Saving Point Nepean
E-letter No 3
Dear members and supporters
Victorian Community Expression of Interest in Point Nepean
On 25 August 2003 the Commonwealth Government terminated the Expression
of Interest process to sell 90 hectares of the heritage precinct at
Point Nepean (including the Quarantine Station). Concurrently,
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Mrs Fran Bailey,
announced that the 90 hectares of the heritage precinct at Point Nepean
(including the Quarantine Station) would be offered for 40-50 year lease
by tender, starting 1 September.
Why a lease and not a sale?
Under a lease Point Nepean would remain within the jurisdiction of the
Commonwealth Government. It would also mean that developers chosen by
the Commonwealth Government would not be subject to Victorian state and
local planning controls. This includes the Victorian Coastal Strategy,
which discourages ribbon or strip coastal development (The Commonwealth
has advised the lease would include Point Nepean's beach and foreshore).
In effect, Victorians, the local government, State Government and
Victorian heritage agencies are denied input into what a developer can
or can't do with Point Nepean. A lengthy lease, to which no local
planing guidelines apply, would at least in the assessment of one
developer be preferable to freehold.
In a 26 August 2003 article in the Financial Review, a well-known hotel
and tourism developer, Mr Max Moar was quoting as saying: 'It's a good
thing it is not under state planning control any more. As a developer
you want to deal with the land owner and now it will mean you don't have
to go through that extra authority'.
The tender will stipulate that Point Nepean is available for four
different uses 'Educational, Recreational, Community and Tourism'. Uses
listed in Mrs Bailey's 25 June Media Release include universities,
schools, research, sporting facilities, jetties, rescue activities,
museums, restaurants, conference facilities and unspecified
accommodation.
In an interview on ABC 774 on 25 August, when asked if a hotel was
possible, Mrs Bailey observed that a hotel 'would not be multi-storey'!
Mrs Bailey also declined to guarantee that bushland on the 90 hectares
would remain contiguous with the existing National Park. In the 26
August 2003 Financial Review Mrs Bailey is reported to have said that
'developers could demolish and undertake new construction on the
property'.
What developments will be possible at Point Nepean?
A university, luxury accommodation, jetties, one or more restaurants,
shops, one or more hotels/motels, a conference centre and/or a sporting
facilities will all be possible, together or stand alone. As Point
Nepean falls outside the jurisdiction of local planning laws it will be
the "incumbent" Commonwealth Government that will be the final arbiter
of what is 'appropriate' development and what is not.
Would the public have unfettered access to Point Nepean?
It would be naEFve to suggest that sustainability can be achieved for
Point Nepean without some form of income generating activity. However,
the Commonwealth Government's stated expectations of commercial returns
clearly establish a framework that denies the greatest numbers of the
public access to Point Nepean. Universities, hotels/motels, restaurants
and the numerous other specified uses means that Point Nepean are not
'public space' and access will accordingly be limited.
What about management?
Point Nepean has so much to offer, integrating as it does outstanding
natural and cultural values. Its development can be directly aligned
with and contributes to Victoria's early history. The Commonwealth
Government has decreed that Point Nepean be carved up between three or
more managers.
Parks Victoria would manage the existing Mornington Peninsula National
Park, Mornington Shire Council, Police Point (17.6 Ha), while the 90
hectares proposed to be now leased, including threatened woodland and
the Quarantine Station, would be managed by the successful tenderer.
Fragmentation of its management will unarguably reflect in fragmentation
and disintegration of Point Nepean's values.
Is subleasing permissible?
On the balance of probability the answer must be 'highly likely'.
What do environment groups think?
The Victorian National Parks Association, National Trust and the
Australian Conservation Foundation in a joint press release on 25 August
(attached) expressed serious concerns about the Commonwealth Government
announcement and described Point Nepean as 'endangered'.
Where to from here?
It is a shame that those making the decisions do not share our vision of
how wonderful Point Nepean might be, as an integrated publicly owned
national park. This Vision was contemplated by the Community Master Plan
and is reflected in the National Trust/VNPA vision for Point Nepean
supported by the majority of Victorians, the Victorian Government, the
Australian Senate and hundreds of community groups (nearly 350
organisations were signatories to the VNPA/National Trust Expression of
Interest) from across Victori a.
We will continue the campaign for Point Nepean's protection in a
world-class national park.
The debate about Point Nepean is far from over and we will keep you
informed of the ways that you can help us to secure its future.
Sincere thanks for your generous support.
Yours sincerely,
<<...>>
Ian Harris Dianne Weidner
President Chairman
Victorian National National Trust of Australia (Vic)
Parks Association
The National Trust is a non-government community organisation that
relies on membership subscriptions and property entrance fees
for its income. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: 9656 9800 Fax: 9650 0004
"Advice and opinions expressed by Trust members and staff are
proffered in good faith but on the basis that no legal liability is
accepted by the Trust or the individual concerned."
.
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