Hello BayVigil readers,
I’m sorry to inform you that Hilary Allen, the webmaster of this site and founder of the (Port Philip) Bay Vigil, suddenly passed away recently. We believe her passing was quick and that she is happy now.
The response of everyone to the Bay Vigil idea gave Hilary (my mum) great joy. She was very heartened by all of your actions. We’re very happy she was able to give this gift (among many others) before she left.
This site will stay online. Please feel free to continue the Bay Vigil spirit and organise your own events. She would love that.
Thank you,
Christy (Hilary’s daughter)
The ABC Lateline program tonight (23rd October 2008) presented us with confirmation that our Vigil of Lights in January was both timely and valid.
Two segments:
Firstly: the urgency of climate change becoming apparent.
Secondly: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Chairman Dr Rajendra Pachauri discusses how the recent financial crisis has impacted on efforts to combat climate change.
Dr Pachauri refers to those who ignore what is occurring as ‘flat earth thinkers’.
The latest news on the Blue Wedges site tells us about the battle now emerging as we request rational investigation of the true nature of the pollutants being dregded up out of the Yarra and deposited in an uncovered container in the Bay. With the warmer weather attracting people to the beaches, and our November (storms) cycle ahead – many people are very concerned.
Time does indeed reveal the truth.
sandbanking
Fisherman’s Beach, Mornington, August 2008.
Here in this pic we see the Mornington Shire’s efforts to shore up and replace the beach so that we can continue to enjoy the benefits of the Bay.
At last the Finance Committee report is available. It is disturbing to read of the limited perspective of those determining the health and well being of our Bay and the surrounding villages, towns, cities and suburbs.
A cursory scan of the report is revealing of the conceptual frameworks – the mindsets – of Corporate entities as they consider the bean counting and money crunching aspects of a major project. the value of such a project to the larger society is NOT included.
As I post this, the news of Cranbourne residents about to be turfed out of their houses because of methane leakage is being broadcast. In Cranbourne, the Council fought the plans for development in the area described. VCAT overrode Council and residents protests and gave the go ahead to build. Another example of what is emerging as a major limitation of the Corporations and Developers’ thinking behind far too many major projects: that of consideration of the consequences of such projects within a context of environment and societal well being.
Whilst it may be evident that legislation is inadequate – these concerns are part of a bigger picture. Considering Tasmania’s Pulp Mill, the sorry state of the Darling river system due to both drought and inconsiderate & insensitive agricultural practices … and so on … we can understand the context of the Bay Channel deepening project.
We humans have been blithely developing and building, creating and destroying for centuries with little consideration of the consequences on people and nature’s plant, animal & mineral kingdoms.
Now, the basic evidence of cause and effect are rising in our personal and social consciousness.
The Bay is definitely a precious asset to Melbourne City and its surrounds. How this asset is treated, perceived and utilised is a reflection of the evolutionary consciousness of the City’s inhabitants. The value placed upon this asset and how that value is calculated – seems to be a difficulty for our current estimators and Planners.
MEDIA RELEASE
10 September 2008
Greens say the Port of Melbourne is polluting Port Phillip Bay
Greens MP Sue Pennicuik says that the latest PoMC quarterly report has indicated that water quality control limits were exceeded on a number of occasions over the last three months. In addition water-quality testing by ACFs Bay Monitor has confirmed that the plume from the dredger has spread further than predicted and the report that the dredger has spilled 1,000 litres of hydraulic fluid at the Entrance to the Bay just show that the Port is not serious about protecting the ecosystem of Port Phillip Bay.
“The plume from the dredger has spread further than the Port had predicted, but many others in the community had predicted that this would happen,” said Ms Pennicuik.
“Arsenic, zinc, copper, nickel and nitrogenous compounds have all been found in concentrations higher than the ‘control limits,’ which is no surprise either due to the weak Environmental Management Plan that the Port is operating to. All of this was foreseen by scientists and others independent of the Port and the state government and sadly are coming to pass.
“The pollution and the spreading dredge plume demonstrates the inability of the PoMC to adhere to even its own watered down environmental standards.”
“I find it deplorable that the response of the PoMC to these breaches is to further weaken them to accommodate the needs of the dredging project rather than the needs of the ecosystem of Port Phillip Bay.”
