An overview:

The Proposed Development.

  • 97 apartments, 9 shops and a 200 seat restaurant.
  • 4 storeys – blocks public viewlines to and from the National Park.
  • The 100 meter frontage takes up over a third the Port Campbell foreshore.
  • Approx 30 meters from the foreshore cliffs.
  • Approx 40 meters from major sea caverns.
  • Approx doubles the number of shops in the town.
  • Approx 97% site coverage – area 6261m2 – amalgamates 6.25 allotments.
  • Relies on the small port’s tight infrastructure for its reception area drop-off.
  • 156 car parks short of the planning scheme’s requirements.
  • Needs more Crown land near the sea caverns and a newly found karst tunnel to exit its reception area. (See Parliamentary Inquiry in use of Public Land.
  • Requires an approx 10 meter deep excavation, below natural ground level, near the newly discovered karst tunnel.
  • Approx 20,000 tons of earth/limestone will be removed to seat the development (geotechnical expert statement to VCAT).

Written concerns, re: economic, social, infrastructure and/or environmental impact, of Southern Ocean Beach House (SOBH) proposal, Subdivision, or use and development of further Crown land have been raised by:

  • Dr Eric Bird – World renowned coastal geomorphologist
  • Prof Brian Finlayson – geomorphologist & hydrogeologist (University of Melbourne)
  • Dr Susan White – Geological Society of Australia
  • Russell Brown – geotechnical engineer who has mapped sea caverns and closed Great Ocean Road on headland for VicRoads
  • Mark Stuckey – Hydrologist, Environmental & Earth Sciences
  • Damien Kenneally – Civil Engineer MA
  • Neville Rosengren – Geomorphologist
  • National Trust
  • Western Coastal Board
  • Australian Conservation Foundation
  • Victorian National Parks Association
  • Environment Victoria
  • Friends of the Earth
  • Protectors of Public Lands Inc
  • Nina Hall PhD Researcher – Marine Protected Areas
  • Garry Moore B.Juris, LL.B (Hons), LL.M, PhD Researcher – border changes in consequence of climate change, rising sea levels, intensified storm surges and coastal erosion.
  • Allan Willingham – Heritage Architect
  • Angela Munro, Master of Business in Tourism Management
  • Dr Linden Gillbank – School of Philosophy, Anthropology and Social Inquiry, University of Melbourne.
  • Heytesbury & District Historical Society
  • Returned Services League (RSL)
  • Mike Scott – Town Planner, Planisphere: “It will change the character of Port Campbell forever”.
  • Allan Wyatt – Environmental Resources Management
  • John Slykhuis – Landscape Consultant
  • Bill O’Shea – Landscaping and Revegetation Specialist
  • Port Campbell Community Group Inc
  • Port Campbell Professional Fishermen’s Association
  • Port Campbell Boat Club
  • Seafood Industry Victoria
  • VRFish
  • Boating Industry of Victoria Association
  • Victorian Coastal Alliance Inc
  • Parliamentary Select Committee on Public Land Development – First Interim Report, December 2007
  • Parliamentary Select Committee on Public Land Development – Interim Report, July 2008
  • Parliamentary Select Committee on Public Land Development – Minority Report, July 2008
  • Parliamentary Select Committee on Public Land Development – Final Report, September 2008
  • 2004 Petition to Council (approx 890 signatures) requesting to refuse permit to SOBH.
  • 20 June 2007 Petition to Legislative Assembly (685 signatures) requesting no Crown land be given to SOBH.
  • Mr Peter Kavanagh, Member for Western Province – questions to Minister for Planning
  • Mr Terry Mulder, State Member for Polwarth, has written to Hon Mr Thwaites requesting investigation on environmental, cultural and infrastructure grounds.
  • Ms Jennie George, Federal MP – encouraged thorough environmental assessment.
  • Hon David Hawker, Federal Member for Wannon
  • Ms Colleen Hartland Greens MP – questions to Minister for Planning
  • Natalie Atherden – Greens Member for Polwarth. Letter to newspaper
  • Mr Peter Ryan MLA, Nationals Leader
  • Mr David Davis, Shadow Minister for Environment & Climate Change
  • Corangamite Shire – 19 October 2005 VCAT submission:
  • ‘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’.
  • “The Proposal does not adequately address and mitigate the impact it will have on the character and amenity of the Port Campbell township” (142).
  • ‘The land use proposed for the site provides inadequate car parking especially for staff, on the land and will put an unreasonable burden on the public car parking provided close to the development site’ (143.2).
  • Re ‘Parking provision’: ‘Council does not believe this issue can be overcome to Council’s satisfaction through the use of a parking management plan’ (162).