by Luke Voogt
A proposed $150 million, 300-job Anglesea eco-tourism park could move elsewhere after authorities failed to meet a deadline on plans to fill a disused mine.
The shortcoming comes after the Independent revealed the organisation behind the proposal had set a deadline of last December for State Government.
Eden Project International chief executive David Harland last November warned “discussions on water” were holding the project back, amid fears investors could take the proposal elsewhere.
“We have been very clear that this needs to be resolved by the end of this year to maintain momentum and to allow investment decisions to be made,” he told the Independent.
But despite the earlier warning Eden Project and Alcoa remained in “very active dialogue” with government and the community, Mr Harland said this week.
“There is ongoing multi-departmental work underway with government regarding the water strategy … and we are hopeful that this will result in a solution for all parties soon.”
He advocated filling the mine void with a combination of surface, ground and recycled water.
Eden estimates the project would create 300 jobs onsite and a further 200 indirect jobs, generating $350 million in economic benefits during its first 10 years of operation.
Torquay-based MP Stuart Grimley last year suggested that a pipeline from Barwon Water’s underused Black Rock treatment plant to the mine could resolve the issue.
Polwarth MP Richard Riordan was “disappointed” this week that State Government had yet to support the concept of using recycled water.
Pumping water that would otherwise go into the ocean into the site instead would help fast track approvals for the Anglesea Eden Project, he said.
“Pumping massive amounts of precious water out to sea makes no economic or environmental sense.”
Mr Riordan said government was “balking” at the cost of a pipeline, which he claimed would cost no more than replacing one level crossing in Melbourne.
But Water Minister Lisa Neville said the “ambitious” Eden proposal had numerous environmental and planning challenges that needed resolving before it could progress.
“As a priority, Alcoa is developing a mine rehabilitation and closure plan to achieve a safe, stable and sustainable landform at the site of the former Anglesea coal mine.”
Government was assisting the proponents “in understanding the role of water” in the project and exploring recycled water as an option, she said.
Developing the rehabilitation plan was Alcoa’s responsibility, a government spokesperson pointed out.
Invest Victoria was working with Eden on statutory requirements and approvals for the project, which was subject to rigorous planning and environmental regulations, they said.