“This is like removing the canaries from the coal mines when the poison gas levels rise, she said.”
“My question is ‘where is the regulator?’ Which agency is pursuing the dredging company and the Port of Melbourne for polluting Port Phillip Bay?”
For more information call Sue Pennicuik 0407 000 270
Oops! The Bay dredging environmental checks are being revealed as inadequate:
Fails First test
It is wonderful to have the support of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
With only the first of the heads dredging underway – already we are witnessing the disappearance of our much loved beaches. I parked at the marina at the foot of Oliver’s Hill in Frankston yesterday and watched as my car was covered in salt and the waves crashed over the wall. The council has obviously made an effort – new sand can be seen along the remaining beach line towards the pier. It is disappearing rapidly.
This is one of those moments in life when I fervently wish we had been proven incorrect and that it will ‘be alright’. I truly hope this is perceived as a warning signal.
Blessings for the Eclipse in Leo (today 1st august 2008): traditionally such Eclipses bear witness to a time when much is revealed to the public.
There is a weekend of Rallies ahead for those able to be in the Melbourne City area.
[From Blue Wedges newsletter].
1. 
* [1.] Over 60 community and environmental groups including Your Water Your Say, Australian Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace, Public Transport Users Association, Friends of the Earth, Tradewatch, Blue Wedges and may others have signed up to be part of this huge Red Alert event. We are all saying: Brumby and Rudd let’s get serious!
The Rally kicks off at 1 PM tomorrow, Saturday 5th July at the City Square (Not Fed Square) cnr. Swanson and Collins St. City.
Keynote Speaker Senator Bob Brown.
The rally will then march to Alexandra Gardens to form a human sign reading: CLIMATE EMERGENCY
* [2.] # PLANNING BACKLASH PUBLIC MEETING SUNDAY 6TH JULY
Mr. Brumby, and his mate Planning Minister Madden, the state “developers”, are making people as mad as hell! Join over 120 resident groups from city and country who have had enough of Mr. Brumby’s vision for Melbourne……which translates to more of everything. More high-rise, more shops, more high density housing, more trucks, more traffic congestion, more ships…… you name it he wants it!
But – the residents of town and country don’t want what Mr. Brumby wants. They say “We are as mad as hell and we are not going to take this any more. No more stripping away of our appeal rights. No to stripping away Councils’ planning powers.”
Speakers include: Geoffrey Rush, Rod Quantock (MC), David Davis (Liberal MP and Chair of Public Land Inquiry) and Greg Barber (Greens, MP)
Please join us at 2.30PM CLOCKTOWER TOWN HALL 750 MT ALEXANDER ROAD MOONEE VALLEY (Mel 28 J6). Show the Brumby government you care, but not for what they are doing!
For more details see: www.marvellousmelbourne.org
If you can make it and join in – please do!
Bay beaches (?) taken from Whitecliffs car park at 1.30 pm today. yes, it IS winter and the high tides are common after storms at this time of year. A local comments that if this becomes the norm – then we’ll know.
Here’s wishing you all warmth, food and shelter and a safe new fiscal year ahead …
Greetings! It is the Winter Solstice, exact at 10. 00am tomorrow morning, Saturday 21st June 2008. Our gorgeous little planet of teeming life turns on the elliptic point and starts heading back towards the Equinox (Spring) point and closer to the Sun. The bulbs are sprouting through the mulch.
Warm thoughts, sacred prayers and healthy blessings.
The dredging continues at the heads in stormy weather. I wonder what the whales will think of the Bay renovation on their journey towards warmer seas? I trust their community spirit to warn others along the way.
The adversarial system continues – our Parliamentary system is based on it and it continues through every level of society.
[Deep Sigh!].
Would that humanity could GET IT: co-operative, conscious, healthy pooling of resources and thoughts of Goodwill to benefit us all – including nature and this wondrous environment we love.
From my reckoning – it will take all of the 2, 500 years of the Aquarian Age. Am glad to be giving the incoming cycle of development and evolution a good hefty start.
I adore winter on the Peninsula: the air is fresh and clean and crisp and the sun still warm on the face and back. There is green in them there hills and gardens again AND rainbows sprouting amongst stormy clouds.
