PARK WATCH Article December 2024 |

Shannon Hurley explores the wildlife of Western Port’s wetlands and the people working to protect them, along with updates on the Framework and proposed energy terminal

Western Port community series

Our first community webinar broke a VNPA record, attracting nearly 500 participants! This phenomenal turnout highlights the dedication of the Western Port Bay community. The webinar was a collaborative effort between VNPA and the Western Port Biosphere Foundation, with support from Coastcare.

Marine champions shared valuable insights into the seagrass, dolphins, whales, brachiopods, and other marine species that make these wetlands so unique. We learnt:

  • There are 18 resident dolphins that hang out in Western Port Bay, in the areas between Somers and Shoreham.
  • Western Port Bay has hard corals and is world-renowned for its diversity of hydroids (stationary predators related to jellyfish).
  • Seagrass are plants, not algae!

The recording is available at VNPA’s YouTube channel.

Some of the marine champs include Dave Donnelly and Jeff Weir from the Dolphin Research Institute, and Oli from Deakin University.

Western Port Framework

Our advocacy for the Western Port Bay Framework is gaining momentum. The Environment and Tourism Minister has been briefed, and the Marine and Coastal Council have indicated support. Now, we need a public commitment and funding to bring this vision to life.

We’ve identified the ideal tool to make the Western Port Framework effective and sustainable while balancing diverse interests: a marine spatial plan for Western Port. Despite a commitment under Victoria’s Marine and Coastal Policy, there’s still no sign of a marine spatial plan being delivered. Time is running out if Victoria is to honor its promises to protect our marine treasures.

Western Port is an exceptional candidate for Victoria’s first pilot project. As Victoria’s second-largest bay, its rapidly declining wetlands are an obvious choice for prioritisation and protection.

Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal (VRET)

In January, the Federal Environment Minister rejected the Port of Hastings proposed expansion to assemble and transport offshore wind materials. This decision was welcomed by nature and community groups due to the serious risks it posed to the Ramsar-listed wetlands of Western Port.

Now the project is back for a second review. The Port of Hastings, representing the Victorian Government, is preparing an alternative proposal for assessment. We understand that this new proposal aims to reduce the dredging footprint and scale back previously proposed land reclamation.

The revised proposal is expected to be released in early 2025.

It’s essential this project is carefully planned to protect Western Port’s wetlands. This is why we continue to push for the adoption of a marine spatial plan under the Western Port Framework.