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Question time

9/9/2021

10 Comments

 
PictureWhy does Spring Street continue to treat Western Port
so differently from its neighbour, asks Neil Daly.
By Neil Daly

TWO important documents are floating around Western Port at present: Victoria’s  Draft Marine and Coastal Strategy (Department of Environment, Land , Water and Planning, July 2021) and the Draft Port Phillip & Western Port Regional Catchment Strategy (Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment Management Authority, July 2021).

Also circulating is a document I’ve written called Western Port Strategic Management Plan – Starter Kit (August 2021).  I have sent a copy of this document to the MPs on my list and to the new alliance made up of key Western Port community stakeholders now convened by the Victorian National Parks Association. ​

The ‘alliance’ has tabled it along with a number of plans and suggestions as to how the Victorian community can safeguard the future of Western Port and its region from the ongoing threat of urbanisation and industries that may damage its environment. The group is formulating its position and will have more to say soon.
While all of this has been unfolding, I’ve checked Hansard for progress on the supplementary question put by the Sustainable Australia Party concerning Western Port’s future.  The original question, the Minister’s reply and the supplementary question can be read in my articles Some have heard the call and Winter recess – a time to gather our thoughts.

Unfortunately, it was not good news concerning the supplementary question. Hansard reported that the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, said, “I refer to my answer on this matter which was answered on 29 April 2021 and is available in the Questions and Responses database on the Parliament of Victoria website.” 
Stalemate: two questions, same answer.

The reply also ignored the fact that imbedded in the Draft Marine and Coastal Strategy at 2.7 is the following:
  1. Implement the Port Phillip Bay Environmental Plan 2017-2027 and undertake 5-yearly evaluation in 2022-23.; and
  2. Develop and roll out Port Phillip Bay Fund grant programs to address priority actions of the Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan 2017-2027.

So why is the Minister resisting the call for Western Port to be treated equitably with its neighbour? 

Undeterred by the rebuff, the Sustainable Australia Party has taken a new tack and submitted a third, rephrased question: “In relation to the Minister’s response to Question on Notice No. 3824: Will the Minister consider a new holistic plan for the future, rather than three separate management plans?”

Minister, it’s your call.

I am not a card-carrying member of the Sustainable Australia Party but so far they’re the only ones who have bothered to question the government on its handling of Western Port and this region.  With this in mind, I wrote to the non-government MPs on my list and asked what support they could give the Sustainable Australia Party to coax the government to answer the question.
 
Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party, which has supported the Sustainable Australia Party in its quest to extract an answer, replied.  The Reason Party and the Liberal Party have both offered to lodge a question from me about the matter – do you have a question you would like me to ask?

It would seem the Government is getting a clear run, for under the Westminster system, a Minister is not obliged to answer a question on notice in a specific way.  The Opposition has not helped the situation, for in a recent election speech Let’s get Victoria back to the top, there is no mention of Western Port and its surrounds. 

So where do we go from here?

I hope you get a chance to check out the two official documents mentioned and, in particular, the PPWCMA proposal for it presents an audit of the current situation and a holistic regional plan for the future.

On the other hand, the Draft Marine and Coastal Strategy proposal is hemmed in by its five- kilometre boundary inland from Western Port’s median high-water mark and as a consequence, any environmental issue on the other side of the boundary, is not its problem.

​Given there are elements of these two plans that overlap, I hope the current (or an incoming) government appreciates that climate change knows no boundaries, and that a regional approach may be a better way to go, for it can take into account all scenarios.  
10 Comments
Neil Daly
14/2/2022 08:32:26 pm

When this article was first published in the Bass Coast Post – see Environment, it received 9 Likes.

Reply
Jeannie Haughton10/9/2021 01:46:23 pm
14/2/2022 08:34:27 pm

All these groups, all these people are my heroes. Thank you Neil for the overview. Wishing everyone the courage to persist.

Reply
Anne Heath Mennell10/9/2021 02:32:42 pm
14/2/2022 08:35:26 pm

Neil, Western Port and the communities around it are lucky to have you as a monitor and advocate. It shouldn't be this hard but we have to keep going until someone listens and takes action. Thank you for all you do.

Reply
Jeni10/9/2021 03:23:07 pm
14/2/2022 08:37:04 pm

The value of Westernport is in calculable on many levels, one close to my heart is its ability to draw down carbon, known as 'Blue Carbon' (https://www.thebluecarboninitiative.org). This would have to far out weigh the highly dubious and short term industrialisation benefits that the minister seems to be leaving room for.

Reply
Tina11/9/2021 02:50:42 pm
14/2/2022 08:38:01 pm

Great article, so important to raise awareness of these issues. I would like to know if the traditional owners of the land are going to have input into future plans for the area?

Reply
Neil Daly14/9/2021 02:20:42 pm
14/2/2022 08:39:18 pm

Thanks Tina for your question and hopefully, the answer is yes. For according to a report in The South Gippsland Sentinel-Times, (Tuesday, September 14, 2021), a new “Victorian Traditional Owner Cultural Landscapes Strategy” will provide a “strategic framework for Traditional Owners to lead the management of Country, in line with cultural obligations.” The strategy aims “to restore knowledge systems and return decision making powers to Traditional Owners.”

Reply
Julia Stockigt Secretary Save Westernportlink13/9/2021 03:51:12 am
14/2/2022 08:40:41 pm

Another great article Neil !
The Westernport Ecological Character Description confirms the significance and high conservation value of Westernport Bay. The 1300+ individual marine species it supports is almost four times the number remaining in Port Phillip Bay, a difference that has been almost entirely attributed to the negative impacts of commercial shipping on marine ecosystems.
Governments and decisions-makers must respond to increased public awareness and pressure about the value of the non-built world, and the the urgency of protecting it.
Improved practices written into the new Marine and Coastal Act must ensure that Biodiversity and the environment are prioritised for their own sake, and not in terms of their value as resources to be exploited. A collaboration of Mornington Peninsula, Bass Coast and Philip Island Groups and individuals have been meeting to explore how we can build on the success of the decision against AGL this year to secure lasting Environmental protections for Westernport Bay.
An Environmental Management Plan, like the one that exists in Port Phillip Bay would be a good place to start.

Reply
Barbara Oates24/9/2021 07:41:16 pm
14/2/2022 08:42:25 pm

Thank you for your work to involve the community in this important issue.
It appears we will have so may plans and strategies to direct a way forward that I hope the important basic issue is not lost - protect Western Port. Great work Neil

Reply
Meg26/9/2021 06:16:25 pm
14/2/2022 08:44:40 pm

Thank you Neil for all your work and indeed the continued "prodding" of our decision makers. My questions to these people are why so long? Why the delay? Why can't there be a clear and concise plan, one that has definite timelines for achievement and evaluation? A plan that has "teeth,"not waffle words, rules not merely recommendations which unfortunately can be overturned. Isn't Westernport and it's surrounds not important enough? Why is it so difficult? Local residents and many visitors recognise the areas importance. The health of Westernport and its surrounds effects the health of fauna and flora for generations to come. Us humans don't have the luxury of time. Many opportunities have been lost to procrastination and political point scoring. So, get on with it. Let's see some action and real communication.

Reply
Naomi Coleman13/10/2021 08:53:48 pm
14/2/2022 08:46:02 pm

This is a great overview Neil and your passion and attention to detail are evident. Thank you for keeping up the pressure even though it may feel like its groundhog day. Your advocacy is critically important.

Reply



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