Community Reference Group criticises Pt Grey plan

THE members of the Community Reference Group (CRG) for the redevelopment of Point Grey in Lorne have heavily criticised Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority’s (GORCAPA) handling of the project.

The 10 members of the CRG, which GORCAPA set up in 2023, do not endorse the draft Urban Design Framework (UDF) for the Point Grey precinct scheduled to be released in June and are asking GORCAPA to publicly say so.

In a letter dated May 18 to acting GORCAPA chief executive officer Christine Ferguson and board member Ryan Smith seen by this masthead, the CRG formally notified GORCAPA “of our disappointment and concern over both the content and the manner in which the delivery of the UDF has been managed”.

“Overall, it is simply not correct to represent – quoting from the GORCAPA website – that the draft UDF ‘has been informed with the insight of the project’s Community Reference Group’,” it says.

The letter lists several issues relating to not only the draft UDF but also its development, including:

• CRG members only receiving a copy of the 41-page draft UDF two hours after the start of a meeting on Wednesday last week.
• A reduction in car parking to less than half the existing spaces, “despite a significant increase in expected visitation”
• No interpretive design process for the presentation of material related to the heritage and history of the site
• Removal of the boat wash area at the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club (LAAC), no explanation for its omission, and no consultation with the CRG or the LAAC on this issue, and
• No consideration in the draft UDF of the design produced by architects as part of the 2021-22 GORCAPA Point Grey Community Co-design Group.

The letter requests an urgent meeting between CRG members, Ms Ferguson and Mr Smith before the release of the draft UDF.

“We do not see how the development outlined in the draft UDF will ‘benefit the local economy and the Lorne and Surf Coast Shire community’,” it says.

“We also request that GORCAPA publicly and unequivocally state, prior to the public release of the draft UDF, that the members of the CRG have had no, or minimal, involvement in the preparation of the draft UDF and do not endorse the document.

“Unless GORCAPA makes such a statement, we will have no option but to take whatever steps necessary to protect our reputations and integrity.”

Committee for Lorne chair John Higgins expanded on CRG’s criticism of the draft UDF in the Committee for Lorne’s column on page 11 of this week’s Surf Coast Times.