Anger at cash refusal

Alex de Vos
A Liberal MP has slammed State Government’s refusal to hand over millions of dollars in lease revenue from Lorne’s Erskine House to pay for management of Surf Coast’s foreshore.
Terry Mulder, whose Polwarth seat covers Lorne and Anglesea, said the Government was sparking conflict between foreshore manager Great Ocean Road Coast Committee and the community.
“Erskine House is a commercial operation running on crown land and the rule is that the manager of that crown land gets the lease money to carry out improvements,” Mr Mulder said.
“But because it’s a significant amount of money the Government doesn’t want to hand it over.”
Mr Mulder said the lost revenue had forced the coast committee to try implementing controversial revenue-raising alternatives such as caravan park redevelopments and parking meters at surf beaches.
“The committee shouldn’t be put in a position where it’s in conflict with the community and scrounging around for money.”
Mr Mulder urged the community to pressure the Government for the money.
Labor Member for South Barwon Michael Crutchfield, whose seat also takes in part of the Surf Coast foreshore, said the Government had yet to decide whether it would hand over the money.
“The matter is still being looked at and will be considered in the future,” Mr Crutchfield said.
A spokesperson for Finance Minister Tim Holding told the Independent last week the money would continue pouring into a “consolidated fund” for “schools, education, health, that type of thing”.
Former coast committee chairman Lawrie Baker estimated Erskine House had been returning $500,000 to $1 million a year to the Government since the facility was redeveloped several years ago for apartments and tourist accommodation.