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Further, wider, stronger

15/2/2023

8 Comments

 
Picture
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.
Picture
Graphic: Neil Daly
This would enhance the Biosphere’s ability to fulfil its mission statement: “The Foundation leads, advocates and enables innovative approaches to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development for the benefit of the region’s people and environment.”
PictureExtending the Western Port Biosphere Reserve is
the key to protecting the Western Port region from inappropriate development.
It would also
  • take into account more of the sand mining operations in the region and hopefully move the operators and the State Government to be conscious of their responsibility to protect the environment they seek to exploit;
  • reduce the likelihood of the Lang Lang Proving Ground falling into the hands of those seeking to develop its commercial potential and conceivably destroy the environmental habitat of the flora and fauna within its boundary and beyond;
  • further enable the Biosphere to become an integral part of the wider Western Port catchment area; and
  • reinforce the fact that the Western Port Woodlands is part of the UNESCO Biosphere.

Even if the current Distinctive Areas and Landscapes Standing Advisory Committee inquiry recommends sand mining operations cease in the woodlands, a state government can ignore the recommendation. If the Andrews government continues its current policy on this matter, it is undermining the Biosphere’s purpose and pillaging what’s left of the woodlands.
 
Item 7. “Initiate a regional business plan based on a carbon-neutral, nature-based circular economy capable of producing and sustaining regenerative and ecologically friendly non-toxic produce, goods and services.”
 
In the 2014 workshop, the participants were asked to develop four plausible 2040 scenarios for the Western Port Region. At the time, 2040 seemed a long way off but, as we now realise, we are fast running into a situation dependent on us coming to terms with the effects of climate change and the necessity to deliver a strategic management plan for the region.
 
At the proposed “Western Port Country – a new beginning” planning workshop, it would be fitting to invite Emeritus Professor Robert Costanza back to speak. I’m sure he would have some interesting retrospective views and predictions for the future.
 
If Robert is unavailable, perhaps Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe, AO, could be invited to be the keynote speaker. In 1996, Ian chaired the advisory council producing the first National Report on the State of Australia’s Environment and from 2004 to 2014 was president of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
 
In a video address Are Sustainable Futures Still Possible?, Ian says the short answer to his question is yes. “The longer answer is that they look less probable with every day, week, month and year due to the masterly inaction by governments that seem blissfully unaware of the cold hard fact that the way we are developing at the moment is palpably not sustainable.”
 
This is a sobering message. It suggests there’s a need for some straight talking about the environmental and economic future of the Western Port Region and we may do well to look to Melbourne Water for guidance. Its Port Phillip & Western Port Regional Catchment Strategy is a comprehensive guide to “conserving our region’s land, waters and biodiversity so they continue to sustain and enrich life, economies, health and social wellbeing for this and future generations.”
 
As we head to an uncertain 2040 future, we will need to develop a shared vision. As Robert Costanza said of the 2014 workshop, “developing this vision is essential for ensuring that we consider all the possibilities for Western Port and generating a broad discussion of what kind of future people want”.
 
To help us on this journey then, perhaps the goal for agenda item 7 could be the Greenprints slogan: “Creating regenerative societies that live within ecological limits”.

8 Comments
Jen Rutherford link
19/2/2023 05:38:33 am

Thank you for this powerful message Neil and for your commitment to preserving our precious environment and helping people wake up to what is happening and what you feel needs to happen.
Your vision is both inspiring and achievable right now.
Sharing far and wide.

Reply
Anne Heath Mennell
19/2/2023 01:07:21 pm

I echo Jen's comments. Thank you for your passionate commitment
and all your efforts to keep raising these issues which are becoming more urgent by the day. Your vision is such common sense to me but the people making money out of destroying our environment seem to have the upper hand. Please do keep raising the issues and presenting sensible ways forward. I just hope someone in power reads your work and has a 'Road to Damascus' moment! Keep spreading the word ...

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Vanessa
19/2/2023 01:13:26 pm

I would have to agree with Jen! This is such a powerful message and drives our community to commit and strive for the best solution possible. Fantastic article 😊

Reply
Joy Button
20/2/2023 08:27:29 am

Neil, your commitment and ideas for preserving our environment is quite remarkable. Thank you so much for introducing Jason Noonan at our Living Library yesterday. The work that you are both doing to propogate mangroves is quite amazing and in total awe of the work that you are both doing. Well done, Neil and thank you so much.

Reply
Julia Stockigt link
20/2/2023 02:19:03 pm

Thankyou Neil for putting forward a potential solution to address the glaring disconnect between the unique conservation values of Western Port’s marine and coastal ecology, and the flawed planning decisions that allow commercial interests to exploit our shared natural resources.

The Western Port Biosphere foundation is in a unique position to act in favour of much needed protections for the Bay.
Last year the Biosphere joined with Save Westernport and Vic National Parks Assoc, to develop a new planning framework for Western Port and it’s hinterlands called Actforwesternportbay.au

Go to https://www.actforwesternportbay.au/ to read the new framework, and sign up to show support as a business, group or individual. We hope to show widespread local support for the plan when it goes before Victoria’s new environment minister, Ingrid Stitt later this year.

Byw, Do you know if UNESCO would need to be involved in changes to the boundaries of the Biosphere Reserve?

Reply
Neil Daly
21/2/2023 11:47:19 am

Great question Julia and I sought advice from the Western Port Biosphere Foundation.

This is the reply:

“Yes, UNESCO would definitely need to be involved in changes to the boundaries of the reserve - and unsurprisingly, the wheels move extremely slowly. We would first have to get agreement from the five relevant councils, the state and federal governments, and only then from UNESCO in Paris. The process would take years, literally. We already know for example, that we are unlikely to receive feedback from UNESCO on our second ten-year periodic review, submitted to UNESCO in September last year, until the end of this year, if then.

That doesn't mean there isn't some interest in exploring the idea at council level, but it would be a hugely resource intensive exercise and the Foundation is not in a position to go down that path at the moment.”

Reply
Candy van Rood link
20/2/2023 07:01:38 pm

Great article with all the reasons so clearly laid out about why we need to extend the Biosphere boundaries for Westernport.

I’ve long thought that the developers seem to get priority over the unique natural environment we love and share.
Makes so much sense to put further protections in.

Thank you so much for your excellent writing of thoughtful and important articles!

Reply
Pam Bannister
27/2/2023 05:31:04 pm

Another great article Neil and Julie's comment about the disconnect between the coastal ecology and the unique environmental areas rings true. Sadly our planning, and legal processes don't place environmental needs front and centre, which is what's needed so desperately, more than ever before...'Rights to Nature' has proven beneficial in other countries but we need to progress that here.

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