Yes we do!: Unanimous vote calling on the State Government not to abandon the State Coal Mine. Photo: Geoff Ellis By Brett Tessari
FOUR weeks ago more than 300 people turned up to the Wonthaggi Workmen’s Club on a cold and wet night because they want to save the State Coal Mine.
With underground tours suspended and the café closed, the State Coal Mine is doomed unless something changes – and fast.
The passion in the room was obvious as person after person spoke about what the place meant to them and their families, not just as a historic precinct commemorating our coal mining history but as a gathering place for the community.
FOUR weeks ago more than 300 people turned up to the Wonthaggi Workmen’s Club on a cold and wet night because they want to save the State Coal Mine.
With underground tours suspended and the café closed, the State Coal Mine is doomed unless something changes – and fast.
The passion in the room was obvious as person after person spoke about what the place meant to them and their families, not just as a historic precinct commemorating our coal mining history but as a gathering place for the community.
We left the meeting with the promise of a meeting to occur two days later between Friends of the State Coal Mine, representing over 300 members, and Parks Victoria, which runs the place.
The meeting did take place but with no real progress. Parks Victoria has a lot of sites to cover and a shrinking budget.
The State Coal Mine State Park runs at a substantial annual loss. For obvious reasons, it isn’t high on the State Government’s agenda. Closing it would probably even suit the Government. At the very least, it’s in the too-hard basket at the moment.
My suggestion to an indifferent State Government is to hand the State Coal Mine back to the Wonthaggi community that values it.
The meeting did take place but with no real progress. Parks Victoria has a lot of sites to cover and a shrinking budget.
The State Coal Mine State Park runs at a substantial annual loss. For obvious reasons, it isn’t high on the State Government’s agenda. Closing it would probably even suit the Government. At the very least, it’s in the too-hard basket at the moment.
My suggestion to an indifferent State Government is to hand the State Coal Mine back to the Wonthaggi community that values it.
 ‘This is our story!’ March 25, 2023 - A double blow has left the State Coal Mine, Wonthaggi’s premiere – and only – tourist attraction, reeling. | I’ve talked to Steve Harrop and Sheila Ormerod from the Friends of the State Coal Mine, and with John Duscher, who chaired the meeting. Everyone likes the idea. The first step is to get a working group together to see if it’s doable. I don’t pretend to have all the answers but let's find out. It needs more learned minds than mine to investigate the financial and legal aspects. But as a local councillor and a proud Wonthaggi-ite I want to be a part of the solution. |
A board of management would have to oversee the running of the place, like Sovereign Hill and Puffing Billy. And it would need a subsidy from the State Government, at least until it was commercially viable.
It’s got to make commercial sense. We’d need to look at introducing new activities attractions to make it more viable. It’s no good us taking it on then finding ourselves in the same parlous position a few years down the track.
The council is obviously not going to take on a State Government responsibility for a loss-making operation but the council is supportive of its residents and certainly understands the importance of tourism infrastructure. Perhaps the council role could be to provide legal and financial advice to a working group and advocate to the State Government.
With over 120 members, the Friends of the State Coal Mine is one of the largest volunteer groups in the state. They provide tour guides, maintain the gardens, buildings and equipment, take tour bookings, serve in the shop and raise funds to assist with the upkeep of the site. Their assistance has been valued at over $500,000 a year.
If we are going to take over the administration, we are going to need new people with a whole new set of skills: legal, financial, governance, administrative, social media, communication, human resources, etc.
There’s no doubt a lot of local people are invested in the saving the State Coal Mine. It’s one thing to come to a meeting and wave the pitchfork; it’s quite another to put in the hard work that needs to be done to bring this plan to fruition.
If you think you can help on a working group, please email me at [email protected].
Brett Tessari is a councillor for the Bunurong Ward and a former Bass Coast mayor.
It’s got to make commercial sense. We’d need to look at introducing new activities attractions to make it more viable. It’s no good us taking it on then finding ourselves in the same parlous position a few years down the track.
The council is obviously not going to take on a State Government responsibility for a loss-making operation but the council is supportive of its residents and certainly understands the importance of tourism infrastructure. Perhaps the council role could be to provide legal and financial advice to a working group and advocate to the State Government.
With over 120 members, the Friends of the State Coal Mine is one of the largest volunteer groups in the state. They provide tour guides, maintain the gardens, buildings and equipment, take tour bookings, serve in the shop and raise funds to assist with the upkeep of the site. Their assistance has been valued at over $500,000 a year.
If we are going to take over the administration, we are going to need new people with a whole new set of skills: legal, financial, governance, administrative, social media, communication, human resources, etc.
There’s no doubt a lot of local people are invested in the saving the State Coal Mine. It’s one thing to come to a meeting and wave the pitchfork; it’s quite another to put in the hard work that needs to be done to bring this plan to fruition.
If you think you can help on a working group, please email me at [email protected].
Brett Tessari is a councillor for the Bunurong Ward and a former Bass Coast mayor.