Island Summer Carnival owner Brian Watkins plans to claim $1m compensation over council dispute
Owners of a popular Phillip Island carnival say a council plan to forcibly buy them out has “destroyed” them. Now Brian Watkins says he will seek compensation over the ordeal that has ruined his life.
Bass Coast News
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A Phillip Island carnival owner is asking for $1 million of compensation over council plans to compulsorily acquire his land to build an aquatic centre.
Island Summer Carnival owner Brian Watkins is furious the Bass Coast Shire Council have a public acquisition overlay on his land that he has owned for more than 20 years.
Mr Watkins told The Bass Coast News he plans to claim “plenty of compensation” over the ordeal.
“I’ll be going for $1 million, [the council] aren’t going to treat me like idiot,” he said.
“It’s ruined our lives they way the way they have gone and done it”.
The family-run business holds the Island Summer Carnival every year from December through to January at the southwest corner of the intersection of Phillip Island and Ventnor roads.
They spend the rest of the year supplying amusement rides to major events and festivals.
The Cowes property is the family’s only home address.
“We have no where to go and no where to work,” he said.
“It’s ridiculous what they are doing to me”.
The 78-year-old said the ordeal had caused him stress and anxiety.
“I haven’t been able to sleep at night,” Mr Watkins said.
“It has caused us a lot of health problems”.
According to a Bass Coast Shire media release, council will negotiate with the landowner to finalise the sale.
“The application of the PAO reserves the land, so that it can be acquired to establish and enhance the public open space network on Phillip Island”.
“The land will be home to the Phillip Island Aquatics and Recreation Precinct, which will provide Phillip Island with essential recreation and aquatics facility to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community and visitors to the Island”.
Mr Watkins said he has tried to “talk sense” into the council.
“We have tried to work things out but they don’t want to listen to us”.
The Island Summer Carnival owner said in 2011 the council purchased 16 hectares of land from him.
That 16 hectares is next to the Island Summer Carnival land he owns.
Mr Watkins said they haven’t done anything to the land other than build a reserve.
“Why can’t they use the other land? Just leave us alone on the corner”.
Mr Watkins hopes to run the Island Summer Carnival this year with COVID-19 safety measures in place.
“It may be our last year,” he said.
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Contact Brooke at brooke.grebert-craig@news.com.au