The Light is bright and clean and the atmosphere ranges from misty to sharp.
It’s a world we share and care about.
Blessings folks.
Ancient cultures have based artisan works on this jellyfish design. Found at Whitecliffs on friday 30 May. Fascinating.
Thursday 5th June is World Environment Day. May humanity grow in its awareness of how precious this planet truly is.
For those interested in POMc ’s report on their care of the Bay during the Dredging project, there are meetings at Rosebud and this Tuesday (3rd) at Bellarine.
*** ALSO:
On Thursday and Friday, the State finance Committee will be hearing the cases for and against the Dredging continuing. Presentations by various interests and concerned groups. See latest Blue Wedges newsletter.
Meanwhile, across the planet … New Guinea is clearing its forests at an alarming rate, Unilever is ignoring its own policies in devastating the Ivory Coast’s rainforest for palm oil and our own Victorian Farmers have been conned into the GM spin in a last ditch effort to rescue their livelihoods.
We have experienced decades of learning and teaching, lectures and books, films and documentaries, and people still want to ‘do their own thing’ even ‘though they KNOW it is grossly harmful in both short and long term.
That our Bay could soon become a toxic dump that is ILLEGAL in any other part of Australia – is beyond comprehension: It is malevolent and insane.
On World Environment Day – may humanity remember and honour our connection to the planetary world.
_______________________________
BAY WIDE ALLIANCE MEETING
An open invitation to all those concerned about the Bay.
Friday 30th of May
Port Phillip EcoCentre
Cnr of Blessington & Herbert Sts, St Kilda
From 6pm to gather, catch up & eat
Meeting starts 7pm, wind up 9pm
The consciousness of humanity IS expanding and we ARE maturing as a species. The impatience and frustration we are experiencing with those relectant to wake (grow) up is painful. It is part of the learning curve for which we are personally responsible. We know that we are ‘on cue’ with awareness of the pristine beauty of this planetary world and that our role as human guardians is vital.
Contemplate the Bigger Picture: suggest Carolyn Baker’s latest article about America’s need to mature.
”What I want to reinforce for all of us is how imperative it is in the days ahead for us to walk consciously, cautiously, and compassionately through the fires of this long, protracted initiation. Beyond our physical, financial, and logistic preparations, we must continuously work-and it will be work-to open our hearts and minds to the larger purpose behind the ordeals. We must ask ourselves what each particular experience wants to reveal to us, how it comes to us to open our eyes and cleanse the doors of our perception. We will be incessantly reminded that civilization has come to all this-depletion and exhaustion of the earth community and all of the suffering that attends that. In a sense, I believe, we are fortunate to be living in this time and on this planet because something greater than our finite human egos is delivering a message with unmistakable clarity: Living estranged from the earth community as if we are the only and the most important species on earth does not work, and collapse wishes to make certain that we understand unequivocally and irrevocably that our only survival and our only serenity will be found in living as if we and the earth are one. “
We do what we consciously can – while we can …
Blessings,
I shall be monitoring what happens to the Bay level during these stormy days.
Day 1 Friday 16th May and Rye pier is disappearing. You will notice the tides recede further out and at full tide, are heavier and reach further into the shores. We shall be able to watch the effects of the dredging at the heads over this weekend. There is a strong full Moon on Tuesday around midday. Kingtide warning and stormy winds and rain are forecast.
The landscapes of our Bay and its surrounding shores are changing.
I stopped for a quick snack at Cameron’s Bight today. Glorious still Autumn day, the sun shining on the water and rays streaming through clouds. The stillness and silence were restive.
I munched happily on my pie and sipped my oragnic latte. Until I realised something rather disturbing. There were no seagulls. Strange. No wind. Another couple enjoying a picnic nearby. No scavengers!?
Eventually, two adult Pacific gulls appeared. Then a pair of younger Pacific gulls hoping to share any remnants. Two seagulls ventured forth – young and quite skinny. The only times I witness an absence of seabirds is in violent storms and even then, there are usually some brave souls around.
The murky sands and the obvious lack of any fishy picnic for the the birds speaks volumes.
It was eerie.
Blue Wedges have updated with an interesting newsletter. We know now about the ship running aground at McCrae.
We await the first reports of the condition of the Bay with interest.
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