Bluff battle heating up
DETERMINED residents of Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale are a step closer to winning the battle of the bluff.
Controversial development plans surrounding the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse reserve and Shortlands Bluff have sparked a fierce community backlash and a push for national heritage listing.
The Australian Heritage Council is seeking community feedback as part of its assessment on the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse reserve. The call for submissions puts the area one step closer to gaining key heritage protection and stricter development regulations.
Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson has come out in support of the heritage listing application.
“I have long been an advocate for this precinct to receive national heritage listing,” she said.
“Such recognition would not only provide greater protection of the site but also open up new opportunities for funding to maintain and improve the precinct.”
The Turnbull Government pledged $3.489 million towards The Destination Queenscliff project last year. The project includes redevelopment of the surrounding land of the lighthouse and the inclusion of several eco-cabins, sparking community outrage.
The funding is the result of successful lobbying by Ms Henderson, though she has previously claimed to have no knowledge of the inclusion of the eco-cabins in the proposal.
Queenscliffe Community Association president David Connoley said he was hopeful the Borough of Queenscliffe council would join the community in throwing its support behind the application.
“We’ve been underwhelmed with their support so far, though we are hoping they jump on board and support it now,” he said.
“Particularly in light of (the fact that at) election time a number of candidates supported heritage listing, so we hope they follow through with those election commitments.”
A petition lodged to State Parliament against property development on Shortland’s Bluff gained more than 1100 signatures.
That is a significant number, considering the estimated resident population of Queenscliff sat at just under 3000 in 2016.
Andrew Sutherland, who lodged the heritage application, said he was incredibly thankful of the support from members of the community.
“It’s something that we worked very hard to get,” he said.
He spoke highly of the efforts Ms Henderson had put into lobbying for heritage listing, even though the funding was coming from her government,
“Sarah supported it when she thought there was community support, she wasn’t given all the information,” he said. “We wouldn’t have done that without (Flinders MP) Greg Hunt and Sarah Henderson getting behind us from the get-go.”
The Borough of Queenscliffe council had little to say about the heritage listing.
“Council welcomes and respects the national heritage listing process,” Mayor Tony Francis said.
The Australian Heritage Council will complete an assessment and a final decision will be made by Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg. His decision will be based on the heritage assessment and feedback received though the consultation process.