By NOEL MURPHY
B-DOUBLE trucks would ply their trade up and down the Great Ocean Road under a Liberal government, Corangamite Labor MP Darren Cheeseman claims.
The latest in a string of development claims about the road that Mr Cheeseman wants declared a World Heritage site came as Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott promised $25 million to upgrade the spectacular tourist road.
Mr Abbott announced the federal cash, to be matched by the State Government, for upgrades to prevent road closures to landslips and other problems that threaten the region’s $2 billion tourist trade.
But Mr Cheeseman told the Independent the Liberals want to open the region to B-doubles, to dynamite the rockface to widen the road, open national parkland to private development and Bells Beach to hotels.
“They want to widen the road and there’s only one reason to widen it, and that’s to get the big B-doubles on the Great Ocean Road and absolutely spoil the joy tourists get along the road,’” he told the Independent.
“The most magnificent part of the road is between Lorne and Apollo Bay – to think they want to turn it into a cosy, comfortable highway drive with a wider road, bigger bridges and heavier vehicles by taking away the magnificent outcrops and cliff-faces is outrageous.’”
The Great Ocean Road has become a key election issue in a volatile scrap between the Labor and Liberal parties as each seeks to stake its claims as guardian of the iconic road.
Claims by the incumbent Mr Cheeseman that the Liberals would dynamite the road’s cliff for road widening and also allow large hotels at Bells Beach have infuriated the Liberals.
His opposite number, Sarah Henderson, has ’pooh-poohed’ the World Heritage bid and demanded Labor commit to cash for the road, waving a petition of 2100 signatories as evidence of what the electorate wants.
Labor wants the road designated a World Heritage site and enjoys the backing of two local councils, Surf Coast and Colac-Otway.
The Liberals want $50 million in state-federal cash for works to safeguard the road’s business interests. They’re backed by the region’s council alliance, G21, and peak tourism body, Geelong Otway Tourism.
G21 and GO Tourism have shortened the wick on this electoral time-bomb, blasting reports that they advocated dynamiting the road.
“The campaign is about sensible refurbishment works intended to ensure the structural integrity and safety of the road for all users,” G21 chair Ed Coppe said.
They also called for the Labor Party to match the Liberals cash election promise.
Mr Cheeseman, in the meantime, has stood by his claims and his push for World Heritage status.
“We have a very strong case for World Heritage listing because of the significant indigenous history, the world’s longest war memorial and the magnificent Otway mountain ash as just a few of the reasons,” he said.
“Our region is the site of over 800 shipwrecks and the world’s oldest surfing competition at Bells.
“It will bring more tourists and jobs to our region and more importantly preserve our wonderful region from over development.’”
