
By Linda Cuttriss
IT IS extraordinary to have such an array of stunning coastal features and scenic landscapes, and so many interesting wildlife species on an island that stretches little more than 20 kilometres in length.
As we drive across Phillip Island, through gently undulating farmland with sweeping views to Western Port Bay and Bass Strait, it is clear that rural land is intrinsic to the island’s outstanding scenic values.
Phillip Island’s environment and landscape is what makes it so special. It is central to the lifestyle, health and well-being of its community and key to the visitor economy.
IT IS extraordinary to have such an array of stunning coastal features and scenic landscapes, and so many interesting wildlife species on an island that stretches little more than 20 kilometres in length.
As we drive across Phillip Island, through gently undulating farmland with sweeping views to Western Port Bay and Bass Strait, it is clear that rural land is intrinsic to the island’s outstanding scenic values.
Phillip Island’s environment and landscape is what makes it so special. It is central to the lifestyle, health and well-being of its community and key to the visitor economy.
The ‘Bass Coast Unlocking Rural Tourism Strategy’, or BURT, puts all this at risk.
BURT would allow large 5-star hotels, conference centres and eco-resorts on farmland, near dunes, wildlife habitat and along Phillip Island’s magnificent coastlines that are recognised for their national, state and regional significance.
So, how does BURT work?
Firstly, BURT divides Bass Coast into sub-regions. The Phillip Island and San Remo sub-region is given “the main tourism focus, based on environmental value, heritage and coastal and rural landscapes”. Recommended uses include “5-star accommodation with coastal views”, “destination restaurants in a rural and coastal setting” and “eco/nature-based accommodation”.
BURT would allow large 5-star hotels, conference centres and eco-resorts on farmland, near dunes, wildlife habitat and along Phillip Island’s magnificent coastlines that are recognised for their national, state and regional significance.
So, how does BURT work?
Firstly, BURT divides Bass Coast into sub-regions. The Phillip Island and San Remo sub-region is given “the main tourism focus, based on environmental value, heritage and coastal and rural landscapes”. Recommended uses include “5-star accommodation with coastal views”, “destination restaurants in a rural and coastal setting” and “eco/nature-based accommodation”.
Secondly, BURT aims to unlock restrictions in the Bass Coast Planning Scheme that currently limit tourism in the Farming Zone to small-scale operations that are directly linked with agricultural activities such as farm stays and farm gate operations.
And thirdly, BURT recommends establishing Special Use Zones in three rural areas on Phillip Island for “medium to large scale developments where tourism would be the major activity”. The three Special Use Zones are:
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This is the transcript of a talk written by Linda Cuttriss and presented by Rosie Westbrook at the ‘Protect the Land and Coast’ public meeting held in Cowes on September 20. The meeting was organised by Phillip Island Conservation Society and chaired by PICS President Greg Johnson. The other speakers were Phillip Island farmer Bill Cleeland, PICS vice-president Terry Nott and Jeff Floyd, former CEO of Tourism Victoria and AAA Tourism, former CEO and chair of Parks Victoria and former chair of Phillip Island Nature Parks. All speakers opposed the BURT Strategy. The meeting was attended by more than 60 people including five council candidates. Phillip Island farmer and conservationist Anne Davie OAM moved a motion that ‘The meeting rejects BURT’s plan for large scale development on the land and coast of Phillip Island. We ask council to rescind this misguided strategy. Bass Coast needs a tourism plan that protects the island’s farmland, coast and natural environment.’ The motion was supported by all but two votes and a few abstentions. |
These Special Use Zone areas are along a coastline of national and state significance with Significant Landscape Overlays, Environmental Significance Overlays and are either on a major tourist route, adjacent to important wildlife habitat, on currently used productive farmland and generally without access to sewerage infrastructure.
Medium to large-scale tourism developments in these places would have a major impact on the environment and landscape.
The open lay of the land in these exposed locations subject to strong salt-laden winds would make screening of buildings by vegetation virtually impossible. Clusters of multiple buildings in these rural areas would be like creating new satellite villages along the island.
The Kitty Miller Eco-resort proposal was perhaps a test case in one of BURT’s Special Use Zones.
Two months after the BURT strategy was approved, a permit application for a 100-guest eco-resort with restaurant (for guests only) at the Kitty Miller Wetlands was submitted to Council.
