Call to remove ‘forever chemicals’ from water
A coalition of more than 50 academics, experts, and concerned citizens have signed Clean Ocean Foundation’s open letter to federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek about PFAS contamination, which is of fundamental importance to Australia’s environment. The letter calls on Plibersek to take a bold leadership stance in relation to water recycling in Australia.
The signatories understand that, done well, recycling water to produce purified recycled water can help provide water security, reduce ocean and riverine pollution and reduce energy use. They include Australian Water Association (AWA) Professional of the year 2022 Adjunct Professor Ian Law, Environmentalist Bob Brown, Former Chief Health officer of Victoria (Dr Michael Ackland), CEO of Surfing Australia (Chris Mater), three-time Olympic gold medallist (Rowing) Drew Ginn, entrepreneur David Prior, and Rob Gell AM (president Royal Society Victoria).
The letter has been sent against the backdrop of growing concerns about PFAS and other toxic forever chemicals and the Australian Water Association’s annual conference (30 April-2 May). The open letter lays out seven areas for action including the establishment of an ambassador for recycling along with the new federal EPA to adopt pollution caps for wastewater that align with those now adopted by the EU.
Clean Ocean, an environmental charity that also conducts research on Australia’s 192 coastal outfalls, believes that for too long the water industry, reticent to discuss its polluting activities, has ignored the powerful argument that the general community is more likely “buy in” to water recycling if it also results in less ocean and river pollution. Failure of our institutions to acknowledge this has effectively compromised progress on water reform in Australia. This is evidenced by results from our two petitions on water reform and ocean pollution that received 16,000 and 10,000 signatures respectively.
John A Gemmill, CEO
Clean Ocean Foundation
Increase climate action
The world needs to do more by reducing greenhouse gas emissions faster (Reimburse carbon tax to households, The News 24/4/24). But will it matter if we reach 3°C above pre-industrial levels? According to the Australian Academy of Science, “at 3°C of global warming, many of Australia’s ecological systems would be unrecognisable. The decline of Australia’s natural resources would accelerate through changing distributions or loss of thousands of species”.
We are seeing this already and the current rate of vertebrate genus extinction exceeds that of the last million years by 35 times. It’s higher if we count plants and insects.
But how close are we to 3°C warming? Worryingly, at 1.45 °C above the pre-industrial 1850–1900 average, 2023 was the warmest year in the 174-year observational record shattering the previous record of 1.29°C set in 2016. The same is true of ocean temperatures leading to heavier downpours, marine heatwaves and record coral bleaching.
So, what can we do? Use our votes to elect climate-active councillors, politicians and governments. Use our money to divest mortgages and superannuation from fossil fuel investments. Reduce or at least offset our personal household and transport emissions. Join a local climate active group of like-minded people. As Desmond Tutu said: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
‘Outrageous’ change
I object to the name change of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Cerberus Ward to Warringine, as do all the residents to which I have spoken. I am in Cr Lisa Dixon’s ward, vote for her and now expect her to lobby for the name of this ward to be kept as Cerberus (New boundaries set for shire’s councillors, The News 23/4/24).
Shame on the people who even thought that this was a good idea. They lack loyalty to this ward and us, its citizens.
This is more than outrageous.
Maureen Wildes, Bittern
Time to save history
The heritage Norman Lodge gatehouse is a precious piece of Mount Eliza history. It is covered with the heritage overlay in Mornington Peninsula Shire’s planning scheme and is listed in the Victorian Heritage Register and is of state significance (Weather a blow to heritage gatehouse, The News 23/4/24).
The Victorian Heritage database details Norman Lodge as being “architecturally significant for its collection of buildings on the property, in particular a Gothic Revival gatehouse, stables and coach house and together with the gatehouse on the nearby property ‘Moondah’, they form a pair of distinctive gatehouses”.
Noman Lodge is also of historical importance due to its association with a number of important Melbourne figures in the 19th and 20th centuries and its philanthropic ideals espoused by some companies in the early 20th century, exemplified by Camp Manyung and the use of the lodge for a retreat and convalescence.
I have been in contact with the shire and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning since 2018 over the deterioration of this building and am following it up again with the latter. It appears under the Heritage Act 2017,
The owner of a registered place must not allow a registered place to fall into disrepair or fail to maintain it to the extent that its conservation is threatened. Now that a tree has almost demolished the building let us hope that the CEO of Chas J Group will hasten the overdue repairs.
Beverley Treloar, Mornington
Resident observer
I’ve lived in Mornington for 47 years and in my opinion the pathway down to the beach from Beleura Hill has predominantly been used by residents of the area as a short cut to their beach boxes (Shire, residents in step to reopen path, The News 23/4/24).
It has not been a popular tourist attraction as there is only enough parking for two or three cars at the most at the top. On the claim that there are endangered powerful owls nesting at The Briars, Mount Martha, I live nearby and visit regularly (Shire fails when it comes to consultation, The News 12/2/24). I am a member of Birdlife Australia and powerful owls do not appear on The Briars bird list or on the E-bird internet site used by most birdwatchers.
Keith Humphreys, Mornington
