The Point Lonsdale Lighthouse reserve has edged closer to a national heritage listing, with the Victorian Heritage Council (VCH) pushing for stricter controls to protect its maritime and Defence assets. 

The lighthouse iitself is currently the only protected building on the site, having been included on the Register of Government Buildings in 1982. 

VCH Executive Director Steven Avery has formally recommended that registration be amended to also include other significant buildings and features - including the fog horn and rocket sheds, searchlight emplacement and Buckley’s Cave - as well as the site’s cultural assets. 

“It is proposed the name is changed from ‘Point Lonsdale Lighthouse’ to the ‘Point Lonsdale Maritime and Defence Precinct’ to better reflect the significance of the place,” Mr Avery's recommendation said. 
“It is proposed the existing permit exemptions are revised to provide clarity around works that can be carried out without the need for a permit application to Heritage Victoria.”

In detailing the case for a stronger classification, Mr Avery said the precinct was historically significant for the strategic role it has played in maritime navigation and rescues since the 1950’s. 

“The establishment of maritime navigational aids at Point Lonsdale was key in assisting the safe passage of vessels from Bass Strait into Port Phillip Bay. Safe passage through this stretch of water was important in the development of Melbourne as a major port.

The Point Lonsdale Maritime and Defence Precinct is also historically significant for its role in maritime rescue and its connections to the numerous shipwrecks that have occurred off its coast.”
He said the reserve was also important because of its connections to world wars one and two and through its ties to William Buckley.

“Buckley’s Cave is significant as it is widely believed that William Buckley sheltered here. Buckley was an absconder from the 1803 camp at Sullivan Cove near Sorrento. He is a key figure in early contact between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people around Port Phillip Bay.”

The recommendation follows a VCH decision earlier this year to add Queenscliff’s Shortland’s Bluff to the Victorian Heritage Register, protecting that headland’s historical assets from inappropriate development. 

It means the Borough of Queenscliffe must now seek Heritage Victoria approval before actioning any projects on either site. 

Mayor, Bob Merriman welcomed the new controls and said they would not impact current Council plans for the reserve, including the removal of two P1 Defence huts and re-purposing of the remaining two.  
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“The Borough of Queenscliffe has been working closely with the Victorian Heritage Council to ensure the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve gets the heritage recognition it deserves. This recommendation is an important milestone that will allow improvements of the site to move forward,” he said

Fishermen will pocket upwards of $200 annually in savings, after the Queenscliffe Council agreed to scrap parking and launch fees at the local boat ramp.

The Council has announced the fees will be removed immediately, after striking an undisclosed deal with the State Government to compensate for tens of thousands of dollars in lost earnings. 

The move follows a recent Facebook campaign, created by local fisherman John Joubert, to shame the Council into changing its mind. 

Queenscliffe was one of just two Councils in the state refusing to scrap the fees - defying a  government election commitment to upgrade amenities and make all recreational berthing free. 

"[A] big thanks to all who got behind our little fight, l just wonder if this would have happened if nobody raised a fuss," Mr Joubert posted. 

"Given the the land was bequest to the council from VicRail as crown land and all revenue was to be spent on maintenance and improvements, none of which is apart from employing a [toilet] cleaner and a bylaws officer, then you can probably understand why users at Queenscliff feel totally ripped off.”

However the Council said it had been negotiating with the government behind the scenes for several months. 

“Fee-free boating will make a day out on the water more accessible for everyone,” said Mayor Bob Merriman. “That’s why Council has been working closely with the Victorian Government on removing these fees.”

The Council hopes the move will deliver a spike in recreational boating tourism. “The Borough of Queenscliffe is the best place in the state to go boating and fishing. With no fees being charged for parking at the Queenscliff Boat Ramp, there’s never been a better time to visit our community for a day on the  water,” said Cr Merriman.

The Queenscliff ramp is one of the most popular on the Bellarine. Removal of the fees will save boat owners as much as $202 annually or $129 for residents, and parking fees of $12 a day. Council has estimated it could, however, cost as much as $1.25 million in lost revenue over the next 10 years. 
Under the new agreement, amenities at the ramp will also be upgraded. 

The government promised to abolish fees statewide in the lead up to November’s state election and committed to returning every cent of marine licensing and boat registration fees to improving boating safety and facilities through the establishment of a Better Boating fund.
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“We’ve listened to boaters and are delivering on our commitment to scrap parking and launching fees – making it cheaper and easier more for more Victorians to get involved in recreational boating and fishing,” said Fishing and Boating Minister Jaala Pulford.

The State Government has been asked to undertake urgent new investigations to determine the scale and cause of erosion at Queenscliff’s Dog Beach, with photos detailing significant changes to the landscape.

Aerial shots, taken in the wake of recent storm surges by local photographer Lester Hunt, show dramatic movement of sand away from the beach and significant undermining of the primary back beach dune. 

The Point Lonsdale Civic Association (PLCA) has written to Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) requesting answers and calling for a monitoring program to be established to accurately evaluate the changes. 

“The unprotected dune system in Lonsdale Bay has recently experienced undercutting and severe slippage resulting in much of the adjoining headland disappearing, the cliff face retreating and woodland trees collapsing towards the beach,” the Association said. 

“[We are] unsure if this latest erosion is due to rising sea levels resulting from changing weather patterns and climate change or recent channel deepening at Port Phillip heads or a combination of both. 

“We appreciate this part of the coastline is very dynamic with sand coming and going on a regular basic, however these recent impacts are alarming when you consider the entire dune, woodland and foreshore reserve forms ‘The Narrows', a relatively narrow strip of land leading into the township of Queenscliff.”

The area of beach, also referred to as a terminal scour, has long been a cause of concern. 

Previous efforts to halt erosion have included installation of matting on the dune, extensive replanting and fencing. 

A Queenscliffe Council spokesperson said the Borough would continue to work with the state government to find solutions for erosion along the entire coastline. 

“Council is continuing to work with DELWP to plan for and secure funding for erosion mitigation works across the Borough," he said. "A tender process is currently under way to build additional groynes along the Point Lonsdale foreshore to help retain sand on this beach.

“Council is also preparing a Coastal Management Plan, which was funded in this year’s budget. This plan will comprehensively review the Borough’s coastline and strategically plan to address challenges associated with rising sea levels and coastal erosion,” he said.