A BOAT facility at Oliver’s Hill will not be built by the state government, Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke says.
The recent release of Better Boating Victoria’s recreational boating action plan sparked fears that a proposal to build a boating facility at Oliver’s Hill had been resurrected. In October 2019, council abandoned its plans for a multi-million dollar boat refuge there because of a lack of financial support from the state and federal governments.
Mr Edbrooke says that he has told the fishing and boating minister that “any option to commence planning of a facility at Oliver’s Hill based on Frankston Council’s previous work is not to proceed”.
“To this day, I have not seen any information reliably suggesting that the Oliver’s Hill development committed to by others poses zero risk to our environment, our lifestyle, and in particular the jewel in Frankston’s crown, Frankston Beach. I agree with our community that any project which could risk unanticipated changes to the amazing Frankston Beach and waterfront, our largest tourist attraction and the iconic image of Frankston, is environmentally and economically irresponsible,” he said. “I have listened and consulted widely, and I share many concerns with you about this project. There will be no further action taken to build a harbour at Oliver’s Hill whilst I am the state member of parliament representing the Frankston community. This decision was made after meeting with many community members and reflects the majority opinion. I heard you and we have listened, thank you to the whole Frankston community for your input.”
The Better Boating Victoria action plan read that planning for a boating facility in Frankston should begin soon. In January a Better Boating Victoria spokesperson told The Times that “the location and scope of any facility would be further explored through consultation with locals, user groups and facility and land managers” (“New boat facility plans on the horizon” The Times 31/1/22).
Mr Edbrooke said that a $147,000 state government grant to Frankston Council for dredging at Kananook Creek is “the sole project chosen from the Better Boating Victoria action plan for Frankston and has been consulted upon for many years including with the Kananook Creek Advisory Committee and as per Frankston Council’s Draft Coastal Management Plan.”