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Help!Volunteers are needed to assist with running events and with other aspects of the campaign. Contact Gillian if you would like to help out with the picket at Westerfield, and Craig if you want to help with the website, webcams or other technical stuff. Voice your opposition by sending emails:Some key points to make in your email are listed here
Key documentsThe Heritage Victoria permit appeal determination for the Westerfield heritage bushland Interview with Dr Roger Jones by Jim Kerin in which he describes the Frankston-Langwarrin habitat corridor and the bypass impacts Expert witness statement by Nick McCaffrey and Malcolm Legg about the Westerfield bushland (1.1Mb) PeninsulaLink Environmental Effects Statement (EES) Department of Sustainability & Environment (0.8Mb) Addendum to the effects statement including further information about the irreplaceability if the Westerfield bush (94Kb)
EES Fauna & fauna maps
EES Fauna & fauna of significance occurance maps
Frankston bypass and Penisula Link freeway campaign news and discussion
You help is urgently needed. Please follow the links in the orange box at the right of this page to express your concerns about what is going on For information about the campaign
Contribute to this website This website is open to contributions from everyone concerned with what is going on. If you have news that you would like to post, would like to contribute to any of the other pages, believe that anything presented on this website is inaccurate or could be improved, or can get us a copy of the environmental management plan, then contact Craig at mail@craigallen.net.au. Please download the PDF of this press release from the link below and distribute to your contacts. Supporters of the “community picket” at the Westerfield property on Robinson’s Road, Frankston, will stage a demonstration in front of the office of Alistair Harkness, MP at 140 Young Street , Frankston this Friday. The protestors will gather in Shannon Mall and walk to the office of Mr. Harkness to deliver him an indigenous tree in honour of National Tree Day on Sunday, along... This interview was broadcast on The Greenroom radio program, Radio Port Phillip, 98.7 or 98.3fm, 4 to 6pm Thursday. Jim Kerin: Minister Jennings it's great to see you on this fantastic location. Now you're out to Westerfields next? Minister Jennings: I am. I know that this is an issue that's causing an appropriate degree of community scrutiny. I'm sorry that it leads to some degree of anxiety and disappointment as well. I'm very happy for the process to run its course ... Information about the Westerfield heritage woodlandsDear Protectors of Public Lands Victoria Inc. members and friends, See the follow up to the VC68 Planning Amendment passed by Parliament yesterday - the article in the Age today 30 July 2010 by Jason Dowling "City to 'grow' 134,000 homes on farmland" See this link
See also letters including mine "Brumby giveth and Brumby taketh away" in letters to the editor in the Age today 30 July 2010. Dear All,
The revised Green Wedge land grab Planning Scheme Amendment VC68 did not pass through Parliament as feared on Tuesday or yesterday (Wednesday). Notice was given on Tuesday and it is now on the web, though I have not been able to access it.\IT IS ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY: i AM GOING IN - for the 2 - 6 session - AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE ANYONE WHO CAN MAKE IT. It could be on in the am (11-12 session) but probably not. Ms Sue Pennecuik MP will move a motion "That Linking Melbourne Authority cease all work on Peninsula Link project immediately until a final design of the project is available and the preliminary design altered...." (it then refers specifically to Westerfield and The Pines, I haven't written it out in full.) Keep up writing to the Members of Parliament!
Regards VC 68 Revised Planning Amendment on Parliamentary Notice Paper for Wednesday 28 July 2010 re Extension of Urban Growth BoundaryI obtained from the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) via the Upper House Papers Office of Parliament the link on "Delivering Melbourne's newest communities" See here. As we have advised several times (sorry to get repetitive) Minister Madden ordered the revision of VC67 Planning Amendment which he had difficulty getting... Craig was one of the first people to alert us to the environmental devastation that the Peninsula Link project is causing. Here is his report on a re-visit to the Pobblebonk Wetlands, a perched wetland on McClelland Drive that abutted the Willow Road Reserve, that is now isolated from any adjoining habitat: He continues to remind us that Peninsula Link is not only breaking up existing intact environments, but is also cutting off the west to east movement of all but the birds,...
