ANGLESEA BIKE TRACK NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED

RE: Anglesea Bike Track. The Geelong Environment Council wishes to express its concern, disappointment and opposition to the actions of Alcoa in deciding to close the existing bike track and to open the area for residential development.

Full support is given to Surf Coast Shire in its effort to retain the bike track and protect the land from a housing development. Our two major concerns are:

HOUSING development — It has been clear for many years that the local and wider Victorian community does not support any further clearing of local vegetation, in this case for an expansion of the township boundary and residential development. The land is not currently zoned for Residential Use.

PROTECTION of the bike track — The kids bike track is almost an institution in Anglesea and has played an important role in the life of the children of the town. If this is lost both the young people lose their track and more heathland or heathy woodland will be required to be modified for the establishment of a new track.

For over 50 years Alcoa has been a good citizen. For over 50 years Victoria has also treated Alcoa very well and very generously, more than can be calculated.

The Sydney Morning Herald and the Financial Review (in 2017) have stated that the exact amount of ‘subsidies’ to Alcoa in various forms is greater than $6 billion.

Unfortunately it cannot be calculated in detail for the Point Henry and Portland plants, the Anglesea mine and power line, due to there being no transparency or public accountability in the process.

It is now disappointing to see Alcoa embracing the opportunity to make more money from Victoria by ignoring what the Victorian community believed should be sacrosanct — the protection of all areas of native vegetation in the Anglesea area.

Joan Lindros, Geelong Environment Council