Government to sell over 1000 hectares of HMAS Cerberus’ vacant land and golf course
With reference to The Pakenham Gazette Facebook page
HMAS Cerberus will be “partially divested” as part of a massive sale of 35,000 hectares of defence real estate Minister Richard Marles on Wednesday 4 February.
The government has acknowledged the sale of defence facilities has been a challenging issue, with the expectation of push-back from veterans and local communities to the sale of some of the country’s most iconic defence facilities.
The Cerberus’ divestment will include vacant land, and the golf course licenced to the Cerberus Golf Club.
Functions such as Defence Housing Australia homes, service residences, childcare centre and the military cemetery, training range and facilities, and access roads will be retained. Childcare centre services will be retained within the base.
HMAS Cerberus consists of over 1500 hectares of land, with 1164 hectares marked for divestment.
Known as the “cradle of the navy”, the 15 square kilometre base at Crib Point faces Hanns Inlet, between Sandy Point and Stony Point in Western Port, was bought in 1911 and formally commissioned as Flinders Naval Base on 1 September 1920.
Cerberus provides training for recruits from all three branches of the Australian Defence Force. About 1800 people are at the base at any time, with about 6000 Navy, Army and Air Force personnel undergoing training annually.
The Defence force has said it will engage with existing tenants as part of the divestment process, but has said that no Cerberus defence personnel will be relocated as part of the divestment.
An old WPPC Letter
30th July 2013
To Hon Greg Hunt
I am writing to support the idea of Sandy Point as a National Park. Sandy Point is one of the largest and most dynamic spit systems on the Victorian coast.
Sandy Point sustains important remnants of vegetation communities that have been extensively cleared on the Mornington Peninsula and within the Westernport Catchment. Sandy Point supports some of the best remaining examples of Coastal Banksia Woodland, Coastal Grassy Forest, and Coastal Dune Scrub in the region. Continuing shoreline progradation here allows the seral stages in sand dune succession to be observed. Stands of Coast Tea-tree LEPTOSPERMUM LAEVIGATUM and Coast Banksia BANKSIA INTEGRIFOLIA adjacent to H.M.A.S. Cerberus appear to have remained unburnt for 100-120 years. This unusually long absence from fire provides insights into the long-term dynamics of coastal vegetation.
According to information from Cr David Garnock (former commander of HMAS Cerberus) the Defense land at Sandy Point-Stony Point is approx.1500 Ha (3500 acres), of which the Navy uses about 14 Ha (35 acres), including the rifle range.
Cr Garnock was interested in the suggestion that Sandy Point could become an iconic National Park for Western Port, subject to restrictions on access, similar to Point Nepean, and for similar reasons;
SANDY POINT – A SIGNIFICANT VEGETATION REMNANT
Sandy Point, part of HMAS Cerberus is the largest remaining intact vegetation on the western side of Western Port. It includes substantial areas of the EVCs Coast Banksia Woodland, Heathy Woodland (Manna Gum), Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland, Swamp Scrub, etc. There are many rare orchid species.
It contains the largest population of White-footed Dunnart in the Western Port catchment. New Holland Mouse is also likely to be present.
The Manna Gum woodlands at Sandy Point supported the largest population of Koalas on the Mornington Peninsula (about 1500) before the population crashed in 1988, with widespread death of mature Manna Gums (Roger Martin, Monash University.)
Sandy Point supports a large and varied bird population, including many woodland species, which have become rare on the Mornington Peninsula.
The area includes several kilometres of pristine beaches.
Yours faithfully,
Karri Giles
President
30th July 2013
To Hon Greg Hunt
I am writing to support the idea of Sandy Point as a National Park. Sandy Point is one of the largest and most dynamic spit systems on the Victorian coast.
Sandy Point sustains important remnants of vegetation communities that have been extensively cleared on the Mornington Peninsula and within the Westernport Catchment. Sandy Point supports some of the best remaining examples of Coastal Banksia Woodland, Coastal Grassy Forest, and Coastal Dune Scrub in the region. Continuing shoreline progradation here allows the seral stages in sand dune succession to be observed. Stands of Coast Tea-tree LEPTOSPERMUM LAEVIGATUM and Coast Banksia BANKSIA INTEGRIFOLIA adjacent to H.M.A.S. Cerberus appear to have remained unburnt for 100-120 years. This unusually long absence from fire provides insights into the long-term dynamics of coastal vegetation.
According to information from Cr David Garnock (former commander of HMAS Cerberus) the Defense land at Sandy Point-Stony Point is approx.1500 Ha (3500 acres), of which the Navy uses about 14 Ha (35 acres), including the rifle range.
Cr Garnock was interested in the suggestion that Sandy Point could become an iconic National Park for Western Port, subject to restrictions on access, similar to Point Nepean, and for similar reasons;
- the presence of UXO (un-exploded ordinance) in some parts of the bush.
- the Navy Rifle Range – which would require adequate buffer zones, with security fencing, etc, to prevent anyone inadvertently entering the danger zone.
