Western Victoria Region
Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (14:07): My question is for the Minister for Water. The Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar boundary review approvals process opened for consultation three years ago and has been stalled in the final stages since April 2024. In the meantime environmental threats such as non-permitted use of a private helicopter in what would be a no-fly zone for wildlife protection, shed conversion and non-permitted use and filling in of registered wetland have occurred due to oversight in planning regulation and a delay in formally protecting this distinctive area of the Bellarine. Minister, what is the hold-up? Will you ensure that the Ramsar classification is expedited as a matter of urgency for the Bellarine wetlands?