Riordan wants answers over Twelve Apostles land

THE state Labor Government has compulsorily acquired land for a new visitor centre near the Twelve Apostles, but Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan says the project is not only unwanted but also not needed.

Earlier this month, the Nesseler family received a letter announcing the state government’s intentions to acquire their land next door to the existing visitor centre at the Twelve Apostles.

According to Regional Development Victoria’s $108.15 million Twelve Apostles Precinct Redevelopment project, the Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre will be “the gateway to the Shipwreck Coast, enhancing and protecting the region’s iconic beauty” and be funded through the Geelong City Deal.

The new centre will include a park and ride facility, a temporary event space, revegetation, landscaping, gardens and walking trails, new access roads, better parking at the Secret Apostles Lookout, a visitor shuttle shelter, eBike parking and toilets.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Riordan said the Nesseler family had owned the land in question for at least 50 years, and had been trying to have the development built on their land for the past decade.

“They currently run a very successful tourist business in the Port Campbell helicopter business. They live and breathe that community. They have the resources, the know-how, the skills and the expertise to run what is one of Australia’s premier tourist visitor locations.”

He said Planning Minister Lizzie Blandthorn’s department had sent the compulsory acquisition letter “with no notice, no negotiation, no pricing and no structures in place”.

“The community has not asked for this to happen. The community has not foreseen this happening.

“The community has a plan that everyone has been working to called the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan that clearly outlines the needs and the desires of that community, tourism and the Corangamite Shire for government expenditure. It does not say you must go and compulsorily acquire from an unwilling seller and create a business and an enterprise that the private sector is more than happy to invest the money in.

“This is a terrible misuse of taxpayers’ money, and at a time when this government’s debt levels are skyrocketing greater than in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania, why on earth is your department seeking to spend probably upwards of $200 million on a project of land acquisition that no-one wants, no-one has asked for and there is no need to do?

“Instead, spend that money on what the community expects – basic services, open space and public land.”

In response, Ms Blandthorn said the Twelve Apostles Precinct Redevelopment would “deliver a world-class visitor experience and infrastructure”.

“My understanding is that Development Victoria is commencing the acquisition process for an interest in the property on the Great Ocean Road due to this project delivering significant community benefits.”