CONCERN about an endangered turtle has fired a campaign to stop a large floating jetty being built on Lake Mulwala.
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Loretta Saunders from Yarrawonga Wildlife Shelter said she had grave fears about the proposal for Chinaman’s Island.
The Yarrawonga Yacht Club, Animals Australia, Wildlife Victoria, The Wilderness Society and Turtles Australia also oppose the proposal for a private property backing onto the lagoon.
A development application for the jetty is now before Moira Council, which recently advertised for public submissions.
Ms Saunders said the lagoon was well-known for being home to the endangered broad-shelled turtle, considered the largest freshwater turtle in Australia.
“I’ve been working this area for the past 12 years and in that time there have been two of endangered broad shells, which were probably 50- to 60-years-old, hit by propellers in that lagoon,” she said.
Ms Saunders found out about the proposal four months ago at a meeting organised by the Eastern Foreshore Committee of Yarrawonga, the Friends of Chinaman’s Island and the Yarrawonga Yacht Club.
“It’s a beautiful sheltered area that is the only place with reed beds in Lake Mulwala,” she said.
“It’s a very small lagoon and this jetty is 80 metres by 30 metres, it’s 12-berth.”
Ms Saunders urged anyone who shared her concerns to make a submission.
Infrastructure general manager Andrew Close said the council’s role was to determine whether the proposal fitted zoning for the area.
“Other matters such as the impact on the environment, waterways and floodplain are referred to the relevant agency for advice,” Mr Close said.
Factors including the impact on the environment, waterways and floodplain “are referred to the relevant agency for advice”.
Mr Close said officers would draft a recommendation for the council’s consideration, most likely at its August meeting, once this advice was returned by the various agencies in coming weeks.
![Battle: Yarrawonga Wildlife Shelter's Móeesha Saunders, Christen Tynan and Loretta Saunders oppose a jetty. Picture: Matthew Smithwick Battle: Yarrawonga Wildlife Shelter's Móeesha Saunders, Christen Tynan and Loretta Saunders oppose a jetty. Picture: Matthew Smithwick](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/zTpV5j6X6iLmSh5SbcmSaP/d8b8656c-a138-4aa5-8fb9-ea1cb60b024b.jpg/r0_415_4850_3168_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)