Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council has a Proud 50 year history
Westernport’s passionate protectors – 50 years and still going strong!
As we celebrate our 50th year, we’ve put together a timeline of WPPC activities. We reflect on, thank, and acknowledge the committed people, past, present, who contributed to WPPC’s legacy. These allies include passionate community members, state-wide, national, and international environmental organisations, universities, scientists, artists, and our members who are concerned to care for and promote Westernport and surrounds as an integrated, protected biosphere.
There have been many proposals including an aluminium smelter, ammonia-based fertiliser plant, and even a nuclear power plant on French Island. As long as land is zoned port-related and the myth of Westernport as a natural deep-water port, Westernport will continue to be subject to these kinds of threats. WPPC and our allies will continue to fight them.
1977–79 Proposed Gas Turbine Power Station, Tyabb, Devil Bend Airport - major freight and business jet airport, IPEC Tigers - proposed freight terminal – all abandoned.
1979 WPPC requested Dr Brian Cuming’s assistance as a chemical engineer, and he immediately became involved in hearings of the House of Representatives Oil Spills enquiry.
1980s
1986 - Green’s Bush – WPPC joined a coalition of ecologists and community, to prevent subdivision and establish a nature reserve
1987 Artist Ian Cuming approached WPPC for $300 to make giant puppets representing marine life in the bay. This grew into The Seagrass event, using over $110,000 grant money from local, State and Federal Government through 1988-90. WPPC was deeply involved, with local community and hundreds of school children. So to was Prue Griffith, and Rosey Buchanan, (WPPC) subsequently became a local councillor and MP respectively.
WPPC gave a small environmental award to a Westernport College student every year until the 2000s
1987 - Proposed Western Mining ammonia-urea plant was stopped.
1990
1991 Seagrass story, 1991 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Ov6eS5170 , Ian Cuming
1993 WPPC’s Prue Griffiths submission on oil spill accidents
1994-1997 Shell/Mobil proposal for ‘supertankers’ to ship crude oil terminal at Woolleys Beach.
1995 - Oil in Westernport Position Statement written by Brian Cuming, President WPPC after lengthy research by the committee, including a requirement for EES re large scale oil imports through Crib Point.
2000s
The beginning of a seventeen-year campaign against a container port in Westernport Bay. WPPC wrote a submission on the Victorian Ports Strategic Study.
Mangroves and Saltmarsh at The Bluff were bulldozed, and the Bond family were fined.
2002 Marine National Parks Proclaimed including French Island, Yaringa and Churchill Island in Westernport
2003 ‘The Community Vision for Devilbend’ is launched by WPPC Inc. at a Public Meeting hosted by WPPC 28th May at Moorooduc Hall. Unanimous vote to keep it in public hands. A winter solstice gathering at Devilbend was then held, involving WPPC, as was a spring picnic at Devilbend.
2006 Devilbend announcement – 100% of Devilbend / Bittern reservoirs set aside for community parkland, for passive recreation and nature conservation!!
For many years WPPC presented an Environmental Scholarship to Westernport Secondary College.
2009 - Boral Construction Materials proposes to construct a bitumen storage facility and associated infrastructure at Crib Point. Initially approved by the Victorian Minister for Planning. WPPC supported Crib Pt action Group, Neale Burgess and others in overturning this decision.
2010s
2011 –Baillieu government announced expansion of Port of Hastings, catapulting WPPC and allies into busy campaigning
2013- Oil Spill modelling updated for VNPA and WPPC
2014
2017
As we celebrate our 50th year, we’ve put together a timeline of WPPC activities. We reflect on, thank, and acknowledge the committed people, past, present, who contributed to WPPC’s legacy. These allies include passionate community members, state-wide, national, and international environmental organisations, universities, scientists, artists, and our members who are concerned to care for and promote Westernport and surrounds as an integrated, protected biosphere.
There have been many proposals including an aluminium smelter, ammonia-based fertiliser plant, and even a nuclear power plant on French Island. As long as land is zoned port-related and the myth of Westernport as a natural deep-water port, Westernport will continue to be subject to these kinds of threats. WPPC and our allies will continue to fight them.
- In 1928, a Royal Commission recommended development of Westernport Bay as an additional Port
- 1960s Premier Henry Bolte aimed to make Westernport the industrial Ruhr of Victoria, with French Island its industrial heartland. BP, Esso and Lysaght establish, (Crib Point BP refinery established in 1965, to 1983), shipping terminals,
- 1963 BP (Australia) bought and later established at Crib Point
- 1965 Bass Strait oil was discovered
- 1970s
- 1970 Aerial Photographs confirm good seagrass cover in Westernport Bay
- A further port developed at Long Island Hastings involving Steelworks, fertiliser, petroleum, and gas fractionation was approved by Bolte
- Planning Minister Hamer established Western Port Regional Planning Authority the first regional authority outside Melbourne
- The Statement of Planning Policy No.1 the first planning policy for Victoria for Westernport recommending Western Port as a port
- Ampol/Sleigh proposed another oil refinery, on Coolart Road, Bittern. Many concerned people / groups united, to establish the ‘Save Westernport Coalition’.