Dear friends, Heritage Victoria has made their determination. The document is linked below. It would appear to be very disappointing, with only the question of the location of the road visa vis the dam as a consideration. The landscape has not been considered at all. More when we know more. Gillian Collins, 0414-309-960 At the meeting today, our stalwart group of supporters decided to go on with the picket at Westerfield's. We are bitterly disappointed with the Heritage Council's decision, and appalled that the very reasonable request to reduce the road footprint has been ignored. The system that this government has in place to protect our natural heritage - the bush we love - is broken. Its twisted maze of contracts, deeds, memoranda of understanding, legislation, authorities, planning... This morning started with about 25 Yellow-tailed Cockatoos flying over and finished with the aroma of Daphne from Joyce's garden. Great start and finish, but the middle wasn't too good! The Heritage Council has made its decision, and so far it looks as though they have only decided to save more of the dam. Tomorrow we will have the picket again as we decide what to do next. If you would like to come and discuss our way forward, please do so about 10:00am. Colin L. is coming...
The original article with larger format footage is here. Transcript Here we are on the Mornington Peninsula at a protest against a new freeway that’s looking to destroy important flora and fauna in the area. This Heritage listed grassy woodland has an abundance of native wild life and plants, but lies in the direct path of the proposed freeway link.
[Gillian Collins, Friends of the Pines]: 
Xanthorea minor grass tree seed podsOne of the Westerfield picketers has been photographing the bush. Here are some of his pics. The Burdett site in Langwarrin is supposed to be one of the Eastlink Offset sites. The Offset Agreement is yet to be implemented.In September 2006 this 50 hectare bushland site in Langwarrin owned by the Burdett family was set aside by a planning scheme amendment. A year later it was cited as one of the Eastlink offsets and the people of Victoria were erroneously advised that the state had acquired it. On November the 19th 2003 the Age reported “Burdett Sand Suppliers, had... 
Westerfield's owners Joyce and Simon Welsh were thrilled to welcome Environment Minister Gavin Jennigs to their Frankston property this morning to further argue their case for their appeal to the Heritage Council. Minister Jennings, MLC, visited along with Alistair Harkness, MP for Frankston after the opening of the Frankston Reservoir. They had a perfect, sunny, winter day to view the property and see the extent of the destruction that will occur if the Peninsula Link Freeway... They can't steal our hearts!Although our beautiful heart banners that Sophie made and that embraced our trees were stolen last night, along with some other destruction, we were not daunted today. Jake came and kept us entertained and Wilhelmina brought some more amazing signs. Marie Claire wen to town and bought a brilliant book on the importance of biodiversity to our health, and Simon bar-b-qued again. Jan and Craig continue to support us with days and days waving to the... We continue to ask visitors to the site to look first toward the destruction that has begun to the north of Robinsons Road, then to turn and look into the Westerfield bush and ask themselves - which of these do we really want? There is simply, absolutely, no question about the answer. You will feel the same sense of horror when you look at Philip Jensen's photo essay on the Willow Road Reserve that I will be forwarding to you after this. When will we stop destroying our... Victorian Minister for the Environment, Gavin Jennings, MP, is visiting on Sunday, and we hope he will follow Lord Rowallen's advice as he walks through the property. The talent and depth of commitment we experience from our volunteers continues to be a source of deep delight for those of us on the picket line. Rosemary B. brought a brilliant, completely vegan, lunch for us today. Many of us are learning that vegan food, while the best for our environment, is really good... We had four seasons on the picket today. Cold, wet, and breezy this morning, warm and lovely this afternoon and everything in between. The children that came again make it all worth while, and our new friend, Jake, who is about 10, is a constant delight. He loves animals, the bush, people who stand up for things, and our food. I'm not sure in what order, but he pedals his bike to see us often. The Abigroup surveying sub-contractor is working on the Westerfield side of... This invitation is for a workshop to determine the future direction of the Frankston Environmental Friends Network, which is an initiative of the Frankston City Council. It is important that we understand what folk are looking for in their volunteer experience, so even if you are not a volunteer now, your particpation may assist us getting the right direction for the future. Please come if you can. It is timely. Cheers, Gillian Hello, Please find attached an invitation to... 
The experience of standing in a circle with two other pensioners while we tried to add a phone number to all our phones, then ended up calling each other as we tested it, standing a metre away, saw us all collapsing with laughter today. We have been getting better with new media, and we'd rather laugh as we learn than scream. Watching the works going on has been an education as well. Did you know that to install two signs, Abigroup brought in a team of 5 people, a pickup... 