SANDY POINT – A SIGNIFICANT VEGETATION REMNANT
Sandy Point, part of HMAS Cerberus is the largest remaining intact vegetation on the western side of Western Port. It includes substantial areas of the EVCs Coast Banksia Woodland, Heathy Woodland (Manna Gum), Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland, Swamp Scrub, etc. There are many rare orchid species.
It contains the largest population of White-footed Dunnart in the Western Port catchment. New Holland Mouse is also likely to be present.
The Manna Gum woodlands at Sandy Point supported the largest population of Koalas on the Mornington Peninsula (about 1500) before the population crashed in 1988, with widespread death of mature Manna Gums (Roger Martin, Monash University.)
Sandy Point supports a large and varied bird population, including many woodland species, which have become rare on the Mornington Peninsula.
The area includes several kilometres of pristine beaches.
Yours faithfully,
Karri Giles
President
SANDY POINT – A STATE PARK FOR THE WESTERNPORT COASTLINE?
Sandy Point (HMAS Cerberus) is the largest remaining area of native vegetation remaining on the western side of Westernport Bay. It has wonderful vegetation, rare species and several kilometres of pristine beaches – the southern beaches facing Bass Strait and eastern beaches inside the bay. Wildlife includes about 200 bird species and the largest populations of Koalas and White-footed Dunnarts remaining on the Mornington Peninsula. Southern Brown Bandicoots could still survive there. The bush includes important areas of threatened vegetation types, such as the largest surviving area of Coast Banksia woodland on the Mornington Peninsula. Further inland, remnants of Manna Gum woodland remain, although many trees were killed by Koala overbrowsing in 1987-90. In 1980s, Sandy Point had an estimated population of 1500 Koalas but sadly their numbers grew beyond the capacity of the area to support them and hundreds died of starvation… Most of the Manna Gum woodland was killed and has never recovered. Today there are probably less than 200 Koalas at Sandy Point. While there are many rare birds (White-throated Treecreepers remain, but are Diamond Firetails still there?) and orchids, the area needs better management. There are problems with Foxes and feral cats, invasion by pines, Pittosporum and other weeds. There is a need for a program of ecological burning to revive lost Manna Gum woodland and heaths.
Cr David Garnock is the former commander of HMAS Cerberus. He says that the whole of Sandy Point/HMAS Cerberus is approx.1500 Ha (3300 acres), of which the Navy uses less than 10%. Cr Garnock believes that Sandy Point could become an iconic State Park for Westernport, subject to restrictions on access, similar to Point Nepean, and for similar reasons;
However, even with the above restrictions, a large area of native bush could be protected and endangered species better managed. Pristine coastlines could be made available to the public, which is at present closed and unknown to Westernport residents and visitors.
Greg Hunt (MHR) has offered his support for a Park at Sandy Point, provided we can show that there is community support for the idea. This is where you get involved, could you please write a letter to Greg Hunt supporting the vision of a State Park at Sandy Point?
Write to; [email protected] , or
P.O. Box ??, HASTINGS.
Sandy Point (HMAS Cerberus) is the largest remaining area of native vegetation remaining on the western side of Westernport Bay. It has wonderful vegetation, rare species and several kilometres of pristine beaches – the southern beaches facing Bass Strait and eastern beaches inside the bay. Wildlife includes about 200 bird species and the largest populations of Koalas and White-footed Dunnarts remaining on the Mornington Peninsula. Southern Brown Bandicoots could still survive there. The bush includes important areas of threatened vegetation types, such as the largest surviving area of Coast Banksia woodland on the Mornington Peninsula. Further inland, remnants of Manna Gum woodland remain, although many trees were killed by Koala overbrowsing in 1987-90. In 1980s, Sandy Point had an estimated population of 1500 Koalas but sadly their numbers grew beyond the capacity of the area to support them and hundreds died of starvation… Most of the Manna Gum woodland was killed and has never recovered. Today there are probably less than 200 Koalas at Sandy Point. While there are many rare birds (White-throated Treecreepers remain, but are Diamond Firetails still there?) and orchids, the area needs better management. There are problems with Foxes and feral cats, invasion by pines, Pittosporum and other weeds. There is a need for a program of ecological burning to revive lost Manna Gum woodland and heaths.
Cr David Garnock is the former commander of HMAS Cerberus. He says that the whole of Sandy Point/HMAS Cerberus is approx.1500 Ha (3300 acres), of which the Navy uses less than 10%. Cr Garnock believes that Sandy Point could become an iconic State Park for Westernport, subject to restrictions on access, similar to Point Nepean, and for similar reasons;
- the presence of UEO (un-exploded ordinance) in some parts of the bush.
- the Navy Rifle Range – which would require adequate buffer zones, with security fencing and signs, etc, to prevent anyone inadvertently entering the danger zone.
However, even with the above restrictions, a large area of native bush could be protected and endangered species better managed. Pristine coastlines could be made available to the public, which is at present closed and unknown to Westernport residents and visitors.
Greg Hunt (MHR) has offered his support for a Park at Sandy Point, provided we can show that there is community support for the idea. This is where you get involved, could you please write a letter to Greg Hunt supporting the vision of a State Park at Sandy Point?
Write to; [email protected] , or
P.O. Box ??, HASTINGS.