MEDIA RELEASE -  'SAVE OUR BEACHES' - March 29th 2018

 

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW... DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS SPECIAL EVENT 

Symposium - including Luncheon commences at 

12 Noon on Sunday April 15th in St. Brigid’s Community Hall, Crossley. 

$25 fee, including lunch and afternoon tea. 

Dear Friend, 

Firstly, on behalf of the community surrounding the Belfast Coastal Reserve we would like to thank you for your continuing support to protect our beaches here from the escalation and now the regulation of Commercial Horse training in the Belfast Coastal Reserve. 

Environmental champion, Bob Brown, joins local Traditional Owners, Goanna frontman, Shane Howard, Redgum frontman, John Schumann and former Federal Labor minister, Kelvin Thomson, in rallying against the State Labor government’s reckless plan to allow upwards of 250 commercial racehorses to trample over threatened bird sanctuaries and sensitive Aboriginal cultural sites in South West Victoria’s Belfast Coastal Reserve (BCR). 

They are joined by Greens Senator Janet Rice, Victorian National Parks Association President, Matt Ruchel and Birdlife Australia’s, Dr. Grainne Maguire in calling on the State Labor government to halt plans for the wanton destruction of the nationally and internationally significant shore bird breeding and feeding Reserve. They are calling for the BCR to be upgraded to a Coastal Park, with National Park protections and Indigenous Ranger partnerships. 

The Belfast Coastal Reserve Action Group, (BCRAG), will convene a unique and timely Community Symposium on Sunday, April 15th in South West Victoria, featuring keynote speaker Bob Brown, along with politicians, musicians, representatives from environmental groups and the Indigenous community, who are all deeply concerned about proposals in the current Draft Management Plan for the licensing of Commercial Horse Training in the BCR. 

“The Symposium is an opportunity to hear from eminently qualified individuals and groups on why the BCR is such an important ecological and cultural gem of the Southwest and should be preserved into perpetuity. There is a deep concern, shared with many locals, about the destructive impact of Commercial Horse Training in the BCR and the broader concerns about the commercialisation and industrialisation of Public Land”. 

Local musician Shane Howard said, “Our concern is that the Andrews government’s proposals are a smokescreen to opening the floodgates to commercial or industrial activities on all beaches, right across Victoria. All Public Land is at risk. Is logging in National Parks next?” 

“That a State Labor government, so in need of environmental credentials, would allow such willful destruction for commercial opportunism, in the 21st century, is embarrassing and negligent. South West Victoria remains one of the most damaged landscapes in Australia and the BCR provides a rare habitat for precious, endangered flora and fauna”. 

BCRAG, VNPA, Birdlife Australia, and others have long advocated that state of the art, purpose-built horse-training facilities, like those at the Ballarat Turf Club and around the World, provide an obvious solution for all parties. 

Invitations have been extended to Lily D’Ambrosio, (State minister for Environment), Martin Pakula, (State Min. for Racing & A.G.), Natalie Hutchins, (State Minister for Aboriginal Affairs), Gunditj Mirring and Eastern Maar representatives, local State Govt. members and all Warrnambool City and Moyne Shire Councillors, as well as Public Land consultants. 

Special Guests: 

Bob Brown, Acclaimed author, photographer and lifelong activist, who led the campaign to save the Franklin River in the 1980s. He served 10 years in the Tasmanian Parliament, was elected to the Senate in 1996 and served for 16 years. Leader of the Australian Greens from 2005 to 2012, retired and established the Bob Brown Foundation. Among his many awards are National Trust, Australian National Treasure (1998) & Australian Peace Prize (2009). 

Bill Yates, Local spokesperson for Belfast Coastal Reserve Action Group. 

Shane Howard AM, Local Writer, Musician, Publisher. 

The Hon. Kelvin Thompson, Former Member for Wills, (Labor Party) & Shadow Min. for Environment & Heritage. John Schumann, Writer, Musician, Former chief of staff for Australian Democrats, Meg Lees. 

Damein Bell, Traditional Owner, CEO of Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Board. 

Brett Clarke, Traditional Owner, Local Writer, Musician, Cultural Ambassador. 

Lee Morgan,  Traditional Owner, Local Writer, Musician. 

Oriel Glennen, Local Musician & Artist. 

Matt Ruchel, CEO of Victorian National Parks Association, (VNPA). 

Dr. Grainne Maguire, Birdlife Australia - Program Leader - Coastal Birds. 

Janet Rice - Greens Senator (Federal) & former councillor and Mayor of Maribyrnong. 

Ellen Sandell - Greens MP (Victoria) & Spokesperson for Environment. Young Environmentalist Award in 2009. 

Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=362642 

More Details:  www.bcrag.org