Open for Comments, the 2025 Draft Council Plan and Public Health Plan
Drafts of the 2025 Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Council Plan and Health & Wellbeing Plan are open for public review until next Wednesday 2 July.
We urge you to have your say on the Council website here: Our Peninsula, Our Future | Shape Our Future
And please sign our Petition to reinstate Council’s 2019 Climate Emergency declaration and Plan https://www.change.org/p/save-our-mp-climate-emergency-plan
Our trusted Councillors have urged us to use this public comments opportunity to bring the Council’s attention to the widespread anger and disapproval about recent controversial decisions, including the narrow vote to dump the Council’s 2020 Climate Emergency Response Plan
Even if you do not have time to do an in-depth review, it is vital that you let them know that Climate Change is an issue you are concerned about and that you expect your Council to act on.
It’s our chance to let the Council know that Climate Change Preparedness and Resilience are vital to our Health and Wellbeing.
If we do not tell them, they assume we do not think it is important.
The more comments the Council receives— the greater consideration they must give the matter.
We urge you to have your say.
For details read Save Westernport’s latest Newsletter,
And view our new website here.
After the removal of the Climate Emergency Plan (CEP) there is now very little focus on Climate Change in their strategic plans, other than managing the effects and issues caused by a heating climate, as they arise. Clearly this is unacceptable, with climate change constituting a very real public health risk and the Council has a duty of care to protect residents from foreseeable dangers and threats.
Helpful information is also available in the latest Repower Newsletter which contains further details about the Council’s Plan and Public Health Plan, together with suggestions about how you can have your say.
It’s noted that the Council’s draft Plans, which are now open for public comment…
- Do not include an assessment of expected climate impacts on the Peninsula
- Make no attempt at, nor even mention emissions reduction
- Included climate items do not refer to any overall climate change and emissions strategy
- The strong theme is about responding to events when they happen, rather than on preparations to halt, or at least reduce the impacts from those events before they happen
Without a climate plan and overarching strategy all listed items are ad hoc and ineffective, without appropriate context or priority.
The direct health and wellbeing impacts of climate change are predicted to include deaths, injuries, and ill health due to increases in respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, mental illness, allergies, injuries, poisoning, dehydration and malnutrition.
In addition, climate change is expected to indirectly impact the social determinants of health, including socio-economic status, education, housing, transport, food security, and social connections. Resilience to climate change is interconnected with other social factors including income, housing security and through individual factors such as age, gender, disability, and cultural background.
There are numerous co-benefits to addressing the health and wellbeing impacts climate change such as improved mental health, reduced deaths from extreme heat, and reduced cardiovascular and respiratory disease.
Without a dedicated plan in place our Council has left the Shire vulnerable to the impacts of Climate Change, including recognised increases in coastal inundation and sea level rise.
In a Shire with over 200km of coastline, does this breach the Council’s Duty of Care?
Make sure you have your say here
Thankyou, from the Save Westernport Steering Committee.
Make a Submission on the EPBC referral for the Windfarm Terminal proposed in Westernport Bay
On June 26 the Port of Hastings Corporation (PoHC) lodged a new referral for the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal, to set up Victoria’s Offshore Windfarms in Bass Strait.
As the project is proposed within the Western Port Ramsar Wetland, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, this referral is a necessary step for the project to begin Commonwealth environmental assessment, as approvals are required if the project is to proceed.
The PoHC has undertaken preliminary environmental assessments and studies to inform the referral, and their EPBC referral is now available on the EPBC Act Public Portal.
It will be open for public comment for 10 business days, until Weds July 9.
Save Westernport urges our members and supporters to make a quick submission while the referral is open for public comment, saying the project MUST BE Assessed as A CONTROLLED ACTION under the EPBC Act (1999).
Why? Because this would be an enormous project in Westernport Bay, with significant potential environmental and social impacts needing careful assessment.
To assist in navigating the documentation attached to the EPBC referral, PoHC has prepared a reader’s guide and a virtual tour video to make the material more accessible and easier to navigate.
