A group that fought against a proposed jetty for a Lake Mulwala lagoon says it has scored a major win.
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Save Chinaman’s Island Action Group campaign manager Christen Tynan made the comment after the group was told Moira Council was unable to consider the application.
“This is a fantastic result, not only for the people of Yarrawonga and our visitors,” Ms Tynan said.
“It is a critical win for wildlife dependent on Chinaman’s Island Nature Reserve for their survival.”
The group was one of several in the Yarrawonga community that opposed the application from about a dozen nearby property owners for a jetty measuring 50 metres by almost seven metres.
They had argued the jetty posed a serious risk to the endangered broad-shelled turtle found in the lagoon, which had the only reed beds in Lake Mulwala.
But the developer countered this by saying the the lake featured kilometres of reed beds “that are equally if not more suited for turtle habitat as they are not in an area used by boats”.
Further, he said he had “relentlessly pursued” discussion with user groups over the past five years “with an open mind on how to resolve” various issues.
Ms Tynan said her group understood the Yarrawonga Easter Foreshore Committed had been told that any application for a no-boating zone in the lagoon “should wait until the matter of the marina proposal was finalised”.
“We now expect the committee to go ahead with their proposal for the eastern end of the lagoon to be declared a no motorising boating zone,” she said.
Ms Tynan said nearly 1000 signatures were collected for a petition supporting such a zone and opposing the marine development.
“We are so grateful to have witnessed the community working to preserve Chinaman’s Island Nature Reserve,” she said.
“We are thrilled with this outcome and will be supporting actions that prevent future development proposals for within the reserve.”
The action group received support from organisations including Wildlife Victoria, The Wilderness Society, Yarrawonga Urban Landcare Group and Turtles Australia.
“(We) have immense gratitude for these organisations and many other groups and individuals who have worked very hard to preserve Chinaman’s Island for its environmental and cultural value, Ms Tynan said.
“It is inspiring and overwhelming to have met so many people dedicated to our community's well-being who see how important this environmental asset is.”
The group said it recognised that while Chinaman's Island was part of a man-made lake, this did not negate “the tranquil beauty it possesses”.
