PARK WATCH Article September 2024 |

Shannon Hurley on why sea level rise, coupled with a proposed renewable energy terminal, underscores the urgency of protecting Western Port’s wetlands

The historic fishing village of Tooradin, located in the city of Casey, has long boasted beautiful views of Western Port Bay. For years, it’s been a sanctuary for migratory shorebirds, its mangrove nurseries  habitat for fish.

In our increasingly disrupted climate sea levels are already on the rise. Projections indicate an 80 cm rise in sea level by 2100. A new report commissioned by the City of Casey reveals that the region faces the highest risk of erosion from sea level rise among the city’s coastal communities.

The City of Casey is experiencing the fastest urban growth in the state, with the population in the Western Port catchment expected to double within the next 20 years. This is a challenge for the people who live, work and play on its shores and for local wildlife’s ability to persist or retreat.

It’s clear the bay needs a plan and a partnership to bring together local communities. This is why VNPA united with the Western Port Biosphere, Save Western Port and over 70 other groups, businesses and interested parties to advocate for the Western Port Bay Framework.

One reason climate impacts should be addressed in concert with development, biodiversity conservation, or restoration, is their irrefutable inter-connectedness. As Professor David Kennedy noted in The Age, if the coast becomes dominated by concrete walls, we risk destroying vital parts of the bay’s web of life, like fish breeding grounds.

Meanwhile, the Port of Hastings is advancing its proposal for Victoria’s Renewable Energy Terminal to support the development of offshore wind along the coast. Clean energy projects are vital for combating climate change, but it’s crucial to implement them in a way that minimises risk to marine and coastal ecosystems.

After the initial proposal was rejected by the Federal Government due to unacceptable impacts on Western Port’s Ramsar-listed wetlands, the port is taking another approach. The revised proposal, as we understand, will involve less dredging and land reclamation (see ‘Terminal Diagnosis’, Park Watch, Nov 2022).

Whether it’s new development, sea level rise, restoration, or water quality, Western Port requires an all-inclusive plan that addresses current and future threats while bringing together decision-makers and community.

VNPA, in collaboration with groups like the Western Port Biosphere, is organising a series of events in the coming months. These events will provide opportunities to learn, share knowledge, and take action for a healthy, well-planned Western Port Bay.

Sign up to learn more: actforwesternportbay.au/support-now