FOUR of the five confirmed parties fielding candidates in the Bass electorate have committed to significant action to protect the Western Port Woodlands if they form government in November or are in a position to negotiate.
The candidates presented their cases in front of 200-plus people in the Corinella Hall on Saturday in a forum organised by Save Western Port Woodlands (SWPW).
Aaron Brown (Liberal), Brett Tessari (National), Callum Bugbird (Greens) and Austin Cram (Animals Justice Party) presented varying commitments aimed at preserving the forest corridor between Lang Lang and Bass.
The candidates presented their cases in front of 200-plus people in the Corinella Hall on Saturday in a forum organised by Save Western Port Woodlands (SWPW).
Aaron Brown (Liberal), Brett Tessari (National), Callum Bugbird (Greens) and Austin Cram (Animals Justice Party) presented varying commitments aimed at preserving the forest corridor between Lang Lang and Bass.
Jordan Crugnale Labor is the lone straggler with no commitments yet to action. There was visible disappointment when Jordan Crugnale, the current Member for Bass and Labor candidate, told the audience: “I have no announcements to make today.”
SWPW spokeswoman Catherine Watson said that despite the disappointment over Labor, the group is extremely encouraged by the commitments made by other parties.
“We thank the candidates for working so hard with us and with their own parties to make these commitments.
“We will follow up with candidates to fine tune commitments and issue a voters’ guide before polling opens in early November. Labor still has a couple of weeks to redeem itself.”
COMMITMENTS
SWPW spokeswoman Catherine Watson said that despite the disappointment over Labor, the group is extremely encouraged by the commitments made by other parties.
“We thank the candidates for working so hard with us and with their own parties to make these commitments.
“We will follow up with candidates to fine tune commitments and issue a voters’ guide before polling opens in early November. Labor still has a couple of weeks to redeem itself.”
COMMITMENTS
Aaron Brown Aaron Brown (Liberal Party)
- * Update the 1996 Lang Lang to Grantville Extractive Industry Strategy to address ongoing uncertainty around the extractive industry in the Bass electorate.
- * Ensure this document is used to protect high value vegetation in the area, while giving the extractive industries clarity around best practice to preserve and maintain existing bush.
- * Commit to a quicker process for determining land use, with increased resourcing to the relevant Government departments.
- Commit to the highest protection levels for the Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve near Lang Lang.
Brett Tessari Brett Tessari (National Party)
If elected the National Party will place a moratorium on new work authorities for sand mining in the Western Port Woodland until:
If elected the National Party will place a moratorium on new work authorities for sand mining in the Western Port Woodland until:
- the Bass Coast Distinctive Areas and Landscapes project is completed and a final Statement of Planning Policy has been confirmed;
- the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions completes its current review of Extractive Industries Interest Areas within the Melbourne Supply Area and determines whether construction sand can be sourced from other locations that don’t require habitat destruction.
Callum Bugbird Callum Bugbird (Greens)
- A moratorium on new mines and mine site expansions over the Western Port woodlands corridor while further research is taken to investigate alternative locations.
- An environmental significance overlay to be placed over the whole vegetated corridor.
- Research funding to survey for appropriate, alternative locations for sand extraction.
Austin Cram Austin Cram (Animal Justice Party - candidate for the Upper House seat of Eastern Victoria)
- Support an end to sand mining and land clearing in the Westernport Woodlands
- Advocate for an Increase of funding to government bodies undertaking conservation work in the woodlands
- Support the implementation of effective planning controls to ensure the conservation values of the land are fully considered
- Advocate for the removal of the Extractive Industry Interest Area classification of the land covered by vegetation
- Support the investigation of sand extraction on degraded cleared land such as that in Darnum.
- Push the next government to acquire the “VinFast” proving grounds and other land to create a contiguous section of public land for conservation and preservation
Jeni Jobe Jeni Jobe (Independent)
"We need a moratorium on sand extraction from the Western Port Woodlands. They must be identified for Conservation.
"Labour and Coalition candidates will not deliver the Woodlands from destruction, because they can't, the parties they belong to have each demonstrated that they have no political will to protect our woodlands or indeed any forest.
“Change the political system, vote in an independent that is invested in protecting our assets for our community and tell all levels of government that we are not going to buy in to their bullshit. Enough is enough."
See SWPWs Facebook page for more photos by Geoff Ellis.
"We need a moratorium on sand extraction from the Western Port Woodlands. They must be identified for Conservation.
"Labour and Coalition candidates will not deliver the Woodlands from destruction, because they can't, the parties they belong to have each demonstrated that they have no political will to protect our woodlands or indeed any forest.
“Change the political system, vote in an independent that is invested in protecting our assets for our community and tell all levels of government that we are not going to buy in to their bullshit. Enough is enough."
See SWPWs Facebook page for more photos by Geoff Ellis.