Quinn McCormack

After years of residents battling to preserve Frankston Reservoir as a safe habitat for indigenous flora and fauna by preventing it being used for boating, biking etc, instead keeping it for passive enjoyment of nature, the latest Frankston ALP member has clawed it back under the management of the discredited Parks Victoria.

The Andrews Labor Government recently decided to not renew a community Committee of Management as managers of the Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve for a further
period at the expiration of its term last March. Wildlife experts, hydrologists, conservation management specialists, friends’ groups and community members are shocked and outraged by this decision.

The volunteer community Committee of Management are all local residents of Frankston who are highly qualified with expertise in diverse professional fields. They have given endless hours of their time, at no cost to ratepayers and, with the support of local community groups and organisations, have been highly successful and prudent in managing all operations.

Detailed and approved management plans, policies and programs for the wellbeing of the Reserve for generations to come have been put in place.

Thanks to the voluntary efforts of the Committee and over 300 Friends, the Reserve has been opened to the public for the first time in 100 years for recreational enjoyment and activities that complement the serious conservation work of safeguarding and enhancing Frankston’s extremely depleted native fauna and flora.

More than 7000 enthusiastic visitors to the Reserve in the past four years can testify to the highly successful management practices and outcomes.

Local jobs are lost.

Local investment is lost.

Our community loses.

Our Member of Parliament, Paul Edbrooke, has turned his back on the Frankston community. The Reserve is now set to cost the taxpayer many millions of dollars in operational costs under management by a government body. A great outcome?

Source: Press Release sent on May 5, 2017 from Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve Committee of Management Inc.

The Honourable Ryan Smith MP, Minister for the Environment, has confirmed that he will upgrade the status of the Frankston Reservoir to a Nature Conservation Reserve. A delegation, including the Member for Frankston Geoff Shaw MP, met with the Minister in March to discuss the many issues surrounding the future of this significant bushland. The extraordinary quality of this remnant wilderness comes from the fact that there has been no public access for 90 years. Full protection of this reserve will protect the fauna and flora, and guard the “sanctuary” and “solitude” experience of this unique natural heritage for Frankston residents and all Victorians.

Designation as a Nature Conservation Reserve ensures that the protection and enhancement of the flora and fauna of Frankston Reservoir is the primary focus for the future management of this area. The change in classification to Nature Conservation Reserve will require an act of parliament to amend the Crown Land Reserves Act and it is anticipated that this will take place later this year.

The upgrade in the designation seizes this unique opportunity to fully protect the very last area of highly significant bayside vegetation and fauna that lies between Portsea and the city of Melbourne. Moreover, for a society increasingly beset by the nature deficit syndrome, it also offers an exceptional opportunity for people to connect directly with the landscape and fauna that is as the first settlers saw it.

The Frankston Reservoir site supports nationally, state and regionally significant flora and fauna species, plant communities and fauna habitats, including 6 ecological vegetation classes (EVC’s) of State significance. The most extensive of these EVC’s is the endangered Grassy Woodland, which is one of the most species rich ecosystems in the temperate world and is particularly rich in native grasses, orchids and lilies. 215 indigenous flora species are recorded at the 90 hectare site and over 100 fauna species including the nationally threatened Growling Grass Frog and state significant Musk Duck. Koalas, sugar gliders and echidnas also continue to enjoy the habitat of the Frankston Reservoir.

The extraordinary high quality of this remnant wilderness can be attributed to the fact that there has been no public access for 90 years while it was under the control of the water authorities. The full protection of this reserve will not only protect the fauna and flora, but it will also guard the “sanctuary” and “solitude” experience that this unique piece of our natural heritage can offer, not just Frankston residents, but all Victorians.