Courtesy: Phillip Island Nature Parks

The Phillip Island Nature Parks and Bass Coast Shire Council have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), further strengthening the relationship between the organisations and re-inforcing their commitment to Phillip Island and its community.

The agreement was signed by Nature Parks Chair, Dr Irene Irvine and Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Veronica Dowman. Also present were the CEOs of both organisations, Matthew Jackson from the Nature Parks and Allan Bawden from Council.

In signing the agreement Dr Irvine said: “This is a significant milestone as the last MOU between our organisations was back in 2000, and was not as overarching. The new MOU recognises that both organisations believe there are many opportunities to work together on matters of mutual interest such as, tourism planning and environmental responsibilities to benefit the local community and Philip Island’s unique environment.

“Other areas include improved community consultation and public participation in the planning associated with conservation and public land management on Phillip Island, better public facilities across Phillip Island and of course conservation and land management strategies.

“We both have environmental and public land management obligations, feral animal and weed strategies, asset maintenance needs, by laws and public use facilities matters, so it makes sense that our organisations should work closely together,” Dr Irvine said.

Mayor Dowman added she also saw key benefits in being able to have better alignment of priorities, policies and procedures as well as collaboration in staff training and development and community education.

“These are important areas and ones where it makes sense to collaborate.”

Dr Irvine and Cr Dowman said they looked forward to building on the already well established relationship between Council and the Nature Parks. Both also agreed the MOU is living document that is not an end in itself, but rather the beginning of a joint journey.

L-R: Bass Coast Shire Council, CEO,
Allan Bawden, Mayor, Cr Veronica Dowman, Dr Irene Irvine and Phillip
Island Nature Parks, CEO, Matthew Jackson.












Media Enquiries:
Ms. Sue Davies, Communications Executive, Phillip Island Nature Parks
Tel: +613 5951 2825 Mobile: 0400 956 310 E-mail: sdavies@penguins.org.au
Web: www.penguins.org.au