Tourism and traffic management, a history
The AIDA committee has recently assembled an archive as complete as possible reflecting its twenty- five years of involvement in efforts to manage traffic and parking problems caused by ever increasing numbers of tourists visiting the lighthouse. This large archive now contains traffic and parking surveys, consultants’ and shire officers’ reports, minutes and resolutions of the Surf Coast Shire Council and their sub-committees, many iterations of infrastructure plans, and extensive community feedback including many lengthy submissions from AIDA. In addition, our digitised archive of AIDA newsletters chronicles a long history of AIDA’s efforts, first to promote public visitation to the lighthouse, but most recently to combat the negative consequences of bus-based tourism that exemplifies the extractive, mass-tourism model that now dominates visitation to the Split Point Lighthouse Precinct.
After a brief description of the early years of the lighthouse, this article illustrates the first era, from the mid-1980s, when AIDA worked to have the lighthouse opened to the public, to 2000, when it became clear that traffic management in the precinct would be crucial given that our lighthouse, unlike almost every other lighthouse in Australia, is located within a residential precinct with all possible access routes passing through residential streets.
1891–1980
The Aireys Inlet Split Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1891. For twenty-seven years, three lighthouse keepers worked at this then remote location, ensuring the light was operating well and communicating with ships via code systems. The tower was converted to automatic operation in 1919, using acetylene gas to provide the illumination. It was upgraded to electric operation in 1972. The keepers’ cottages and stables, now in private ownership, form an intrinsic part of the lighthouse precinct.
1980s
In the mid 1980s the then chairman of the AIDA committee persuaded the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which controls and operates lighthouses around Australia, to allow public visitation of the Split Point Lighthouse. Opening of the lighthouse by a small team from AMSA for two days in mid-January became an annual event until 2005, when the Eco-Logic company was awarded a licence to conduct lighthouse tours frequently throughout the year.
1990
The popular children’s television series Round the Twist, which featured the Split Point lighthouse as the home of the Twist family, premiered in April 1990, increasing interest in visitation to the lighthouse.
1991
A summary of ~600 responses to an AIDA questionnaire was sent to the shire council and to the Geelong Regional Commission (GRC). AIDA noted that it was clear that some notice had been taken of these results during the preparation of the GRC’s draft Aireys Inlet to Eastern View Structure Plan, which had been produced by the GRC, ‘in conjunction with the Shire of Barrabool’. Following the release of the draft plan in June 1991, AIDA submitted a response that generally applauded the main guidelines set out in the document, but making some minor suggestions to do with matters of detail, including visitation to the lighthouse.
1992
In May 1992 AIDA committee members met with the Barrabool Shire to discuss the draft structure plan and other topics.
1993
The Aireys inlet to Eastern View Structure Plan was adopted in February 1993. The plan incorporated many of the matters advocated by AIDA for conservation of the unique character of the area and the control of inappropriate developments.
Council … will continue efforts to have the Commonwealth land between Lighthouse Road and Alice Road transferred to the State and the area alongside Eagle Rock Parade annexed to the foreshore reserve.
AIDA noted that with the demise of the Geelong Regional Commission and the likely restructuring of the Barrabool Shire it was especially important that AIDA be a front runner in ensuring adequate follow-up action to implement the relevant policies set out in the structure plan.
1994
AIDA wrote to the Minister of Environment, Sport and Territories in October in response to rumours concerning the Split Point Lighthouse and its 2.5 hectares of land and received a response from the Minister stating that
On l4 April this year the Commonwealth Government decided that lighthouse properties which are surplus to the requirements of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority would be offered to the State Governments at their full book value plus costs … transfer of the properties will only occur in circumstances that ensure that their heritage and conservation values are protected.
Barrabool and Winchelsea Shires amalgamated to form the new Surf Coast Shire, with a population of approximately 16,500. AIDA noted that in this time of great change in the municipal structure, as well as structural and policy changes elsewhere, they believed it was more important than ever for AIDA to maintain a strong membership base among those who support one of their main policy planks: ‘environmentally sensitive use of the area as a rural resort or haven that retains its unique charm’.