The overwhelming community response, including 168 written objections, showed the high level of concern about the impact of medium to large-scale tourism developments on the island’s rural and coastal areas.
The open lay of the land in these exposed locations subject to strong salt-laden winds would make screening of buildings by vegetation virtually impossible. Clusters of multiple buildings in these rural areas would be like creating new satellite villages along the island.
The Kitty Miller Eco-resort proposal was perhaps a test case in one of BURT’s Special Use Zones.
Two months after the BURT strategy was approved, a permit application for a 100-guest eco-resort with restaurant (for guests only) at the Kitty Miller Wetlands was submitted to Council.
The overwhelming community response, including 168 written objections, showed the high level of concern about the impact of medium to large-scale tourism developments on the island’s rural and coastal areas.
Concerns included spoiling scenic views, impact on wildlife and birdlife including increased roadkill, light pollution, noise and other disturbance, seepage of wastewater into waterways and changing the character of a quiet, tucked-away beach that is a sanctuary for locals.
The 45-page Council Officer’s Report recommended that Council refuse the permit. The reasons included that it was inconsistent with State and Local Planning Policy in relation to:
The report also concluded that the tourism development did not achieve a net community benefit as the impacts on the environment and landscape and risk to sustainable agriculture outweigh the economic development benefits.
Bass Coast councillors voted unanimously to refuse the permit.
The outcome of the Kitty Miller Eco-resort proposal calls into question the veracity of the whole BURT strategy.
BURT’s recommendations call for additional work to be undertaken including policy and land use study reviews, technical investigations, consultations and a major amendment to Bass Coast Planning Scheme, all of which will require costly use of ratepayer funds.
BURT goes against decades of work by community volunteers, from Phillip Island Conservation Society to Coast Action, Coastcare and Friends Of groups, who continue to protect and enhance the beautiful coastal reserves that residents and visitors enjoy.
The 45-page Council Officer’s Report recommended that Council refuse the permit. The reasons included that it was inconsistent with State and Local Planning Policy in relation to:
- settlement planning in rural and coastal areas
- protection of land for sustainable agriculture
- environmental risks and amenity and
- rural landscape character.
The report also concluded that the tourism development did not achieve a net community benefit as the impacts on the environment and landscape and risk to sustainable agriculture outweigh the economic development benefits.
Bass Coast councillors voted unanimously to refuse the permit.
The outcome of the Kitty Miller Eco-resort proposal calls into question the veracity of the whole BURT strategy.
BURT’s recommendations call for additional work to be undertaken including policy and land use study reviews, technical investigations, consultations and a major amendment to Bass Coast Planning Scheme, all of which will require costly use of ratepayer funds.
BURT goes against decades of work by community volunteers, from Phillip Island Conservation Society to Coast Action, Coastcare and Friends Of groups, who continue to protect and enhance the beautiful coastal reserves that residents and visitors enjoy.
BURT goes against all the work by farmers, who in 1987 formed one of the first Landcare groups in Australia, and who since then have planted hundreds of thousands of trees and shrubs, fenced hundreds of hectares of remnant bushland, restored saline soils and proven that regenerative farming practices can repair degraded land and store carbon.
And BURT goes against State and Local Planning policies that for decades have protected our environment and landscape.
BURT is a classic case of “killing the goose that lays the golden egg”, a saying derived from one of Aesop’s fables that refers to the short-sighted destruction of a valuable resource.
BURT is a short-sighted scheme that threatens to destroy Phillip Island’s most valuable resources - the beautiful environment and outstanding scenic landscape - that visitors come to enjoy and that the community treasures so much.
Let’s make sure our candidates in the upcoming Bass Coast Council elections are aware of the dangers of this ill-conceived strategy. Let’s urge the newly elected council to rescind BURT urgently before irreversible damage is done.
And BURT goes against State and Local Planning policies that for decades have protected our environment and landscape.
BURT is a classic case of “killing the goose that lays the golden egg”, a saying derived from one of Aesop’s fables that refers to the short-sighted destruction of a valuable resource.
BURT is a short-sighted scheme that threatens to destroy Phillip Island’s most valuable resources - the beautiful environment and outstanding scenic landscape - that visitors come to enjoy and that the community treasures so much.
Let’s make sure our candidates in the upcoming Bass Coast Council elections are aware of the dangers of this ill-conceived strategy. Let’s urge the newly elected council to rescind BURT urgently before irreversible damage is done.