A really cold start to the day was warmed by the presence of four beautiful children brought by David W. and Ted H. With Kate's lovely hairy Dachshunds, they brightened up the day no end. Then the team from the Friends of the Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve came and did some weed pulling at Westerfields and joined us for lunch on the picket line. What a great group they are! In case you missed it, Bill Russell from the Centre for Urban Studeis recommended on ABCs Stateline on... 
A clear factor in the visitors we had at the picket today was confusion. Who told what to whom and when is clearly an issue, with one woman whose house backs on to the right-of-way really upset, since she and her husband had only had the usual LMA brochure and no idea what was about to happen at the rear of her property. Two local men who visited had conflicting thoughts - they hated what was happening but thought that "progress" was inevitable. We really need to beging a... 
Over 150 individuals have now been a part of the "Possum Picket," with almost that number sending their apologies and best wished by phone or through the Internet. More than a dozen different environmental groups have had representatives on the picket, both from the Frankston area and the metropolitan area. We have had stories in 2 local and 1 metropolitan paper, had our story on Channel 10 and the 7PM report, plus been broadcast to parts of Asia. On Monday morning at 7:30am,... Since clearing for Peninsula Link started between Skye and Robinsons Roads, Michelle Thomas (Animalia) and Alison Kuiter have been meeting with Abigroup and the Linking Melbourne Authority to get the best outcomes for Fauna and Flora rescues. Both have spent a lot of time working with Abigroup who appear to be trying to improve environmental outcomes. Michelle & Alison Kuiter have attended meetings with Abigroup on short notice and been on site to show them particular areas... Our picket day started with Michelle C. delivering the attached brochure to the Bayside Christian School. Michelle did a brilliant job of capturing the essential environmental values that, we assume, the school teaches. The school had a working bee today, and she delivered the brochure to parents, the Principal, and the "Light FM" radio station that was broadcasting from the school. Later in the day, we had 4 visits from Grade 10 students asking about our picket. This evening... The PeninsulaLink freeway art scam - bulldoze paradise, erect huge structures to distract the public
Who needs habitat, wildlife and beautiful places when you can have ugly freeway art?Dear Mornington Peninsula Transport reformer As you are probably aware the bulldozers are rumbling around the Westerfield property in Robinsons Road. This is one element of the potential destruction of the natural environment of the Mornington Peninsula threatened by the $795 million Peninsula Link project. These days public authorities engage in all sorts of gimmickry to legitimise wasteful and destructive projects which more and more people in their gut know are... 
Rainbow Lorakeets at the Westerfield Bushland picketMy day started with the three tenors singing "Neesun Dorme" in the car. What an inspiration! We have heard some very good news, but it is as yet unconfirmed. The Leader newspaper called me this morning and stated that Mr. Pallas, Minister for Roads, had stated that Abigroup would not be going into the Westerfield's property until the Heritage Council appeal decision comes down. We have various people attempting to confirm this. We hope it is correct. Even if it is, we... 
