The provocative motion, aimed squarely at the Yalukit Willam Nature Association (YWNA), was abruptly withdrawn seconds before the final vote.
But in a twist, TWiSK can reveal council officers and the YWNA had already agreed to mediation before Deputy Mayor Cr Andrew Hockley’s motion was brought to council.
That timing matters because it suggests the public confrontation was not the trigger for mediation, but a last-minute escalation before talks begin.
Jumping to conclusions about frogs
Cr Hockley put up two motions. The first supported Crime Stoppers Victoria’s February 2026 appeal for information about the suspected illegal translocation of Growling Grass Frogs into Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve. It also suggested council should consider offering a reward. This was carried unanimously.
During the council ‘debate’, repeated references to the ‘rule of law’, ‘illegal’ conduct and ‘governance concerns’ set a distinctly prosecutorial tone before the second motion.
The second motion listed a range of boxes the YWNA had to tick to continue operations at the reserve. Spearheaded by Hockley, this double-punch was a masterclass in mudslinging and defied many of the conduct standards expected of councillors at any council meeting.
Besides labelling the volunteer leaders of the association as liars, Hockley peppered his remarks with innuendo and accusations that were obviously performative.
Hockley asserted that the volunteers of the association are “not being well led” and are “being misled at almost every turn” by their leadership. He ended with a statement directed at the volunteers in the audience: “Your leaders are lying to you.”
While there was no evidence presented supporting the governance or legal criticisms of the volunteers, the motion itself was ample evidence of the need for mediation to resolve the antipathy.
First the frog-march, then the appeal for co-operation
Yet after concluding his closing speech on the motion, Councillor Hockley sought leave to withdraw the motion in a bid to foster goodwill.
“This is not in any way a criticism of volunteers,” Hockley claimed, emphasising that the community’s passion must not be lost to conflict.
The move to withdraw the motion clearly confused the Mayor, other councillors and the audience. In a meeting that already resembled a Netflix science-fiction ecoterrorism thriller, the late withdrawal felt more like a dramatic cliff-hanger than a serious attempt to reduce tensions.
Stay tuned for the next instalment …
With mediation expected to begin shortly, the council says it wants a collaborative, solutions-focused framework to rebuild trust, enforce safety and environmental standards, and secure the wetlands project’s future.
YWNA president Gio Fitzpatrick told TWiSK the association was ready for mediation and had already agreed on a mediator. “We are just waiting to get started,” he said.
Council statement on Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve
“Bayside has issued a call to action for the Yalukit Willam Nature Association to work constructively with Council to address ongoing governance and unsafe volunteer practices at the Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve.
“At its 21 July 2026 meeting, Council considered two Notices of Motion relating to Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve.
“Raising the Notices of Motion provided Council with an opportunity to correct the public record, reaffirm Council as the responsible land manager of the Reserve and reiterate the good governance practices required for an incorporated association operating on Council land.”
Read the Bayside statement in full
Pictured above: Volunteers outside Bayside Council meeting last week.
