BITTER TASTE: Port locals speak out against chocolate factory idea

PORTARLINGTON residents have rallied against a chocolaterie and farmstay business planned for the edge of town, with dozens of residents demonstrating against the project.

Neighbours say their retirement houses will lose the rural charm that attracted them to the area, local history buffs are fearful of a loss of heritage, and Bellarine farmers sense déjà vu at the prospect of farmland development, should the business receive approval.

Proponents have lodged plans for the hospitality and accommodation business at the corner of Point Richards Road – directly opposite the Portarlington town boundary.

The proposal would build a chocolate manufacturing facility, restaurant, 12 farmstay cabins with a children’s farm and associated agricultural buildings, and vegetation areas at the site of the heritage-listed Lincoln’s Farm at the entrance to Portarlington.

Point Richards Road residents say they sought assurance when spending life savings on a retirement property that the land opposite would remain undeveloped farmland, maintaining sweeping western views of canola fields, Corio Bay and the You Yangs.

Noel Freeman said he spent the latter years of his working life building his family’s dream home over five years’ worth of weekends and spare time.

“When we bought our land, we were told the land opposite would only be used for farming, and it will never be developed,” Mr Freeman said.

“We looked into it diligently and chose Portarlington because it ticked all our boxes: it’s quiet and it’s on the edge of town.

“It’s a big kick in the guts.”

Neighbours also say a traffic assessment as part of the proposal, which used data captured from surveys on April 30, fails to adequately reflect vehicle movements during the summer peak, such as high volumes of boat trailers using the Point Richards boat ramp.

Local historians also worry about loss of heritage value under plans to renovate the existing bluestone farmhouse.

“We’re not opposed to the chocolaterie, we’re opposed to certain factors: the size, location, heritage factors, and traffic,” resident Rebecca Bride said.

“There’s so many issues, not just ‘I own a home opposite’.”

Victorian Farmers Federation Bellarine branch secretary Fiona Conroy said she was concerned the tourism business, pitched mainly at young families, could create right-to-farm conflicts with nearby crop growers.

“Manufacturing that’s not related to the land use is not appropriate in a farming zone. It’s not like they’re growing the cocoa beans,” she said.

“It’s just at the end of the ledge, chipping away at agricultural production.”

Despite the outpouring of objections, the proposal has found support from other sections of the community.

About a third of publicly available submissions on the chocolaterie idea were in support, with its backers approving of its positive impact on local employment, diversification of hospitality and tourism options and expected popularity for the town’s growing cohort of young families.

The former Lincoln’s Farm building would be renovated and repurposed under the chocolaterie plan.