MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is again calling on the state government to “develop a strategic framework” for Western Port. According to the shire the framework should include the restoration and protection of Western Port’s marine environment and catchment area. It would also establish an “ecologically sustainable and thriving economy”.
The shire’s meeting was held later on the same day that the business lobby group Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula held a Future Forum which will also see state and MPs come under pressure over developments in Western Port.
The shire’s policy update for the Port of Hastings comes in the wake of federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek ruling that plans for a terminal to assemble offshore wind turbines at Hastings were unacceptable. Plans for a plant to liquify hydrogen gas produced from brown coal in the Latrobe Vally have yet to be submitted to Plibersek even though the Victorian and federal governments have each agreed to pay $50 million towards the project. The shire lists “recreation, nature conservation and tourism” among its “major considerations” in planning for Western Port.
The council at its Tuesday 16 April public meeting called for “certainty” from the state government in regard to the future of the port and the release of land not be needed for the port “to unlock the potential of this region and provide much needed land for housing, employment, agriculture and conservation”.
In a lengthy five-part decision, the council said it supported the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and wanted “a local green economy” but pointed out that Western Port’s wetlands were of international importance and any potential negative impacts should be carefully considered. Before making their decision councillors received a comprehensive report by strategic project planning officer Ersi Ni outlining the background to the shire’s current Western Port policy.
The Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula’s Future Forum was attended by MPs, councillors (Frankston and Mornington Peninsula), business representatives and no-for-profit organisations who “discussed the long-term vision and strategy required for the peninsula and Frankston to respond to the challenges which will be thrown at us over the next 20 years”. Committee CEO Josh Sinclair said discussions at the forum would help “form the basis of the committee’s strategic plan and future advocacy projects”.
Issues included affordable housing for “key” workers and visitors; public transport; rezoning land at Hastings for housing and “industry opportunities”; aged care; the need for a convention and exhibition centre; equitable access to education; redevelopment of Rosebud Hospital; “sustainable” tourism opportunities for the peninsula and a revitalised Frankston; cutting red tape to encourage economic growth; and lobbying “governments with a collective voice through the committee and collaboration with our partners”.
“The contributions [at the forum were bold and forward-thinking, and they’ll help us articulate a collective voice that we want to take all the way to Spring Steet and Canberra,” Sinclair said. “Developing our key advocacy goals and strategies alongside local government, local businesses and big employers, and community groups ensures wide-reaching feedback from the peninsula community.”
First published in the Mornington News – 30th April 2024
