A 20-year plan that sets out to protect, conserve and enhance The Bluff has been adopted by the City of Victor Harbor, with the Mayor this morning allaying fears that a proposed $350 million marina, hotel and convention centre could be built in the area.
Mayor Moira Jenkins said the Bluff Master Plan champions the natural icon the Bluff, also known as Rosetta Head and Kongkengguwarr, and has been developed in collaboration with around 900 people over an 18-month period.
“By far the big majority of people wanted it kept wild and natural, they didn’t want any big built environs there or the Bluff Jetty Road and that part we want to fix up, they didn’t want to see a marina there,” Mayor Jenkins said in radio interview with ARN’s Adam Connelly and Jennie Lenman this morning.
Victor Harbor businessman Mark Taplin, brother of Glenelg property mogul Andrew Taplin, has been working on bold plans for a major marina development, despite not having Council’s support.
Council’s Master Plan, led by placemaking and landscape architecture firm, Hatch Design, focuses on making trails safer, providing more seating and look out areas, improving the area’s biodiversity, improving Bluff Jetty road and the car parking facilities, and activating Oyster Reserve as an entrance to the Bluff Reserve.
“The comprehensive plan promotes a sense of belonging, guardianship and strengthening of cultural and community identity. It sets out a shared vision for the future that embraces the uniqueness of place while setting out a shared responsibility for the future,” said Hatch Design Director, Corey Brown.
An allocation of $100,000 has been included within the 2023/24 Annual Business Plan to commence work on a project from the master plan. It is anticipated this will involve the accessible viewing platform and rest stop that overlooks Petrel Cove from the top car park, as outlined in the artist impression above.
Hear more from Mayor Moira Jenkins, speaking with ARN’s Jennie Lenman and Adam Connelly via the audio play window below:
See more designs and information about The Bluff Master Plan via yoursay.victor.sa.gov.au.
