By Lana Austin, President of Earthcare St Kilda
Earthcare is asking the community to have their say via an online survey available on their website (
https://earthcarestkilda.org.au ) and social media channels
before the end of May 2024.
The redeveloped St Kilda Pier and little penguin viewing boardwalk is set to open by the end of 2024. The local non-for-profit organisation, Earthcare St Kilda, is urging the Victorian Government to endorse their continued management of penguin visitation, research, and conservation of the iconic penguin colony.
Earthcare volunteers have been stewards for the penguins for over 35 years and played a crucial role in the redesign of the new penguin viewing boardwalk. The new boardwalk ensures the separation of penguins from crowds, which is a great outcome for penguin safety and protection, however the new design means a ticketing system to manage visitation will be necessary.
Image courtesy of Doug Gimsey
Access to the new penguin viewing boardwalk could present as a commercial opportunity, and Earthcare want to ensure that revenue is not prioritised over community access and local stewardship.
Earthcare is in early conversations with St Kilda Sea Baths to develop a local-based ticketing and management operation that prioritises a low-cost visitor experience and ongoing community involvement. Earthcare believes that the penguin colony, being one of the few natural spaces close to Melbourne CBD, should remain financially accessible to all of the community.
"With the new design of the penguin viewing boardwalk, visitation will need to be managed, likely with visitors entering and leaving in groups. To ensure a sustainable operation, we are proposing a small but affordable fee for residents of Melbourne. We would incorporate concessions and exemptions, and all profits would go directly to penguin protection, conservation and research" says Dr Florence Sperring, Earthcare Vice President and Research Coordinator.
To better understand community perspectives on the ticketing system, Earthcare is asking the community to have their say via an online survey available on their website (
https://earthcarestkilda.org.au) and social media channels
before the end of May 2024.
"It’s really important to us that the St Kilda penguins stay local. We believe that a community connected to the environment cares for the environment,” added Lana Austin, President of Earthcare.
As the reopening of St Kilda Pier approaches, Earthcare St Kilda looks forward to further discussions with the State Government, Parks Victoria, and other stakeholders regarding the importance of local management, community accessibility, and the penguin viewing experience.
