Geelong Environment Council Inc.

26/05/2026

🚨 Protect Port Phillip Bay! 🌊

Vopak's new floating gas terminal proposal threatens Victoria’s prized marine environment. Large LNG tankers and a 19km subsea pipeline could permanently disrupt local marine life, disturb underwater habitats, and restrict public boating and fishing access.

Even worse, the terminal plans to discharge chlorinated water directly into our shared bay, putting vulnerable ecosystems and Ramsar-listed wetlands at serious risk. Instead of locking us into decades of polluting fossil fuels and volatile global energy prices, we must protect our coast.

Have your say before the Environment Effects Statement (EES) submissions close on June 26!

You can officially submit your opposition to the Vopak Victoria Energy Terminal through the Engage Victoria Vopak Inquiry Page.

An Inquiry and Advisory Committee is collecting submissions to consider the environmental effects of the proposed Vopak Victoria Energy Terminal Link Project.

25/05/2026

CALLING for NEW MEMBERS - if you have a passion for issues in our region and want to be involved and supported by an established Council for change we welcome you to bring your ideas and energy to join us to support you in actions and advocacy.
Geelong Environment Council has remained an active environmental advocacy group, that has created much change historically to our region, Geelong, Bellarine, the Surf coast and Otway's. GEC supports the incredible ongoing work of Friends of Buckley falls
GEC continues to be a strong container to support instrumental change. The Friends of Buckley Falls (FOBF), under the wonderful leadership of Lance and Helen, have planted 4,300 plants at Buckley Falls Park this year.
GEC's mission statement is
'To Serve as an independent voice for the natural world that's dedicated to preservation and restoration of Geelong's regional ecosystems. The GEC supports sustainable policy that safeguards the region's environmental future and is committed to ensuring our land and waterways thrive for generations to come.'

Please email - [email protected] for more info.

31/12/2025

Happy New Year
Xx Geelong Environment Council met for their New years eve celebration in one of the places close to their heart - at Buckley Falls where the Friends of Buckley Falls is creating a flourishing regenerated indigenous space.
The GEC presented Elizabeth with some flowers to thank her for so many years of service to the GEC and FOBF.
May there be more work to continue to create thriving natural environments in 2026, for the community - including the feathered, scaled, insect-kind and four legged kind in our greater community 💗🐝🐸🌿🍃🌎☁️💧🌱🐢🦆🐟🐞🌍🐛🐬🦎🦉🐳🍂🐜🍄🦗🐌🦜🦠🦘

26/11/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Ay6vXDdgM/?mibextid=wwXIfr

26/11/2025

If you can regenerate locally this may be a grt webinar for you !
People can fund, support and help you plant new bushlands! 🍃🌱
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15z7LreyXs/?mibextid=wwXIfr

This Thursday we’ll be bringing together experts to look at different options to fund trees on your farm, including Krista Patterson-Majoor from Cassinia Environmental.

Bushbank has restored thousands of hectares of bushland across Victoria. As Project Manager, Krista's favourite thing is to see local projects come to fruition that make a difference to landscapes, and the people and creatures that live in them. Join us to learn from her experience.

Time: Thursday, 27 November, 5:30 – 7pm
Cost: Free
Register now: https://events.humanitix.com/funding-trees-and-biodiversity

26/11/2025

What a great AGM with the dedicated team of the Geelong Environment Council - 🌱
These people have changed history in our region and surrounding forests with their activism and commitment to follow significant issues in our community….🙏They are a resounding voice for our environment to keep our waterways healthy and wildlife safe in their shared habitat.🌿
Meet Jan, Joan, David and Elizabeth 💗the core drive of the Geelong Environment Council 🍃

25/11/2025

A short history of Buckley Falls Park.
Issues on the Barwon River were the catalyst in the set up of the Geelong Environment Council in the 1970s. But it was in 1984 that Geoff Carr, a renowned ecologist, told a GEC meeting that if someone did not do something about the vegetation along the Barwon River the weeds would take over and the remnants of the original ecosystems would be lost for all time.
The late Tony Woolford responded to the challenge and the Friends of Buckley Falls was formed. The first planting was in 1986 with 3000 indigenous plants grown by Geoff and friends.
Tony led the restoration of the river environment for about 30 years, and his work has been continued by the current members of the Friends of Buckley Falls.

18/11/2025

The work of the Geelong Environment Council and Buckley Falls Friendly society have done since the early 1980’s has been celebrated and acknowledged by this beautifully designed artwork - plaque and sculptured chair by Mark Trinham.
The City of Greater Geelong acknowledged the amazing planting, collaboration and dedication to regeneration the land in and around Buckley Falls - this piece especially giving reference to Red Gum Island.
Tony Woodford is also acknowledged for the dedication, hours of and vision to make Red Gum island a public reserve and a healthy native habitat. 🌿
And Rod Clark was acknowledged for his love and dedication to the land by his family funding the sculptured seat. 🌱
It also gives respect to the land being cared for for the thousands of years prior by the Wathaurong people.
The walk is Devine and the many natural wonders and art to be discovered on the walking paths is still an inspiration for the Geelong Environment Council and Buckley Falls friendly Society. 🦉