Leopold push for boats in harbour: ‘Open it up again’

Alex de Vos
Leopold residents want an illegal boat harbour reopened to Corio Bay, a community group has told council.
Leopold and District Community Association wants council to drop its agreement with the owner to leave the harbour sealed off to boat traffic.
The Independent revealed last week that City of Greater Geelong and Dennis More had agreed to leave the harbour in place but place rocks in its access channel.
Mr More fell foul with City Hall after it discovered he had built the harbour without a permit.
Community association president Alan Ireland yesterday backed the push to reopen the harbour.
“It would be an asset for the community,” Mr Ireland said.
“However, we would need to sit down with the relevant authorities including the City and Mr More to find out what the future plans are going to look like.”
Resident and boating enthusiast Ron Scotland was enthusiastic about the harbour’s potential.
“From a safety point of view, if a small boat making its way from Geelong got into trouble with some bad weather it would be a nice little spot to pull into,” he said.
“I believe it would have a positive impact on the community.”
Mr More has refused to speculate on whether the harbour could regain boat access.
Two years ago he began excavating the 45-hectare site on his Portarlington Road property to create the harbour.
He was ordered to stop, leading to a battle with the City over his unauthorised project.
The long-running legal battle ended with the agreement between the City and Mr More a day before they were scheduled to appear at Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal.
Under the agreement, Mr More must submit plans to the City showing how the works will restore indigenous flora and fauna while maintaining exchanges of fresh and saltwater.