Bluff cabins rethink
Residents’ protest prompts council to re-examine plan
A CONTROVERSIAL development along Queenscliff’s foreshore is likely to be modified after an apparent change of heart by municipal leaders.
More than 250 people attended a meeting convened by Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson in opposition to the eco-cabins development at Shortland’s Bluff, a project funded by her government.
Borough of Queenscliffe mayor Tony Francis and several other councillors were present at the meeting, with Cr Francis suggesting the municipality will re-examine the idea.
“Destination Queenscliff has a number of elements and I think the only sticking point at this stage is the location of the cabins,” he said. “The councillors are here to listen, we’ll reflect on what’s said and discuss the way going forward.”
Ms Henderson said there was strong community support for maintaining Shortland’s Bluff as public open space and relocating the eco-cabins.
“I am very encouraged by mayor Tony Francis’s announcement that council is willing to compromise,” the Liberal MP said. “Council did not rule out that it would consider another site.
“This is a significant win, in itself, for the community.”
One of the rally organisers, Keith Stowers, said Cr Francis’s statement was encouraging but tangible efforts needed to be made to alter the proposed location of the cabins.
“The response from the council was positive enough, but there was a lot of toing and froing about what they were considering and what they weren’t considering,” Mr Stowers said.
“Until they come out and say, ‘No, the cabins won’t be put here’ — that will be the only way they’ll satisfy the community.”
Another organiser, Andrew Sullivan, said the council needed to clarify its position on the matter this week.
“I thought there was still some ambiguity in what the councillors were saying. Between Cr Bob Merriman and the mayor there seem to be some discord in that Bob was saying they’ll still proceed with the design and put it out for consultation whereas Tony Francis was saying that they were going to reconvene this afternoon and change the proposal,” he said.
Ms Henderson successfully campaigned for $3.5 million to be directed towards the Destination Queenscliff project under the National Stronger Regions Fund.
Ms Henderson disagrees with the Borough of Queenscliffe over whether she was informed that the eco-cabins constituted part of the project. Deputy mayor Susan Salter claimed last week that Ms Henderson had been fully briefed by the council.
“The councillors are here to listen, we’ll reflect on what’s said and discuss the way going forward.” MAYOR TONY FRANCIS