News Archives - Save Westernport

Western Port Festival Needs YOU! 22 – 24 Feb 2019

Posted on February 14, 2019February 15, 2019 by Dale Stohr

Western Port Festival invites YOU to help celebrate its 50th anniversary!

The 50th Western Port Festival is coming to Hastings Foreshore from Friday 22 February – Sunday 24 February 2019.

Festival organisers decided to refuse sponsorship from gas corporation AGL as AGL wants to build a huge, dirty gas import factory at Crib Point.

The organisers made a gutsy decision and we could not be more proud of them.

Everybody is invited to the Festival, so come and show your support and let them know we’re on their side!

You can join the parade at 12:00pm on Saturday 23 Feb and enjoy all the attractions, live music and great food.

Save Westernport and our supporters will be marching in the parade and the Big Green Chair will feature too!

We’re on board to celebrate our wonderful bay and the festival that brings us together.

Join in, have fun and spread the word!

Western Port Festival

Celebrate World Wetlands Day

Posted on January 20, 2019 by Candy van Rood

Celebrate World Wetlands Day on a beautiful twilight cruise with Save Westernport.

Come and join us for an evening celebrating our bay with great company, fascinating commentary and magical sights.

Relax and enjoy a drink* and complimentary canapes while cruising around our own precious Ramsar Westernport Bay.

Thanks to a generous supporter tickets are only $30.00 per person (normally $48.50)

Wildlife Coast Cruises has kindly offered to pick us up and drop off at Stony Point Pier.

Details:

Please be at Stony Point Pier at 6.45pm.

Boarding commences at 7.00pm with a 7.15pm departure. Returning at 8.45pm.

More information: 0412 860 606

bring binoculars!

*drinks available for purchase from licensed bar

book tickets

Thank You for Supporting the Peninsula’s Biggest Paddle Out!

Posted on January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 by Dale Stohr

What a great day for Westernport Bay!

Sunday 6th January 2019 will be long remembered as the day that local residents and visitors to the Mornington Peninsula gathered to protest peacefully against AGL’s plan to build a floating gas factory in Westernport Bay.

Almost 2,000 people met at Pines Beach in Shoreham to show their support for Westernport Bay and send a message to AGL as well as the Victorian Government and Federal Government that we will not stand idly by and watch the bay be degraded and exploited by big industry. The Victorian Government must act on behalf of all concerned residents of the Mornington Peninsula rather than the fossil fuels industry that has been the cause of such environmental damage in the past.

Hundreds paddled out and formed a heart-shape before splashing their support for the Bay with an atmosphere that was relaxed and put a smile on everybody’s faces! Having so many people attend this inaugural event made it a truly special day for our community and Westernport Bay.

We even made the Channel Nine News, Channel 7 News, Herald-Sun and a fantastic Western Port News front page!

Back on the beach and live music was performed by Amber Ferraro, The Warraines and Lachlan Dunne, Taylah Carroll and Bridget Allan—a brilliant soundtrack to the day. Thanks to Ron (@peninsulasc) for providing us with the power.

Save Westernport is proud to have supported the “Peninsula’s Biggest Paddle Out” and the many generous people who contributed their time to organising this enormous community action spearheaded by Hinetera Marino and her talented and enthusiastic team including Louise, Kate, Candy and all the volunteers. Thank you to Deidre and the Shoreham Foreshore Committee for their support and on-going management and protection of Shoreham Foreshore. Huge thanks to Andrew, Adam and all at Point Leo Surf Lifesaving Club for patrolling on the day.

Gratitude to Leyla (@leylabulmer) as our campaign designer for her beautiful artwork and gratitude to Zoe (@robo_photo) our campaign film maker. Thanks to @ayten and @lucyfound that plastered the Peninsula with “Paddle Out” posters to inform our local communities.

MCs Jack, Harry and Nathan did an amazing job and a big thank you to Daria (@whatisapoidea) for arranging organic, fair trade tees for us a week out from Christmas and the crew @sunbutteroceans and @salty_rose for providing your downright inspiring products!

Save Westernport thanks everybody that attended and contributed to the ‘Paddle Out’ and we look forward to seeing you again……

Photo Contributions

Peninsula’s Biggest Paddle Out – Car Parking Map and Advice

Posted on January 5, 2019January 5, 2019 by swpadmin

Sunday, January 6th is the day! Due to the incredible response to the “Peninsula’s Biggest Paddle Out” this Sunday, please note that car parking will be limited around Pines Beach at Shoreham where the event will be taking place.

With hundreds of people confirming their attendance on Sunday and a wedding at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Byrnes Road, Shoreham, the need for participants to car pool or organise a drop-off (and pickup later) is essential!

