Another Mornington Peninsula Bandicoot population threatened by government plans

Frankston's bandicoots aren't the only ones about to be eliminated by government sanctioned infrastructure. There is a population at Crib Point which is in immenent danger from a bitumen plant proposal.

>> from the Crib Point Natural Alternative website <<

The Crib Point community has been fighting a long battle to protect its precious foreshore from inappropriate development. Since the Crib Point refinery closed in 1985 there have been a number of failed proposals defeated  by the strength of the Crib Point Community and concerned environmentalists. The latest battle comes on two fronts. At present the Port of Hastings is undergoing a major strategic planning exercise looking at all deep water port facilities and their future use. Whilst there is broad agreement that port development should occur north of Hastings the future of the Crib Point jetty and it’s best use remains unresolved.

Secondly Boral have proposed a bitumen storage and transport facility on the Wolleys Beach foreshore. Mass rallies by concerned locals through 2006 and 2007 were effective in garnering the bilateral support of  Local, State and Federal representatives. In fact by the November 2006 State Elections both Liberal and Labour Candidates gave written promises to the community stating that such a proposal would not be allowed. Unfortunately the Bracks/Brumby Labour Government has said that they do not feel obligated to honour their promise as their candidate was narrowly defeated at that election.

Boral’s application was not approved by the Mornington Peninsula Shire and Boral sought to bypass the local planning process by appealing to VCAT. Subsequent pressure upon the State Planning Minister Justin Madden by the Mornington Peninsula Shire and the Crib Point Community has resulted in the application being “called in” for Ministerial determination.

Planning Minister Justin Madden announced on 14th August 2009 that he has approved Boral’s application to build a bitumen storage and transport facility on the Crib Point foreshore. This decision has been made in spite of the Labour Government’s written promise to the community during the November 2006 state election campaign that they would oppose such an application, and despite the recommendations of the Advisory Committee appointed to hear the applicaition that the permit be REFUSED. Since then there has been blanket opposition by the Mornington Peninsula Shire, both State and Federal members of Parliament and even the Planning Minister’s Advisory Panel who recommended to him in October 2008 to reject the application. The Crib Point community remains fiercely united in their opposition to this ill conceived act of vandalism.

Crib Point Advisory Group, Crib Point residents and Foreshore Committee will continue to fight this proposal. Your continued support is required to help save the assets of Western Port and the future of Crib Point.

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