Thursday, 18 May 2023

 Jordan CRUGNALE (Bass) (17:21): (190) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Water, and the action I seek is that the minister join me at the opening of the South East Water discovery lab at the Moonlit Sanctuary. The Moonlit Sanctuary is now in the electorate of Bass, and we love it, in Pearcedale. It is an amazing place for locals, visitors, students and families to come and see native Australian wildlife, butterflies and plants – you name it, it is all there – and learn more about their protection.

Pauline Richards interjected.

Jordan CRUGNALE: And birds. Thank you, member for Cranbourne. They have got a great night tour as well, where you get to feed some kangaroos and wallabies. The member for Hastings knows that too. Langwarrin Creek runs right through the sanctuary, and the discovery lab has been built to provide ongoing monitoring of the creek’s water quality before it flows into our beautiful Western Port Bay. The discovery lab will also be an education facility and will allow students, volunteers and members of the public to test the creek water quality by surveying water bugs. I am told water bugs are a great biological indicator of the health of the creek and play an important role in identifying pollution in our waterways as well as supporting native wildlife, including fish, frogs, rakalis and even platypuses. This amazing facility has been made possible with $35,000 from the Moonlit Sanctuary and a $7000 community grant from our local water corporation South East Water as part of their wonderful community grants program. I would be delighted for the minister to join with me – and maybe the members for Hastings and Cranbourne would like to come along as well – to see this amazing new discovery lab.

Brad Battin: What about over here?

Jordan CRUGNALE: Would you like to come as well? It is going to be a huge asset to our local community.