Mornington Peninsula mayor blindsided by Point Nepean announcement
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Camping will be allowed at the Point Nepean Quarantine Station after the state government approved plans to revamp the historic Portsea site.
But the announcement comes as somewhat of a shock to the local council.
Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Anthony Marsh didn’t know the $4.5 million project had been approved until he read it in the paper this morning.
“The announcement this morning, doubling down on this, was a bit of a surprise,” he told Emily Power and Jimmy Bartel, filling in for Ross and Russel.
Under the plan, a coastal campground on the lawn outside the quarantine station will be built, with a pre-pitched tents set up on platforms, and existing quarantine station buildings repurposed for a camp kitchen and toilets.
“While we welcome camping and tourism down the pointy end of the peninsula we’re not sure that $4.5 million dollars spent here is the best use of that money,” Councillor Marsh said.
“The thing that strikes me as a bit odd about this one is … it’s effectively glamping down at Portsea. That’s fine, but when you’re going to put $4.5 million into coast areas on the peninsula that’s not where we would start.
“Carparks and roads are where the money is required, I think, rather than sort of staying overnight.”
Press PLAY below to hear how the Mornington Peninsula mayor thinks the $4.5 million would be better spent