peninsula link

I recently joined with concerned residents to walk through the Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve in Frankston. The Pines is one of the reserves impacted on by the construction of “Peninsula Link” (once known as the Frankston Bypass).















The Pines is a special place, containing intact remnant vegetation and habitat for the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot, so close to Melbourne it’s a little known gem. Speakers on the day included Sue Pennicuik MLC, myself as Eastern Victoria Candidate, Colin Long as the candidate for South East Metropolitan and Richard Di Natale, Greens Senate Candidate for Victoria.


















From left to right: Samantha Dunn, candidate for Eastern Victoria, Colin Long, candidate for South East Metropolitan, Sue Pennicuik MLC for Southern Metropolitan and Dr Richard Di Natale, senate candidate for Victoria.

This is what we said on the day: http://tinyurl.com/yzgpodr.

Residents are keen to see local road upgrades and improvements in public transport services as a way to address congestion issues, far more sensible long term solutions. Building roads does not relieve congestion, it only adds to congestion. Congestion costs Victoria an estimated $1.3 to $2.6 billion per annum (VCEC inquiry into Road Congestion 2007/08). The freeway will cut through many reserves in the region including the Pines Flora & Fauna Reserve, Carrum Downs wetlands, Pobblebonk Wetland Reserve, Wittenberg Reserve, Belvedere Reserve & woodlands and the Westerfields Heritage Woodlands.

Not only are Southern Brown Bandicoots threatended, Dwarf Galaxias, Swamp Skinks, numerous orchid species are all threatened by the construction of this road. The freeway will see the removal of approximately 100 hollow bearing eucalypts, habitat for Sugar Gliders and a suite of hollow dependant birdlife.

The extent of the impact doesn’t end here, in the Mornington Peninsula the freeway will have severe impacts on green wedge land and the future of agriculture in this region. Not to mention the amenity impacts and effect on peninsula biodiversity.

It is a travesty that this project continues when other solutions are available for Melbourne’s South East. Roads are not a solution to congestion, they only create congestion and cost us and our environment dearly.