Our Mission
In July 2002, a Community Reference Group (CRG) was formed to liaise with Defence contractors to develop a Master Plan giving desired options for future use of the land. The Master Plan will be used to guide prospective purchasers and hopefully prevent inappropriate activity in the future. The Draft Plan has been produced by 28 community representatives forming the Community Reference Group (CRG) in consultation with planners from Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), who were contracted by the Department of Defence. Negotiations took place over nine meetings over six months, and the final document is a result of extremely hard work after drawn-out and difficult interaction between PB and community representatives.
The key principles of the Plan are:
– No private residential subdivision;
– The land kept in its entirety in public ownership;
– No intrusive uses e.g. Private/commercial heliport facilities;
– Sensitive use of heritage precinct and buildings;
– Preservation of sense of place — remoteness, wildness and coastal landscape character.
The CRG never imagined they would complete this document in cooperative consultation with Parsons Brinckerhoff and they commend the detailed document which clearly expresses the desires of the community — with no compromises. The Draft Portsea Defence Land Master Plan was handed to Parliamentary Secretary to Defence, The Hon. Fran Bailey along with more than 200 submissions of support from members of the public. The Draft Master Plan has gathered much strength from the verbal and written endorsements from the local and wider Australian community; coming from as far away as Professor Germaine Greer in Queensland and Olivia Newton-John in NSW. This issue has caused more than just a ripple in political circles as The Hon. Greg Hunt has lobbied his party to concede that a National Park for the people of Victoria and Australia is the only desired and acceptable outcome for the future of the entire 311 hectares of Defence land. The Department of Defence and Victoria’s State Labour Government are at a stalemate regarding the disposal of the land, and public involvement has played a key role in the outcome of this process. The Federal Government has now made an offer 200 hectares to be added to the existing National Park, 10-20 hectares to be given in trust to the Mornington Peninsula Shire for public open space with the remaining 90 hectares offered to the State on a priority sale.
The State Government must understand how important this land is to the environmental, ecological and historical aspects of our Peninsula. We have a unique opportunity for all of Point Nepean to be returned to a single entity (Parks Victoria), improving the total outcome for all Australians. As an undivided piece of land, Point Nepean has immeasurable intrinsic value. The entire Point (particularly the Defence land) provides a historical look into the many chapters contributing to our early settlement story. The bay-side shore is a natural dolphin nursery area, the bushland holds aboriginal history and is home to many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, and the many historical quarantine buildings date back to the 1850’s. These features must not be compromised by the profit of exclusive housing development.
The Department of Defence and Victoria’s State Labour Government are at a stalemate regarding the outcome of this 90 hectares. Public pressure is the key to the outcome of this process. If the Federal and State politicians know that the community has responded with supportive submissions for the plan we have a real chance of keeping Point Nepean in public ownership for perpetuity. During the battle to save Pt Nepean the community felt their views were not being heard by the government. Therefore the Nepean Community Coalition approached Environment Victoria for assistance to create an alternative Master Plan that would truly reflect the desires of the community to keep the land as a public park. A non-government, not-for-profit organization, Environment Victoria has commissioned an alternative master plan for the Point Nepean area that will fully incorporate the community’s views and provide clear direction for the sustainable use of this area within a national park context. A draft of Environment Victoria’s alternative community master plan will be available via this website or contact Environment Victoria.
Support for our cause is widespread
Two former Victorian Premiers, Sir Rupert Hamer and Ms Joan Kirner have put aside political differences to unite and join local residents, Environment Victoria, and concerned Australians to support the preservation of Point Nepean in its entirety for public use. A fighting fund has been established to defend the land. Fighting fund supporters will not consider private housing for the site, preferring to emphasise eco-tourism, education and environmental sustainability for all Australians. We have encouraged public objection to stop the land from being sold on the open market for housing developers. Your protest will make a difference. Contact decision makers at State and Federal levels now to retain this fragile unique land for the benefit of future generations, existing flora, fauna, and marine life. Now is the time for you to step forward and make your views heard. Write to the addresses found in ‘Your Options’. Don’t leave your protest until after the final decision has been made, write now to be certain you have been heard.
MAKE YOUR VIEWS HEARD.