The video can be accessed either on their EPBC webpage here, or on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAwsl82PFQk&t
The Port of Hastings’ reader’s guide can also be accessed directly on their resources page here: https://renewableenergyterminal.com.au/community/resources.
You may recall that former Environment Minister Tania Plibersek REJECTED the Port of Hastings Corp’s original referral for the construction and operation of the proposed Windfarm Terminal because she found the project’s impacts on Western Port would be “clearly unacceptable”.
We know that Victoria’s Renewable Energy Terminal or V-RET would operate 24/7 to set up offshore Windfarms in time to meet the government’s emissions reduction targets. The resulting increase in shipping volumes in the Port would inevitably mobilise sediment and increase turbidity. Both are known causes of dieback in mangroves, seagrass and other marine species
When the Federal Minister for the Environment determined that the Terminal as proposed in the 2023 Referral would have ‘clearly unacceptable’ impacts, the Minister provided a ‘Statement of Reasons’ document that outlined why the Terminal Project could not proceed.
In response to the Minister’s decision and Statement of Reasons, the PoHC claims to have developed a substantially modified Project. Att 1 Statement of Reasons, that they say sets out how the design and assessment of the Project specifically addresses each of the issues identified in Minister Plibersek’s comprehensive Statement of Reasons for her 2024 decision to reject the original EPBC referral.
You can use your submission to tell the federal government that Westernport’s unique environment must not be compromised or degraded for any reason— particularly not for a project aimed at creating “sustainable energy”, which was initially rejected based on serious environmental concerns.
The PoHC’s reports on the project’s marine and bird life studies etc are available on the EPBC website for comment now:
See referral # 2025/10224 on the EPBC website:
https://epbcpublicportal.environment.gov.au/all-referrals/
Make your submission as brief or as detailed as you want, but remember to lodge it on the EPBC website BEFORE July 9th 2025
If you need more time to comment, please contact the Referrals Gateway team:
- Email: EPBC.Referrals@dcceew.gov.au
- Phone: 1800 423 135 between 9am and 5pm
Let them know that you intend to make a submission and request an extension.
The enormous extent of this proposal is evident in the Port of Hastings Corporation’s Project Description from their referral:
Proposed Action – This New Referral
PoHC proposes to develop and operate additional infrastructure within the existing port to serve as a laydown and assembly area for the development of Offshore Wind (OSW) along the coast of Victoria, to support meeting State and Commonwealth renewable energy generation targets. The Project would include onshore development, land reclamation, construction of a quay wall and apron and dredging. The Project would consist primarily of heavy-duty pavements or concrete decking on existing and reclaimed land and supported by piles. The Project would allow for storage of cargo and associated handling equipment for the pre-assembly of OSW components.
The Project Area is approximately 148.8ha with a Disturbance Footprint of 76.3ha.
The proposed Project comprises onshore and marine components, where ‘onshore’ refers to the final form of the Project (i.e. it includes reclaimed land).
The onshore component would be approximately 43 hectares (ha) in size (25ha of the existing Old Tyabb Reclamation Area (OTRA) site and 18ha of newly reclaimed land) and be made up of the following key areas:
Operational area – Approximately 37ha; and
Quay apron – Approximately 6ha; and
Revetment required to the north and south of the reclamation area.
The marine components comprise the:
Quay wall;
Shipping channel;
Berth pocket; and
Swing basin.
Key onshore and marine components that would make up the Project are shown in Att 2, Fig 3,p10.
The construction of the Project would require onshore and marine works. The sequence of the onshore works would comprise:
OTRA (Old Tyabb Reclamation Area) site clearance
Ground improvement work
Establishment of site offices, warehouse and car parks
Service installation
Pavement laying
The marine works would include:
Quay wall establishment (retaining structure)
Reclamation
Dredging and scour protection.
The sequencing of marine works is dependent on the final design.
Construction
The final construction methodology is under development and will be progressed through the preparation of the Project’s impact assessment.
