Council disappointed by funding withdrawal

THE Borough of Queenscliffe Council says it is very disappointed by Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville’s decision to withdraw funding from its Destination Queenscliff project.

Mayor Susan Salter said the withdrawal meant the community would miss out on enhanced facilities, including pathways, new public amenities, improved car parking and public park areas, for which independent community consultation showed between 70 per cent and 82 per cent community support.

“Extensive recent community consultation resulted in high levels of support for this project,” Cr Salter said.

“At its July 2018 Ordinary Meeting, Council made changes to key elements of the project to reflect community feedback received during the consultation phase.”

The Andrews Government had committed $2.7 million to the Destination Queenscliff project and Ms Neville said over the last few months it had been clear that the community was divided on the project and that they had major concerns about both the design and impact of the project.

Ms Neville said the community had expressed strong reservations about the limited consultation and information provided to them to support this project.

“The government is not in the business of supporting projects that divide communities,” Ms Neville said.

“Because of the strong views of the community, we have determined this project is not one that is appropriate to continue with.”

Ms Neville said the remaining money – $2.4 million – would be made available to support the development of the Queenscliff Community Hub.

This project, in Hesse Street, will rebuild the historical society and improve the library and community facilities.

Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson said she wanted to assure the Queenscliff community that Labor’s sudden withdrawal of funding would not impact on Destination Queenscliff projects, which had strong community backing, such as landscaping and public facilities for Anzac Day commemorations at the Queenscliff Lighthouse Reserve.

Ms Henderson said following her request, the Minister for Regional Development Michael McCormack had agreed to review the funding terms for the construction of six cabins and a café at the Queenscliff Lighthouse Reserve.

“I share the community’s deep concerns about the new location and design of the proposed ecocabins and the scale of the café development at the reserve,” she said.

“After raising this on behalf of local residents, I am pleased that the Borough of Queenscliffe has agreed to relocate the café so that it will no longer be sited on the historic ‘Bull Ring’.”