Please refer to the car parking map below and plan your journey to Shoreham before leaving home. Once the car park at the beach is full, car parking will be along Byrnes Road and Cliff Road with a short walk down to the beach. Look for anybody who may be dropping people off at the beach and find out if you can grab a lift.

Some people are also planning on parking at Point Leo and walking or paddling around. Be considerate of residents, and find a place that works for you.

Note: No car parking is permitted on Frankston-Flinders Road or on private property.

You can read our original announcement about the event for schedule information and other useful links.

Volunteers will be in attendance to assist in managing traffic and giving lifts—please be patient and arrive early before the “Paddle Out” begins.

To participate, you’ll need to sign a waiver when you sign-in on the day. Here is a copy for you to read in advance so you can save time:

Download the Peninsula Paddle Out Waiver here.

Save Westernport is pleased to assist the community by using its media avenues to get information to the public.

Then you can just…

Stay safe and enjoy this epic Paddle Out. We might even beat the world record (it’s only 511 paddlers!)

Parking Map for the Event

Get On Board! Peninsula’s Biggest Paddle Out, January 6th

Posted on December 24, 2018January 5, 2019 by swpadmin

Save Westernport is excited to help spread the word about this joyous Summer event, and to join with community in a peaceful protest of AGL’s floating gas proposal at Crib Point. Join us at Pines Beach in Shoreham from 2pm onward to show your support and meet members and supporters of the cause!

Refer to our latest update for information about where to park on the day, and any other instructions you may need.

Continue reading “Get On Board! Peninsula’s Biggest Paddle Out, January 6th” →

EES Scoping Requirements – Want to make a Comment?

Posted on December 21, 2018December 25, 2018 by Dale Stohr

Christmas Eve was the extended deadline for public comments on the Draft Scoping Requirements for the EES. But don’t let that deter you. After all, Minister Wynne initially said he expected the EES process to begin in early 2019, UNTIL…AGL very undiplomatically managed the period for public comments to coincide with the lead up to the Holiday period, when we’re all crazy busy. Only now do many of us have the time available to read the draft report and submit our comments. Just explain this when you make your submission and remember: even though we have included an example letter below, Jack Krohn from DELWP told us that comments expressing individual’s concerns will be far more useful to them than 100 letters all saying the same thing! Please read our original article, which follows, and take the time to submit. Continue reading “EES Scoping Requirements – Want to make a Comment?” →

Yaniv Knobel on Unsplash

AGL Meeting at Hastings Draws Protest

Posted on December 21, 2018December 21, 2018 by swpadmin

The battle for public support for Western Port is heating up as AGL and Save Westernport paraded their respective claims in big billboards at a recent meeting in Hastings. Continue reading “AGL Meeting at Hastings Draws Protest” →

Save Westernport Wishes You A Safe and Happy New Year

Posted on December 2, 2018December 17, 2018 by Candy van Rood

Happy Holidays Everyone!

WOW! The Holidays are almost upon us—that happened quickly! And what a year… SO many twists and turns in the tale of our battle to protect this beautiful, rich Westernport environment from the harm of irresponsible and unnecessary development. It’s head spinning, and you definitely know you’re alive! Continue reading “Save Westernport Wishes You A Safe and Happy New Year” →

More News From Canberra – APA Gas Pipeline Now Requires Environmental Assessment!

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Dale Stohr

BREAKING NEWS – Following on the heels of yesterday’s announcement, the Department of the Environment and Energy in Canberra has decided that the proposed APA Gas Pipeline project will also need to be assessed and approved under the Federal Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) before it can proceed!

Currently taking part in the Victorian Government’s Environment Effects Statement (EES), APA will now need to provide further information such as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Under the EPBC Act, wetlands of international importance and listed threatened species and communities will be a focus of the APA environmental assessment.

Thank you again to everybody who made an EPBC submission on the proposed APA Gas Pipeline project between Crib Point and Pakenham – your voices have been heard!

You can find the announcement itself on the Department of Environment and Energy EPBC Notices website.

Save Westernport

Breaking News – AGL Project Requires Environmental Assessment Under Federal EPBC Act!

Posted on November 29, 2018November 29, 2018 by Dale Stohr

BREAKING NEWS – The Department of the Environment and Energy in Canberra has just announced that the AGL Gas Import Jetty project will need to be assessed and approved under the federal EPBC Act before it can proceed.

As well as taking part in the Victorian Environment Effects Study (EES) already underway, AGL will also need to provide further information such as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Thank you to everybody who recently made an EPBC submission to make the Federal Government aware of the significant environmental impacts of this AGL gas project! Save Westernport will keep you informed of further developments including a possible public inquiry into the AGL project in 2019.

You can find the announcement itself on the Department of Environment and Energy EBPC Notices website. Here is a link so you can look at the PDF.

Höegh LNG