Ground improvement
Ground improvement is required to ensure the ground surface at the Terminal would be sufficient to handle the heavy loads of OSW equipment. Due to varying existing ground conditions and site constraints, four ground improvement methodologies may to be implemented at different areas to reduce post-construction settlement. These include:
Surcharging – Importing a layer of fill, known as surcharge, across an area to accelerate consolidation of soils beneath the load.
Dynamic Compaction – Use of High Energy Impact Compaction to enhance soil density and strength by applying repeated high-energy impact
Mass Soil Mixing – Mechanically blending in-situ soil with stabilising agents, such as cement or lime, to increase strength, stiffness and durability
Mudcrete – Mixing dredged marine sediments with stabilising agents, such as cement or slag-lime blends, to produce a stronger, more stable fill material.
Quay Wall
The retaining structure proposed is a steel piled quay wall. The configuration outlined in the attachments is a twin wall quay structure comprising of two parallel rows of piles driven into the ground and connected by a system of tie rods at one or more levels. The space between the walls is generally filled with granular materials such as sand or gravel. The twin wall quay structure would be largely constructed by floating plant (pile driving rigs on barges). As the design progresses, variations on a steel piled quay wall will be investigated. An alternative configuration is to undertake all reclamation works initially and then construct the quay wall by land-based piling rigs. These, and potentially other similar configurations will be assessed during the impact assessment process to determine the optimal solution.
Reclamation
The reclamation process would operate in parallel with the dredging program. Prior to any reclamation works a 1,100m long temporary silt curtain would be installed around the planned reclaimed area to mitigate turbidity plumes from the reclamation process.
Dredging
For the Terminal to support the development of OSW, the approach channel depth would need to be deepened to account for tide changes and vessel draught. As a result, dredging would be required:
Adjacent to the berth – deepening of the berth pocket would allow vessels to moor at all states of tide. A layer of scour protection rock would be installed to prevent seabed disturbance caused by vessel propellers, bow and side thrusters
In areas of the approach channel and swing basin – to widen and deepen these areas so that the supply and offshore installation vessels can pass safely. This would consist of localised dredging (in specific areas) to ensure that at low states of tide, a navigable water depth is maintained within the channel
Dredging would be undertaken by a medium sized backhoe dredge, with a bucket of approximately 5m3 and three hopper barges. Dredging works would take place 24/7, dredged material will be transported to the reclamation area and incorporated into the new landform once the dredge material is treated.
The Project description (Att 2 Project Description) and preliminary impact assessments included in this referral have assumed that dredging would be required to develop the berth pocket, approach channel and swing basin and would be completed in a single campaign which would take approximately 5 months. Depending on the outcome of further studies and refinement of the project design, there is a possibility that the berth pocket and quay wall will need to be deepened further to ensure that the seabed is stable enough to support the legs of jack up vessels. The amount of material required to be removed in this location will depend on the results of further geotechnical testing and impact assessment.
Operations
Onshore operational activities would typically include receival, storage, inspection, fit out and transport of large numbers of the foundation units (FOUs), wind turbine generators (WTGs) and electrical components. The operational area needs considerable storage capacity to stockpile large numbers of units due to the vulnerability of a long international supply chain.
OSW farm construction can be categorised into two separate scopes: the assembly and installation of FOUs and the assembly and installation of WTGs. The Terminal has been designed to accommodate both the assembly and installation of FOUs and the assembly and installation of WTGs at the same time within certain criteria and limitations.
The onshore load-on and load-off operations and movement around the Terminal would largely be facilitated by self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) and high-capacity cranes.
