Local conservationists say plans for the former Holden Proving Ground represent a conservation opportunity. By Catherine Watson
THE former Holden Proving Ground is back in the spotlight with an entrepreneur proposing to continue running it as a vehicle testing track while also using it for classic car events.
The proposal depends on the back half of the proving ground being purchased for conservation purposes. This is about 400 hectares of very high grade remnant woodland which forms the central chunk of the Western Port Woodlands.
The prospective purchaser, who does not wish to be named at this stage, has been working with conservation groups on the proposal.
THE former Holden Proving Ground is back in the spotlight with an entrepreneur proposing to continue running it as a vehicle testing track while also using it for classic car events.
The proposal depends on the back half of the proving ground being purchased for conservation purposes. This is about 400 hectares of very high grade remnant woodland which forms the central chunk of the Western Port Woodlands.
The prospective purchaser, who does not wish to be named at this stage, has been working with conservation groups on the proposal.
Late last year 21 environmental and Bass Coast community groups co-signed a letter to the Environment and Tourism Minister, Steve Dimopoulos, urging the State Government to purchase the site. The Minister is yet to respond.
The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation also supports acquisition and protection of the site.
Save Western Port Woodlands spokesperson Neil Rankine said this was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to conserve precious woodland at the same time as promoting employment and regional development in Bass Coast.
“It enables the best use of the existing facilities at the proving ground, it continues a 63-year tradition of motoring history on the site, and there is potential for classic car events to diversify Bass Coast’s tourism offering, crucially off Phillip Island.”
The proving ground was initially put on the market in 2019 when Holden left Australia. In 2020 it was bought by VinFast, a Vietnamese car company, for $36.3 million. VinFast put it back on the market in 2021 when it, too, left Australia.
The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation also supports acquisition and protection of the site.
Save Western Port Woodlands spokesperson Neil Rankine said this was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to conserve precious woodland at the same time as promoting employment and regional development in Bass Coast.
“It enables the best use of the existing facilities at the proving ground, it continues a 63-year tradition of motoring history on the site, and there is potential for classic car events to diversify Bass Coast’s tourism offering, crucially off Phillip Island.”
The proving ground was initially put on the market in 2019 when Holden left Australia. In 2020 it was bought by VinFast, a Vietnamese car company, for $36.3 million. VinFast put it back on the market in 2021 when it, too, left Australia.
A VNPA study found the Western Port Woodlands harbour incredible remnant forest, rare orchids and endangered species. Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) CEO Matt Ruchel said the Victorian Government missed out the first time round but now had a second chance to secure this crucial woodland.
“The HPG is a bridge connecting patches of bushland together. It's also fantastic forest in its own right. It's important habitat for many animals that live in Western Port Woodlands, like threatened Powerful Owls, Swift Parrots and Lace Monitors.”
When the HPG was first on the market in 2020, Bass Coast councillors unanimously supported a motion to ask the State Government to buy the entire site for the preservation of its "environmental, cultural and coastal habitat values".
Bass Coast Mayor Clare Le Serve says the council understand the significance of this site. “We continue to liaise with VinFast regarding the status of the sale and understand it is currently available as one parcel.
“We are aware of the community’s interest in preserving the high ecological value of native vegetation on site and we are advocating to the State Government that no further Planning Permit or Work Authority approvals are provided for sand mining until the community has been consulted with around the Extractive Industry Interest Areas.
“This interest area includes significant proportion of Bass Coast’s last remaining remnant vegetation (Lang Lang Proving Ground) and has been identified in our Biolinks Plan.”
The Bass Coast Landcare Network managed the HPG woodland during the latter part of Holden’s tenure.
The entire HPG site is surrounded by a two-metre cyclone fence, initially built to keep out journalists and photographers, now acting as a predator-proof fence that makes introduction of endangered species such as southern brown bandicoots a possibility.
Mr Rankine, a former Bass Coast mayor, is one of the few people who has had a chance to see inside the fence. He says it’s beautiful woodland in pristine condition, including around 200 hectares of Swampy Riparian Woodland which is now rare in Gippsland.
“The HPG is a bridge connecting patches of bushland together. It's also fantastic forest in its own right. It's important habitat for many animals that live in Western Port Woodlands, like threatened Powerful Owls, Swift Parrots and Lace Monitors.”
When the HPG was first on the market in 2020, Bass Coast councillors unanimously supported a motion to ask the State Government to buy the entire site for the preservation of its "environmental, cultural and coastal habitat values".
Bass Coast Mayor Clare Le Serve says the council understand the significance of this site. “We continue to liaise with VinFast regarding the status of the sale and understand it is currently available as one parcel.
“We are aware of the community’s interest in preserving the high ecological value of native vegetation on site and we are advocating to the State Government that no further Planning Permit or Work Authority approvals are provided for sand mining until the community has been consulted with around the Extractive Industry Interest Areas.
“This interest area includes significant proportion of Bass Coast’s last remaining remnant vegetation (Lang Lang Proving Ground) and has been identified in our Biolinks Plan.”
The Bass Coast Landcare Network managed the HPG woodland during the latter part of Holden’s tenure.
The entire HPG site is surrounded by a two-metre cyclone fence, initially built to keep out journalists and photographers, now acting as a predator-proof fence that makes introduction of endangered species such as southern brown bandicoots a possibility.
Mr Rankine, a former Bass Coast mayor, is one of the few people who has had a chance to see inside the fence. He says it’s beautiful woodland in pristine condition, including around 200 hectares of Swampy Riparian Woodland which is now rare in Gippsland.
He said the site was currently zoned for farming and designated as an interest area for sand mining, so there is a real concern that it could be bought by one of the many sand mining companies operating in the woodlands.
Richard Kemp, who worked at the HPG for many years, was enthusiastic about the proposal to reopen the testing track and to conserve the woodland. “I’d much rather see it kept as a reserve than carted to Melbourne for concrete slabs. I’ve written to the Environment Minister telling him about the variety of animals that we used to see in there.”
Catherine Watson is a member of Save Western Port Woodlands.
Richard Kemp, who worked at the HPG for many years, was enthusiastic about the proposal to reopen the testing track and to conserve the woodland. “I’d much rather see it kept as a reserve than carted to Melbourne for concrete slabs. I’ve written to the Environment Minister telling him about the variety of animals that we used to see in there.”
Catherine Watson is a member of Save Western Port Woodlands.