THE THREAT
There is growing local concern about the lack of effort and inadequate means available to protect the environment on the Peninsula, and the precious ecosystems of Westernport Bay from inappropriate industrial activity and development.
It took an enormous commitment of funds, and unprecedented collaboration between the local community, prominent Environmental groups and the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to defeat AGL’s gas plans in 2021. But this will not always be possible.
Time and time again, big industry has shown it cannot be trusted to regulate itself, or to manage critical risk and safety concerns with thoroughness and accountability. Protecting the environment is not just the responsibility of community groups, with limited resources and an inevitable dependence on voluntary skills and labour. It is, and must be the job of decision makers in government, and of the commercial interests that benefit from an assumed state of entitlement to shared resources.
As we, and the planet, lurch from one environmental catastrophe to the next, rather than trying to figure out how much damage unique places like Westernport Bay can handle, it’s time to stop threatening them at all.
Current threats to Westernport in 2022
- Environmental damage from poor planning, inappropriate industrialisation and coastal developments.
- Inadequate bio-security measures by commercial users of the Port of Hastings.
- Expansion of the extractive sand mining industry within Westernport’s catchments. More information about that here: www.savewesternportwoodlands.org
- Biodiversity and habitat loss on land and within the marine environment.
- Insufficient statutory protections in place to conserve the Ramsar values, ecosystem services and unique endangered indigenous, flora and fauna.
- The risk from dredging and other impacts of commercial shipping, particularly decreased air and water quality from shipping emissions and increased turbidity.
Here is what we managed to prevent!
AGL’s Floating Storage Regasification Unit measuring 300m long x 45m wide
Permanently moored at Crib Point
Foreign LNG ships of the same size deliver to the FSRU
The construction of new gas infrastructure including a 56 km pipeline to Pakenham.
Environmental Damage
The industrialization of Westernport is based upon an archaic plan dating back to the 1960s. It is time to cease senseless damage to a precious resource so it remains viable for tourism and small businesses. This will sustain future generations and maintain recreation and healthy lifestyle for residents and visitors.
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Safety Concerns
Whether it be introduction of marine pests posing a threat to the natural environment, the discharge of cold and chlorinated water back into the ocean or the potential threat of gas explosions at Crib Point Jetty. The FSRU will not only present safety risks to the local whom live in the area but also the environment of which they will be destroying.
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Economical Impact
The FSRU will be built overseas, the training is overseas and the ships transporting the FSRU will be foreign owned and staffed. This operation undertaken by AGL will only provide 40 jobs to the local area and damage the local economy rather than enhancing it. An abundance of local businesses rely on healthy and attractive bay for fishing and tourism activities. Not to mention the value of real estate will decline and lead to less local investments affecting sporting events, tradespeople and shops.
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