The key components of an OSW turbine and foundation would be shipped to the Terminal and stored and partially assembled on site. The following OSW equipment will likely be stored, prepared and partially assembled for OSW farm installation:
Monopile and transition pieces
Jackets and pin piles
WTG towers
Blades
Nacelles
There are four distinct design vessel types that could transport and install turbines and foundations that would use the Terminal:
WTG offshore installation vessels
FOU offshore installation vessels
Semi-submersible roll on roll off (RORO) vessels
General cargo vessels
Typical OSW farm development would require use of the Terminal as an assembly port for a minimum two-year period. The construction of such a wind farm would comprise the following:
General cargo vessels would deliver the pin piles to the Terminal. Semi-submersible RORO vessels would deliver jacket foundations
Jack up installation vessel would pick up pin piles at the Terminal and install them at an OSW farm
Foundation installation vessel would load-in jacket foundations at the Terminal and install them at an OSW farm
WTG transportation vessels would deliver WTG components (blades, nacelles, tower sections) to the Terminal and tower sections would be assembled
WTG offshore installation vessel would load components at the Terminal and install them at an OSW farm
Maintenance Dredging and Seabed Levelling
It is not anticipated that regular maintenance dredging would be required as part of Terminal operations. The last recorded maintenance dredging program at the Port was in 1994 in the main shipping channel. Seabed levelling may be required, however has been historically infrequent in Western Port due to limited sediment build up as a result of fast moving currents.
Decommissioning
Decommissioning of the Terminal isn’t likely in the foreseeable future. The history of port assets of this scale and nature is that they are repurposed and upgraded. The design life of the facility is 50 years, with ongoing maintenance required if decommissioning is not likely to occur.
Related activities – Shipping Channel and Anchorage
It is necessary to amend the mapping of the shipping channel and nearby anchorage area should the Terminal be approved. At this stage, these changes have not been defined, however they will be near the existing shipping channel and anchorage and wholly within the declared Port of Hastings limits. Amendments to anchorages are implemented by Ports Victoria.”
* Save Westernport has repeatedly requested the selection criteria that the State government used to determine that the Port of Hastings was their “preferred location” for Victoria’s Renewable Energy Terminal (VRET) proposal.
Despite the PoHC’s claim that no other suitable locations are possible, we know that alternative sites do exist. With a unique, internationally recognised wetland at risk, we’re convinced that cost alone should not be the sole factor in naming Westernport as the preferred location.
Petition to Restore Climate Action to Mornington Peninsula
Please Sign and Share our new Petition urging MP Council to restore Action on Climate Change
https://www.change.org/p/save-our-mp-climate-emergency-plan
(The DONATE button with this petition is optional only and all proceeds go to Change.org To support Save Westernport directly please visit https://savewesternport.org/donate/ )
By signing this petition you’ll show the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council that you do not support their decision to abandon the Climate Emergency Declaration and Climate Emergency Action Plan, and let them know they must reverse this decision.
This petition was generated by a coalition of Mornington Peninsula climate and environmental groups, including Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network, Save Westernport, the Victorian Farmers Federation Peninsula Branch, Flinders Zero Carbon Community, Repower Mornington Peninsula, and
Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation Group.
What is the issue?
On 22 April, 2025 the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council (MPSC) revoked their commitment to meaningful action on climate change by rescinding the Strategic Climate Emergency Plan 2020 – 2030 and the Climate Emergency Declaration.
Both the Climate Emergency Declaration and the Climate Emergency Plan (CEP) were developed after widespread community consultation and were supported by 92% of Shire residents in 2019/20.
The CEP provided a strategic approach to addressing the major present and future dangers to our environment and community from climate change.
The Peninsula is particularly vulnerable to the increased frequency of extreme weather events caused by climate change such as heat waves, bushfires, flooding, and drought, with disruptive effects on the local environment, as well as financial costs to the community, agriculture, and tourism.
Council, under Victorian legislation, has a duty of care to manage foreseeable risks in relation to climate change. The Climate Emergency Plan provided a framework by which all Council actions would be guided and was achieving impressive outcomes.
Without a coherent and strategic plan any meaningful action on climate change will be very problematic.
We are deeply concerned that these changes in Council’s priorities were made with:
- No prior notice
- No specific community consultation
- No associated business plan to assess the potential implications for the peoples, environment, agriculture, or commercial activities of the Peninsula.
We do not accept Council’s misleading and inaccurate claims that the work done under the Climate Emergency Plan was a waste of resources. If there were issues with any specific actions, these should have been reviewed and dealt with as needed, rather than throwing out the entire Plan and the Climate Emergency Declaration.
