Mornington Peninsula Shire has called on the state government to purchase a 40 hectare property in Mount Eliza to ensure its biodiversity is protected for future generations. The land, at 185 Wooralla Drive Mount Eliza, contains biodiversity values of state significance and is also recognised by the National Trust for its landscape values as part of the Mount Eliza escarpment.

It abuts the Mount Eliza Regional Park. It is the second time the Council has requested the state’s intervention, having written to Environment Minister Gavin Jennings in 2008 asking for the government to purchase the site.

Shire Mayor David Gibb said the environmental values of the site were being degraded, despite the Council installing vehicle barriers on the adjoining road reserve. “The current owner of the property has chosen not to fence the property, and as a result, it is being accessed by motorbikes and four wheel drive vehicles,” Cr Gibb said.

“The activities of these vehicles are leading to the degradation of important plant communities and have also resulted in accelerated weed invasion. “Realising the potential of this site will continue to be comprised until the land is more responsibly managed or brought into public ownership.”

Cr Gibb said Council had asked the state government to undertake an assessment of the conservation values of the site as soon as possible and re-consider its decision not to purchase this land. “If this land was purchased by the state government it would also provide an important opportunity to provide net gain vegetation offset for projects such as Peninsula Link.

“Purchasing this land in the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity would be a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to the protection and enhancement of biodiversity as set out in the green paper on Land and Biodiversity in a Time of Climate Change,” Cr Gibb said.