Read the original article at the Frankston Standard Leader website Peninsula Link bulldozers will soon move on the environmentally sensitive Westerfield property. The road’s... Thank you so much to all the good people who came today in spite of the weather. We really generate a warm community spirit at the picket, and the cold doesn't matter so much when... Green Room Editorial to be broadcast @ 4.30pm 15/7/10 By way of the Major Transport Projects Facilitation bill, the Linking Melbourne Authority (LMA) has arbitrarily exempted... Day nine of our environmental picket looked as though it was going to be rainy, but it was great - quite warm and no rain. We continue to get many, many, car horn blasts of... We may have seen the last of the sun for the week, but it was a lovely day on the picket line. So many new people joining us. Mel came early and helped set up, then came back... Article in The Age - Green-wedge plan would be a mortal blow to liveabilityKenneth Davidson's exposé in the Age of 12 July 2010 of the Brumby Government's VC 67 Planning Amendment due to be raised again in the Upper House of Parliament at the next sitting... Today we completed 7 days of our community picket at the Westerfield's property. Tomorrow is a "Rostered Day Off" for the CFMEU, but Abigroup may hire subcontractors who are not... We almost blew away! It was cold and we had to take our shade structures down before we blew away, but the atmosphere could not have been warmer today on the picket line. A... A celebration for the volunteersAll volunteers are invited to tea at Westerfield house today, Saturday the 10th of July, at 4:30 pm to celebrate a successful week saving our environmental heritage. A much quieter day on the picket line today, with fewer people but still a good turnover. The VNPA call brought us some new people. We had an ASian T.V. distributor film... Another amazing day, and the weather was better. We now have a shade structure on Robinson's Road and a tent on the other picket line, plus a fire at each. There are indications... Read the original article at the Melbourne Age website. THE company building the Frankston bypass for the state government has admitted it accidentally cleared a small area of... Another amazing day today, and still no bulldozers. It would seem that Abigroup is now held up until a satisfactory resolution can be found to the outstanding issues about... Another big day. The situation is still incredibly fluid, and we had been alerted that tomorrow may be the day they try to bring the bulldozers in. We have extablished a "Community... We've been given two alternative explanations for the insane amount of bushland that was bulldozed in the section of the freeway alignment that passes through the Willow Road... Urgent request for people to join community picket around the Westerfield endangered grassy woodlandWednesday is the day. [UPDATE: no they didn't - that the power of a picket for you!] They have bulldozed the next property today - with no wildlife relocators in attendance... The community picket line ws successful, and the bulldozers did not come on the site. They were parked across the street all day, and a lot of their folk stood around idle. Thank... [This particular day is over, but come to the community picket instead] Looks like we have to drag out the spades and boxes again. Abigroup representative Chantelle who will be... Last week, Susan Jarmo, on the Linking Melbourne Authority Community Advisory Group told the Frankston North Community Renewal committee in her first ever report that we had... A CHORUS of disapproval has met the destruction of Frankston bushland and its flora and fauna to make way for the controversial $760 million Peninsula Link freeway ... Read the... Newspaper article - Bushland fury: Road works leave trail of destructionA CHORUS of disapproval has rung out over the destruction of Frankston bushland and its flora and fauna to make way for the controversial $760million Peninsula Link freeway ... ...BULLDOZERS have begun clearing swathes of land to make way for Peninsula Link. Trees have been felled and wildflowers ripped out in areas around McClelland Drive ... Read the... These photos are of an area of about 15 trees, marked H as designated habitat trees, that were knocked over and piled up. They were large Eucalypts that would have been over 50 years... Prior to the commencement of works, habitat trees were identified by the freeway builders. They then bulldozed the trees. Follow the link below to see a photo gallery. In order to tame the flurry of emails that have been flying around on this issue, we are currently creating a mailing list system for the site. Invitations to participate will be... Sign at the Willow Road entrance to the Pobblebonk WetlandsThe dozer drivers must chuckle to themselves every morning. This place was once a joy to behold. Follow the read more link to view a gallery of photos. Abigroup’s environmental management plan - has anyone seen it or have a copy?It has been suggested that there is in fact an environmental management plan for the recent destruction. If anyone has a copy please sent it to contact@savethepines.net Save Our Bush Rally next Wednesday - Victorian Transport Conference - SouthbankWednesday 2nd June @ 9am Voice your opposition outside the Victorian Transport Conference 2010 Crown Conference Centre, Southbank Promenade
STOP the wanton destruction Council decisionMoved: cr. Cunial seconded: cr. Aitken That the matter of peninsula link works be accepted as urgent business. Carried unanimously Council decisionMoved:... The following concerns were sent to the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment Flora and Fauna people. I am concerned with the lack of protection for the wildlife... Orchid beds destroyed before plant recovery teams could get to themInformation provided by Alison Kuiter The Willow Road Reserve orchid site, which had a quite large population... Michelle and Craig Thomas report that the heartbreaking destruction is causing huge losses of sugar gliders and other mammals. A huge proportion of Pobblebonk Wetland and the surrounding bush of Willow Rd Reserve have been trashed. Even the trees that they have marked for habitat have been bulldozed. The... Abigroup appear not to be abiding by environmental mitigation measures stipulated in the Environmental Effects Statement, as explained below. Motion raised at Frankston council condemning the desctuction and lack of EMPFrankston City Councillor Kris Bolam has raised a motion in Council tonight condeming Linking Melbourne and Southern Way for their destruction of so much flora and fauna without an... The Department of Sustainability and Environment has explained some aspects of the (critically flawed) environmental planning. Frankston residents are expressing deep concern and horror at the wholesale destruction of the native wildlife behind Peninsula Hospital by the Abbey Construction Group for the new...
