Bass Coast Post
  • Home
    • Recent articles
  • News
    • Point of view
    • View from the chamber
  • Writers
    • Anne Davie
    • Anne Heath Mennell
    • Bob Middleton
    • Carolyn Landon
    • Catherine Watson
    • Christine Grayden
    • Dick Wettenhall
    • Ed Thexton
    • Etsuko Yasunaga
    • Frank Coldebella
    • Gayle Marien
    • Geoff Ellis
    • Gill Heal
    • Harry Freeman
    • Ian Burns
    • Joan Woods
    • John Coldebella
    • Jordan Crugnale
    • Julie Statkus
    • Kit Sleeman
    • Laura Brearley >
      • Coastal Connections
    • Lauren Burns
    • Liane Arno
    • Linda Cuttriss
    • Linda Gordon
    • Lisa Schonberg
    • Liz Low
    • Marian Quigley
    • Mark Robertson
    • Mary Whelan
    • Meryl Brown Tobin
    • Michael Whelan
    • Mikhaela Barlow
    • Miriam Strickland
    • Natasha Williams-Novak
    • Neil Daly
    • Patsy Hunt
    • Pauline Wilkinson
    • Phil Wright
    • Sally McNiece
    • Terri Allen
    • Tim Shannon
    • Zoe Geyer
  • Features
    • Features 2022
  • Arts
  • Local history
  • Environment
  • Bass Coast Prize
  • Community
    • Diary
    • Courses
    • Groups
  • Contact us

Port group counts down

15/3/2017

2 Comments

 
After three years of campaigning against a major port at Hastings, the Preserve Westernport Action Group will find out in May whether they have succeeded.
By Jeff Nottle
 
THE Preserve Westernport Action Group has told Infrastructure Victoria that a container port in Western Port could have a devastating impact on the region’s economy and environment.
 
After three years of campaigning, researching, educating and engaging with stakeholders and the local community, our volunteer group lodged their detailed submission to Infrastructure Victoria, which will make its final recommendations in May to the State Government on the location of Victoria’s additional container port.
 
“Such an outcome would impact on Victoria’s reputation as a tourist destination and the region’s ability to continue to operate as an environment based sustainable and effective service economy that currently supports thousands of regional jobs,” our submission states.
 
The full submission is at www.preservewesternport.org.au.
 
Over three years, since the then Liberal Government first announced that Victoria’s second major port would be at Hastings, we have distributed thousands of brochures and raised funds selling bumper stickers, T-shirts and corflute signs. Concerned individuals, businesses, local artists and fishing enthusiasts have also made welcome donations.
 
We have researched issues, prepared a comprehensive discussion paper, been invited to speak to councillors, and radio including 774 and ABC Gippsland. We have been the subject of a Monash University environment and society case study and a campaign documentary prepared by a media academy.
 
We hosted academic and stakeholder studies on plausible non-industrialisation options for Western Port. We engaged with Bunyip food bowl producers who could be faced with further ground water salination from Western Port dredging and with fishing clubs that would only be able to access around 25 per cent of the Western Port as safe, high tide fishable water.
 
We know that our actions have had considerable impact on the container port debate. We know we have had an impact on our community, councillors and decision makers in Government and the opposition. We know we have a substantial social media following. We were also invited to make an appearance at a Government port inquiry.
 
It is a testament to our local community that a group of passionate locals can join together and contribute thousands of hours to protecting our economy, jobs and environment.
 
We believe our environment is our economy and we need to protect both. We now await the Infrastructure Victoria recommendations and remain vigilant on opportunists and vested interests seeking to industrialise Western Port.
 
The council now has an important role to play in ensuring their advocacy supports the efforts and concerns of the community as well as our submission lodged to Infrastructure Victoria to protect our economy, jobs and environment.
 
Jeff Nottle is president of the Preserve Western Port Action Group.
2 Comments
anne paul
18/3/2017 04:19:01 pm

I would also encourage individuals to read the discussion paper and make their own submissions, no matter how short, as it all helps - see website. I plan attending the last of the information sessions in Melbourne on Tuesday prior to doing this.

http://yoursay.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/ports

Reply
Geoff Ellis
19/3/2017 12:33:59 am

From the minutes of the BCSC Meeting of 15/3/027

Motion - That Council:
1. Endorses the Impact of a Hastings Container Port on Bass Coast Shire Council Agreed Principles;
2. Reconvene the Future of Port of Hastings Bass Coast Shire Council Community and Industry Roundtable to consider the Second Container Port Advice – Evidence Base Discussion Paper and help shape Councils submission to the Paper;
3. Invite Infrastructure Victoria to brief the Councillors and stakeholders (nominated by Bass Coast Shire) on the recently released Second Container Port Advice – Evidence Base Discussion Paper; and
4. Request Infrastructure Victoria hold a community drop-in session in Bass Coast Shire to hear further evidence from the community regarding the Second Container Port Advice – Evidence Base Discussion Paper.
Council Decision
Moved: Cr. Michael Whelan / Seconded: Cr. Geoff Ellis
That the motion be adopted.
CARRIED
For
Cr Rothfield
Cr Tessari
Cr Brown
Cr Larke
Cr Fullarton
Cr Whelan
Cr Ellis
Cr Kent

Reply



Leave a Reply.