Wednesday, 1 November 2023

 Jordan CRUGNALE (Bass) (19:02): (412) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Environment, and the action I seek is that the minister join me and my neighbouring government MP colleagues and meet representatives from the Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation, with a focus to discuss their vision and advocacy for a whole-of-bay approach by way of a strategic management plan and framework akin to the Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan 2017–2027. Western Port Bay is a critical economic and environmental asset. It includes French Island and Phillip Island, the Yaringa Marine National Park and the Port of Hastings. It is the second-largest bay in Victoria, has the Ramsar wetlands and is Victoria’s only UNESCO biosphere, one of four in Australia.

CEO Mel Barker and her team are doing remarkable work. They have effectively brought the community, agencies, councils, research institutions and industry stakeholders around the bay together and worked side by side and in partnership with the Bunurong Land Council, so much so that just in August we announced grants totalling $1.2 million to be shared between them for planning and restoration projects all to help futureproof this unique coastal biodiversity as well as working towards optimising the blue carbon storage capacity the reserve provides through its extensive mangroves and wetlands. That same month they also held an All Things Western Port community forum hosted by Melbourne Water to connect community members and stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities of this unique region and also to hear updates on research and progress on key environmental work.

So invested is our community I am going to mention a sliver of the community groups, organisations and agencies that have input into and support the development of a whole-of-bay approach. In my electorate this includes Moonlit Sanctuary in Pearcedale, the Phillip Island Conservation Society, Phillip Island Nature Parks, the Save Western Port Woodlands group, Western Port Catchment Landcare Network, Bass Coast Landcare Network and Western Port Seagrass Partnership. To name a few in the surrounds, they are Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association, Blue Wedges, Crib Point Stony Point Foreshore Committee of Management, French Island Community Association, Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council, Deakin Uni, La Trobe Uni, Dolphin Research Institute, Environment Victoria and the Victorian National Parks Association.

I want to take this opportunity to reiterate that my support for an overarching strategic plan continues. I also want to thank the over 250 community members that have written postcards and the local schools that have also done drawings of what they love about the area and what they want to see protected. Thanks to the local community environmental organisations that I have met with, all calling for a coordinated whole-of-bay approach. Thank you, Minister. We so look forward to seeing you in this stunning, special, world-renowned Western Port UNESCO biosphere region.