Wednesday, 4 October 2023

 Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:42): (338) My constituency question is for the Minister for Environment, and I ask why the minister’s department is not negotiating with the Port Fairy Golf Club to find a suitable solution over the club’s minor encroachment onto public land. The Port Fairy Golf Club is being asked to reroute several of its iconic holes and fairways due to the historic minor encroachment onto public land. Disappointingly, the department is refusing to negotiate with the club in any way despite the club’s offering of alternatives such as land swaps to reach a suitable agreement. The Port Fairy Golf Club has been using and acting as caretakers for the land for the past 20 years, keeping it protected from weeds and pests and having created a terrific asset for visitors and community alike. There has been no public outcry or intention from any previous governments to change the status quo. The government has not identified any issues regarding harm. If there were any issues, they would surely have become blatantly apparent in the last 20 years. Minister, your approach just seems mean-spirited, and Port Fairy deserves an answer.