Access to the Western Treatment Plant

Melbourne Water has given me notice of what they regard as a serious breach of access arrangements and asked me to remind birders of those arrangements and that the Western Treatment Plant is a hazardous site.

Following the recent & extremely unfortunate death of a worker at the Eastern Treatment Plant, Melbourne Water has been reviewing its procedures. During this process, when Head Office personnel were making a tour of the Western Treatment Plant, they discovered two birders on foot (because they did not have a key they simply walked in), who did not have a birdwatching permit (but knew permits were required), and had not been inducted. Their excuse was they had been brought into the Plant before by other birders who had a permit and thought it would be okay. It is selfish actions like this that could spoil access for all other birders. Given the tremendous effort by both BOCA and Birds Australia to maintain access for birders some years ago, no-one wants this issue to be reopened.

Could I please implore everyone who visits the site to take the trouble to get a permit, do the simple one hour induction (which gives you access to areas east of Little River and is therefore of benefit to your birding) and always act in a way which is responsible and reflects well on birders. Surely it is not much to ask to ensure we can continue to enjoy the best birding site in Victoria.

John Barkla

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