Sand Strategy protects environment and allows resource extraction

 Comments by Ken Henry, Chair of the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, about Australia's environmental protection laws failing to stop the degradation of our natural environment really hit home. Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, he argued that the failure held back economic growth. The need for a better approach to planning and environmental issues has been apparent for some time. The community in Bass Coast Shire recognised this in the early 1990’s when plans were revealed for major sand extraction operations in the district. The community was adamant that a landscape-scale approach to planning should be introduced to limit cumulative impacts rather than the existing policy which only allowed each planning application to be considered in isolation. Residents formed the Grantville Action Group and gathered data to demonstrate the need for a massive change in planning and enviromental regulations. The Minister for Planning agreed and a working group was established to prepare a detailed strategty, The Regional Sand Extraction Strategy, Lang Lang to Grantville has been ground breaking in its approach to ensuring positive environmental outcomes whilst allowing the utilization of a resource. It allowed for protection of bushland, the maintenance of essential wildlife corridors and protection of waterways. The companies have been meeting the requirements of the Strategy but Bass Coast Shire has failed in its duty of care and the State Government appears to be backsliding.The successes the community gained in advocating the regional strategy are now being undermined by a handful of crazed individuals  masquerading as environmentalists.

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