A PAIR of features of Anglesea\u2019s landscape continue to dominate discussions about Alcoa\u2019s plans for its mine and power station \u2013 but for entirely opposite reasons.<\/p>\n
Some members of the community continue to argue that the smoke stack of the power station (which is all that remains following the demolition last year) should go, and the Anglesea Bike Park (which is slated for relocation) should stay.<\/p>\n
Those two topics comprised a large part of the conversation at Alcoa\u2019s latest Community Consultation Network meeting, held at the Anglesea Senior Citizens Centre on Monday night.<\/p>\n
In response to questions from the floor, Alcoa site asset manager for Anglesea and Point Henry Warren Sharp said the stack was originally meant to come down with the rest of the power station, but Alcoa later decided not to after receiving feedback during consultation for the Anglesea Futures Plan that the stack could be re-used for some other purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want to lose that opportunity, if it\u2019s a genuine one, moving forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf at some point, we decide it\u2019s got no future, we\u2019ll pull it down.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the smoke stack was not part of Alcoa\u2019s agreement with regulators such as EPA Victoria to clean up the mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like (being) a corner garage owner. To be honest, it\u2019s why you see in society, so many derelict places \u2013 the fundamental reason is they\u2019re freehold landowners and it\u2019s up to them, providing it doesn\u2019t create a safety issue or an environmental issue for the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike you and I as landowners, we\u2019re entitled to have structures on our property.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Sharp also said Alcoa \u201cunderstood the sentiment that\u2019s out there\u201d about the bike park, and had a petition with 6,000 signatures calling for the bike park (which sits on Alcoa-owned land that the company plans to rezone) to stay in its existing location.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand the sentiment that\u2019s out there.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut at the end of the day, for what it\u2019s worth, we reserve the right to make a decision about our property.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he could not give timelines on when decisions would be made about either the stack or the bike park.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut whatever happens, we won\u2019t rush that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A PAIR of features of Anglesea\u2019s landscape continue to dominate discussions about Alcoa\u2019s plans for its mine and power station \u2013 but for entirely opposite reasons. Some members of the community continue to argue that the smoke stack of the power station (which is all that remains following the demolition last year) should go, and […]<\/p>\n