Labor's Lighthouse On The Hill Has No Light And No Future
Having decimated Victoria’s tourism industry via excessive lockdowns, the Andrews Government has now gone one step further.
A failure to negotiate the long-term lease for the iconic Cape Otway Lighthouse will result in its closure at the end of month.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, has lamented the disgrace in the Victorian Parliament.
“DELWP’s failure to negotiate a new long-term lease now means the heartbroken operators have no choice but to hand back the keys on the June 30th this year,” Mrs McArthur said.
She questioned Lily D’Ambrosio, the Minister responsible for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning about the appalling botch-up.
“Why have you failed to do everything possible to enable a viable long-term lease offer? What can you do now to avoid this terrible loss?” she asked the Minister.
The Cape Otway Lighthouse has been run by the current lessees for the past 24 years.
They have invested in the site over that time to provide a distinctive visitor experience for millions of people over the course of their lease.
“It is a huge attraction, bringing people from across Victoria, Australia and internationally, and with 26 full-time staff is an important local employer,” Mrs McArthur advised the parliament.
The imminent closure makes a mockery of the Victorian Government’s multi-million dollar tourism campaign `Stay close – Go further’ which urges Victorians to travel within Victoria.
It also belies the government’s regional travel voucher scheme, offering $200 vouchers for tourists to spend on accommodation, attractions and tours.
“You can offer all the vouchers you like, but if you shut down regional tourism operations such as the Lighthouse, what’s the sense?
“Vouchers will mean nothing to tourism operations and facilities with padlocks on their doors.”
09 June 2021