- 1971 Petitions were collected, and rallies held, including at Melbourne Town Hall where the poet Judith Wright spoke, and 2000 people attended. A petition with 200,000 signatures was filed, protesting the refinery. By mid-1971 the Ampol/Sleigh development was abandoned.
- WPPC formed from the Save Westernport coalition. Foundation members included Dr Bill Carroll, Meredith and Ken Hayes and Joe Tilleard. WPPC was represented on the Westernport Catchment Coordinating Committee and then The Westernport Regional Planning and Coordination Committee for 25 years. The latter was closed by Planning Minister Robert Maclellan, for no expressed reason, in December 1994 (Kennett govt).
- The Save Westernport Coalition produced ‘The Shame of Westernport Speculators Dream … environmental nightmare’
- Australia became a signatory to ‘The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance’, also known as the Ramsar Convention, an international agreement promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands. The Port Phillip and Western Port region house three Ramsar-listed wetlands – Port Phillip Bay (western shoreline, Western Port, and Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands https://www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au/our-region/water/ramsar-wetlands/
- 1971-1972 Significant Dredging to establish shipping access to Lysaghts Hastings was reported to have generated a widespread turbidity plume (Watson 1974)
1977–79 Proposed Gas Turbine Power Station, Tyabb, Devil Bend Airport - major freight and business jet airport, IPEC Tigers - proposed freight terminal – all abandoned.
1979 WPPC requested Dr Brian Cuming’s assistance as a chemical engineer, and he immediately became involved in hearings of the House of Representatives Oil Spills enquiry.
1980s
1986 - Green’s Bush – WPPC joined a coalition of ecologists and community, to prevent subdivision and establish a nature reserve
1987 Artist Ian Cuming approached WPPC for $300 to make giant puppets representing marine life in the bay. This grew into The Seagrass event, using over $110,000 grant money from local, State and Federal Government through 1988-90. WPPC was deeply involved, with local community and hundreds of school children. So to was Prue Griffith, and Rosey Buchanan, (WPPC) subsequently became a local councillor and MP respectively.
WPPC gave a small environmental award to a Westernport College student every year until the 2000s
1987 - Proposed Western Mining ammonia-urea plant was stopped.
1990
1991 Seagrass story, 1991 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Ov6eS5170 , Ian Cuming
1993 WPPC’s Prue Griffiths submission on oil spill accidents
1994-1997 Shell/Mobil proposal for ‘supertankers’ to ship crude oil terminal at Woolleys Beach.
1995 - Oil in Westernport Position Statement written by Brian Cuming, President WPPC after lengthy research by the committee, including a requirement for EES re large scale oil imports through Crib Point.
- WPPC submission to The Standing Committee on Transport, Communication and Infrastructure: “Is Australia ready to respond to a major oil spill?”
- An oil spill model, using Mark Marsden’s work in the Environmental Study of Westernport Bay (Shapiro), WPPC highlighted how quickly an oil spill would spread through the strong tidal bay, and how contemporary practice couldn’t contain it.
- Brian Cuming spoke to The Ceo of Shell in Europe and was told that Crib Point Shell Mobil supertankers would not go ahead as business case didn’t stack up.
- WPPC, with Dr Brian Cuming’s leadership saved BHP land in Bittern that was being subdivided for Kinfauns Estate and reserved a large amount of it as Warringine Park with a structure for community involvement.
- Karri Giles, WPPC attended the Ramsar conference in Brisbane as a Friends of The Earth Delegate that year and spoke to Richard Hill Federal Environment Minister in a meeting of NGOs. WPPC, Alistair from ACF, and other NGO’s recommended the Secretary General, Ramsar Convention Bureau, that Westernport Site be placed on the Montreux Record, due to oil spill danger and other ecological issues.
- Hastings Council Resolution unanimously called for Environmental Impact Assessment of oil imports
- Aust. Sea Freight/Bond family- Marine Precinct Park, “The Bluff” proposal, 4 large berths with storage facilities and a concrete causeway into the bay, “A Development Proposal for a public facility at The Bluff Western Port Victoria”, prepared by Maunsell, who later prepared the Victorian Port Strategic Study recommending The Bluff as a site for port development.
2000s
The beginning of a seventeen-year campaign against a container port in Westernport Bay. WPPC wrote a submission on the Victorian Ports Strategic Study.
Mangroves and Saltmarsh at The Bluff were bulldozed, and the Bond family were fined.
