Threat to Great Ocean Road’s “Environmental Character and Appeal” as Council rejects Expert Planning Panel’s advice not to rezone ~1155 hectares of land.

The Port Campbell Community Group supports current State and Local planning policy – to ‘retain the low scale coastal village character of Port Campbell’ and to ‘preserve the spaces between towns from development’. There are 3 nearby towns where appropriate tourism accommodation could be built.

Click here to see the full article from the Age, 26th March 2012.

Bandicoots need homes too!
The Southern Brown Bandicoot is under threat from extinction nationally. This includes the Bandicoot Nursery on the Headland, (see Flora and Fauna). Both are under threat of extinction from urban sprawl. The Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) is calling the State Government to establish Green Corridors and develop a Southern Brown Bandicoot Regional Recovery Group and Regional Recovery Plan.

https://vnpa.org.au/our-nature-protection-laws-need-fundamental-reform/

https://vnpa.org.au/whats-the-plan/

https://vnpa.org.au/victorias-nature-protection-laws-need-fundamental-reform/

UNSAFE SITE  ‘BETTER as CROWN LAND’.
VICTORIA’S Environment Minister Ryan Smith has been urged to buy the site of the proposed Southern Ocean Beach House in Port Campbell and add it to the adjoining Crown land reserve.

Click here to see the full article from the Warrnambool Standard. 24th June 2011.

SAVE PORT CAMPBELL HEADLAND & NATIONAL PARK!
Geological specialists have warned that a proposed large hotel/retail development (4 storeys, 97 apartments, 9 shops and 200 seat restaurant, with an approx 10 meter deep excavation below natural ground level) on Port Campbell’s headland is high risk and may accelerate the collapse of the unstable sea caverned headland. Environment and heritage organisations are concerned of the impact of the development on the port’s 1880’s maritime heritage and on the spectacular cliffed headland, which is part of an internationally renowned coastline.

Crown land and National Park containing significant Indigenous and European cultural heritage and rare heathland which supports EPBC and FFG listed flora, fauna, and bird species may be lost.

In what appears to be a liability risk, the development, the 130-year-old port, and possibly the township itself, may be unviable if this headland collapses.

Local Reaction: The Port Campbell Community Group Inc. (PCCG Inc.)

The PCCG Inc. believes the scale of this development does not meet Port Campbell’s planning policy to ‘retain the existing low scale village character’.

The PCCG inc. also believes it will adversely impact on Port Campbell headland’s natural and cultural heritage.

Community concerns have also been voiced in 2 petitions to Council (890 signatures) and Parliament (685 signatures), at a Parliamentary Inquiry into Use of Public Land, 7 November 2007,  and in extensive community appeals to VCAT.

“The area is unstable and prone to active erosion, and this development is high risk.”

“The potential for collapse, especially with increased channelled runoff, is very high.”

“Runoff can result in rapid development of cavities resulting in collapse. This can be in the order of tens of years rather than hundreds of years.”

See Geotech excerpts from VCAT submission re the proposed development:

Erosion process, jointlines, wave action, limestone cliffs and sea caverns.

See the process of erosion and cavern formation:

 

Corangamite Shire Council
Corangamite Shire Council also objected to the development, saying: ‘The intensity of use and development of the land is too great and will have a negative impact on the amenity of the surrounding area and the low scale, coastal character of the township of Port Campbell’ (VCAT submission 19 October 2005).