General News
4 October, 2022
Riordan questions acquisition plans
PLANS to compulsory acquire private land near the 12 Apostles has drawn the ire of Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan.
PLANS to compulsory acquire private land near the 12 Apostles has drawn the ire of Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan.
He raised the issue in parliament late last month and called on Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing to explain to the community, and in particular the Nesseler family, to explain to them why two weeks ago her department saw fit to send a letter for compulsory acquisition of a parcel of land adjacent to the Twelve Apostles visitor centre.
“Regional Victoria, and the Corangamite shire in particular, is desperate for investment by this state government in basic services,” Mr Riordan said.
“We are neglected in our health care. Our roads are universally considered the worst roads in the stateof Victoria.
“Most of the Otways national park is crying out for further investment in tracks. The Timboon rail trail, for example, a great public asset, needs $3 million or $4 million immediately to fix up some of the oldtrestle bridges.”
He said there was “huge demand for expenditure on basic government services and government-owned open spaces”.
“And for some reason, Minister, your department has seen fit to want to compulsorily acquire a parcel of land that has been in one family for a very, very long time – around 50 years or more,” Mr Riordan said.
“The Nesseler family has for 10 years tried to do the redevelopment of the visitor centre and the visitor services at the Twelve Apostles on their land.
“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.”
Mr Riordan alleged the department had sent, “with no notice, no negotiation, no pricing and no structures in place, a letter demanding the handing over of that land from this family”.
“The community has not asked for this to happen. The community has not foreseen this happening,”he said.
“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.”
Mr Riordan described the idea as a “terrible misuse of taxpers money.
He called on the government to instead spend the expected figure of $200 million and upwards on “what the community expects – basic services, open space and public land”.
The Minister for Regional Development’s office was contacted for response.
“The Twelve Apostles precinct is one of Australia’s most iconic destinations and in partnership with the Commonwealth Government we’re working to deliver a world class Visitor Experience Centre at the landmark,” a government spokesperson said.
“Discussions are continuing with interested parties to ensure we deliver this important project, as well as improve other coastal attractions and trails along the Shipwreck Coast.”