IS IT CHOOK SHEDS FOR “THE FARM” TOO?

 After returning to Victoria from our Killalea family reunion and an enjoyable week stopping in the camping area at Killalea State Park, I felt I had to visit Cowes to see what a new eco-tourist resort really looks like for myself.  I was also interested in finding out what locals and other tourists thought.

 Well, “Chook Sheds” was my first thought when I spotted the resort from a distance.  I couldn’t believe how they impacted on the landscape which is in a rural setting and hate to think what they could do to what I consider the best mixture of natural scenery South of Sydney.  I now understand why those wanting them only seem to ever show the units individually and not as a complete resort photo to show the real visual impact they have.

My trip to the “All Seasons Eco Resort” at Cowes left me thinking that individually the units aren’t too bad but you need to consider them in a cluster where only the outside ones will get a view anyway and that is only in one direction.  Should something similar be built in the existing kiosk area at Killalea State Park only those who could afford to stay in the outside units will get to see a little of the scenery whilst everybody else will be denied the magnificent 360o panoramic seascape/landscape view available now.

I soon found out from the Cowes locals that they hate the sight of them and everybody referred to them as “The Chook Sheds”, including a chap in the tourist business on Phillip Island.  Nobody would believe that there is a proposal to place them in the best scenic part of a National Park in NSW and all said they are a real eyesore at a distance, even in the paddocks off the main road into Cowes.  Most say that they have their place but should only be allowed to be erected away from popular tourist sites and where they can’t be seen from a main roadway.

I would suggest that anybody who thinks the resort in Killalea State Park should go ahead check out the minutes of the Bass Coast Shire Council Meeting 19th March 2008 (Page 7) where they will find the following item listed:

B.7 Bernie Robinson, San Remo - Eco Resort, Cowes  What assurances can we have that rezoning of areas will not potentially allow any recurrence of the Cowes eyesore chook sheds (Eco Resort)?

Ms Duncan-Jones advised that the rezoning under the San Remo, Newhaven, Cape Woolamai Structure Plan will be residential zoned land which will not allow for developments such as the Cowes Eco Resort.

Also the Bass Coast Shire Council: Planning Scheme Review Community Survey November 2007 (Page 45) where you will find another comment regarding a "Dreadful Eco-Resort".

The following proves that everybody at Phillip Island was fooled into having and Eco Tourism Resort and I hope the same thing doesn't happen at Shellharbour.

Victorian State Government Rural & Regional Committee "Inquiry into Rural & Regional Tourism - Newhaven - 2 April 2008 (Check out Page 4)

The CHAIR

— Are you happy for us to ask you questions?

 

Ms STOREY

— Yes

 

Ms MARSHALL

— On that last topic, when I drove into Cowes, I saw a smallish piece of land covered in what I call dog boxes. I do not know what you call them. It is just incredible, and I have never ever seen anything quite like it, and I am trying to understand it. That is farming land, as I understand it, except for that block, which has on it what I thought were temporary buildings.

 

Mr CAMERON

— They are unanimously referred to on Phillip Island as the chook sheds. Universally people regard it as a totally inappropriate development. It was allowable under the planning scheme at that point in time for that to occur. The buildings are semi-demountable buildings, so theoretically you could take them away from where they are. Yes, it is not the sort of development that we like.

 

Ms MARSHALL — My question to you is: how did that come about, when it is so out of character with everything we are looking at in terms of tourism and the imagery of Phillip Island?  It is so out of character that I do not understand how the local community and council did not have a greater say in that actually being developed.

 

Mr CAMERON

— I think it is correct to say that the tourism industry was not asked for an opinion, as far as that was concerned. I think everyone was caught, to be quite frank. It was promoted as an eco tourism resort and everyone was fooled, I think, by the process or the image those words conjured up. It is clearly not appropriate for where we are trying to head in terms of the tourism industry.

As a descendant of Edward & Maria Killalea I do have quite an interest in what goes on with Killalea State Park.  I also hope Shellharbour locals and others realize what a beautiful natural tourist attraction they have and how it could be lost for ever should such a development be allowed to go ahead.

Terry Killalea-Hore

Victoria

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