Elsie Lange
The Victorian government has been urged to rule out commercial development in the east paddock of Hanging Rock.
Northern Victorian Liberal MP Wendy Lovell said this month that she called on Planning Minister Richard Wynne to ensure long term protection of the area.
Her comments came in response to the government’s Hanging Rock draft master plan, which she said discusses the construction of a new visitor centre and a permanent stage.
Ms Lovell said residents were concerned about possible plans to build a new visitors’ centre in east paddock, while they were also wary of the possibility of commercial development given proposals in 2013 for a conference centre and hotel.
“I call on the minister to ensure the necessary planning amendments are made to strengthen planning protections for the Hanging Rock Precinct and guarantee east paddock is protected from commercial development in the long term,” Ms Lovell said.
The government is yet to purchase the east paddock from Macedon Ranges council and negotiations about the monetary value of the site are ongoing.
Friends of Hanging Rock president Nathan Alexander said one of the key views from Hanging Rock is over to the east, and that any sort of visitor centre in the east paddock would be visible from the rock.
“One of the qualities that people really appreciate in going up the rock is that sense of naturalness on the rock, and a sense of looking over a natural landscape,” Mr Alexander said.
“Anything that diminishes that, diminishes people’s experience of the rock.
“The less that the landscape around the rock is urbanised, has infrastructure on it, has lots of people living in it – the less that occurs the better.
“As such, putting a visitor centre in the east paddock, to my mind, would be a poor decision.”
Star Weekly asked the government if it would rule out commercial development in east paddock once the land is purchased, but it declined to answer that question.
“The Hanging Rock Precinct Master Plan will safeguard Hanging Rock and the surrounding area, ensuring environmental and cultural assets and values are protected,” a Victorian government spokesperson said.
“Purchasing the east paddock is an important part of protecting the Hanging Rock precinct for current and future generations.
“We’re working with the sports clubs on transitioning over five years to other suitable locations nearby that will allow for better facilities.”
The draft master plan, funded by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and developed by a private consultancy, was open for community feedback between December 24 and February 28, which will inform the final plan.
