In late 2025 Save Westernport made a Submission on Melbourne Water’s draft revision of the Western Port Ramsar Site Management Plan.

The new Ramsar Site Management Plan will determine how Western Port is managed in the decades ahead, and this was an important chance for community members to have a say.

Melbourne Water invited the public to share our feedback on the revised Western Port Ramsar Site Management Plan, to help them protect this vital ecosystem.

They said: 🌿 “The Western Port Ramsar site is internationally recognised for its rich biodiversity, vital bird habitats and network of wetlands. It plays a key role in keeping waterways healthy, filtering fresh water and supporting marine and coastal ecosystems.

But like many wetlands, it faces growing pressures including urban growth and habitat loss.

That’s why we’re updating the Western Port Ramsar Management Plan to protect the sites precious wetlands for the next seven years. Our team of experts and community representatives have drafted a plan that considers every angle – now we want to hear from you.”

Read Save Westernport’s submission on the draft revised Western Port Ramsar Site Management Plan

A few of our Comments:

– As a Ramsar site of global significance, Westernport’s management must comply with all international obligations determined by the Ramsar convention on Wetlands.

-Westernport’s management must plan for the impacts of climate change on marine and coastal ecosystems.

-Westernport’s capacity to act as a biological carbon sink is an asset that must be prioritised, and the value of its Blue Carbon potential for CO2 biosequestration must be quantified and protected.

-Westernport needs a dedicated management plan, with Marine Spatial Planning to determine areas that are incompatible with new— and existing— development.

In 2022 Save Westernport collaborated with Vic National Parks Association (VNPA) and the Western Port Biosphere, and drafted a Strategic Management Plan for Westernport. Read our Strategic Management Framework here

and sign up to support the Framework at https://www.actforwesternportbay.au

 

Read Melbourne Water’s draft Revised Western Port Ramsar Site Management Plan

For more please visit   https://letstalk.melbournewater.com.au/western-port-ramsar

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Save Westernport also submitted our objections to the proposed expansion of  ‘The Eagle’ tourist development at Arthurs Seat on the Mornington Peninsula.

Community group Save Our Seat has been leading community opposition to the plans at Arthurs Seat since discovering that the owner/developers are seeking govt approval of a $25 million commercial tourism expansion on State Park land at Arthurs Seat (Wonga) that if approved would include:
– A roller coaster-like Luge ride on tracks running on the escarpment from top to the bottom.
– A 34-metre-high viewing tower at the summit (equivalent to 13 storeys).
– Demolition and re-build of the base station building, built just 10 years ago.

Save Our Seat urged the public to resist the expansion of this commercial development by submitting our objections to a proposal that would exploit and threaten wildlife and detract from public enjoyment of Arthurs Seat State park, on public land belonging to us all!

For updates and more information, please visit Save Our Seat

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