Save Westernport Woodlands
A little about ourselves
21st June 2021
wppcweb@gmail.com
0425 707 448
I am writing on behalf of Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council to support Save Westernport Woodlands campaign to end sand-mining in Bass Coast’s rare coastal forests and woodlands.
Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council was founded 50 years ago in 1971. We are a volunteer-based not-for-profit environment group.
It is clear that for centuries to come, our state sand resource can be filled nearby, but outside of the woodland area, so it should be. It seems The State Government needs to reserve the woodland areas to keep in line with government environment policy. They need to get the sand trucks to drive ten or 20 minutes further sometimes.
We have been supportive of this campaign from its origins. It is impressive seeing the area on satellite maps. The entire east of Westernport has been cleared of most large patches of forest. Apart from this bush corridor, there are no large patches of bush between Mt Worth, Bunyip State Park and Wilsons Promontory. This whole bushland corridor encompasses several Nature Conservation Reserves including Adams Creek, and The Gurdies, and these could be included in a new National Park. It is the large bits of bush that provide the best habitat and best options for providing healthy recreation for a variety of user groups.
Habitat has become increasingly important with the bushfire losses of last summer increasing pressure on governments to provide additional protection.
There is evidence that this large bush area, made up of riparian forest and rare forest bog, is home to southern-brown bandicoot, long-nosed bandicoot, lead beaters possum, white-footed dunnart, powerful owl and growling grass frog. It is excellent habitat for echidna, wallabies, reptiles, wildflowers and has ancient specimens of baliskion grass trees. It is government responsibility under law to protect land that has endangered species. We understand that The Department of Transport are actively looking for offsets for The Koo Wee Rup Bypass. Such a lot of development has taken place in Casey and Cardinia so protecting The Westernport Woodlands is certainly practical and in the spirit of the Offset system.
WPPC worked on the No-AGL campaign and focused on the pipeline and became familiar with the growling-grass frog, southern brown bandicoot, swamp skink and southern Toadlet among others.
If the government’s stance is No Net Loss Of vegetation when you see the development in the South East of Melbourne and the loss of the habitat for these species, The Westernport Woodland Reserve is obviously needed.
It is impressive to see the area up close. We imagine it being a magnificent natural 'gateway' to the Bass Coast region for wildlife tourism from Melbourne and Mornington Peninsula. A protected wildlife sanctuary, a centre for indigenous culture and education, and for complementary leisure activities such as walking, hiking, and mountain biking. We enjoy coral fern, fragmities, tree fern, mixed eucalyptus, banksia and in-tact ground storey and many small birds. Bush of that quality will be a real draw-card for people, great for the local economy, and it demands new surveys.
The Westernport Woodlands are significant ecologically than Devilbend and therefore protection of the Flora and Fauna here needs to be the first and second priority and education and recreation third and fourth priority.
Seeing diversity lifts our spirits, reassures and excites us. That is fantastic at lowering our health budget and mental health budget. Healthy Parks Healthy People. It is the State Government’s rhetoric, the bigger the population (and Melbourne has grown by 3 million in the past 50 years), the more and bigger parks they need to provide.
Yours faithfully,
Karri Giles
Secretary
Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council
wppcweb@gmail.com
0425 707 448
I am writing on behalf of Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council to support Save Westernport Woodlands campaign to end sand-mining in Bass Coast’s rare coastal forests and woodlands.
Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council was founded 50 years ago in 1971. We are a volunteer-based not-for-profit environment group.
It is clear that for centuries to come, our state sand resource can be filled nearby, but outside of the woodland area, so it should be. It seems The State Government needs to reserve the woodland areas to keep in line with government environment policy. They need to get the sand trucks to drive ten or 20 minutes further sometimes.
We have been supportive of this campaign from its origins. It is impressive seeing the area on satellite maps. The entire east of Westernport has been cleared of most large patches of forest. Apart from this bush corridor, there are no large patches of bush between Mt Worth, Bunyip State Park and Wilsons Promontory. This whole bushland corridor encompasses several Nature Conservation Reserves including Adams Creek, and The Gurdies, and these could be included in a new National Park. It is the large bits of bush that provide the best habitat and best options for providing healthy recreation for a variety of user groups.
Habitat has become increasingly important with the bushfire losses of last summer increasing pressure on governments to provide additional protection.
There is evidence that this large bush area, made up of riparian forest and rare forest bog, is home to southern-brown bandicoot, long-nosed bandicoot, lead beaters possum, white-footed dunnart, powerful owl and growling grass frog. It is excellent habitat for echidna, wallabies, reptiles, wildflowers and has ancient specimens of baliskion grass trees. It is government responsibility under law to protect land that has endangered species. We understand that The Department of Transport are actively looking for offsets for The Koo Wee Rup Bypass. Such a lot of development has taken place in Casey and Cardinia so protecting The Westernport Woodlands is certainly practical and in the spirit of the Offset system.
WPPC worked on the No-AGL campaign and focused on the pipeline and became familiar with the growling-grass frog, southern brown bandicoot, swamp skink and southern Toadlet among others.
If the government’s stance is No Net Loss Of vegetation when you see the development in the South East of Melbourne and the loss of the habitat for these species, The Westernport Woodland Reserve is obviously needed.
It is impressive to see the area up close. We imagine it being a magnificent natural 'gateway' to the Bass Coast region for wildlife tourism from Melbourne and Mornington Peninsula. A protected wildlife sanctuary, a centre for indigenous culture and education, and for complementary leisure activities such as walking, hiking, and mountain biking. We enjoy coral fern, fragmities, tree fern, mixed eucalyptus, banksia and in-tact ground storey and many small birds. Bush of that quality will be a real draw-card for people, great for the local economy, and it demands new surveys.
The Westernport Woodlands are significant ecologically than Devilbend and therefore protection of the Flora and Fauna here needs to be the first and second priority and education and recreation third and fourth priority.
Seeing diversity lifts our spirits, reassures and excites us. That is fantastic at lowering our health budget and mental health budget. Healthy Parks Healthy People. It is the State Government’s rhetoric, the bigger the population (and Melbourne has grown by 3 million in the past 50 years), the more and bigger parks they need to provide.
Yours faithfully,
Karri Giles
Secretary
Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council
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