Kealy weighs in on lake money

Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has called on Premier Daniel Andrews to address community concerns involving control of a Trust fund dedicated to Natimuk Lake improvements.

Ms Kealy, in a letter to the Premier, has also asked him to intervene over long-running anxiety surrounding construction of an outlet weir at the lake.

She said she was concerned the State Government was trying to force its way into managing the Natimuk Lake Otto Spehr Trust, left to community-based Natimuk Lake Foreshore Committee to manage.

She said anxious committee members had contacted her following correspondence from the government’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning regarding money left by Otto Spehr to the committee via a Trust in the 1950s.

She added the department believed the scope of the allocation of Trust proceeds should be broadened to include Parks Victoria, manager of the lake proper.

Ms Kealy said the committee was rightly outraged that the government was trying to wrestle some control of Trust money.

“These Trust funds were established generations ago by a local family for the local community,” she said.

“It’s absolutely unacceptable that any government body should demand to elbow in as a first step to take over the management of a community Trust fund.

“It is an insult to the charitable intentions of one of the first German families to settle in Natimuk that the government would try to sideline the committee in overseeing the management of these funds.

“Furthermore, if changes to the Trust provisions were to occur, a large portion of the money would be swallowed up in associated legal fees. This is completely wrong.”

Ms Kealy said the committee started work on Natimuk Lake weir in 2016 before the government stepped in and stopped the project.

“In 2019 Parks Victoria resolved to go ahead with construction despite not having the necessary funds to complete the project,” she said.

Ms Kealy said she had written to Energy, Environment and Climate Change minister Lily D’ambrosio twice about the committee’s concerns and frustrations and construction of the weir remained unfinished.

“I have urged the Premier to ensure the government works constructively, openly and respectfully with the committee to make sure the weir is completed without any further delay, and to ensure that responsibility for the proceeds of the Otto Spehr Trust is retained by the committee and Trust funds used as intended,” she said.

“The committee has worked for 30 years to improve the lake through a range of important projects. I thank everyone who has persevered with the long and drawn-out process of trying to get the weir completed and do what is in the best interests of the community.

“It’s time the government showed the committee and the Natimuk community the respect they deserve.”