Hunter lobbying to save Knox lake from wetland plan

A Year 7 student worried about climate change is looking to take on the State Government over its plan to remove a popular Knoxfield lake, saying it is “decommissioning nature” and the wildlife “don’t deserve” it.

Hunter is on a mission to save Lake Knox in Knoxfield.

A teenager is rallying his classmates to fight the State Government’s plan to turn a popular lake into a wetland area.

Hunter, a Year 7 student at Fairhills High School, wants the body of water, dubbed Lake Knox, to be saved.

The lake is set to be decommissioned and turned into a wetland area under the State Government’s plans to develop the former Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP) site at the corner of Burwood Highway and Scoresby Rd, Knoxfield.

“It is decommissioning nature which I believe is an offence,” Hunter said. “The wildlife living there don’t deserve this. They have given so many kids so much joy.”

Hunter said he was making posters to create awareness of the plan and planned to start a lobby group at his school “to lobby against this destruction”.

“I feel so passionately about it — if we are going to fix climate change we first have to make difference at a local level,” Hunter said.

“Where will the species be relocated? Will the fish be buried alive? What happens to frog life? Where will the displaced ducks go?”

Hunter met with Knox Mayor Jake Keogh to discuss the issue this week.

He was set to meet with Ferntree Gully state Liberal MP Nick Wakeling last week.

Hunter’s mum Miranda said she was proud of him.

She said local children would be impacted greatly if the lake was removed.

“It will be quite devastating for (Hunter) to watch the development that goes on there when it’s been such a sanctuary for wildlife,” she said.

“It’s such a special place in the ‘burbs.”

Blue ribbons have been tied to the fence in protest at the blue-billed ducks’ habitat being destroyed.

Development Victoria group head of property Neil Anderson said it had met with community and environment groups and was developing plans to create a new and expanded wetland that could be used by locals and provide a sustainable habitat for wildlife.

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Mr Anderson said the dam at the northern end of the site was built decades ago, was fenced off to prevent community access and was unsafe.

He said after community consultation in 2018, the site was rezoned to a Comprehensive Development Zone, enabling new homes and services to be provided.

He said more community engagement was anticipated to take place later this year.

WHY I WANT TO SAVE LAKE KNOX

by Hunter

I want to highlight concerns from my generation who have little to no voice in decisions that affect our future.

Older generations were lucky enough to experience when there were freshwater creeks, lakes to fish in and seas to explore.

My generation sees plastic bags and waste like foam choking our creeks and killing our wildlife. Our seas are full of plastic and we have the doom of climate change.

We learn about the climate in science at school. I go to Fairhills High so the lake and the life there is my neighbour.

We learn about the negative impact of humans on the environment, specifically the negative impact and the excessive carbon in the atmosphere which is creating climate change.

One particular reason for the excess carbon is due to the destruction of native habitats and tree clearing.

Besides being in a climate crisis we are also experiencing an extinction crisis.

We are losing species at an unprecedented rate.

There are 37 threatened bird species in Knox and this lake is home to one of these.

The blue-billed duck is one of these birds and should be nurtured and not have its home exploited just for more high-density housing.