Council minutes noted that Reserve Road, running up from the Inlet Crescent South picnic area could be extended on to link with Federal Street below the lighthouse. Both AIDA and the Aireys Inlet Foreshore Committee objected strongly to this proposal because of the damaging effect it would have on a quiet pedestrian precinct. The proposed road link did not eventuate.
1995
On 15 May 1995, the Age newspaper reported that the federal government had transferred twenty Victorian lighthouses to the state, ending a long stand-off over the proposed private sale of the sites. The state environment minister stated that the state would maintain and manage the properties and protect their conservation and heritage properties.
A comment from the October 1995 AIDA newsletter:
Tired of hearing about the Split Point Lighthouse? Not if you belong to that large group of people – perhaps nine out of ten local residents and regular visitors – for whom it is not just a landmark, but a lofty emblem that symbolises so much of what they cherish in this coastal haven. We have noticed that for most AIDA members any suggestion that something untoward might be done to the lighthouse, to its exterior or its interior, or to its immediate surroundings, is enough to send them rushing, armed to the teeth, to line the barricades, pausing only to snatch up a few nails to nail their colours to the mast.
On 11 December 1995, the Age newspaper reported that ‘Some of Victoria’s historic lighthouses could be converted into backpacker accommodation under a State Government plan to create new eco- tourism opportunities.’ AIDA noted that its ‘major concern is the cultural and heritage value of the building which may be difficult to preserve if it is developed in any way to attract tourists. It attracts tourists as it is!’
1996
In early 1996 AIDA reported that the Surfcoast Shire has put in an application for funding to the Tourism Victoria Community Support Fund to make minimal changes to the lighthouse machinery to enable it to be open for many more days than are presently allowed. AIDA noted that
In preparing the submission, great care has been taken by the Shire to maintain the integrity of the area. The lighthouse and its environs are dear to the hearts of the residents of Aireys Inlet. The project has the support of AIDA, as well as the following organisations – The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Surfcoast Tourism, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Geelong/Otway Tourism and the Aireys Inlet Tourist and Traders Association.
In giving their support to the proposal, AIDA noted that
the well prepared and careful proposal submitted by the Shire allowed for minimum utilisation of the structure and the surrounding area, thus preventing development that may have a deleterious and lasting effect on this, our local icon.
The draft Victorian Coastal Strategy was released in November 1996. It ran to some forty-five pages and aimed
to provide a vision for the future use, management and development of the [whole Victorian] coast with the following objectives relevant to Aireys Inlet:
(1) to ensure protection of significant environmental features; (2) to provide direction for future use; (3) to identify suitable development opportunities; and (4) to ensure the sustainable use of coastal resources.
By December 1996 AIDA was able to note in the newsletter that ‘our’ lighthouse was among ten Victorian lighthouses which now have been transferred from the commonwealth to the state government. The Iighthouse function was to be continued by AMSA and, without any external modification, it would also provide a base for mobile phone transmission by Vodaphone. The shire had been successful in spear-heading a proposal for increased tourist access to the lighthouse without compromising its navigational use, $70,000 having been made available by the state.
It was particularly pleasing to AIDA that management of the lighthouse as a tourist attraction would be the responsibility of a community-based ‘Split Point Lighthouse Public Access Committee’ (also known variously as the Lighthouse Steering Committee or the Management Committee), with money raised from entry fees to flow directly back into associated township and foreshore infrastructure.
The proposed committee of management would comprise representatives from the Surf Coast Shire, the Shire Tourism/Business Liaison Officer, AIDA, the Aireys Inlet Tourism & Traders Association, the Aireys Inlet Foreshore Committee and the Department of Natural Resources & Environment. The state government would prepare the structure for efficient and safe public access and it was anticipated the necessary internal arrangements would be completed by mid- 1997, with public access, supervised by trained guides, available later that year.
