So now Jeff Kennett wants to privatise a view. The Victorian Premier has defended plans by a private developer for a visitor centre, restaurant and carpark for 300 cars at the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road. The $8 million to $12 million development will be at the best vantage point to see the dramatic geologic formations and probably charge a fee. Mr Kennett defends the plan on the ground that there are a lack of tourist facilities at the site.
Mr Kennett seems to misunderstand the nature of tourism at the site. The reason the Twelve Apostles is such an attractive place is precisely because it is a wild and rugged coastline. The development proposal is crass and unnecessary. There are many places to eat and stay in nearby Port Cambell, Peterborough or Warrnambool. Mr Kennett should take a look at Uluru, where all development has been moved back eight kilometres.
The Twelve Apostles development proposal is symbolic. If it goes ahead it will reveal that we are prepared to turn anything into a buck _ even a view of the coastline. Where will privatisation stop if we are willing to privatise a view of the nation’s coast? If the development goes ahead it will reveal that Australians agree that the pursuit of money transcends physical beauty, that we are a nation of spoilers not creators.
The Twelve Apostles is a site of national significance. It and the other nearby extraordinary coastal islands and formations are places where people can go to marvel at the forces and beauty of nature and to obtain some understanding of coastal geology. They do not have to be able to buy a hamburger and Coke at the same time.