Former Victorian Premier Denis Napthine did not pull any punches when he took part in a community consultation session about future uses of the Belfast Coastal Reserve on Thursday evening.
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South-west resident Dr Napthine said a draft management plan for the area did not include enough details about the economic benefits of horse racing to the region and the designated conservation zone should be used for other purposes, including recreational horse training.
“One of the ways to improve the draft plan is by allowing continued recreational horse access and recreational dog walking in the very large area that’s currently been designated as a conservation zone,” he said.
“I think they could be allowed to use it without any impact on the environment or Aboriginal heritage.”
The consultation evening in Port Fairy was one of three public information sessions, with discussion groups set up around issues including horse training, dog walking and conservation.
Dr Napthine – who served as racing minister – said the release and consultation of the draft plan had been done poorly, leading to division.
“The real thing about the plan is that all of this can co-exist,” he said.
“You can protect the Aboriginal heritage, you can protect the environment and you can have ongoing use in an area of this size and this location 350 kilometres from Melbourne,” he said.
“Where there is – with due respects – a relatively low population, a relatively low usage of the area and what you do is just have common sense and everybody can use it and everybody can benefit.
“You’ve got to get people sitting down and understanding that it can all be achieved.”
Dr Napthine said he would be making a submission on the draft plan before the closing date on March 16.
Belfast Coastal Reserve Action Group spokesman Bill Yates was one of those engaged in discussion with Dr Napthine at the event.
He said he was “astounded” that anyone who worked to prepare the draft plan could condone the vast numbers of racehorses proposed to be allowed access to the reserve.
Port Fairy resident Peter Grenfell was also engaged in discussion with the former premier.
Mr Grenfell said preserving the fragile sand dunes should be a top priority, but too many vested interests were coming into play for that to happen.
“Once they’re gone, they’re gone,” he said.
Another consultation session will be held in Koroit this Saturday, February 24 at the Koroit Theatre from 10am to 1pm.