Thursday, 23 March 2023

Princetown land acquisition

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:24): (103) My question is to the Minister for Regional Development –

Members interjecting.

Bev McARTHUR: Exciting! Minister, compulsory acquisition powers legalise state confiscation of private assets and, as such, should only be a last resort where no alternative is available and there is an overwhelming public interest argument. I hope we are all agreed on that – hopefully. Yet opposite the Twelve Apostles your department plans the hostile and forcible acquisition of 32 hectares of land from the Nesseler family despite their willingness to invest private money and develop the site they have legally owned for more than 50 years. In October 2019 your predecessor Minister Symes promised the family cooperation on the development and stated that no compulsory acquisition would occur. What has changed now to justify this confiscation?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:25): Firstly, thank you, Mrs McArthur, for identifying the importance of regional development to this chamber. I am grateful to you for that question. I want to perhaps correct a couple of the things that have been presupposed in your question around the history of this matter and engagement with the Nesseler family and the broader community.

Within the Twelve Apostles precinct development process, we are actually really proud to be supporting this initiative that, once it is complete, will transform the visitor experience of this iconic part of the state, which really is world famous. It is extraordinary. But it is also important that we add the necessary level of amenity. That streamlined connection to the local attractions is really, really important, and that is where again the cultural and environmental context for this is also a key part of this work, as you would be aware and as indeed the community is aware. This is also something which Minister Stitt is very closely involved with to make sure that we are actually delivering this project, in partnership with the Commonwealth, to the standard necessary to reflect the ongoing priorities of the community now and indeed into the future.

As you have flagged, the development does include an international visitor experience centre alongside that infrastructure and those amenities, and we do want to make sure, as I said, that Shipwreck Coast visitation numbers continue to go up over the years to come and that we build that in – with my other portfolio hat of Commonwealth Games – to the experiences that Victoria 2026 will deliver.

There have been numerous conversations not just with the Nesseler family but also with the community. You are right to identify Minister Symes’s ongoing interest in this matter, but it is also really important to note that there have been conversations and discussions with representatives from Regional Development Victoria and the Nesseler family that have been going on for some time. I really want to make it clear that discussions are continuing with the family and that the community overwhelmingly does back this project going ahead in the terms that we have outlined. It is also really important to note the partnerships that we have with the Commonwealth whereby under the city deal we will contribute $292 million and the Commonwealth will contribute $183.8 million, with other delivery partners and the City of Greater Geelong contributing more than $26 million. This is not something that is being done in a haphazard or laissez-faire way. We are working through the process, and those conversations with the Nesseler family go on.

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:28): I thank the minister for her attempt to answer the question. But, Minister, the Nesselers over a very long period of time have shown their willingness and ability to develop this site without any requirement for state or federal taxpayer investment, and to forcibly acquire this family’s land simply because the government prefers different owners is beyond disgraceful. It is state-sanctioned theft. Your letter to the Nesselers further stated that you will exempt the scheme from the requirement for prior reservation, a process which allows public participation and consultation with the affected landowners. Such exemption is envisaged for minor acquisitions with little material impact or for cases of particular urgency. This is a vast and long-term project. Why are you removing another safeguard of the private property rights which define civilised society?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:29): Thank you, Mrs McArthur. I do not think that this does in fact constitute the definition of ‘civilised society’ as you have just put it to the chamber. What I would, however, say, though, is that there are processes in place to do projects in a way which delivers environmental, cultural, visitation and economic benefit to our regions. That is why this particular set of projects under the deal are so germane to the idea of doing things properly and in an integrated fashion so that, as I said, we have got benefit to the region for years to come.

This is – and I will go back to the point that I made in answer to the substantive question – a matter that is continuing to be part of discussions with the Nesseler family. There are various conversations happening not just with RDV but also within the planning framework and discussions about that system and the way in which it might impact upon delivery of the project. But overwhelmingly it is important to note that we are committed to doing this project properly and to doing the right thing by everybody who enjoys and indeed relies upon the Shipwreck Coast for all of the benefits that it delivers.