Submission Cover Sheet Mordialloc Bypass Project EES IAC

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1 Submission Cover Sheet Mordialloc Bypass Project EES IAC 90 Request to be heard?: yes Full Name: Organisation: Affected property: Attachment 1: Attachment 2: Attachment 3: Comments: Margaret Ann Hunter Friends of Edithvale Seaford Wetlands Incorporated Edithvale Road Edithvale friends_of_edithv attached

2 FRIENDS OF EDITHVALE SEAFORD WETLANDS INCORPORATED Association Number A A ABN Submission tomordialloc Freeway EES December 2018 The Wetlands Edithvale Seaford Wetlands is a Ramsar site of natural and cultural significance and which our Federal Government has an obligation to protect. These wetlands achieved its globally recognised status on the basis of the population of international migratory waders which frequent it, some of which are vulnerable species. It offers a refuge for the threatened Australasian Bittern. These ephemeral wetlands provide a rich feeding ground and a haven for those bird species that fly in from Siberia, Alaska, northern Europe and Japan to escape their winter, including the Sharp tailed Sandpiper which amazingly makes a journey of 12,000 km from Siberia each year to its destination here at Edithvale. It should be noted that the numbers of these birds are decreasing around the world and that the Edithvale Seaford Wetlands, though small, are vital in slowing this decline. The wetland locality, however, means it is at risk from the encroachment of urban development. The wetland sanctuary in Edithvale also offers permanent or temporary home to around 113 (Birdlife Survey ) species of birds and are also important for frogs, reptiles, bats, possums, water rats and macroinvertebrates. Friends of Edithvale Seaford Wetlands Inc (FESWI) As Friends of Edithvale Seaford Wetlands Inc (FESWI), we attest to the Ramsar Convention's vision "to maintain an international network of wetlands which are important to the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, and benefits/services". FESWI are fierce defenders of what is these last surviving remnants of the Carrum Carrum Swamp which, before the intervention of white settlement, extended from Mordialloc to Frankston. Our community organisation is just one of many organisations across Australia working to protect and raise awareness about a small local habitat.

3 Our organisation of over 100 members operates in a voluntary capacity within both Kingston and Frankston municipalities and this year was awarded Kingston Community Group of the Year in recognition of the importance of our achievements and commitment to this vital asset within the City of Kingston. Our activities include promoting understanding of the environmental value of wetlands by offering talks and guided walks to school and community groups. We are host to hundreds of visitors each year, including Birdlife Australia bird surveyors, and a network of enthusiastic bird observers at our bird hide which provides unparalleled bird watching facilities. Our website and Facebook page connect with and inform naturalists and bird enthusiasts worldwide. Reasons for our submission Our Friends group shares a passion for nature and we place high value on its role in maintaining and enhancing societal wellbeing. We support a growing awareness that planning for development of the built environment, and in this case transport infrastructure, must go hand in hand with informed decisions regarding environmental effects which will extend for generations to come. The Edithvale Seaford Wetlands and surrounds is a haven for thriving populations of a multitude of bird species but the primary significance of these wetlands is for the migratory waders, and, importantly, the threatened Australasian Bittern which is regularly sighted here. It is hoped that the environmental conditions for it to breed successfully remain. Large areas of undisturbed wetlands are important for this species. As FESWI is for biodiversity and preservation of birdlife habitat the proposed Freeway is of great concern. The area earmarked for a nine kilometre multi lane freeway with 'on' and 'off' ramps encroaches on natural habitat which provides refuge for bird populations in close vicinity to Edithvale Wetlands. We strongly believe that this open space which includes the beautiful and tranquil Braeside Park with its own wetlands, should be preserved, enhanced and promoted rather than visually scarred, fragmented and diminished as will surely result from a project such as this. Our concern is the disruption to connectivity of the open space and wetlands environment loosely linked to Edithvale Wetlands, ie Waterways Wetlands, Woodlands Wetlands and Braeside Park Wetlands. A freeway dividing the Edithvale Wetlands from these bodies of water will no doubt deter birds from moving through this corridor. This will restrict flyways of certain bird species, eg, the magnificent Australasian Bittern, which has been observed moving frequently from wetland to wetland. We fear that any negative impacts on the ecology of this extended wetland habitat may be putting Edithvale's Ramsar status at risk. The cumulative effects of disturbance from the initial freeway construction, the physical barrier of the raised embankment, the footprint of the project robbing natural habitat along with the noise, air and light pollution caused by the increased traffic will diminish this safe refuge for birdlife.

