Frankston bypass and Penisula Link freeway campaign news and discussionIf you have news or other items for discussion that you would like to post, then contact us at contact@savethepines.net
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SAVE OUR BUSHRALLY on the PARLIAMENT HOUSE STEPS FEB 24 12PM Stop the destruction of nature and the Construction of freeways through our Bushland and set the government on the path To alternative transport. Support 2010 The Year of biodiversity MC - Rod Quantock Sue Penincuik (Greens MLC) Gillian Collins (Friends of the Pines Flora & Fauna Reserve) Damon Anderson (Coomoora Reserve) Marion Ware (Friends of Banyule) Brian Walters (SC Protectors of Public Land) Rosemary West Colin Long (Greens Upper House candidate) SAVE OUR BUSH Download the poster here Download a flier here Documentary about the Westerfield heritage propertyA documentary about the values of the Westerfield property, and other bushland areas along the Frankston-Langwaren habitat/ecosystem corridor that will be bulldozed if the Frankston Bypass (Peninsula Link) is rammed through. Created by ecologist Malcolm Legg. The documentary is in seven parts. To access parts 2 to 7 hover your mouse over the video once it begins running. Dear Supporters, We sadly report that 2.6 hectares of the Westerfield Heritage endangered Grassy Woodland was compulsorily acquired by SEITA by Government Gazette on 11 December, 2009 and that they have applied to Heritage Victoria for a permit to remove the Heritage listing that protects it. This was advertised in the Age on Wednesday 2oth Jan. A notice has been placed on the Robinsons Rd. boundary fence. You can assist us by expressing your opposition by email or in writing to the Executive director of Heritage Victoria: Mr. Jim Gard'ner [Note: it is spelled with the apostrophe!] We have provided a proforma letter here. Good wishes for the New Year to you all. Simon and Joyce Joyce and Simon take us for a walk around the Westerfield bushJoyce and Simon Welsh show us around their beautiful property, accompanied by Sue Pennicuik MLC - Greens member for the Upper House of the Victorian Parliament.
SIETA (The freeway builders) have applied to have the heritage listing removed from the bushland of Westerfield property. Below is the statement of significance on the Heritage Victoria website. Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?Westerfield was a 45 hectare property purchased in 1920 by Russell and Mabel Grimwade as a farm and rural retreat, in an area which became popular in the 1920s for the holiday houses of Melbourne's most prominent families. Russell Grimwade (1879-1955) was one of Australia's outstanding industrialists, scientists and philanthropists ...
DENISE Gadd - The Mebourne Age - January 11, 2010
Read the full original article at The Melbourne Age website here THE owners of heritage-listed bushland, compulsorily acquired by the State Government for the Frankston bypass, will fight the relevant transport authority's request to build an overpass on what was once their land. Simon and Joyce Welsh, who own Westerfield in Frankston South, have been battling for two years to keep their bushland, home to more than 200 native plant species, birds and mammals, since the Government decided to extend EastLink via Frankston. They have nurtured the property, with gardens and bush area, formerly owned by pharmaceutical entrepreneur Sir Russell Grimwade, for the past 50 years and are devastated at the possible loss of an environmental asset that also includes a wading dam, created by Sir Russell, home to many birds of state significance. "It is home to animals of all shapes and sizes," Mrs Welsh said. "In these days of environmental awareness we shouldn't be building bigger freeways we should be retaining the bush we have left."
Boobook Declaration Environment groups call for action in 2010 International Year of Biodiversity Forty environment groups from across Australia today called for the Australian Government to act decisively to protect biodiversity in 2010, the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity. The groups, representing hundreds of thousands of Australians, want the Government to triple biodiversity investment to $9 billion over three years for on-ground work, stewardship payments, water buy-back, protected area extension and management, research, education and training. “In the International Year of Biodiversity we should celebrate the beauty and diversity of the natural world but also recognise that Australia’s biodiversity is in serious trouble. “The warnings are coming thick and fast that ecosystems ranging from coral reefs to woodlands and grasslands are sliding towards ecological collapse. “Protecting our biodiversity is as important for Australia’s future as defending our territory and we are calling on the Government to act decisively to stem the loss, starting in 2010”, said Aila Keto, President of the Australian Rainforest Conservation Society. “Safeguarding biodiversity is good news for the climate because it is one of the quickest and most effective ways of keeping carbon locked up in the landscape and out of the atmosphere. “We also know that investment in protecting and managing biodiversity secures jobs as well as social and economic rejuvenation, especially in regional and remote Australia. “With 2010 just weeks away, we have written to the three major parties asking them to support the Boobook Declaration and make 2010 the turning point for nature in Australia”, said Luke Chamberlain from the Wilderness Society. They said the bush block had been set aside by Sir Russell because of its ecological significance. "It is home to animals of all shapes and sizes," Mrs Welsh said. "In these days of environmental awareness we shouldn't be building bigger freeways we should be retaining the bush we have left." Frankston Bypass to bury historical remnant bush at Westerfield
MEGAN McNaught - The Herald Sun - December 17, 2009
Read the full original article at The Herald Sun website here A piece of one of the state's historic properties will be seized by the State Government today to pave the way for the Frankston bypass. The 2.65ha piece of remnant bush on the Westerfield property is being compulsorily acquired to make way for the 25km ring road. Current owners Simon and Joyce Welsh have lived at the property for more than half a century and say they are "absolutely horrified". They said the bush block had been set aside by Sir Russell because of its ecological significance. "It is home to animals of all shapes and sizes," Mrs Welsh said. "In these days of environmental awareness we shouldn't be building bigger freeways we should be retaining the bush we have left."
