By John Nebauer
MELBOURNE — On March 14, the Minister for the Environment Senator Robert Hill announced a decision to proceed with the excision of Point Lillias from Ramsar Convention-listed wetlands in Port Phillip Bay to facilitate the construction of a bulk liquid hazardous chemical storage and port facility.
Excision to facilitate industrial development has only occurred once world-wide in the 26-year history of the Ramsar Convention. The area covered by the convention is the most significant area in Victoria for migratory wading birds. It's also a winter feeding ground for the orange-bellied parrot, of which fewer than 200 remain in the wild.
Dredging will threaten plant life on the sea floor, causing fish stocks to die out. Spills into the bay do not wash away naturally and will threaten marine life.
There are also health and safety problems. At present chemicals at the Coode Island facility are piped directly to companies in Melbourne. Chemicals from Point Lillias will be transported by road, requiring another 600 tankers per week — one every five minutes.
The nearest Country Fire Authority unit is in Geelong, 10km away. According to a CFA submission, the response time required to combat a fire at Point Lillias would not be achievable.
The Australian Conservation Foundation has proposed that the plant be relocated to West Point Wilson, already a degraded area.