The Committee for Lorne – August 4th

A word from the Chairman – John Higgins

Aquatic Club met with the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) to discuss the restart of the Point Grey redevelopment project. This was a big step following the stalling of the project by the VCAT decision in March 2021. Together with the change of government at the national level, this had put the funding of the project at risk.

Fortunately, that matter has now been resolved and the funding has not only been retained but increased. Jodie Sizer, CEO of GORCAPA, advised the meeting that the work of the CCDG was instrumental in the retention of the funding, especially the work of our four volunteer architects, Bob Sinclair, Graham Brawn, Chris Wood, and Chris Connell, who devoted many unpaid hours working with the project architects to create an alternative to the defamed, discredited, and abandoned Beacon building. It is also pleasing to see that the new Funding Agreement prescribes a new (stand-alone) Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club building.

We were also given an overview of the Marine and Coastal Act and Policy which, together with the VCAT decision and other relevant legislation, will guide the revised precinct masterplan. One consideration that is of interest and concern is Coastal Hazard Vulnerability Assessment. We were presented with information from an unidentified source which shows the Storm Erosion Buffer required to withstand a predicted sea level rise (SLR) of 1.1 meters by 2100. The diagram provided showed (to my uneducated eye) that the whole of Point Grey would be subject to inundation and therefore potentially unsuitable for redevelopment!

Having had time to research, consider, and digest this information, my thoughts are:

• The predicted SLRs are significantly outside the range previously published.

• If such levels eventuate, the pier and the whole of the foreshore would be underwater.

• Why are we worrying about sea levels in 77 years’ time when any building constructed today in our coastal environment is unlikely to last 50 years?

• If other dire predictions come to fruition, we (the human race) will all be long gone by then!

As to the way forward with the precinct masterplan, it was announced (not discussed) that the CCDG is to be terminated. While this announcement came as a shock to the assembled community representatives, it was explained that the CCDG was expressly created to develop an alternative to the Beacon building, and that job has been completed. A Community Reference Group is to be established to “aid in the development of the Precinct Masterplan Concepts”. It will include 6-8 community representatives. Personally, while I am sad to see the CCDG disbanded, I understand the logic. To my fellow CCDG members, I have enjoyed your company and getting to know you better, and hope that the new group can provide the same level of enthusiastic and robust community representation.

Cheers,

John Higgins – Chairman