Historic Moolap inn could be bulldozed for new route

GREEN Gables has stood on the corner of Bellarine Highway for more than 160 years.

Its owner, David ‘Dutchy’ Jansen, has been lovingly restoring the former Moolap Inn for the past five years.

But under an option being pursued by VicRoads, the heritage-listed site would be bulldozed to make way for the Bellarine Link highway.

“My building is in the firing line but I haven’t been given official notice to say it’s under threat,” Mr Jansen said yesterday.

The mechanic has already been through a high-profile fight to remain at his longterm premises in Barwon Heads.

A redrawing of the Barwon Heads town boundary forced his relocation to Ocean Grove about seven years ago.

While Mr Jansen’s famed former inn is in the gun, he has not had any detailed talks with VicRoads about the project.

He would find out more at a public drop-in session today, he said.

Another frustrated landowner in Moolap said the potential loss of Green Gables showed that nothing would stand in the way of VicRoads’ preferred route.

“When they are willing to take out heritage buildings ... it goes to show they will go wherever they want to.”

Despite the uncertainty, one thing is sure — Mr Jansen will not stop upgrading his property.

While the frontage to Bellarine Highway is complete, there remains more work to do and he won’t be deterred by the planning study.