By NOEL MURPHY
LORNE’S angling community is up in arms over plans to rebuild the resort town’s Point Grey pier precinct.
The plan – which would see two ageing buildings housing a restaurant, fishing co-op and angling club redeveloped into a single structure – has been put up by the Great Ocean Road Coastal Committee.
But a Save the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club protest group is mounting a strong campaign to overturn the plans and keep the existing buildings on their present locations and create a Lorne heritage centre.
Spokesman Graeme Norton said the GOR coastal committee’s plans were contrary to “economic future and functionality” of the Point Grey precinct.
The plans have been on the table more than 12 months and consultation with various stakeholders has been taking place in the interim with mixed responses. The final plan is presently being undertaken with approval and fund-sourcing expected early this year.
Mr Norton said, however, the plans contravened the Victorian Coastal Strategy and ignored the Lorne community majority wishes.
He said an initial two-building plan was being ignored, parking needs were being dismissed and that the angling club’s two-building campaign was backed by numerous Lorne sporting and community groups.
The group’s own two-building plan, which keeps the angling club separate and on its own existing site, was “advantageous” on several fronts including enhanced safety, minimum visual impact, enhanced coastal edge and walker access, and enhanced views from new public spaces.
The campaign has started a Facebook page that has drawn more than 500 likes.
