Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve – draft landscape masterplan survey results

Council’s recent community consultation about the draft masterplan for the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve has generated significant interest, with 540 survey responses received.

The consultation period commenced on Monday 12 November with a project update and surveys distributed to all Borough ratepayers by mail and email, and letterbox dropped to households in Point Lonsdale within the City of Greater Geelong.

Council also held two community open house sessions about the draft masterplan at the Engine Shed on Tuesday 20 November and at Point Lonsdale Primary School on Saturday 24 November, where members of the public were able to view and discuss aspects of the draft plan with Councillors, Council staff and representatives of the Tract design consultant team.

In addition to the 540 survey returns, Council received 19 submissions and one petition signed by representatives of 20 local businesses. Ninety-five percent of survey respondents identified as a Borough resident and / or ratepayer. The consultation period is now closed.

Survey Results

The survey asked a set of questions about the draft landscape masterplan, with the opportunity for respondents to provide comments. The results for each question are listed below:

1. Do you support the car parking proposals as described in the draft Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve Landscape Masterplan? • Yes: 85.85% • No: 14.15%

2. Do you support the location and the form of the Village Green as proposed in the draft Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve Landscape Masterplan? • Yes: 89.43% • No: 10.57%

3. Do you support the construction of an all-abilities standard path to the Pier as proposed in the draft Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve Landscape Masterplan? • Yes: 96.45% • No: 03.55%

4. Do you support a permanent or temporary kiosk at the Lighthouse Reserve? (Respondents were asked to select one option only). • No kiosk: 47.14% • Temporary kiosk: 23.85% • Permanent kiosk: 29.01%

5. What is your preferred option for treatment of the Toc H buildings? (Respondents were asked to select one option only). • Demolish all four existing buildings and install interpretative signs on site: 45.16%

• Remove asbestos from all four buildings, install new cladding using material similar to original P1 huts, fit out largest building (McDonald’s Hall) as an exhibit, seal and secure the three remaining buildings to prevent access to the inside of the buildings: 28.10%

• Another option, such as install new cladding using material similar to original P1 huts, fit out largest building (McDonald’s Hall) as an exhibit, convert one other building into a shelter, remove remaining two buildings and install interpretative representation of them: 26.74%

Members of the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve Reference Group have been briefed on the results of the survey. Council is due to formally consider the survey results and other consultation feedback at its Ordinary Meeting on Thursday 24 January 2019.

Council’s funding agreement with the State Government specifies that the landscape design for the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve must be finalised by the end of January 2019, with the landscaping works to be completed by 31 July 2019.

Council thanks all members of the community who completed a survey or provided a written submission for taking the time to participate in this consultation process.