endeavours to press for a more comprehensive, overarching Westernport Strategic Management plan that would quell tick a box scenarios and thus place much greater emphasis on protecting the precious marine & terrestrial Westernport ecosystems.
And yes, a united supportive network is needed to give support to protect "Westernport environs" now and for future generations.

Reply
Anne Heath Mennell
23/9/2022 04:39:48 pm

Yet another thoughtful, compelling, beautifully written article, Neil. I hope your 'sign off' doesn't mean you won't be writing any more? We need you to keep this issue 'front-of-mind' for politicians and other decision-makers through the election and beyond.

I hope you will send copies to all candidates, not just in Bass but in the other electorates surrounding Western Port and its catchments. Surely somebody, somewhere can see the sense of taking a holistic view and will take up the cause. Thank you for all you do !

Together we can. Together we will. Jane Goodall

Reply
Neil Daly
30/9/2022 12:31:10 am

Thank you Anne for your untiring support over the last two years and your determination to save this fragile biosphere for it is more than just a quarry or somewhere to dock a ship.

I can report: the article will be sent to 40 candidates awaiting the voters’ judgement; and in an email from the Victorian National Parks Association it says, “To achieve this new vision for Western Port, the local community have joined forces to put together a proposal to be adopted at the state election. The proposal is to achieve effective management to maintain a healthy Western Port Bay now, and in the future for our livelihoods and businesses to thrive. The proposal has sought input from a range of local and state groups, agencies, tourism bodies, Councils and more. Help us show the next Victorian Government there is broad cross-sector support by adding your name (and the option to take more action) for the health of Western Port.” The official website will be launched in the second week of October 2022.

As foreshadowed in my article “Has the longest day begun?“ (BCP 28/7/2021), it looks like the cavalry has arrived. From what I can glean, its initial objective is to defend the marine and coastal environment. Tactically this may win the battle; ultimately it may not win the war for the territory goes beyond the coastal strip. If the final aim is to develop a sustainable nature-based circular economy for the Western Port region, it will need to embrace it as a whole entity guided by a strategic management plan.

Reply
Pete Granger
24/9/2022 10:18:25 pm

I am reminded of Tennyson's thoughts on the matter:

Late, Late, so Late

Late, late, so late! and dark the night and chill!
Late, late, so late! but we can enter still.
Too late, too late! ye cannot enter now.

No light had we: for that we do repent;
And learning this, the bridegroom will relent.
Too late, too late! ye cannot enter now.
etc.

Desperate times calls for desperate measures. Is it worth trying to repackage from eco strategy to tourism strategy? Sometimes 'tourism' is the magic word.

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Vanessa
24/9/2022 10:36:46 pm

Thanks for your insightful article. We definitely need to reflect on the teachings of our Indigenous people as a way forward.

Reply
Connie Platt
25/9/2022 04:45:11 pm

The section where you mention marrying Indigenous and none Indigenous caught my interest, the indigenous people of this land have been looking after the environment for centuries long before Non Indigenous people arrived. When are the decision makers going to arrive at a conclusion to benefit all. Not just the chosen few.

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Meg
27/9/2022 09:55:50 pm

Congratulations Neil on yet another brilliant article. I think this is your best yet. It sums up everything beautifully. All those damn boxes! Wish someone in power would have the "guts" to dismantle those boxes and see the light, join the dots, understand the big picture or whatever! We can own up to the past environmental and cultural mistakes made by our forefathers many years ago but really with all our advancement in knowledge and technology you'd expect that we would do a much better job in caring for the environment. Today, humans were apparently excited about the experimental blasting of an "asteroid" off its course thus potentially saving our planet from those "pesky" asteroids of the future. And yet, at the same time many of us conveniently ignore the loud ticking of that "time bomb" much closer to home. So, I wonder what poses the greater threat, an asteroid or us?

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Mark Holmes
29/9/2022 10:34:16 am

Thanks Neil, people of your calibra are so needed to take a holistic view of what's left,whats needed and what can be done to educate people and influence decision makers there are ways around the destruction of the wood lands,inapropriate developments ,control of chemicals on farms realizing Westernport is a bloody big area the people are the ones that can make the difference

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