NEWS DESK
State ‘no’ to fence for the Pillars Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au THE failure of a plan to fence off the Pillars cliff jumping spot at Mt Martha is likely to see increasing numbers of visitors to the natural attraction. Although dedicated through various policies to increasing tourism, Mornington Peninsula Shire has been trying to lessen the numbers of people visiting the Pillars. Nevertheless, it is a major attraction without signposts, steps or safety barriers. Alcohol bans, parking bans, warning signs and restricting access have all failed to lessen the steady beat of feet to the cliff top. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has now pulled the plug on the shire’s biggest weapon – a fence. The department and the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio have told the council that a fence is not in line with government policy. In January, the mayor Cr Bev Colomb issued a news release stating that the shire wanted “wherever possible … to encourage visitation to the many wonderful parts of the coastline and inner hinterlands offered by the peninsula, but the Pillars has become an unwanted attraction to many local residents and the shire has sought to take action”. The shire also threatened to “commence the process of handing back the committee of management responsibility to DELWP for the Pillars section of the Mt Martha foreshore between Ellerina and Bay roads.” With both options now off the table, the shire might be forced to concede to the Pillars is an attraction that’s not going to go away and facilitate, rather than frustrate, those wanting to jump from rocks into the bay. Residents have known about and used the Pillars for decades and may also
Natural attraction: The Pillars, left, was deserted on Friday. The cliff jumping area also features in the Mt Martha supermarket’s window display and has been turned into a souvenir badge.
have to accept the spot is public property. Councillors at the shire’s Tuesday 12 September meeting accepted a recommendation from coastal planner Jeska Dee that they seek clarification from the minister and also prepare to try to manage traffic and use of the Pillars in much the same way as over the 2016/17 summer. As well as installing extra wooden bollards along the Esplanade the shire is asking South East Water if parking can be restricted near its pumping station close to Deakin Drive.
Parking has already been restricted in nearby streets, with police and council local laws officers booking hundreds of vehicles for parking infringements over the past summer. A ban on alcohol which extended several blocks inland from The Pillars also technically prevented residents having a drink on their nature strips. Meanwhile, other entities are cashing in on the popularity of The Pillars, with many visitors arriving by public transport; buying goods at local shops; social media sites; and even a badge (re-
tailing for $13) to show that the wearer has visited the attraction. For its part, the shire has received a $30,000 “public access and risk” grant from the DELWP and will continue to develop a “long term management plan” for the area. This plan will include “consultation and feedback with the community and key stakeholders”. Ms Dee’s report to councillors did not mention feedback from the thousands of visitors who will be sure to be at the Pillars in coming months.
Ferry plan gets down to business THE lengthy process of formulating a business case for a car ferry from Stony Point to Cowes, Phillip Island goes a step forward next month with a series of public and industry meetings. On Friday 6 October industry representatives and members of the public can attend “information gathering” meetings at Crib Point. Compilation of the business case for the ferry service is being co-ordinated by Brisbane-based consultants Earthcheck, described as being an international tourism advisory group. The state government has given $200,000 to help Mornington Peninsula and Bass Coast shires “understand and define the community, environmental and economic contribution and
impacts of a car ferry between Cowes and Stony Point, including a passenger only service to French Island”. A joint news release from the two shires - which have each put in $25,000 – says “the impacts and opportunities of expanding the current passenger ferry to a car ferry service will be identified as part of the business case to be prepared for the Victorian government”. “The Victorian government, in partnership with Bass Coast and Mornington Peninsula Shire Councils, has appointed a team of transport and business case development professionals to work through the process with our communities and stakeholders to understand the feasibility and impact of
this project, and the opportunities it could create,” Bass Coast mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield said The peninsula’s mayor, Cr Bev Colomb said the ferry plan – a “wonderful initiative” – conformed to the shire’s 2016-2019 economic development strategy and the peninsula’s regional tourism board’s 2014 destination management plan. As previously reported in The News (“Business case bid for ferry” 2/5/17) an economic study produced six years ago put the overall cost of the project at $47 million and predicted it would lead to greater employment on Phillip Island and the peninsula during and after construction of two new ferry terminals. A pre-feasibility study by consulting
engineers Arup in 2003 was followed in 2008 by Bays and Maritime Initiative – Stony Point to Cowes Vehicle Ferry, by Maunsell Australia. In the July 2010 economic impact assessment commissioned by Bass Coast Essential Economics estimated the ferry service would carry 109,500 cars (323,000 passengers) in its first year increasing to 127,750 cars (375,000 passengers) in a decade. The Essential Economics report was based on a 50-car ferry running from Stony Point and Cowes every two hours between 8am and 5pm. The cost of building a new pier and infrastructure at Stony Point is put at $21m and $25.8m at Cowes. Both piers would be alongside the existing piers.
The Essential Economics 2010 study said 285 effective full time jobs would be created during the construction phase of the terminals at Stony Point and Cowes which “will ensure continual low unemployment rates in Bass Coast and Mornington Peninsula, noting that both shires have relatively high proportions of resident workers occupied in construction-related activities”. The Friday 6 October information gathering meetings will be held at Crib Point Community Hall, starting with the industry meeting 9.30am-11am; the community meeting 11.30am-1pm; followed by drop-in sessions 4pm7pm. Keith Platt
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Mornington News 26 September 2017
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