2002 Marine National Parks Proclaimed including French Island, Yaringa and Churchill Island in Westernport
2003 ‘The Community Vision for Devilbend’ is launched by WPPC Inc. at a Public Meeting hosted by WPPC 28th May at Moorooduc Hall. Unanimous vote to keep it in public hands. A winter solstice gathering at Devilbend was then held, involving WPPC, as was a spring picnic at Devilbend.
- 2004 WPPC hosted an Autumn Equinox Clean Water-Cycle event at Devilbend
- A Devilbend Reservoir Community Workshop at Mornington Racecourse, arranged by Parks Vic, DSE, Melb Water & MPSC and included 40 enviro & community groups, and Bunurong representatives.
- This coalition formed the beginnings of the Westernport Biosphere committee.
- Campaigning continued for another 3 years.
- Successful advocacy with MP Shire to preserve wildlife corridor and walking track along Warringine Creek, linking to Warringine Park.
2006 Devilbend announcement – 100% of Devilbend / Bittern reservoirs set aside for community parkland, for passive recreation and nature conservation!!
For many years WPPC presented an Environmental Scholarship to Westernport Secondary College.
2009 - Boral Construction Materials proposes to construct a bitumen storage facility and associated infrastructure at Crib Point. Initially approved by the Victorian Minister for Planning. WPPC supported Crib Pt action Group, Neale Burgess and others in overturning this decision.
2010s
2011 –Baillieu government announced expansion of Port of Hastings, catapulting WPPC and allies into busy campaigning
2013- Oil Spill modelling updated for VNPA and WPPC
2014
- WPPC’s Karri Giles met with The Ramsar Secretariat in Switzerland who later came to Hastings and met with environment groups and Federal Environment Minister about Westernport Bay
- Estimating the value of Westernport Bay- a study of Westernport Bay’s measurable economic value’ by ACF’s New Economics Advisory Service commissioned by WPPC and VNPA based on Robert Costanza’s work found Westernport Bay to be worth up to $2.6 Billion per year
- ‘Impact of Proposed Hastings Port Expansion on Seagrass Mangroves and Saltmarsh’, Kirkman- Commissioned by WPPC and VNPA
- WPPC, EV, Quit Coal, Blue Wedges, Preserve Westernport Rally at Hastings re bulk Coal export
- WPPC spoke at Rally in Melbourne hosted by EV, FOE, Quit Coal on container port and coal export dock proposal
- Co-hosted with VNPA Seminar on Environmental Economics Valuing Westernport featuring Professor Robert Costanza to promote work n the economic value of the bay (above), followed by a vision exercise hosted by VNPA, Preserve Westernport, Australian National University, Bass Coast Shire Council and led by Professor Robert Costanza, Environmental Economist, attended by many Westernport residents, government officers and professionals over 5 days at Newhaven.
- WPPC Co-hosted ‘Bay on the Brink’ with Birdlife Australia, VNPA and Blue Wedges, focused on the impact of proposed Port of Hastings expansion on seagrass, mangroves, saltmarsh and birdlife.
- the PPWCMA commissioned the ‘Distribution and Abundance of Blue Carbon in Port Phillip and Westernport Bay.
2017
- Infrastructure Victoria provided advice to state Government that Westernport was less socially, economically, and environmentally suitable for Port expansions than BayWest…and that no significant expansion would be needed by Victoria until 2040.
- GHD informed WPPC that a Japanese consortium was planning to convert brown coal to hydrogen and export it out of Hastings.
- WPPC, Save Westernport, VNPA, EV, Blue Wedges rally against AGL and the hydrogen export proposal
- Sent a joint letter from eight environment groups to Kawasaki and BlueScope, requesting marine pest monitoring as part of the hydrogen export trial at Hastings
- WPPC worked closely with Save Westernport, Environment Victoria, VNPA and many local groups, on the successful campaign to oppose AGL’s proposal for a floating gas storage rectification unit at Crib Point, with associated pipeline through Westernport wetlands, hinterland, and farming land. WPPC provided an expert witness, Dr Mary Cole, to speak on the significant risk of chytrid fungus to asparagus farming, Karri Giles on risks to amphibians and to Watsons Creek, Gidja Walker on risk to ecology of wetlands and surrounding hinterland and Sandy Milne on swamp skinks and risk of feral pest corridors.
- WPPC worked with Save Westernport (SWP) to receive a grant through Greg Hunt’s office to monitor marine pests under BlueScope pier. Hosted a marine biologist to explain our citizen science project to identify marine pests in Westernport Bay
- After being refused access by BlueScope, WPPC and SWP met with Kawasaki, who announced that they would execute marine pest monitoring at BlueScope pier.
- Executed the marine pest monitoring grant at Yaringa and Crib Pt
- Submission to MP Shire’s 2040 vision document, with Save Westernport.
