National Parks Privatisation
Some of the new members of the Coalition Government have not wasted time in making their plans for commercialisation of parks. Logging of the Tarkine in Tasmania, coal seam gas exploration in sensitive areas of Western Victoria and around the Grampians on the boundary of the national park threatens the survival of special places. Cuts to funding of environment groups will make it difficult to prevent destruction of parks, forests and farmland.
Beaumaris Fossil Cliffs
The Beaumaris Conservation Society AGM invited a Monash student to be guest speaker. The student is undertaking a study of the likely impact an expanded Beaumaris Motor Squadron Marina will have on sand movement around Beaumaris Marine Sanctuary and Mentone beach. The slides showed a build up of sand on the western side of the marina’s granite wall impacting on the Marine Sanctuary but denuding sand from Mentone beach.
Truck Parking In Green Wedge
An unfortunate aspect of the proposed parking of 196 trucks in the green wedge will be the impact on Settlement Drain (Settlement Creek) which runs through the site. In fact the plan shows the entrance where the creek exits the site so that either the creek will have to be concreted over or the entrance moved. There appears to be an expanse of (significant?) vegetation along the creek near the entrance. If the creek is left open it will be affected by the pollution and run-off from the trucks. Polluted creek water will eventually reach Mordialloc Creek and Port Phillip Bay.