Point Nepean National Park and the Quarantine Station are jewels in Victoria’s conservation estate with multiple layers of history and magnificent coastal landscapes.

Over many years, VNPA and the community fought hard to have Commonwealth land at Point Nepean returned to Victoria for a national park. The last piece – 90 hectares at the Quarantine Station – was returned in 2009.

With it, Point Nepean National Park was complete. But that wasn’t the end of the story. In 2013, the Napthine Government signed a lease with a property developer to establish a luxury hotel and spa in the Quarantine Station and threatened coastal moonah woodland nearby.

It was excessive and inappropriate; VNPA and the local community opposed it. The lease lapsed in 2015 and the Andrews Government committed to a new master plan.

Flaws in the draft master plan

The draft master plan was released in December 2016, with the final plan expected mid-2017. The draft plan provides the foundation for protecting the natural and cultural values of the park, but there are four key areas of concern:

  • its failure to give adequate recognition to the park’s natural values
  • a proposed jetty at the Quarantine Station in the middle of the sanctuary zone for the endangered burrunan dolphin
  • proposals for three new buildings and others ‘as required’. The Quarantine Station contains heritage-listed buildings should be adaptively re-used without the need for new ones
  • no guidance on how the community can be engaged in the future planning and management of the park.

Our vision for Point Nepean National Park

Our vision is for Parks Victoria to manage a park where:

  • natural and cultural heritage is protected while public access is maintained
  • heritage buildings are sustainably and adaptively reused and conserved – no new buildings are required
  • the community is effectively consulted, educated and engaged on the park’s planning and management
  • a diverse range of uses consistent with park values provide a vibrant visitor experience.

More information

> Draft Point Nepean Master Plan review submission
> Draft Point Nepean Master Plan submission