Houses threat in wetland bid

Jessica Benton
A bid to list wetlands in an international protection agreement could thwart plans for an adjacent residential development at Point Lonsdale.
Geelong Environment Council has commissioned a consultant to investigate six sites on the Bellarine Peninsula for RAMSAR listings.
The sites include two wetlands near developer Stockland’s proposed 598-dwelling Lonsdale Lakes residential estate.
RAMSAR listing to protect migratory wading birds require proposed developments to retain and enhance listed wetlands nearby.
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros said RAMSAR listings for the six sites would provide international protection for the habitats of thousands of migratory birds.
“RAMSAR listings will ensure there isn’t any activity in these areas that could destroy feeding places,” she said.
“We’ve lost so much of our original wetlands over the past 200 years, so it’s very important to maintain the ones we have left.”
Ms Lindros said the potential impact of the Stockland development on the Point Lonsdale wetlands was “very concerning”.
Stockland did not return the Independent’s call for comment before the paper went to press yesterday but developers’ lobby group Urban Development Institute of Australia backed the Point Lonsdale project.
Institute Victorian executive director Tony De Domenico said land development industries were now at the forefront of environmental protection.