State refuses to hand over ‘coast’s millions’

Alex de Vos
State Government has refused to hand over millions of dollars in lease revenue from Lorne’s Erskine House to pay for management of Surf Coast’s foreshore.
The refusal has shocked the former chairman of the coast’s foreshore management body, who has led a campaign for the Government to hand over the cash in accordance with its Victorian coastal strategy.
A spokesperson for Finance Minister Tim Holding told the Independent this week the money would continue pouring into a “consolidated fund” for “schools, educations, health, that type of thing”.
The spokesperson said the Government “could not rule in or out” ever handing over any of the Erskine House money to Great Ocean Road Coast Committee.
“Erskine House’s lease revenue is treated in the same manner as all other rental income from commercially-operated enterprises on crown land,” the spokesperson said.
“Lease revenue from such properties is used to defray any landlord costs, with the balance receipted to consolidated funds.”
Ex-Great Ocean Road Coast Committee chairman Lawrie Baker, who has gathered over 2000 signatures on a petition calling for the cash, was shocked.
“The Victorian coastal strategy outlines that funds generated from commercial activities on the coast be directed to coastal reserve management,” Mr Baker said.
“Erskine House is the only instance in Victoria where this policy is not being implemented.”
Mr 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.
Mr Baker said the loss of the revenue had forced the coast committee to try implementing controversial revenue-raising alternatives such as caravan park redevelopments and parking meters at surf beaches.
He warned that the committee was now so strapped for cash it might have to borrow to maintain its public caravan parks at Torquay and Lorne.
The committee earns about $4 million a year from the caravan parks, as well as leases and commercial activities to fund its management of 37 kilometres of foreshore between Torquay and Lorne.
Coast committee executive officer David Clarke said the organisation would not pressure the Government to hand over the money.
“It’s a government process and we’ve provided information to the Government,” Mr Clake said.
“It’s not our decision.”