A marina development was proposed for Mahers Landing By Catherine Watson
BASS Coast Council has wasted little time in rejecting a $380 million marina development proposed for Mahers Landing, in the Anderson Inlet.
The plan, accommodating a 200-boat marina and 1113 residential sites, has been at least three years in the making.
But at Wednesday’s meeting, councillors labelled it “absurd” and “ridiculous” before voting unanimously to reject an application to rezone 253 hectares of coastal farmland to a special use zone designated as Mahers Landing Marina Village.
BASS Coast Council has wasted little time in rejecting a $380 million marina development proposed for Mahers Landing, in the Anderson Inlet.
The plan, accommodating a 200-boat marina and 1113 residential sites, has been at least three years in the making.
But at Wednesday’s meeting, councillors labelled it “absurd” and “ridiculous” before voting unanimously to reject an application to rezone 253 hectares of coastal farmland to a special use zone designated as Mahers Landing Marina Village.
| An officer’s report described the proposal as “an inappropriate intrusion into the fragile coastal environment unsupported by an existing state, regional or local policy or strategy”. The report noted that the proposed rezoning ran counter to multiple provisions of the Victoria’s Government’s new Marine and Coastal Policy (2020), which prohibits development of new residential canal estates, and the Bass Coast Planning Scheme, which restricts residential developments to existing townships. The site is also covered by an Environmental Significance Overlay, a Significant Landscape Overlay and a Land Subject to Inundation Overlay, which the developer sought to delete. “The proposal is not considered fair, orderly, economic or sustainable use or development of land in the Bass Coast Shire,” the report stated. “None of Council’s existing settlement planning framework contemplates the need for a new coastal settlement to satisfy current land supply and demand requirements.” The developer cannot appeal against the council’s decision to the Victoria Civil and Administrative Tribunal. He can approach the Minister of Planning directly but is likely to get short shrift since the proposal breaches so many aspects of the government’s own coastal planning framework. Future proposals of a similar kind will be assessed within the framework of the Bass Coast Distinctive Areas and Landscapes overlay which is expected to be completed by the end of the year. | COUNCILLOR COMMENTS Cr Julian Brown: “This would be a massive development and create a totally new settlement. It would require massive earthworks. It’s almost mind boggling. It would require dredging of Andersons Inlet, and that’s a real concern for many of the residents who’ve been emailing me "One of the worst things would be wall to wall urbanisation of the coastline.” Cr Pamela Rothfield: “I think this is monumentally absurd. Here we are, Bass Coast has been declared a distinctive areas landscape ... the proposal, as the officers say, is not strategically sound. I’m delighted they have not in any way sought for us to go further with this.” Cr Clare Le Serve: “The report talks about an inappropriate intrusion on a fragile coastline. We’ve heard about the impacts of coastal erosion. We know the problems at Inverloch. To present this type of application to council, outside the town boundaries and on land subject to inundation, is really inappropriate.” Cr Michael Whelan: “The whole point of the environmental overlay for this area is to make sure that developments are environmentally sensitive. This one absolutely takes the environment and chucks it out the window.” Cr Bruce Kent: “I don’t want my backyard wrecked. I dive, I fish in the inlet and I don’t want that destroyed. Dredging in that area would just destroy it. There are enough issues at Inverloch already. Let’s move on from this ridiculous proposal.” Cr Les Larke: “I’ve received a considerable amount of correspondence about this. Few if any have been supportive of the development.” Cr Stephen Fullarton: “When we stood for the council we committed to maintaining township boundaries. This would create a new town. It totally defies what we’re looking for in planning for Bass Coast.” |
In 2003 a developer proposed a project called Tarwin Cove for the same site, including a golf course, housing and a marina. At the same time a 2000-lot development was proposed for the floodplain opposite Maher’s Landing, at Venus Bay.
Following strong community opposition, the then Department of Sustainability and Environment undertook a study of the many issues and both projects were abandoned.
Tell him he’s dreamin’
Nov 22 2019 - The Mahers Landing marina project was always a fantasy. The last rites were performed this week when head consultant John Woodman was grilled at a corruption hearing. Catherine Watson reports
Coastal follies
November 2, 2018 - Forget saving the whales, it’s the whitebait we need to worry about if a marina is built at Maher’s Landing, writes Mark Roberston.
Following strong community opposition, the then Department of Sustainability and Environment undertook a study of the many issues and both projects were abandoned.
Tell him he’s dreamin’
Nov 22 2019 - The Mahers Landing marina project was always a fantasy. The last rites were performed this week when head consultant John Woodman was grilled at a corruption hearing. Catherine Watson reports
Coastal follies
November 2, 2018 - Forget saving the whales, it’s the whitebait we need to worry about if a marina is built at Maher’s Landing, writes Mark Roberston.