Letter from concerned resident Craig Thompson The Executive Director of Heritage Victoria, Mr. Jim Gard'ner has announced that he is powereless to stop the destruction of the Westerfield heritage bushland in spite of his... SAVE OUR BUSHRALLY on the PARLIAMENT HOUSE STEPS FEB 24 12PM Stop the destruction of nature and the Construction of freeways through our Bushland and set the government on the path To alternative... Documentary about the Westerfield heritage propertyA documentary about the values of the Westerfield property, and other bushland areas along the Frankston-Langwaren habitat/ecosystem corridor that will be bulldozed if the Frankston... Thanks everyone who sent in submissions - we'll let you know what's next Dear Supporters, We sadly report that 2.6 hectares of the Westerfield Heritage endangered Grassy Woodland... Joyce and Simon take us for a walk around the Westerfield bushJoyce and Simon Welsh show us around their beautiful property, accompanied by Sue Pennicuik MLC - Greens member for the Upper House of the Victorian Parliament. SIETA (The freeway builders) have applied to have the heritage listing removed from the bushland of Westerfield property. Below is the statement of significance on the Heritage... Victorian Public Transport Minister, Lyn Kosky, has announced a tokenistic $1 million upgrade of route bus services on the Mornington Peninsula and in Frankston as part of the $38... Rethink on outer urban expansionBoobook Declaration Environment groups call for action in 2010 International Year of Biodiversity Forty environment groups from across Australia today called for the Australian... Frankston Bypass to bury historical remnant bush at WesterfieldMelbourne is becoming the Aussie LASIETA (The freeway builders) have served the Welsh family with a notice of acquisition for the Westerfield bushland. The high value and unique nature of this site was made clear in the... A message from the GreensA message from the Greens on the Frankston bypass and other Victorian Labor government assaults on the ecosystems, flora and fauna of the state. This video was prepared during the... On Sunday 29th of November community and conservation groups from all over the the Mornington Peninsula will gather in the Frankston-Langwarrin habitat corridor to explore and learn... This event has already happened - thanks to all those who participated We have had a last minute request to plant 1500 plants in the Pines this Saturday 17th October at 10 am in the... An interview with Dr Roger Jones of Victoria University at one of Melbourne's most spectacular but least known views - Trig Point in Frankston's Pines Flora & Fauna Reserve. Dr Jones... The Spring wildflower season in the Westerfield woodlands is one of The Mornington Peninsula's natural wonders. Simon and Joyse Welsh invite all nature lovers to come and share the... WHERE: Birds Australia National Office, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton The invited speakers this month... Despite 16+ years of so called species recovery and legislative protection (EPBC Act, FFG Act), the Victorian population of Eastern Barred Bandicoots (EBB) is in a precarious state. Because the proposed track may impact on listed threatened species, it must be submitted to the Minister for the Environment for assessment under the EPBC act. The Victorian Government is looking to fast-track the development of new major transport projects using new laws that they introduced and passed through the parliament last week... VicRoads plans to bulldoze much of Coomoora Woodland Flora and Fauna Reserve in Keysborough soon to make way for the Dingley Bypass? The VicRoads Dingley Arterial Project involves the... We haven't worked out the precise details yet, but plans are afoot for a photography, video and art competition focussed on the wildlife & flora corridor through which the bypass is... Please join us on Tuesday, 14th September. as we attempt to plant 3,000 locally sourced and grown plants in the Pines Flora & Fauna Reserve. We will be joining Parks Victoria and... Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus) are often seen travelling along the Langwarren-Frankston Wildlife-Flora Corridor. They feed on the nuts of Eucalyptus,... An alert from Julianne Bell Secretary, Protectors of Public Lands Victoria Inc. The Major Transport Projects Facilitation Bill 2009 has passed the Lower House of Parliament and will... Study warns of treeless townsCLAY LUCAS - The Age - September 4, 2009BILLIONS of dollars spent building freeways across Melbourne since 1995 have failed to deliver the spectacular time savings promised to... |
Abigroup are in the process of bulldozing the wildlife corridor south of the Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve, and seem to be going out of their way to