Hi  Berry Forum
Petition deliveredYou might have seen in the media that we’ve handed our petition to Shelley Hancock, MP – over 7,500 hard copy signatures!! Shelley will table the petition in Parliament when it next sits in about 2 weeks time. She told us that she did not support the use of Jervis Bay as a cruise ship port, and agreed that its ecological integrity and amenity of Jervis Bay should be conserved for future generations. The Jervis Bay Community CruiseShip Coalition also met with Minister for the Environment and Heritage, James Griffin, on 14th September. We were able to let him know that we didn’t agree with using Jervis Bay as a cruise ship port, and that we didn’t agree with some aspects of the draft marine park management plan. He and his staff were shocked to learn that cruise ships are still advertising that they will stop in Jervis Bay. At the end of October we will meet with Member for Keira, Ryan Park, Shadow Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast.Please noteWe have received no information from the State Government indicating that Jervis Bay will NOT be used as a cruise ship port. The issue is still very real! (contrary to the media release put out by the Port Authority saying that they were not asking for Jervis Bay to be used as a port at the CURRENT time)So where are we up to?We are still waiting for a response to the submissions on Stage 1 of the draft Marine Park Management Plan. (Remember how we all worked so hard to submit them in January this year!)Soon (so they keep saying) they will release Stage 2: the draft rules and regulations for the marine parks.  Public submissions / comments can be made on these.We’ll let you know as soon as we hear that these have been released.Keep in touchIn the meantime let’s keep connected; join us for a social chat at the Jervis Bay Brewery, Wednesday 12th October, 5.30pm.And … if you have time take a look at the Council Open Coast and Jervis Bay Coastal Management Program.  Comment on this draft is due by 5pm 9th October.warm regards,JBCCC Steering Committee