By Catherine Watson
THE Save the Holden Bushlands community group has welcomed a commitment by the new owner of the Holden proving ground to protect the environmental values of the 880-site, much of it remnant coastal forest.
GM Holden announced this month that it had signed an agreement for Vietnamese car company VinFast purchase the iconic proving ground, owned and operated by Holden since 1957.
A new company, VinFast is aiming to produce 250,000 a year for the south-east Asian market, with a focus on electric cars and smart electric motorbikes.
The media release stated “VinFast is committed to the ongoing protection of the local bushland and environment and it intends to continue to allow access for community Landcare activities.
THE Save the Holden Bushlands community group has welcomed a commitment by the new owner of the Holden proving ground to protect the environmental values of the 880-site, much of it remnant coastal forest.
GM Holden announced this month that it had signed an agreement for Vietnamese car company VinFast purchase the iconic proving ground, owned and operated by Holden since 1957.
A new company, VinFast is aiming to produce 250,000 a year for the south-east Asian market, with a focus on electric cars and smart electric motorbikes.
The media release stated “VinFast is committed to the ongoing protection of the local bushland and environment and it intends to continue to allow access for community Landcare activities.
“The company also intends to honour Holden’s heritage at the iconic site by allowing access for Holden car clubs and former employee open days.”
Save the Holden spokesman Tim O’Brien said the first objective of the campaign – to protect the Holden bushland in the immediate future – had been achieved.
“We're pleased that GM Holden took such note of the environmental campaign and we take it as a sign of the strength of the campaign that the press release recognises the environmental values and continued protection of the site.”
Save the Holden spokesman Tim O’Brien said the first objective of the campaign – to protect the Holden bushland in the immediate future – had been achieved.
“We're pleased that GM Holden took such note of the environmental campaign and we take it as a sign of the strength of the campaign that the press release recognises the environmental values and continued protection of the site.”
| Mr O’Brien said confirmation of the sale didn’t mean the group was giving up on the idea of securing at least part of the Proving Ground in public ownership. The Proving Ground is a crucial link in a proposed forest corridor stretching from Nyora to Grantville. “The back two-thirds of the site – former Crown allotments – may well be surplus to VinFast’s requirements and this is the most valuable part in ecological terms. “With a strong community campaign, and the right pressure on the government, these may yet be returned to the traditional owners and the people of Victoria.” Bass MP Jordan Crugnale has undertaken to bring together representatives of the Bunurong Land Council, Bass Coast Shire Council and Save the Holden Bushlands to meet VinFast and discuss potential working partnerships to preserve the natural values of the site. Mr O’Brien said SHB was working on a memorandum of understanding with the Bunurong Land Council to work together to have the whole corridor become a linked Flora and Fauna Reserve, recognising its cultural heritage and ecological values. “That’s not to rule out a national park in the long term but to recognise that we need to act quickly to stop the sand miners moving into Bass Coast and bulldozing any of the remnant coastal forests. “We believe an alliance of the traditional owners, the local council and our own environmental coalition enables us to present a very powerful argument to governments.” |  Auto industry to stay: GMH GM Holden interim chairman and managing director Kristian Aquilina says global automotive research and development will continue at the Holden Proving Ground under its new owners. “The Lang Lang Proving Ground will continue to shape the global automotive industry. Over the past five years, GM has invested in the laboratories and tracks at the site, which will now be well utilised by its new owners. “This deal hits a sweet spot of a fair sale value, a ready-made facility for VinFast’s needs, ongoing employment for departing Holden employees and the preservation of amenity for the community. “In some ways, it’s the end of an era. We pay tribute to rich automotive history created at the Proving Ground, and the brilliant Holden people who worked there. "At the same time, its genuinely pleasing to know there’s a bright future there as well.” Under the agreement, GM Specialty Vehicles will continue to access the Lang Lang site for testing and engineering validation new products in local conditions. |
In their final meeting for the current council, Bass Coast councillors this week supported a notice to investigate proposals for a cultural heritage, flora and fauna reserve on the eastern side of Western Port. Council officers have already arranged a meeting with VinFast.
Meanwhile SHB and its allies are continuing to collect evidence to build the case for establishing flora and fauna reserves.
The Victorian National Parks Association has commissioned an ecological assessment of the string of remnant bushland between Nyora and Grantville. Both Landcare and SHB are carrying out camera trapping in likely habitat near the HPG.
Catherine Watson is a member of Save the Holden Bushlands.
Meanwhile SHB and its allies are continuing to collect evidence to build the case for establishing flora and fauna reserves.
The Victorian National Parks Association has commissioned an ecological assessment of the string of remnant bushland between Nyora and Grantville. Both Landcare and SHB are carrying out camera trapping in likely habitat near the HPG.
Catherine Watson is a member of Save the Holden Bushlands.