We note that such Declarations and Plans are central to climate actions across most local government councils including all those surrounding our municipality. MPSC is out of step.
Please sign this petition
Show the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council that you do not support their decision to abandon the Climate Emergency Declaration and Climate Emergency Action Plan and ask that they reverse this decision.
We respectfully and urgently request that MPSC:
- Reinstates both the Climate Emergency Declaration, and the Climate Emergency Plan, with effective funding and staffing for 2025-26;
- Commits to extensive community consultation prior to any further changes to the Climate Emergency Plan;
- Meets their responsibility to present and future generations by continuing to address the growing challenges of a changing Mornington Peninsula climate, through the strategic, targeted approach of a Climate Emergency Plan.
Please share and repost everywhere you can.
Read our latest Newsletter about the Special Meeting we held on May 14 to discuss recent Council cuts.
Our trusted Councillors are urging us to view the MP Shire Council’s 2025-26 Plan, and draft Health and Wellbeing Plan, and submit our comments while these Council Plans for the NEXT 4 YEARS are open for consultation UNTIL July 2nd 2025 .
Review the Council’s Plans and submit your comments HERE
https://shape.mornpen.vic.gov.au/
This is one of the most effective actions we can take to tell decision makers in Council our heartfelt concerns about unnecessary cuts to Climate Action, and to worthy Arts and Culture programs on the Peninsula.
Visit https://shape.mornpen.vic.gov.au/budget-2025-26
Help Resist the influence of what many perceive as an undemocratic voting bloc on the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council!
Join us for our upcoming AGM!
Save Westernport will hold its FY 2023-24 Annual General Meeting at 6.45 pm on Wednesday, 14th May 2025 via Zoom.
Once official business has concluded we will address the recent Mornington Peninsula Shire Council decision to scrap its Climate Emergency Response Plan. In particular the focus will be on potential impacts this decision will have for Westernport Bay.All are welcome so please RSVP to savewesternport@gmail.com and include “AGM” in the subject line.
Save Westernport’s annual membership subscriptions are now due for renewal. To update your $20 Membership or sign up to become a member, please click the Become A Member button on our website or call 0425306830 for assistance.
Our ongoing work to protect Warrn Marin — Westernport Bay relies on the generous support of valued Members like you. Current Membership also means you can vote at the AGM. We hope to see you there!
Save Westernport Surveys Flinders Candidates ahead of the 2025 Federal Election
Save Westernport sent out a Questionnaire to all candidates for the seat of Flinders, to assist our members, supporters and friends better understand our candidates’ views on some important Federal and local environmental matters that we care about.
This is a critical election for several of these issues, and we hope these responses will provide voters with a new source of factual information to consider when determining your primary vote and preferences.
We thank the candidates for responding during this very busy time, noting that neither Zoe McKenzie (LNP) or Adam Frogley (the Greens) replied before our deadline.
Read the Questionnaire and Candidates’ responses HERE
Image: Western Port Biosphere
Save WP’s Submission on the Draft Scoping Requirements for the Windfarm EES
The Victorian government is committed to locating several Offshore Windfarms in Bass Strait, to supply renewable energy to meet the State’s energy needs and legislated emissions reduction targets.
In 2022 the government named the Port of Hastings and Westernport Bay as the “preferred location” for the terminal to roll out the State’s Offshore Windfarms.
An Environmental Effects Statement, or EES to assess the impacts of locating Victoria’s Renewable Energy Terminal in Westernport Bay began last month with the release of the Draft Scoping Requirements.
Their release in November was followed by a 20 day period for public comments. Save Westernport prepared a submission of comments and recommendations on the Draft Scoping Requirements (or Terms of Reference) for the EES.
The EES is expected to begin by mid 2025 and will continue for several months, assessing the potential impacts of constructing the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal (VRET) within Westernport’s Ramsar wetlands. EES referral reports and information about the project is available on the EngageVic website for the VRET EES.
