By Catherine Watson
BASS Coast Council will ask the Victorian Planning Minister to fast-track interim planning protections for the Western Port Woodlands, arguing that further delays risk irreversible environmental damage.
Council officers have lodged Amendment C181, which would place an interim Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO) over the woodlands investigation area within Bass Coast until May 2028.
BASS Coast Council will ask the Victorian Planning Minister to fast-track interim planning protections for the Western Port Woodlands, arguing that further delays risk irreversible environmental damage.
Council officers have lodged Amendment C181, which would place an interim Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO) over the woodlands investigation area within Bass Coast until May 2028.
The Western Port Woodlands investigation area
The overlay would require permits for vegetation removal and other activities that could damage native habitat while longer term planning protections are investigated.
Only the Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, has the authority to implement interim planning controls.
At Wednesday’s council meeting councillors voted unanimously to write to her urging urgent assessment and approval of the request, highlighting the risk of irreversible environmental damage if further clearing or fragmentation occurs.
Just hours later, in Victoria's Parliament, Bass MP Jordan Crugnale asked the Planning Minister about the next steps, adding "This vital wildlife corridor, biodiversity wonder that supports rare plants, critically endangered trees and threatened species so needs protection.
"Love that Council call for urgency saying to the Minister to ‘get on with it’ ….when this step was their responsibility. So well done them!
"Massive credit to the sustained advocacy of the Save Western Port Woodlands group and the organisations working alongside them."
Protection of the woodlands is one of the council's top five advocacy areas. The council has allocated $500,000 over two years to complete the biodiversity surveys, mapping work and consultation required for a permanent ESO.
A council report presented at the meeting warned that continued clearing and fragmentation could lead to local extinctions of threatened species including the Southern Brown Bandicoot, Powerful Owl, White-footed Dunnart and Swift Parrot.
Only the Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, has the authority to implement interim planning controls.
At Wednesday’s council meeting councillors voted unanimously to write to her urging urgent assessment and approval of the request, highlighting the risk of irreversible environmental damage if further clearing or fragmentation occurs.
Just hours later, in Victoria's Parliament, Bass MP Jordan Crugnale asked the Planning Minister about the next steps, adding "This vital wildlife corridor, biodiversity wonder that supports rare plants, critically endangered trees and threatened species so needs protection.
"Love that Council call for urgency saying to the Minister to ‘get on with it’ ….when this step was their responsibility. So well done them!
"Massive credit to the sustained advocacy of the Save Western Port Woodlands group and the organisations working alongside them."
Protection of the woodlands is one of the council's top five advocacy areas. The council has allocated $500,000 over two years to complete the biodiversity surveys, mapping work and consultation required for a permanent ESO.
A council report presented at the meeting warned that continued clearing and fragmentation could lead to local extinctions of threatened species including the Southern Brown Bandicoot, Powerful Owl, White-footed Dunnart and Swift Parrot.
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The report described the Western Port Woodlands as the largest remnant coastal woodland system in Victoria and cites findings from the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) process that the woodlands are nationally significant and irreplaceable.
It states that mature woodland ecosystems lost to quarrying cannot be recreated through rehabilitation. |
It’s official. The Western Port Woodlands matter.
June 8, 2025 - Government finally recognises their value. Now to protect them. |
Officers say the evidence gathered through the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) process is sufficient to justify a precautionary approach while further investigations continue.
The final decision now rests with Ms Kilkenny, who has the power to introduce interim controls immediately using special planning powers.
- Cr Brett Tessari: "We’re proud to be taking a strong leadership role on this and backing our community to protect it for future generations. This is about making sure our kids and grandkids can still experience this landscape the way we do today.”
- Cr Jon Temby: "The protections sought arelong overdue and necessary ... Full protection helps with the maintenance of biodiversity and demonstrates that our unique coastal woodlands are actually important to our values, our science, our local and national community and our economy."
- Cr Rochelle Halstead thanked the Save Western Port Woodland group for their advocacy over a number of years. “We've had them out on the Grantville traffic lights holding up signs during holiday seasons, and I'm sure they will be very pleased to see that we've got to this point. There's still work to do, but I think we're heading in the right direction."
- Cr Jan Thompson said permanent protection was long overdue. “The sooner we get the Western Port Woodlands under an ESO, the sooner we can rest knowing this amazing habitat is protected.”
- Cr Tim O'Brien said an ESO would help to stop the incremental loss of woodlands. “There are still sand mines there that are waiting on work authorities and we need to have some pretty powerful tools in the kit to be able to protect what's left.”
- Cr Mat Morgan said interim planning controls were are under the powers of the Planning Minister. “Applying for interim planning controls while assessments are ongoing is an orderly planning response … I'm asking as nicely as humanly possible to the Minister for Planning – work with us on our woodlands, please.”
The final decision now rests with Ms Kilkenny, who has the power to introduce interim controls immediately using special planning powers.