Corangamite Shire has scrapped plans for an eco-tourism venture near Camperdown’s twin crater lakes.
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The council had sought public feedback on leasing the 17.4-hectare site to the nearby Lakes and Craters Holiday Park, which had plans to convert the grazing land into an eco-tourism site, complete with hut accommodation, bird hides, native trees and paths.
Five submissions were received on the proposed plan with four opposed to the development.
At its meeting on Tuesday, councillors voted in line with officers’ recommendations not to enter the lease agreement with Lakes and Craters Holiday Park and that the council continue to manage the land under a committee of management.
The land sits outside the nearby botanic gardens and arboretum, but is included in the Victorian Heritage Register, raising concerns commercial use of the land would conflict with the objectives of the gardens.
Speaking before the meeting, Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum Trust’s Janet O’Hehir said the group was concerned the development could undermine the area’s heritage value.
“This seems to all be about handing over private parkland to an individual for their private purposes and commercial use and it’s also at odds with the fact that this area is also part of a public park,” she said.
“The proposal for an eco-tourism venture… should just be one of the ideas considered alongside any other ideas that people may have.”
Ms O’Hehir said conserving and improving the nearby gardens should be the primary consideration.
“This is not just a vacant paddock to be palmed off, this land, which is undeveloped, is an essential and profound aspect of William Guilfoyle’s plan of Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum,” she said.
Councillor Neil Trotter said it was prudent the council “hold off” on development of the site for now.
“I think that it doesn’t rule out that we may revisit it some time in the future, we can leave that option open. But I think it’s prudent at the moment that we hold off on making a decision,” he said.
A plan to develop the Lakes and Craters Holiday Park itself is on hold after an appeal was lodged with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal over concerns it was encroaching on the nearby gardens.