4 Suggested mitigation aimed at reducing the lighting and lighting from cars on the Freeway near the wetlands and Braeside Park is questionable. There is worldwide evidence that migratory birds in low light actually confuse and mistake low lit roadways as watery rivers, particularly after a rain period when puddles appear on roads. The fact is, this Freeway plan acknowledges that bird mortalities will occur (EES Report Ch 10 39) and will kill endangered species. There are no less than 13 migratory birds recorded (including the Latham's Snipe, Sandpiper Curlew) in the EES report (see Chap 10, conclusion), but no amount of mitigation can totally avoid injury and mortality rates of these vulnerable, and in some cases, highly endangered species. The prediction of a localised effect on groundwater, however minimal, resulting from flows directly underneath the road embankment is also of concern when considering the conservation of this sensitive local wetland habitat. In conclusion Research shows pockets of habitat even in built up areas can be crucial for species survival. Intrusions such as this freeway are not conducive to this. Policies should instead protect these valuable places and aim to restore more of the lost habitat. We do not agree when the EES states Changes to land use associated with the project are considered acceptable. Our national laws aim to protect biodiversity and yet here parkland, waterways and open space, residential and industrial land is being impinged by an imposing, unsightly, noisy and polluting structure. Nor can we accept the claim that the project will be "protecting urban amenity" while improving freight efficiency and increasing the capacity of gateways. We believe in fact that it contravenes the spirit of the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning's (DELWP) Metropolitan Open Space Strategy for Melbourne. The Edithvale Seaford Wetlands is one of Australia's few Ramsar sites in an urban area. Best use of the open space which links Edithvale Wetland is in dispute here. It is plain to see that this envisaged road embankment would impose a barrier which would to some extent be a deterrent to wildlife movement and disrupt connectivity of habitat for our wetland bird population. FESWI's goal is to ensure these precious communities continue to thrive. Information presented in local forums and subsequent submissions to this panel, lead us to cast doubt on the wisdom of this project as a long term solution for the problems of traffic congestion. What about other options that would be more favorable for environment protection and biodiversity conservation. The plan for this intrusive traffic thoroughfare should be held off until alternative solutions are properly and openly debated eg this process is silent on proposals for an expanded bus network for commuters and alternative proposals advocated by the three relevant Councils ie channeling traffic away from Kingston to the Monash Freeway. There would be benefits in allocating the $375 M towards a more forward thinking infrastructure projects focused on public transport, rather than staying

5 with a 40 years old plan. Decisions should not be made before DELWP's Metropolitan Open Space Strategy for Melbourne is in place to provide guiding principles for planning and managing of open space. We support its stated mission to "address complex issues through the prism of open space, including the provision of amenity and a healthy environment on the suburban fringes, and the improvement of quality, access and connectivity of public open space". (Mosaic Insights.com.au) FESWI sees this project as an unnecessary and poorly conceived stop gap measure for solving ever growing traffic congestion which will over time bring increasing traffic and associated pollutants into the area. We don t want our sensitive ecosystem to be put at risk from habitat loss. The 'precautionary principle' should apply. FESWI stands firm for sustainable, resilient, liveable landscapes that will support healthy, productive communities of animal and human life well into the future. We say that at this point in time this fraught Freeway plan should be abandoned.

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