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Bass Coast Shire Council urges state government to act on urgent on Western Port Woodlands protection controls before caretaker period

Bass Coast Shire Council has urged the Victorian Government to introduce interim protections for Western Port Woodlands, citing significant biodiversity values and seeking action before caretaker provisions begin on November 3.

By news@gippsland - 24th September 2026 - Back to News

Bass Coast Shire Council is calling for the Victorian State Government to urgently act on interim planning controls for the Western Port Woodlands after submitting a comprehensive response to the government’s request for further information today. In June, council requested that the Minister for Planning introduce interim Environmental Significance Overlay controls through Amendment C181 to provide immediate protection for the Western Port Woodlands while longer-term planning work is completed.

The Woodlands are recognised as nationally significant and irreplaceable, with council committing $500,000 to biodiversity investigations and long-term protections

Woodlands protection controls

The proposed controls would operate until 2028 and are intended to safeguard one of Victoria's most significant areas of remnant biodiversity. After more than three months considering council's request, the Department of Transport and Planning wrote to council on 14 September seeking additional information and requiring a response within 14 days.

The Western Port Woodlands are one of Bass Coast’s most significant environmental assets. Stretching across public and private land between Lang Lang and Bass, they contain Bass Coast’s largest area of remnant native vegetation and provide critical habitat and wildlife corridors for threatened species, including the Southern Brown Bandicoot, Powerful Owl and critically endangered Strzelecki Gum.

Council urges action

Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Brett Tessari, said council had provided a comprehensive response and urged the State Government to act now before caretaker provisions start on 3 November. "The significance of these woodlands is well established."

The need for protection has been recognised through extensive strategic planning work, advocacy from our community and recommendations of independent planning processes. Council has completed the work, funded the investigations, responded to every request and advocated consistently for these woodlands. The next step is for the State Government to act," said Cr Tessari.

Council's response includes further information requested by the Department regarding biodiversity values, mapping methodologies, strategic planning work and stakeholder engagement.

Woodlands face mining threat

The Bass Coast Statement of Planning Policy identifies the Western Port Woodlands as an area of environmental significance, while independent ecology experts commissioned for the Standing Advisory Committee process by the minister, council and conservation groups agreed the Woodlands are nationally significant and irreplaceable, with cumulative impacts from extractive industries posing a significant conservation threat. Council has committed $500,000 towards biodiversity investigations and strategic planning work that will help establish long-term protections for the area.

Council is also calling on the newly appointed Minister for Resources and Energy, Jaclyn Symes, to reconsider the Extractive Industry Interest Areas (EIIAs) that leave the Western Port Woodlands exposed to the potential for future sand mining. The Strategic Extractive Resource Area (SERA) project identified strategic sand resources in nearby Nyora West, Lang Lang and Trafalgar and the council urged the State Government to consider these sites rather than the Western Port Woodlands.

These areas are now exposed as the Minister for Planning gazetted Amendment VC313 last week and exempted herself from any public consultation on the changes. The amendment changes all planning schemes in Victoria to require councils to facilitate resource extraction in EIIAs and avoid the establishment of land-uses in them the minister has deemed incompatible. Previously, councils were only required to notify Resources Victoria of applications in these areas.

State government urged

Cr Tessari said the next action was squarely with the State Government. "Last year the Minister for Planning described the Statement of Planning Policy as a shared responsibility. Council has done everything it can, and we now want the Carroll Government to join us in decisive action."

"There is a clear pathway available to provide interim protection while longer-term planning investigations continue. The Minister for Planning must act to introduce interim controls, and the Minister for Resources and Energy must remove the remaining Extractive Industry Interest Areas from the woodlands. The woodlands cannot afford further uncertainty. Every month without adequate safeguards in place increases the risk that its environmental values could be lost forever," he said.

Pictures from Bass Coast Shire Council website.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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  Berninneit Art Gallery presents Becoming the Forest, featuring three large-scale drawings by Hoa Nguyen celebrating Bass Coast forests. The exhibition opens September 12, with a Living Earth Gathering on October 3.
• Latrobe City pushes for fair community benefits, transparent water pricing and long-term investment as Yallourn Mine rehabilitation progresses
  Latrobe City Council has urged fair community reinvestment, transparent water pricing and long-term funding certainty as EnergyAustralia seeks water entitlement for Yallourn Mine rehabilitation.
• Melina Bath accused Labor of ignoring bird flu advice and delaying vaccinations for Victoria's vulnerable little penguin colonies
  The Victorian government is accused of ignoring expert advice to proactively vaccinate little penguins against H5N1, delaying action until after infection was detected, potentially leaving colonies vulnerable.
• Regional ambulance response times deteriorate across Eastern Victoria under Labor, Melina Bath demands answers from Carroll government
  Melina Bath has criticised deteriorating ambulance response times across eastern Victoria, saying every local government area is worse than 12 years ago and calling on Labor to restore timely emergency care.
• Gippsland students impress Darren Chester with their understanding of Australian democracy and government
  Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester praised St Mary’s Primary School Maffra students for their strong understanding of Australian democracy, Parliament and government during a recent civics visit and discussion.
• Martin Cameron renews call for PSOs at Morwell and Moe Stations, citing rising Gippsland public transport crime figures
  Morwell MP Martin Cameron has renewed calls for PSOs at Morwell and Moe stations, citing a 49 percent increase in Gippsland public transport crime between 2021 and 2024.
• Darren Chester calls for Aged Care Minister's resignation over home support delays
  Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has called for Aged Care Minister Sam Rae's resignation, citing lengthy Support at Home delays, unanswered assistance requests and thousands of deaths while awaiting support.
• Nationals demand stronger policing as rising Latrobe Valley crime fuels growing community safety concerns and frustration
  The Nationals say rising Latrobe Valley crime and fewer police officers demand urgent Labor government action, calling for stronger policing, tougher laws and better resources to restore community safety.
• Darren Chester releases 2026 Age Pension Guide to help older Gippslanders navigate retirement support and services
  Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has released his 2026 Age Pension Guide, providing older Gippslanders, pensioners, carers and families with information about pensions, concessions, aged care and government services.
• Martin Cameron slams fresh Bank Street traffic light delays as environmental studies push project back again
  The Nationals have criticised the Victorian government after environmental studies and cultural heritage approvals were blamed for fresh delays to long-promised traffic lights at Traralgon Bank Street intersection, despite years of funding.
• Mirboo North stadium funding still awaited after decade of community campaigning for modern sporting facility
  Mirboo North continues seeking funding for a new stadium after more than a decade of campaigning. Danny O’Brien is urging the Education Minister to support redevelopment.