Picture: Gary Sissons

A “DROWN-IN” by members of Western Port Extinction Rebellion at Balnarring last Friday aimed to raise “climate crisis as a local issue and not just city centric”.

Organiser Murray Lindsell Turner said the action at the village shopping centre promoted the science behind climate change and asked people about their concerns about being in a time designated as a climate emergency.

“Morning Peninsula Shire Council has already declared a climate emergency and are actioning the policies required to help future residents understand the effects of climate change at unprecedented rates,” Mr Turner said.

“Already discussions of an 80 centimetre sea level rise around the peninsula are part of policy design.”

Mr Turner said hotter summer days and extensive heavy rainfall “all require better planning for roads, stormwater design and access to safe zones for fire, flood and storm emergencies”.

Extinction Rebellion wanted to form a “citizens assembly” on the peninsula to “help determine what is the best way forward and also to inform local, state and federal governments of policies needed”.

“This Drown-In at Balnarring will highlight the urgency for change locally and, hopefully, inform the community that action is needed,” Mr Turner said.

Statements about issues on future generations’ health and security were displayed on boogie boards.

Mr Turner said the non-violent group was a broad cross section of Western Port residents with “well-informed data and understanding of the current climate emergency”.

“We expect our elected representatives to rise to the challenge or get out of the way,” he said. “There is no time for uncertainty or denial of science.”

First published in the Western Port News – 26 February 2020