Just an update – (a bit of a long, but important one)

Thanks to overwhelming community support, we have received over 700 signatures in support of reinstating the bike track! Huge thanks to everyone who signed & shared. 

Yesterday I sent the petition and supporting comments to Councillor Rochelle Halstead, who has very kindly offered to table the petition at the next Council meeting. Hopefully we will have it on the agenda for the 16 August Council Meeting. Many thanks to Councillor Halstead for her support. 

Yesterday I also had another long chat to Simon Woodland, the Bass Coast Shire Sustainable Environment Manager. He did not provide much good news, and said that his department were pressing on with the revegetation as they are required to do so under the Council’s Foreshore & Bushland Reserve Vegetation Protection Policy. 

He did mention however, that elected Councillors can resolve make an exception to the policy, or put on hold execution of the policy in relation to a certain area. 

I am hopeful that, given the overwhelming support shown, and the huge benefit to the local community of this area remaining as a children’s bike track, we can convince the Council to resolve to exempt this area from the policy, and work with Council and other stakeholders to reach an solution that is beneficial to all.  

On that note, I urge you all to write to your Councillors asking them to exempt the area from any works under the policy. 

To that end, here are the Councillor’s email addresses, and the start of an email for you to complete. (Next year is an election year, so who knows what help this could do!)

michael.whelan@basscoast.vic.gov.au; Rochelle.Halstead@basscoast.vic.gov.au; brett.tessari@basscoast.vic.gov.au; clare.leserve@basscoast.vic.gov.au David.Rooks@basscoast.vic.gov.au Leticia.Laing@basscoast.vic.gov.au 
les.larke@basscoast.vic.gov.au Ron.Bauer@basscoast.vic.gov.au bruce.kent@basscoast.vic.gov.au;

Dear Councillors, 

I am writing in relation to the children’s bike track and play area adjacent to the beach access at the end of Cronulla Avenue, Cape Woolamai, that was recently bulldozed by Councill officers. 

I request that Council resolve to exempt this area from the Foreshore and Bushland Reserves Vegetation Protection Policy, and facilitate reinstatement of use of the area for bike riding. 

The benefits of retaining this area as a bike track are (give some examples, anecdotes of your use of the area etc). 

I support the informal use of this area being formalised as a dedicated and confined children’s bike track and nature play area.

I look forward to your response. 

Many thanks

(Insert your name, address & phone number)

I also spoke to a local Boonwurrung Elder about the indigenous cultural impact of the use of the land. She has very kindly  offered to come and do a Cultural Dig with the local children who use the area to give them knowledge of the local aboriginal culture and build their respect for the local aboriginal heritage and environment. (I would like to do this regardless of the outcome of this issue!) It may also be that a Cultural Heritage Management Plan is needed, and I’m sure this can be arranged. 

I’ve emailed our local State MP, Jordan Crugnale MP, the Hon Ingrid Stitt MLC, Minister for Environment, and the Hon Sonya Kilkenny MP, Minister for Planning,  as the State Government and DEECA would need to be involved in any formalisation of the area. Jordan Crugnale has replied to my email saying she has been following the issue and  is happy to raise the matter with the relevant people/entities if the Council chooses to go down this path. 

Finally, here is a recent Facebook post from Phillip Island Advertiser with their article from this week on this matter. Feel free to leave your comments in support! 

Thanks to everyone!