Last-ditch bid to halt Point Grey demolition

A NEW petition has been launched in a last-ditch effort to halt the demolition of Lorne’s historic Fisherman’s Cooperative Building, as the long-awaited Point Grey redevelopment edges closer to construction.

Demolition of the building, which was constructed in 1949, is expected to take place in February as part of a broader redevelopment of the precinct, led by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA).

The petition calls on the state government to prevent demolition until an independent investigation is undertaken into the feasibility and cost of retaining the original building.

Petition organiser John Barker, a former commercial fisherman and member of Friends of Pt Grey, said the decision to demolish the building would result in the irreversible loss of the site’s more significant historic structure.

He still hoped to see some of the original structure saved and believed the site was the “wrong place to put a toilet block”.

“They’re going to replace it with a pretty nondescript building…[with] no links with any historic display of what might have happened at Point Grey in the past,” Barker said.

“They’ve taken away the vibrancy of what the old co-operative building offers the town.

“Whether they retain the co-operative or not, it should not be dominated by a toilet block and a nondescript building which is adding nothing to the place.”

According to the findings of two independent technical assessments, released by GORCAPA in May last year, the building is considered unsafe for future use. The existing structure is also located within the coastal hazard zone.

The petition follows the release of new renders for the site, revealed in December. Under the present plans, the existing co-op building will be replaced with a new structure that incorporates a hospitality venue, a public toilet block and display spaces for local history.

The design for the new building reflects the size, shape and roofline of the original structure, and it is understood elements from this structure, such as bricks and metal work, will be used in its construction where possible. Work on an art and history strategy for the precinct is also under way.

The petition has been sponsored by Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan, who said the past 12 years had seen a “succession of bungled plans, ideas and concepts” for the Point Grey precinct that had left GORCAPA with “a mess of red tape and failed plans”.

“All the while, the state government has prevented them from openly communicating their plans and budgets with the community,” he said.

“This lack of trust in the community and enforced secrecy by the state has added over time to the burden of misunderstanding and confusion about what is happening at Point Grey.

“While I personally would have preferred for the community to have been able to retain an element of the old Fisherman’s Co-op building, I do welcome the work done in recent months by GORCAPA’s new management, who have worked more closely and collaboratively with the local community to achieve a framework that can at last begin this year and, while not perfect, does seem to capture most of the simple elements the community has been seeking for more than a decade.”

A GORCAPA spokesperson said the organisation was moving ahead with the project following extensive engagement.

“Redeveloping Point Grey will revitalise this iconic site for local residents and visitors and we’re really excited to be getting on with it,” a GORCAPA spokesperson said.

“The community has really helped shape and improve the designs, so we thank everyone who has been involved.

“Major works will get under way in February, and we will keep the community informed as things progress.”