PORT PHILLIP CONSERVATION COUNCIL INC.  Telephone +61395891802, +614429176725                18 Anita Street BEAUMARIS VIC 3193  Facsimile +6139589680                                                                              ggd@netspace.net.au www.vicnet.net.au/~phillip                                                                                   30th April 2001

We are grateful that our Williamstown venue tonight was arranged for us by one of our three Member Organizations west of the Yarra River, Friends of Williamstown Wetlands Inc. PPCC Inc. can thus continue meeting on this side at least annually. 

In November 2000 the PPCC Inc. Committee of Management had a Special Meeting as well as its ordinary monthly meeting. It met with five municipal councillors who came from Frankston, Kingston and Bayside councils in response to an invitation by PPCC Inc. to all councillors in those municipalities to attend such a meeting. The meeting discussed the work and policies of PPCC Inc., and the views that the councillors had about our organization and various coastal issues in their municipalities. 

At the ordinary meeting in November the Committee resolved to produce certain new draft PPCC Inc. Policy Statements to be submitted to this General Meeting for its approval. In addition the meeting resolved to recommend small changes to existing Policy Statements 5 and 9. Those proposed changes are listed on sheets circulated tonight, and I shall seek leave to have those dealt with as Agenda Items 4(d) and 4(e). Another draft Policy Statement, 'Private Buildings, such as "Bathing Boxes" on Public Foreshore Land', is still being developed by the Committee, and the Committee has recognized that PPCC Inc. Policy Statement 7, 'Proposed New or Expanded Commercial Operations on Foreshore Reserves', needs strengthening. 

In November I addressed a meeting of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to express PPCC Inc.'s support, together with a few suggested changes, for staff recommendations for improving the Council's policy on bathing boxes and boat sheds. The Council voted to accept the staff proposals, and one change we suggested. That Council meeting also agreed with the initial decision by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to refuse consent to bathing boxes damaged by heavy seas at Mount Martha North beach. When DNRE seemed likely to reverse its decision under pressure by owners of the boxes PPCC Inc. made its concern public by means of a letter from our Secretary published in The Age. 

Also in November PPCC Inc. sent letters to the Minister for Defence and the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, with copies to other relevant MPs, and to all MPs around Port Phillip, asking that any change to the status of the Point Cook Airfield, which is now surplus to RAAF requirements, should ensure that its great value as a large area of coastal open space is maintained. Moderately encouraging replies were received to those two letters. It also appears that the local MHR (Ms Julia Gillard, MHR for Lalor) supports our view, and that she is backed up by significant support from Wyndham City Council. 

On 5th February 2001 the objections of PPCC Inc. and Brighton Foreshore Preservation Association Inc. to the siting and extent of car parking proposals for the proposed new restaurant at the Brighton Sea Baths were heard by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. As VCAT subsequently decided not to support our objections, we can expect soon that some 5000 m³ of a 3 m high bank of soil along the shore will be removed and replaced by a spray-prone car park some 120 m long. 

Frankston Council is persisting with its proposals for a marina at Oliver's Hill, despite there being no apparent source for the considerable funds needed for such a project. Fortunately plenty of opposition from Frankston citizens, and PPCC's member organizations there, is also persisting.