1997
A public meeting was held on 7 March to discuss issues about opening the lighthouse. Of particular concern were traffic issues, including parking, the standard of the roads, and the extra volume of traffic for the nearby residents. Concerns were also expressed about disturbing the habitat of the rare Rufous Bristle Bird. A traffic management plan, streetscape plan and site plan were under consideration by the management committee.
The Split Point Lighthouse Conservation Analysis and Masterplan (1997), prepared by Allom Lovell & Associates Conservation Architects with the acknowledged assistance from members of the Lighthouse Steering Committee, focussed on conservation of the lighthouse but also contained recommendations for a variety of infrastructure works intended to facilitate better access to the lighthouse for an increased number of visitors as well as suggestions regarding traffic management and parking.
AIDA noted that the lighthouse committee of management advised that it was now proceeding with arrangements for visitor access and safety, with AMSA being the contractor appointed to carry out the work. If all goes well, greater public access to the Iighthouse should be available later this year. However, satisfactory access from the Great Ocean Road and appropriate car parking and traffic management arrangements are still to be resolved.
1998
The Fairhaven and Aireys Inlet Foreshore Committee had been the management authority for the Fairhaven to Eastern View and Eastern View to Aireys Inlet portions of the beach for over thirty years, working as publicly elected committees under the umbrella of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. The committees were informed by Minister Tehan that, as of 2 December, control and management of the area was to be taken over by the Surf Coast Shire. A committee would be appointed to manage all coastal and Crown land within the municipality, except for any area currently managed by Parks Victoria. The recommendation from the minister was that existing committees of management will no longer be ‘publicly elected’ but rather ‘appointed on a skills basis’. Two issues of major concern to the committee are the potential lack of local input to future decisions affecting our foreshore and the validity of the alleged cost savings which will result from the centralisation of management in one committee.
1999
In the April 1999 newsletter, AIDA reported that filming of the latest episode of Round the Twist for the Australian Children’s Television Foundation was now well under way with the lighthouse area being the main focus. AIDA supported the council’s restricted vehicular access arrangements for the filming and believes this may be appropriate as a permanent arrangement to make the lighthouse precinct a more pedestrian friendly area.
A traffic management study, The Complete Traffic Solutions Report 1999, commissioned by the Surf Coast Shire from a subsidiary of Port Phillip Council, recommended road and parking rationalisations.
In the December newsletter from that year, AIDA reported that
Problems arising from the increasing lighthouse tourist traffic caused us some concern and we were pleased when the Lighthouse Steering Committee supported the concept that the southern part of Federal Street be developed as a more pedestrian friendly area and that traffic management includes a suitable turning design and signage for traffic coming up Lighthouse Road. This has been passed on for consideration by the Shire engineering section in connection with the current project for improved tourist access to the lighthouse area.
In August 1999, council received a Better Roads allocation of $363,000 from the state government to ‘improve access to the Aireys Lighthouse’.
2000
The April newsletter reported that AIDA’s Annual General Meeting held in January was a lively and well-attended affair with much vigorous discussion particularly relating to the Shire’s proposals for the redevelopment of the lighthouse precinct. The mayor and those councillors and council officers present were clearly surprised at the depth of local feeling on this issue, and, as a consequence of the discussion, a new Split Point Lighthouse Tourism Precinct Advisory Committee (SPLTPAC) had been set up, to provide advice and guidance to the shire before any final decisions were made. The members of this committee were selected by the shire and comprised representatives of AIDA, ANGAIR, Aireys Inlet Tourism, abutting property owners in the tourism precinct area (Federal Street, Lighthouse Road, Inlet Crescent and Reserve Road), and a wider-community representative. The committee would be chaired by Councillor Kingsley Love with council’s Tourism Development Officer to provide support to the committee.
The formation of the SPLTPAC committee heralded a more difficult era, to be covered in future newsletters, of AIDA’s attempts to protect the lighthouse precinct from the deleterious effects of ever-increasing tourism. Our efforts to support an environmentally and aesthetically sensitive policy for traffic and parking management reflected our aims to protect the natural environments and significant landscapes of our area and to promote Aireys Inlet and district as a destination for nature-based, sustainable and regenerative tourism.
Mary-Jane Gething