Protect the Gang-Gang Cockatoos and Wildlife of Plenty Gorge Park

 

Plenty Gorge Park is a precious sanctuary for some of our most iconic and vulnerable wildlife — including Gang-Gang Cockatoos, Wombats, Krefft’s Gliders, Echidnas, Swamp Wallabies, Boobook Owls, and even Platypus. Yet this vital habitat is now facing serious and immediate threat.

 

Illegal activities by a group of reckless people on bikes are devastating the environment. They are digging massive holes, ripping out roots, stacking logs and fallen trees, and constructing dangerous jumps — directly within the exact area a large flock of Gang-Gang Cockatoos uses twice daily for feeding. Several breeding pairs have also been observed raising young in nearby trees, making this habitat even more critical.

 

Despite numerous pleas to local councils and police, little to no effective action has been taken. Those who have tried to defend the park have been met with threats and intimidation. Authorities have stated they currently lack the legal powers to arrest or charge the offenders under existing laws.

 

We cannot stand by while this irreplaceable ecosystem is destroyed. As a community that treasures Plenty Gorge, we have a duty to act now.

 

The Gang-Gang Cockatoo — already a rare and declining sight in Melbourne — urgently needs our protection. If we fail to act, future generations may never experience the wonder and beauty these birds bring to our world.

 

The solution

We are calling for immediate intervention from Parks Victoria and local law enforcement, including:

    1.    Regular parks vic patrols and active monitoring of the Gang-Gang habitat area.

    2.    Removal of all illegal bike jumps and full rehabilitation of the damaged land.

    3.    Legislative changes to empower police to arrest and charge individuals who destroy the environment in Plenty Gorge Park.

    4. Parks vic Working collaboratively with the local mountain biking community to identify and develop a suitable alternative site for trail building and riding — through the proper legal processes already available.

 

Importantly, I believe this is an opportunity for a vital lesson:

Being a member of a community brings rights — but also responsibilities. These include respecting the law, valuing the environment, respecting other community members, and following proper processes when using public land.

 

Thank you for your support. Please consider sharing this petition with others who care about preserving our natural spaces.

 

Please sign to help stop the environmental vandalism and protect the wildlife that so many of us hold dear.

Together, we can ensure Plenty Gorge remains a thriving sanctuary for Gang-Gang Cockatoos and all native species — now and for generations to come.