Thank you Sharon for your recent comment reminding us of Professor Maurice A. Shapiro’s report: “Westernport Bay Environmental Study 1973-1974”. As it was then and now, it is relevant to the region’s ongoing future, and as you say, “Read the Shapiro report pollies.”
I imagine I’d be hard-pressed to find one politician who has read it, so I hope this extract may help and remind them of the need to endorse a regional strategic management plan as foreshadowed by Shapiro.
“Because of the immense biological wealth of the area and because initial findings of the Social Survey indicate that the ‘country atmosphere’ may be the single most important feature attributed to the area, one option stands out – ‘Leave the area as it is’. On the other hand, an equally extreme option would be to devote the resources of the area entirely to urban, industrial, and port development at the expense of the natural ecosystems and the recreational resources.
While these options are extreme and are probably unrealistic many of the desirable features of the first option could and should, with careful planning, characterise any future development in the area. In particular the preservation of the existing country atmosphere (e.g. bushland, forest, broad agricultural lands) should be a major objective in any future plans for the region.”
Please take a moment to look at the current situation via Google Maps. For example, with Melbourne CBD to the left, Drouin to right and Wonthaggi to the bottom, there is still a distinction between the urbanised landscape and the remaining country landscape. The remaining landscape is the bioregion (catchment area) that is under threat from Melbourne’s urban sprawl and speculative development schemes.
In recent correspondence from an MP representing the current state government’s position on the matter, indicates it is struggling to come to terms with the bioregion concept that stretches from the Strzelecki Ranges to the shores of Port Phillip Bay and the need to treat Western Port as part of this interdependent environment.
Jump forward say 50 years from now, and if left unchecked to absorb Melbourne’s expansion and industrialisation, picture what may be left of the region and its jewel: Western Port.
As Shapiro said, “To paraphrase Mr. Justice Holmes, who in a decision wrote, “a river is more than an amenity, it is a treasure”. Westernport Bay is more than an amenity, it is a treasure to be cherished for many generations to come. It is in your hands.”
Please spread the word for our MPs are still out of step.
Photo: Save Western Port Woodlands