DONNA Carton - Frankston Leader - November 2 2009
Read the full original article at the Frankston leader website here THE State Government has still not decided who should pay for the bandicoot protection measures that must be part of the $750 million Peninsula Link development. Behind-the-scenes meetings between various government departments are continuing to determine who should cover the costs.
From The Age - Clay Lucas - 4/8/09BULLDOZING part of a Frankston wildlife reserve to make way for a $750 million freeway may increase the likelihood that Victoria’s endangered southern brown bandicoot will become extinct. >> Read the full article on The Age website Victorian Public Transport Minister, Lyn Kosky, has announced a tokenistic $1 million upgrade of route bus services on the Mornington Peninsula and in Frankston as part of the $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan. Read on for a detailed report on the situation by Ian Hundley ...
How thick can a political skin get? Mr. Brumby has claimed that a damning report by the Auditor-General on the mismanagement of endangered species in Victoria is a “pat on the back” for the government. In fact the report reveals that departments responsible for environmental management are so under resourced that at the current rates of progress it would take 22 years just to write action statements for the management of species and ecosystems which are currently listed as threatened in Victoria ... Rethink on outer urban expansionRoyce Millar and Jason Dowling - The Melbourne Age - January 5, 2010
Read the full original article at The Melbourne Age website here PLANS to open Melbourne's urban fringe for 150,000 new households appear doomed for the forseeable future, after the State Government and the Opposition failed to agree on a proposed development tax crucial to the city's expansion. Parliament's upper house will vote next month on Labor's bill for a growth charge to help pay for services such as hospitals and public transport in new outer suburbs. The bill is tied to a planning amendment to bring 43,000 hectares of farmland within metropolitan Melbourne. The Liberals and Greens say they support such a charge in principle but not the detail. Without Government compromise, they say they will use their numbers to defeat it. By the way in the Age poll on the day of the article - Suburban sprawl : Is a pause in extending Melbourne's boundary a good thing? - the vote was 82 to 18% in favour of a pause. Melbourne is becoming the Aussie LA
An artist's impression of the Frankston COLIN Long - The Mebourne Age - December 8, 2009
Read the full original article at The Melbourne Age website here Melbourne is in danger of becoming an Australian Los Angeles as the Brumby Government's urban policies are set to turn Melbourne into a morass of never-ending, poorly designed suburbs that entrap their inhabitants in car-dependent isolation. Because the process of change and destruction is incremental and spread throughout the city, we tend to have only a fragmented perspective. Only in 10 to 15 years will we suddenly realise that the Melbourne that we knew and loved has gone. SIETA (The freeway builders) have served the Welsh family with a notice of acquisition for the Westerfield bushland. The high value and unique nature of this site was made clear in the Bypass Environmental Effects Statement (EES). In an... A message from the GreensA message from the Greens on the Frankston bypass and other Victorian Labor government assaults on the ecosystems, flora and fauna of the state. This video was prepared during the Big Day out in the Pines event. On Sunday 29th of November community and conservation groups from all over the the Mornington Peninsula will gather in the Frankston-Langwarrin habitat corridor to explore and learn about the bush and discuss how best to protect the... This event has already happened - thanks to all those who participated We have had a last minute request to plant 1500 plants in the Pines this Saturday 17th October at 10 am in the DARA land near where the new entrance will be off... Recent visitors may have missed the video that was posted Youtube several months ago. The original video is the government's propoganda (which has been somewhat reconfigured). The soundtrack is the cover of Big Yellow Taxi by the... An interview with Dr Roger Jones of Victoria University at one of Melbourne's most spectacular but least known views - Trig Point in Frankston's Pines Flora & Fauna Reserve. Dr Jones explains the ecological and landscape significance... The Spring wildflower season in the Westerfield woodlands is one of The Mornington Peninsula's natural wonders. Simon and Joyse Welsh invite all nature lovers to come and share the magic of their beautiful property at it's botanical... WHERE: Birds Australia National Office, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton The invited speakers this month are Chris Tzaros and Dean Ingwersen, Woodland Bird... Despite 16+ years of so called species recovery and legislative protection (EPBC Act, FFG Act), the Victorian population of Eastern Barred Bandicoots (EBB) is in a precarious state. Because the proposed track may impact on listed threatened species, it must be submitted to the Minister for the Environment for assessment under the EPBC act. The Victorian Government is looking to fast-track the development of new major transport projects using new laws that they introduced and passed through the parliament last week without any public consultation or scrutiny whatsoever. ...VicRoads plans to bulldoze much of Coomoora Woodland Flora and Fauna Reserve in Keysborough soon to make way for the Dingley Bypass? The VicRoads Dingley Arterial Project involves the construction of a four-lane, 3.5km dual-carriage... We haven't worked out the precise details yet, but plans are afoot for a photography, video and art competition focussed on the wildlife & flora corridor through which the bypass is aimed. We already have 4 supporters donating $100 each... Please join us on Tuesday, 14th September. as we attempt to plant 3,000 locally sourced and grown plants in the Pines Flora & Fauna Reserve. We will be joining Parks Victoria and Chisholm students at the access gate near Flinders... Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus) are often seen travelling along the Langwarren-Frankston Wildlife-Flora Corridor. They feed on the nuts of Eucalyptus, Banksias, Pine trees and She Oaks. If you've seen any lately... An alert from Julianne Bell Secretary, Protectors of Public Lands Victoria Inc. The Major Transport Projects Facilitation Bill 2009 has passed the Lower House of Parliament and will be debated in the Upper House (Legislative Chamber)... Study warns of treeless townsCLAY LUCAS - The Age - September 4, 2009BILLIONS of dollars spent building freeways across Melbourne since 1995 have failed to deliver the spectacular time savings promised to justify their construction, a study to be published today shows. Spotted pardalotes (Pardalotus punctatus) are nesting in the Pines Flora Fauna Reserve. Spotted pardelotes dig tunnels in which to nest - as this little male is doing. >> For more information about spotted pardalotes see the Birds in Back Yards website.
Great Egrets (Ardea alba) are a regular visit to wetlands among the woodlands on the Westerfields property. The species is listed as vulnerable in Victoria. They frequent the site along with other waders such as the Royal Spoonbill,... Mobility In The City Of Frankston And Beyond: How Are The Bus Services Shaping Up? The lack of imagination and initiative in urban transport by successive Victorian state governments and the complacency of the... Today Protectors of Public Lands Victoria Inc today called for the withdrawal of the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Bill 2009. Brian Walters SC, President of Protectors of Public Lands Victoria Inc. said: “This Bill is an... Southern Brown Bandicoots are medium sized pouched marsupials that were once common from southern Queensland to Victoria before the days of Captain Cook. They eat fruits, seeds, bulbs, roots & insects & nest on the ground under plants... Frankston's bandicoots aren't the only ones about to be eliminated by government sanctioned infrastructure. There is a population at Crib Point that is in immanent danger from a bitumen plant proposal. The Crib Point has been fighting a... Peninsula Sire councilors withdraw support for Peninsula Lnk / Frankston BypassFrom The Mornington & Southern Peninsula Mail - Mike Hast - 12/8/09MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors' decision to withdraw support for Peninsula Link's southern route had its genesis in a briefing to councillors on July 20. This... It is important that we all express our concerns about the Bypass and freeway by sending Peter Garrett an email ASAP, preferably today. He must make his determination by the 14th of August, so there is no time to lose. Anti-bypass sticker releasedA BEAUTIFUL set of swap cards devoted to the wildlife and flora of Frankston has been released. The backs the cards have descriptions of the plants and animals,along with explanations of the importance of their habitats in the Frankston... Today (Wed 22nd July) Premier Brumby & Roads Minister Tim Pallas turn the 1st sod of soil on the proposed billion dollar Frankston Bypass project at the bypass entry on Lathams Road - shoving the critically endangered Southern Brown... Victorian environment groups write to express great concern about the environmental impacts of the proposed Frankston bypass ... A PROPOSAL to nurse the eastern barred bandicoot back from the brink of extinction by introducing it to French Island has met resistance from some of the locals. The eastern barred bandicoot numbers just 220 in Victoria and is listed as... PENINSULA Link has passed its last major hurdle with the release of a report by the panel charged with reviewing the environmental effects statement on the controversial freeway. The statement reveals that the overall or combined effect... National audit of Australian biodiversity : We are seeing massive crashes of mammal populations in northern Australia now, and we're not seeing those in southern Australia because essentially mammals have gone from huge areas of... What kind of incompetent government cannot even keep small creatures like bandicoots from extinction? Wildlife ecologist and forensic animal hair identification expert, Hans Brunner, says politicians and greedy planners have... There was meeting at Frankston City Council offices on Thurday 28th May about SEITA's proposal to take the shared bike path that was in their original bypass right-of-way and re-locate it to another area in the Pines Flora and Fauna... On Sunday 24th May over 80 people, many representing large environmental groups across the Peninsula, joined Rod Quantock at the Pines lookout to launch the new website Save the Pines and hoist a bandicoot flag, complete with Eureka... Join Rod Quantock on Sunday 24th May at 12 noon at the Excelsior Drive entrance to the Pines, Frankston North. Mel. 100 C9 to reclaim the Pines for the people of Frankston at Trig Point. This websitewill be launched at the same time. Help!Volunteers are needed to assist with running events and with other aspects of the campaign. Contact Craig if you would like to help out. Key documents
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