<<<Back <<<Back | THIRTY YEARS ON: HOW OUR GROUP BEGAN In October 1973 a group of people met at The Age offices in Melbourne to discuss opposing a proposed Sorrento Foreshore Development Plan drawn up by Mr P. Parkinson, the Flinders Shire Council Engineer. The marina landfill would have extended from Sorrento Pier West to Lentell Avenue. Those present were Messrs Ranald McDonald, Frank Shipton, Brigadier A.T.J. "Ding" Bell, Forster Stuart, (later Sir) Roderick Carnegie, Campbell Guest and Jack Ritchie. Later a public meeting attended by about 50 people was held in Sorrento on 24th October, and the Committee elected. Mr Frank Shipton was elected as chairman, and Forster Stewart as vice-chairman and sixteen committee members. A fighting fund was established, and consultants Graham Lomas and Associates were hired. Advertisements were placed in The Gazette, leaflets and posters prepared, and another meeting was held in November. On 1st December a public meeting was held in the Ellen Grant Hall, Sorrento. About 400 people crowded the Hall and 150 people had to be turned away. Two of the three Collins Riding Councillors and the M.L.A sent their apologies. Mr Frank Shipton chaired the meeting supported by the committee. He explained how the Group had come into existence, and that while members agreed better boating facilities were needed, they were against the Council Plan. The Flinders Shire Council had replied to the Group’s letter of protest asking for details of the Group. | From Nepean Conservation News December 2003 The Group had commissioned experts to enquire into aspects of the project. A Town Planning Consultant, Mr Dudley Cain, then reported that in regard to the Council statement that for financial viability the project depended on the associated motel and ancillary facilities, the major motel operators did not think that a motel would succeed there. He said that Council had underestimated the cost which he estimated would be $1.8 million. Dr Terry Bellair, an environmental engineer, said there was very little background at present but that an environmental impact statement would be prepared. The Meeting then supported a motion: "This meeting supports the action of the Sorrento-Portsea Conservation Group in lodging an objection to the Shire Council against the proposed Sorrento Foreshore Development, stages one, two and three, and that this resolution should be drawn to the attention of Council. The motion was carried on show of hands. The meeting was closed by a motion of thanks to the Group Committee members, carried by overwhelming show of hands. (Taken from Allan Main’s Brief History of the S.P.B. Conservation Group, and newspaper reports of the time) On 9th February, 1974 a General Meeting was held in Sorrento, and a Constitution drawn up by Mr Trumble, Solicitor, was adopted and signed by Committee members. It was decided that although the Group had been founded to fight the Marina Proposal, it would continue to express an interest in conservation matters in the Sorrento-Portsea area. |
