Save Port Phillip Bay from Toxic Discharges UPDATE #2

Save Port Phillip Bay from Toxic Discharges UPDATE #2

30 July 2026

Dear supporters,

I was planning to to give you an update once we reached the 1000 signatures. But I blinked and by the time I sat down to write it, we reached the 2400 mark! And no sign of slowing down. The 2000 mark is the threshold for a petition to the Victorian Parliament and gives the petition legal status. But we have our sights set much higher: 10,000 signatures. That was the number of submissions against the – failed- bid by AGL, to put a re-gassification plant in Westernport bay near Melbourne, very similar to the one VOPAK is proposing for Port Phillip Bay. Same outdated polluting technology.

In the previous update I mentioned we have been contacting various environmental organisations, and stake holders like fishing and boating clubs, recreational fishing groups, etc. This work is ongoing. Of those, 3 environmental groups have already pledged their support and we have noticed the resulting boost in the number of signatures.

That leads me to the next topic. As you are aware, when you sign a Change.org petition, you have several options: sign and share the petition with others, sign and agree to donate a small amount, or a combination of the two. It is important to note that the donations go to Change.org and are used to share the petition further and to fund platform operations. We, the team at Save Port Phillip Bay are not asking for any donations or benefiting from them.

While the groundswell is building, media and most politicians will not be very interested. But once we reach 5000, 10,000, 20,000 signatures, experience tells us that this will change, because then we are a force.            In the meantime it is important to stay focused on what we are fighting for here: subsequent governments and their agencies tasked with protecting our environment, have allowed and will continue to allow a never ending number of polluting activities, in this case in Port Phillip Bay. To put this in perspective: the combined toxic discharge of the recently approved VIVA re-gasification and refinery operations and the proposed VOPAK operations, including discharges from shipping (bilge water) and maintenance works, will be pushing the 1 billion litres per day. Again, that is not a typo. You don't have to have gone to university to understand that this is probably a really bad idea. VOPAK specifically mentions in the EES that one of the factors in choosing Port Phillip Bay, was the fact that is already industrialised, especially the northern end of the bay.

It is this type of thinking that has led to the irreversible environmental disaster in Oslo Fjord, Norway. It is what is called the cumulative effect each additional polluting activity will have on the ecosystem. At some stage we have to draw a line in the sand and say no. If not, our children and grand children will ask us: “why didn't you do anything?” This is the message I am asking you to give to your State and Federal representatives, if not directly, then through sharing the petition far and wide.

With kind regards and gratitude,

Maarten Koster

Save Port Phillip Bay

Shoreham, 30 July 2026