Nature’s Voice
Victorian National Parks Association newsletter
Number 20 | April-May 2014
Collision course set in Westernport Bay Quail Island Nature Conservation Reserve
Yaringa Marine National Park
Simon Branigan Marine & Coastal Project Officer
French Island Marine National Park
HASTINGS Long Island Point Jetty
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ictoria’s Westernport Bay is shaping up as a litmus test for federal environment minister Greg Hunt after two new expert reports heightened fears for the bay’s internationally significant birdlife if the massive Hastings port expansion goes ahead. New research shows that a number of nationally threatened migratory bird species will be put at risk from oil spills, dredging, land clearing and vessel wash if the Port of Hastings expansion gets the green light. Despite Westernport Bay being Victoria’s water sports playground and a sanctuary for migratory birds, the Napthine Government plans to turn it into a container ship super highway, with shipping traffic projected to increase from around 100 ships a year to more than 3000. Under this scenario even a relatively small fuel oil spill would spread very quickly and be impossible to clean up before the damage is done. Planning and survey work is already underway, so it’s critical that Greg Hunt outlines a clear plan for protecting globally significant birdlife habitat from the risks of oil spills and port works under national conservation laws.
Inside
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Fight for bandicoot wildlife corridors
CRIB POINT
FRENCH ISLAND
French Island National Park 10km 5.4Nm
McHaffies Reef
Reef Island & Bass River Mouth Nature Conservation
PHILLIP ISLAND
Churchill Island Marine National Park Phillip Island Nature Park Shipping channel
Roosting sites
National Park Conservation Reserve / Nature Park
He needs to act sooner rather than later by ensuring that there is independent and rigorous federal government oversight of this statesponsored development. The Abbott Government has a policy of handing back development approval powers to state governments as part of its plan to create a “onestop shop” and streamline national
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Logging in national parks?
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Primary foraging habitat Marine National Park
environmental approvals. We need Greg Hunt, as the local member for Flinders and Australia’s federal environment minister, to remain true to his commitments before the last federal election when he said that if there is a conflict of interest in projects, such as Continued page 2
Environment minister gets thumbs down