I am familiar with and have visited this unique and special environment that should be preserved at all cost, and want to assure that it's environmental diversity and integrity is nurtured, maintained, restored and consolidated. I see that the proposed seaweed farm would jeopodise and compromise this fragile and rare ecosystem.

As a landscape architect and artist with a long history of visiting and understanding the value of biodiverse environments I was astonished at the significance of Disaster Bay when I had the opportunity to visit recently. The Eden 1 Seaweed Aquacultural lease is at odd's with the environmental values of this rare and critically important environment,

The proposed project would necessitate at least some visual degradation of the adjacent coast in this beautiful area. There is also the issue of the enormous natural value of what is at present a pristine area. People use this area for enjoyment of the natural landscape and any development would destroy its wilderness value. This is apart from any environmental damage that could be caused by any current or future development. The sea area and the adjacent coast line cannot in any way be disturbed or altered, which is impossible. Of course it goes without saying that, if it went ahead, it should under no circumstances prevent any member of the public from using the the same area for recreation.
Whilst I am not against aquaculture projects in general, it is clear that the scale and extent of this project is far too large. A 2 Ha area is sufficient for a modest operation and income, and I cannot help but thinking there is a hidden agenda here on the part of the developer to secure ownership of a much larger area and make money by "subdiving" the lease in the future. .

I have been coming to Wonboyn Lake for 57 years, spending my time on the lake and beaches of Disaster Bay. I have always enjoyed the pristine nature of the area and the unspoilt beaches, which are becoming a rarity in Australia. In April 2025 we visited the northern end of the Greenglades beach at Bay Cliff. The beach was no longer pristine, rather it was covered in kelp and difficult to walk to the waters edge. In all my time coming to Wonboyn Lake this was the first time I had ever seen the beach covered in kelp. This only occurred after the trial kelp farm had been established in Disaster Bay. I have attached photos I took on the 18th of April 2025 showing the magnitude of kelp washed up on the beach.

If the pristine nature of the area can be damaged from one small trial kelp farm, then the damage caused from a 200 hectare kelp farm would be catastrophic. Over the last 20 years we have seen a significant increase in east coast lows, bringing with them significant swell and onshore winds. With the effects of global warming increasing at a rapid rate, these swell and wind events will occur more frequently and with more intensity. The risk of 12,000+ plastic floats and 500+ km of synthetic rope washing up on the beaches of Disaster Bay is incredibly high. If this project is to proceed it is a natural disaster waiting to happen. Being the first lease of it's kind globally, there is no evidence to show the infrastructure will remain in place over an extended period.

I strongly object to the granting of the Seaweed Aquaculture Lease in Disaster Bay.

The seaweed industry isn’t worth the damage to the environment. There are many alternatives provided and this is mainly a commercial opportunity. Ultimately, this feels rushed and the subsequent damage to this area is not worth the ROI.

Thanks, Nicholas Taylor

I object to the project because of its potential to negatively impact on the pristine environment of the coastal wilderness, marine life could get entangled in ropes, the potential for noise and waste pollution and the lease could be sold to foreign entities.

One of the most beautiful, pristine areas on the East Coast of Australia, Disaster Bay, is under threat from developers.

One of the most beautiful, pristine areas on the East Coast of Australia, Disaster Bay, is under threat from developers.