Save Port Phillip Bay from Toxic Discharges UPDATE #3, 6 September 2026

Dear supporters,

Time flies, it was the end of July since we did the last update. As of today, we are well over 8000 signatures. This number was reached through our supporters sharing the petition on social media, various clubs and environmental organisations promoting the petition to their members and by volunteers handing out posters and putting them up with the consent of the owners of shops, cafes and restaurants along the coast of Port Phillip Bay. We thank everyone who as involved in that.

On 26 August I presented the case against the VOPAK proposal to the Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) that the Victorian Government appointed to assist the Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, in making a decision on this. On that date the the signature count was around 7500 and a file containing the signatures, was recorded as a “tabled document” in evidence of widespread community concern about the pollution of Port Phillip Bay.

This was not yet the formal presentation of the petition itself. We are currently working on presenting the petition in person to the three key ministers in the Victorian Government:  Ben Carroll, Prime Minister, Sonya Kilkenny, Minister for Planning and Jaclyn Symes, Minister responsible for the Environment. Given that the IAC will present its findings any time from mid September, we are planning to do the physical presenting of the petition within the next two weeks.

In the coming two weeks, you can still help by re-sharing the petition as every signature counts. Also by sending your local members of Parliament the text of the petition and expressing your personal concern about the threat to our bay.

Many thanks again from the Save Port Phillip Bay team for your ongoing support. Let’s bring this one home!

Maarten Koster

Save Port Phillip Bay