Some Times We Are Not Alone - There Maybe No Escaping Development

Sometimes we forget we are not alone in the current period of rampant development. Far down the coast to the East another community battle is blazing.
Bastion Point is located in Mallacoota, the most easterly coastal township in Victoria. An icon on Victoria’s Wilderness Coast, Bastion Point is part of an outstanding natural environment. Immediately to its north is the entrance to Mallacoota Inlet, a natural estuary and lake system renowned for its unspoilt beauty. To the east are Cape Howe Marine National Park and Gabo Island, home to the largest colony of little penguins in the Southern Hemisphere. A wilderness coastline stretches in either direction as far as the eye can see. This spectacular marine and coastal environment is surrounded by Croajingolong National Park which is recognised by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve.
The Save Bastion Point Campaign
A coalition of concerned groups and supporters has formed to fight the East Gippsland Shire Council’s proposal for a boat ramp and breakwater development at Bastion Point, Mallacoota. The campaign opposes such inappropriate development: it aims to protect the many values of Bastion Point and to promote safe and sustainable use of the area.
Where is Bastion Point - Why is it so special?
Bastion Point has extensive indigenous cultural heritage sites, has one of the few accessible shallow reef habitats in East Gippsland, and has ecological, geological and landscape values of state significance. It is the town beach and is used for surfing, swimming, beachcombing, bird-watching, rock pool rambling, scientific study, snorkeling, relaxing, angling and other recreational and social activities throughout the year.
What is the issue?
The East Gippsland Shire Council wants to construct a large ocean access facility at Bastion Point. Bastion Point currently provides ocean access for the abalone industry, government departments and recreational boating. The existing single-lane concrete ramp is 40 years old, and has not been maintained. It is in poor condition and is often covered by transitional sand. We recognize the need for improvement at Bastion Point; however all of the options considered by Council would require heavy engineering works, including large breakwaters, and would result in irreversible damage to Bastion Point. The Council’s preferred option, 150 metres south of the current boat ramp, includes ~
• a 2-lane boat ramp
• a large car/trailer turning area on the beach
• a boat holding area, with jetty
• a large breakwater approx 130m long, 2.3–2.8 high and 15m wide
• permanent sand dredging equipment
• road access through the headland
• catch-weighing, boat washing and fish cleaning facilities
• a boat trailer, car park and toilet facilities.
The Council is currently preparing an Environment Effects Statement (EES) for their proposal, which is a requirement by the Victorian Minister for Planning before any decision can be made about the development.
What’s wrong with the process?
To date, the Council’s conduct of the EES process has been substandard. They have failed to provide genuine, transparent and inclusive engagement of the Mallacoota community. A number of the reports that have been commissioned by Council have been inaccurate and flawed. Options for Bastion Point that could be environmentally, socially, culturally and economically sustainable have not been considered or assessed.
What’s wrong with the proposed development?
It will degrade a significant wilderness coastal environment & habitat.
The proposed boat ramp and breakwater would cut through the geologically significant Bastion Point reef, resulting in the destruction of diverse and species-rich marine habitats. It would also interfere with the coastal processes and require an on-going dredging operation that would further impact the reef and nearby beaches. Construction of the access road and turning area would remove significant coastal vegetation and habitat, and threaten fragile dunes and a cliff-face of geo-scientific importance. Impacts on the wider environment from the proposed development are also likely. An outstanding coastal panorama would be seriously interrupted, and the natural integrity of a wilderness coast destroyed forever.
It will be inequitable and discriminate against all other users
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