PARK WATCH Article December 2025 |

Western Port Bay’s wetlands are teetering on the edge of an important decision, reports Shannon Hurley, Nature Conservation Campaigner

Western Port Bay, one of Victoria’s most important and treasured waterways, is once again at the centre of a major crossroads. This time, it’s not a gas terminal or industrial expansion threatening its fragile habitats, but the proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal (VRET).

We need renewables, but not at the expense of the web of life they’re designed to protect. Local conservation and community groups support the transition to renewable energy. And they’re urging the Victorian Government to make sure the process has appropriate safeguards to protect the bay’s habitats and wildlife.

In a joint letter to four Victorian ministers, VNPA, Environment Victoria, Western Port Biosphere, Save Westernport, and the Phillip Island Conservation Society called for urgent improvements to the Environmental Effects Statement (EES) scoping requirements.

The current draft risks overlooking critical impacts the project could have. Its narrow focus doesn’t consider the wider effects on the bay. For example, it addresses how removing seagrass and mudflat habitat will impact birds in the area. But what will the flow on effects be up the chain and in other areas? And how will constant noise disrupt animals migrating across the bay?

The message is clear: offshore wind is essential for Victoria’s clean energy future. And it must be done right. Our letter highlights the gaps in planning for marine habitats and wildlife and shows how leaving all decisions to the EES is insufficient.

We called on the government to strengthen the EES so it:

  • Aligns with the Marine and Coastal Act.
  • Implements a long-overdue marine spatial plan for Western Port Bay.
  • Fully justifies the project’s location and design.

These steps will safeguard Western Port Bay’s unique habitats and wildlife, uphold the credibility of Victoria’s environmental assessment processes, and make sure renewable energy development earns the social licence it deserves.

It’s vital this project restores public trust in the planning process and sets a positive precedent for renewable energy development in Victoria.

At the time of writing, the ministers have not yet responded to requests for a meeting. We hope our feedback will be taken on board.