fbpx

WAITING FOR EDEN: Ecotourism proposal hopes for planning haste

June 19, 2019 BY

A conceptual image of Eden Project Anglesea.

THE proponents of Eden Project Anglesea say planning decisions about the mine site’s future need to be locked down as quickly as possible, or the multimillion-dollar ecotourism proposal will lose momentum and could be at risk of failure.

Those planning decisions will not be made for at least several months, as it is not clear whether the Surf Coast Shire or the state government is in charge.

Eden Project International chief executive officer David Harland teleconferenced from Scotland into Alcoa’s regular Community Conversations Network meeting, held at the Anglesea Senior Citizens Centre on Monday night.

Mr Harland took several questions from the audience.

He said Eden would work within the existing planning framework and he was “technically” prepared to wait but he “wanted to go as quickly as possible”.

“Those of you that heard a bit of banter between (Sir) Tim (Smit) and me on stage is that neither of us are getting any younger. In fact, I’m spending my birthday with you right now; I’m 43 today.”

Mr Harland said projects such as Eden’s proposal required momentum.

“These are big, complex projects that require really detailed levels of certainty and planning and getting the regulations right, and there are a couple of conditions at the moment that are outstanding in order for us to move forward – some of those relate to planning.

“I think having been out there and talked to various people, I think those things can be dealt with, but they require a will and a desire from a number of different people in order to make that happen.

“Frankly, if we’re still talking like this as if it’s a bit of a concept in six months or 12 months’ time, then we will have failed.

“We actually have to start demonstrating to you that this is going to happen, and to ourselves.”

The meeting discussed the draft Anglesea Futures Land Use Plan, which lays out the overall zoning and uses of the mine and surrounding area, but the final version is not expected to be complete for between 12 to 24 months.

Surf Coast Shire chief executive officer Keith Baillie said the Land Use Plan was “deliberately vague” on planning authority.

He said he planned to bring a report to councillors within the next two to three months to get the council’s position on whether it wanted to be the planning authority.

Alcoa’s plan to return Salt Creek to its original course, which will accelerate the mine being filled with water from 50 years to as soon as five years, was also discussed.

Surf Coast Times – Free local news in your inbox

Breaking news, community, lifestyle, real estate, and sport.