Quick fix for Anderson Point could put people at risk

22 January 2010

BY AMI HUMPAGE

SELECT members of the Portland community sent a very clear message to the Department of Sustainability and Environment at a closed meeting on Tuesday — take responsibility for Anderson Point and fix the entire cliff.

The DSE conducted the meeting with the Glenelg Shire Council and members of the Portland Harbour Walk Group, and while both myself and Member for South West Coast Denis Napthine — who also happens to be a member of the walk group — were invited by that group to attend, and were welcomed by the council, the DSE demanded a closed meeting. Threats were also made to walk out if Dr Napthine attended.

While the purpose of the meeting was to discuss plans for the proposed stabilisation works at the headland above the Anderson Point stairs, according to walk group members who attended they voiced concerns that Dr Napthine was denied access to the meeting, despite being a member of the walk group, and they had clearly stated the community wanted the whole cliff area to be fixed, including the original landslip at the entrance of Clifton Court.

A walk group member said that, while the DSE stated it would not walk away from the issue, it was made clear the department was only interested in fixing the one section of the landslip.

It is believed representatives from engineering consultants Parsons Brinkerhoff were of the opinion that doing only one section of the cliff could put other areas, lives and infrastructure at risk.

Glenelg Shire Council assets and infrastructure group manager Lindsay Merritt said the meeting was productive in terms of comments given to DSE consultants.

He said the council would be part of a project working group, to be set up with the DSE when the design work for the Anderson Point headland works were complete, hopefully within the next two months.

Mr Merritt said the council would also look at whether or not all the necessary remedial works could be achieved in one exercise or if it could be staged, and the council hoped to work with the DSE to develop an overall package solution that dealt with all issues.

Replacement of the Anderson Point steps was also discussed at the meeting, with concerns raised that fixing the steps and surrounding cliff, but not the adjoining Clifton Court landslip, could put more people at risk, especially people who would use the steps to access the beach.

“We need to make sure treating one risk doesn’t leave another risk outstanding to the public’s detriment,” Mr Merritt said

DSE public land services senior project manager Ross Gillett said the meeting was held in a good spirit and the residents were given strong assurances that the DSE understood the difficulty of their situation and would continue to listen to, and work with, the community, the shire and other stakeholders.

When asked why the meeting was closed to the general public Mr Gillett said the bulk of the meeting was planned as a working session focussing on the engineering issues associated with the proposed work above the Anderson Point steps and, while not advertised as a public meeting, the Portland Harbour Walk community group was recognised as a key partner in the project and was invited to send representatives.

He said Dr Napthine was refused entry because any local member who wanted to convene or attend a meeting where public servants would be attending needed to contact the Minister’s office for approval.

“Yesterday’s (Tuesday’s) meeting was convened by DSE and only the shire, residents and local community members concerned with the landslip were invited. No members of Parliament were invited. Mr Napthine, even if invited by the Portland Harbour Walk Community Group, was required to contact the Minister’s office prior to the meeting to be able to attend.”

However, Dr Napthine refuted that, stating that as the local member he was entitled to attend such meetings in his local electorate without any ministerial approval.

He said the whole purpose of the meeting was to try to convince the community that what the DSE proposed was all that needed to be done and to “shut the whole thing up”.

“The fundamental issue is they haven’t addressed the major problems and, until they do, the community, council and myself as local member will continue to agitate them.

“The council and the community have made their views clear. That message needs to go back to the minister and government.

“This is an important issue and unless the government accepts responsibility and fixes the problem the community will continue to badger, agitate and won’t let up until it is done,” Dr Napthine said.