By Luke Voogt
The Victorian Government’s 10-month “secrecy” on its Moolap coastal plans has prompted a local coalition MP to call for their release.
“The government must release the plan so the Geelong community can move on and real things can start happening,” Member for Western Victoria Simon Ramsay said.
The Andrews Government remained secretive on its Moolap Coastal Strategic Framework Plan despite competing consultation in May 2017, Mr Ramsay said
“This report is well overdue and it begs the question: what is going on?
“Why the secrecy? Why the delay?”
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) began working on the plan in December 2014, Mr Ramsay said.
“More than three years on the outcomes remains unknown. Clearly there are issues here that the Premier is struggling with.
“What is the government really planning, or contriving, with this land and 10 kilometres of coastline?”
The 1200-hectare study area includes a former Alcoa aluminium smelter site and rolling mill at Point Henry along with a disused Cheetham Salt works, farming land and existing industrial areas.
In 2014 Ridley entered negotiations with the former state coalition government to redevelop the area with marinas, housing, commercial precincts and a golf course.
“The Andrews Government scrapped those discussions and began the Moolap plan in December 2014,” Mr Ramsay said.
But Victorian Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said she made no apology for the government “doing more work to get this right.”
“The Geelong community don’t want rushed, ill-informed decisions about the future of this important site and I would encourage Mr Ramsay to get involved in a meaningful way,” she said.
“This is a huge opportunity for the Geelong region so we’re taking the time to do the consultation, get the facts and put in place the right plan to revitalizes the area.”
DELWP received feedback identifying the need to “better understand” impacts of “buffer areas around existing industry” after releasing draft plans last year, Ms D’Ambrosio said.
DELWP then commissioned a buffer assessment for completion in May, she added.
Ms D’Ambrosio said she anticipated making a decision on the final Moolap plan in the middle of this year.
