A public meeting was held at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne on 23 June 2011 to review progress and discuss the way forward for Southern Brown Bandicoot conservation in the Western Port Biosphere Reserve region.
Attendees included state and federal government representatives, government contractors, local councillors, council environmental managers and field staff, Landcare and other community group members, property owners, wildlife consultants and scientists. Eighty-five people attended the morning session, and 75 attended in the afternoon. People came from all five local government areas within the biosphere reserve.
During the morning session, the meeting was addressed by representatives from government agencies and a wildlife consultant, who provided reports on the status of the Southern Brown Bandicoot.
Reports covered management actions undertaken by Commonwealth- and state-funded projects of the Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Management Authority, Department of Sustainability and Environment, local governments and Melbourne Water.
In the afternoon session, the meeting considered a proposal by the Biosphere Foundation on the structure and function of a regional recovery group for the species in the Western Port Biosphere Reserve. A motion for the formation of this group was passed.
A second motion supporting the creation of connectivity corridors was passed.
Motion 1. That the community attendees formally request that the Western Port Biosphere Foundation convene a Southern Brown Bandicoot recovery group broadly following the draft terms of reference (as provided).
Moved: Gidja Walker, SPIFFA. Seconded: Pat MacWhirter, property owner “Harewood”. 48 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstention
Applications for membership of this recovery group are now being accepted (closing 15 August 2011).
Motion 2. That the community attendees at the meeting of 23rd June 2011 support the formation of Southern Brown Bandicoot corridors linking the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne with the other key Southern Brown Bandicoot habitats within the expanded Western Port Biosphere, and they respectively request the Minister for Planning and the Minister for the Environment for the State of Victoria:
Moved: Robin Dzedins, Member City of Casey Conservation Advisory Committee, Convenor-Friends of Warneet Environmental Group. Seconded: Cr Beverley Hastie, City of Casey Councillor 2010–present. 48 in favour, 0 against, 1 abstention
