General News
15 November, 2022
Bev calls for answers
MEMBER for Western Victoria Bev McArthur has called on the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) to reveal the reasons for the compulsory acquisition of private farmland near the 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road and the future role it will play at the site.
MEMBER for Western Victoria Bev McArthur has called on the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) to reveal the reasons for the compulsory acquisition of private farmland near the 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road and the future role it will play at the site.
She said the Victorian Government, through the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions was behaving like a “dictatorial bully”, as it pursues this “totally unnecessary takeover of private land.
Development Victoria will then oversee the Government’s $108 million development plans for the area”.
Mrs McArthur said the owners of the land, the Nesseler family, run sheep on the earmarked property and also operate a thriving tourism helicopter business from the site.
The Nesselers have long had plans for expanding the tourism operation but have been thwarted at every stage by government roadblocks.
Mrs McArthur said GORCAPA must explain why it thinks the government should be getting involved where the private sector is already established.
“Governments should be about enabling growth of the private sector – not stopping it,” she said.
“The taxpayer-funded plans for the farmland are steeped in questions – some very simple.
“Like who, for example, will run this enterprise? Will it be the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation?
“If so, would the money made at the site go straight to that Aboriginal Corporation, or back into improving the broader Great Ocean Road landscape and facilities? How would the takeover of private property be financed? What taxpayer compensation would be paid and who would do the assessment?”
Mrs McArthur questioned why the government was seeking an exemption in the acquisition process, allowing the takeover to avoid normal planning procedures and to speed up the transfer.
“One can be absolutely sure that if a private investor wanted to avoid the rules, it wouldn’t be allowed,” she said.
“The screams of objection would be heard from the Apostles to Spring Street. So, what is so special about this takeover that requires avoidance of normal process?
“It smells fishy.”
Mrs McArthur said it was why GORCAPA’s role in the future running of the site must be explained to avoid serious conflicts of interest.
The GORCAPA was established in December 2020.
The original intent of the authority was for it to replace the 30 smaller organisations along the GOR to simplify management responsibilities.
Mrs McArthur said instead, it added a new QANGO over the top of all existing authorities.
She said GORCAPA’s own website describes its function as managing “…public land of all types with the Great Ocean Road coast and parks.” And that its “…role is to simplify these fragmented and conflicting management arrangements and deliver on a shared vision…”.
“So, one must ask: why it is that the compulsory acquisition is possible when the role of such a group is only to manage public land, and when its action actually creates a ‘conflicting management arrangement’ and splinters the vision for the area, rather than uniting it,” Mrs McArthur said.
“The Andrews Government has destroyed enough private enterprises in recent years.
“It should not destroy another very viable, highly regarded family business.
“Compulsory acquisition powers legalise state confiscation of private assets, and as such should only be a last resort where no alternative is available and there is an overwhelming public interest argument.”
She said in this case, the Nesselers have shown their willingness and ability to develop the site.
“There is clearly no overwhelming public interest in nationalising this private property,” Mrs McArthur said.
“To forcibly acquire this family’s land simply because the Government prefers different owners is beyond disgraceful, it is state-sanctioned theft.
“And if they can do it to the Nesseler’s property, they can do it to any privateproperty owner.
“To exercise these extraordinary powers requires enormous justification – and the first step to make the case is full disclosure of the arguments against the current lawful ownership, and full exploration of the viability of the alternative proposed.”
Mrs McArthur called on the Victorian Government to reveal to Victorians what its management intentions for the site were.
“The State Labor Government clearly knows what its management intentions are for this site – they need to come out today and tell Victorians – and the Nesseler family – what they are,” she said.
What do you think of the State Government compulsory acquiring privately owned land neighbouring the12 Apostles?
Send your thoughts to ctctimes@wdnews.com.au or Cobden Timboon Coast Times, 124 Manifold Street, Camperdown, VIC, 3260.