Liberal MPs push back against 12 Apostles plan

THE Geelong region’s Liberal MPs have pushed back against the latest update to a proposed redevelopment of tourist facilities at the Twelve Apostles, claiming the upgrades should be done by a private operator.

Last week, the state Labor and federal Labor governments jointly announced the start of the community consultation process for the $108.15 million in proposed works, which are part of the Geelong City Deal.

In early October 2022, the Labor government announced its intentions to compulsorily acquire private land next door to the existing visitor centre from the Nesseler family to facilitate the redevelopment.

Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan has previously said the Nesseler family had owned the land in question for at least 50 years, and had been trying to have an improved Twelve Apostles facility built there for the past decade.

Last week, Mr Riordan claimed the redevelopment “was at huge risk of going nowhere” and that other projects in the Geelong City Deal were at risk, and that the $108.15 million in the Geelong City Deal would not fully cover the projected compensation to the Nesselers.

“I urge locals to participate in the community consultation process, and ask why are taxpayers picking up the bill for a project that can be run and funded by the private sector,” he said.

“If all the budget of $108.15 million is spent on compulsory acquisition, what other projects along the Great Ocean Road will be cancelled or shelved. Daniel Andrews must be clear in the upcoming budget: where will the money come from?

“With the Victorian budget running out of money, building cost escalation and the community looking at funding cuts to roads and basic services, should the state be using taxpayers money to build toilets for tourists when the private sector is prepared to do it?”

Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation are partners in the co-design and delivery of the project, which Liberal Member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur described as “unnecessary government expenditure – and land takeover”.

“Given Victoria’s parlous debt issues, this was one project that Victorian taxpayers did not have to bankroll,” she said.

“The private owners of the land were prepared to do that, as they should wherever possible elsewhere in the state.

“The real reasons for the compulsory acquisition are now revealed.

“It is all about taking land off private owners and unnecessarily shifting the focus to Aboriginal corporations.

“Private land should only be compulsorily acquired for essential public infrastructure like roads and rail tracks. It is state theft if the land ends up being used for the purposes of government or semi-government profit or ideology.

This is all about a vibe. Victorian taxpayers, and the Nesselers, deserve more than that.”

For more information on the redevelopment, head to engage.vic.gov.au/twelve-apostles