A plan to expand the recreation reserve at Victoria’s Apollo Bay in order to deliver amenity upgrades and high-end glamping facilities for the site’s holiday park has sparked an angry backlash.
The Surf Coast Times reports that some locals have labelled it a ‘land grab’ of a popular green space, and are angered that the camping infrastructure project is going ahead without adequate consultation.
The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) plan includes installation of new disability-accessible and glamping accommodation to the north-east of the current caravan park, while upgrading existing changing facilities, a picnic area, playground and kitchen.
The Surf Coast Times says that, while many residents agree that upgrades to facilities such as amenity blocks and other camping infrastructure is overdue, they insist wider consultation should happen before the reserve’s camping footprint increases.
Issues raised with draft plans put forward by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) include traffic concerns, impacts on long-term park tenants and user groups, and loss of open space between the recreation reserve oval and Gambier Street to the north.
Locals are reportedly also concerned at how the development will impact future community use.
“Everyone agrees something needs to be done at the caravan park and the facilities aren’t up to scratch,” Apollo Bay resident Jacinta Tobin told the Surf Coast Times. “The big dispute comes from wanting to climb up the hill in essentially a suburban area … the rec reserve is very important to the people who are the primary purpose of the rec reserve.”
Apollo Bay man John Marriner tod the paper that locals were shocked when plans were released before widespread engagement.
“The focus seems to be on attracting tourists and putting money into GORCAPA’s pocket,” he said. “It should not be at the expense of the recreation facilities that we have.”
The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) said it would consider feedback received during recent weeks when presenting a revised plan at the end of this month, before beginning construction in June.
“The first phase of this project will see a long-overdue upgrade to the campground ahead of the coming peak summer season.” GORCAPA CEO Jodie Sizer told Surf Coast News.
“We have engaged, and will continue to engage, with the community on this project and we greatly appreciate the feedback we’ve had so far, which has helped shape how we will deliver the upgrade,” he said.
GORCAPA said it will begin stage two of the project in ‘mid-2022’, which would create a 10-year vision for the reserve that accounts for the new infrastructure.
I have just had a brief look at the GORCAPA website , which gives comprehensive details and visual plans of this development.( and others ). It is well worth a look before we draw any conclusions regarding the proposed development.