- Met with a coalition of groups to develop a strategy for greater protection of Westernport
- Supporting the Save Arthur’s Seat and Westernport Woodlands and Green Wedges Coalition in their campaigns against expanded quarrying and sandmining in pristine bushland areas.
- Breaking news!!!! The Save Arthur’s Seat campaign has been successful! The RE Ross Trust has made a good decision to withdraw its plan to expand its quarry there.
WPPC inc initiated the protection of Devilbend, ( Daargean)........ and won!
History
.Westernport Peninsula Protection Council Inc WPPC Inc.
• In Dec 30th 1970 there was a protest rally against the Ampol-Sleigh proposed refinery at Bittern, 600 people attended a meeting on Balnarring Race Track.
• The First formal meeting of the WPPC Jan 4th 1971. Our group is 37 years old
• We have approximately 300 members
Our Principle Objectives are
To engage in, support and promote:
• regional and local planning
• conservation of natural resources, including fauna and flora
• studies of the effects of pollution of all kinds
• the protection of the environment.
…of Westernport, the Mornington Peninsula and elsewhere.
In 1987 WPPC Inc. were the leading group in the successful campaign against The Western Mining Corporation Ammonia–Urea plant proposal on the BP site using the Crib Point Jetty. Later a key campaigner in that campaign, Rosy Buchanan became president of our group.
1992 Super tanker proposal for same BP site. Shell-Mobil bought it for a major oil import facility. Again an angry public put evidence on the table including the Shapiro report. We were key campaigners again in this campaign and in due course the Shell company advised our President Dr Brian Cuming, in a personal call from the Head Quarters in Holland that the plan was to be shelved indefinitely.
From there there was bipartisan support for a statement from the minister for planning Tom Roper that it was inappropriate for such an industry to develop there, and secoundly that a policy should be adopted which later became enshrined below….
We participated in government planning via The Westernport Regional Planning and Co-ordination Committee. The main planning change as a result of that same campaign was Document 1 below. Which we saw as a victory and we have never forgotten, and we will never forget, because there is so much sense to it.
Another effort which WPPC initiated and were deeply involved in the three years 1988, 1989 and 1990 were the three Seagrass festivals which involved large puppets, hundreds of school children and massive community participation to celebrate the environmental values of Westernport Bay 1990.
Dr Brian Cuming Past President and research fellow of WPPC Inc,40 years resident of Bittern “I have always had great faith that the Hastings, Crib Point, Stony Point area would become a thriving residential area with great lifestyle facilities. Providing recreation for the region.
In the last ten years this has really happened. Pelican Park, and the Petersen Bookshop symbolizes modern Hastings/Crib point,
Let us not spoil it with corruptions”
• In Dec 30th 1970 there was a protest rally against the Ampol-Sleigh proposed refinery at Bittern, 600 people attended a meeting on Balnarring Race Track.
• The First formal meeting of the WPPC Jan 4th 1971. Our group is 37 years old
• We have approximately 300 members
Our Principle Objectives are
To engage in, support and promote:
• regional and local planning
• conservation of natural resources, including fauna and flora
• studies of the effects of pollution of all kinds
• the protection of the environment.
…of Westernport, the Mornington Peninsula and elsewhere.
In 1987 WPPC Inc. were the leading group in the successful campaign against The Western Mining Corporation Ammonia–Urea plant proposal on the BP site using the Crib Point Jetty. Later a key campaigner in that campaign, Rosy Buchanan became president of our group.
1992 Super tanker proposal for same BP site. Shell-Mobil bought it for a major oil import facility. Again an angry public put evidence on the table including the Shapiro report. We were key campaigners again in this campaign and in due course the Shell company advised our President Dr Brian Cuming, in a personal call from the Head Quarters in Holland that the plan was to be shelved indefinitely.
From there there was bipartisan support for a statement from the minister for planning Tom Roper that it was inappropriate for such an industry to develop there, and secoundly that a policy should be adopted which later became enshrined below….
We participated in government planning via The Westernport Regional Planning and Co-ordination Committee. The main planning change as a result of that same campaign was Document 1 below. Which we saw as a victory and we have never forgotten, and we will never forget, because there is so much sense to it.
Another effort which WPPC initiated and were deeply involved in the three years 1988, 1989 and 1990 were the three Seagrass festivals which involved large puppets, hundreds of school children and massive community participation to celebrate the environmental values of Westernport Bay 1990.
Dr Brian Cuming Past President and research fellow of WPPC Inc,40 years resident of Bittern “I have always had great faith that the Hastings, Crib Point, Stony Point area would become a thriving residential area with great lifestyle facilities. Providing recreation for the region.
In the last ten years this has really happened. Pelican Park, and the Petersen Bookshop symbolizes modern Hastings/Crib point,
Let us not spoil it with corruptions”