The Port of Hastings is finalising their EES project reports, including bird and marine surveys, impacts on local amenity, safety, and traffic etc. Once the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) has accepted the Port’s Environment Effects Statement for the VRET, they’ll release it for public comments for a period of 40 days.
This will be the public’s main opportunity to present their views on the project, by making submissions to the Minister’s Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) that oversees the EES.
We can also choose to present our submissions to the Independent Advisory Committee during the public EES Hearing. The IAC will consider public submissions and expert witness advice on the Port of Hastings’ proposal in their assessment of the project’s impacts.
The location of the VRET within Westernport’s Ramsar wetlands means that before it can be approved, the Port of Hastings as the project’s proponents, must demonstrate that all environmental impacts can be effectively managed and minimised, particularly from the extensive dredging and land reclamation to construct the terminal at its location in one of the shallowest areas in the Bay.
In their determination for the project to proceed, the Victorian government has pushed back against Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s December 2023 decision to reject the original referral for the project’s initial design, under Commonwealth Environmental Protection & Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) laws.
Following the Minister’s decision, the Victorian government instructed the Port of Hastings to redesign the VRET within a smaller project footprint. Its approval will depend on a significant decrease in the area needed for dredging and land reclamation. As the major cause of turbidity, these impacts represent the greatest threat to the wetlands from the loss of seagrass coverage. The full extent of these impacts were described in detail in Minister Plibersek’s Statement of Reasons for rejecting the Port of Hastings’ initial EPBC referral.
Save Westernport will continue to keep you updated as the EES proceeds, and we’ll let you know when it’s time to make your submission. Sign up here to receive our Newsletter updates.
Save Westernport and our allies know the important role that the record number of public submissions on the AGL proposal played in that project’s EES assessment in 2021.
We’ll be encouraging as many of you as possible to make submissions on this plan to locate the VRET for the State’s Offshore Windfarms within Westernport Bay.
Save Westernport supports the Victorian government’s commitment to transitioning to renewable energy, but we will only support this Windfarm terminal if it follows World’s Best Practice at every stage during construction and operation, and its location does not negatively impact the conservation values of Westernport’s Ramsar wetlands and protected species.
Please support our voluntary work by becoming a Member of Save Westernport, or donate to Save Westernport here.
Thank you.
Westernport
Westernport’s internationally recognised ecosystems are home to amazing wildlife, incredibly diverse wetlands and idyllic beaches. But, if you’re reading this you probably know just how special Westernport Bay is. This is why generations have fought to protect it – and now it’s our turn.
Endangered Species
The critically endangered Eastern Curlew uses Westernport’s wetlands to feed and recover before returning on the long journey back to its breeding grounds in Siberia. With fewer than 70 in the wild, the equally endangered Orange-bellied Parrot also uses Westernport’s resources over winter before returning to summer in Tasmania. They are the world’s only migratory parrot, and this year Westernport was chosen as the perfect site to release hand-raised chicks that will increase wild populations. These are just two of many endangered species that rely on the ecology of the Bay for survival.
Recovering Wetland
Westernport’s wetlands are undergoing a long recovery from damage caused by agricultural run-off and industrial pollution in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Countless plants and animals have re-established themselves and their future looks good, as long as we can stop any further industrialization of Westernport.
Stop the destruction
The inappropriate demands of heavy industry that defined the Port of Hastings in the 1960s must now be weighed against the urgent need to protect biodiversity and prevent ecosystem collapse. Nothing short of world’s best practice can reverse the damage. You can help by becoming a member of Save Westernport, and by signing up for our newsletter updates here.
Stop The Threat!
Many large corporations and even our own Victorian Government still regard Westernport as a potential heavy industry zone or port. Our work is ‘cut out for us’ in our passion to protect this unique biosphere, & Ramsar designated wetlands.
Scroll down to find out more.
Upcoming Events
Looking to see what we’re all about here at Save Westernport? Come along to one of our upcoming events to get a better idea of what we’re all about and what you can do to help!
