Kirwans Bridge residents anger at local council after glamping plan approved

A huge glamping resort approved for a small town on the edge of the Goulburn River has angered locals who fear it will kill off native wildlife and be prone to massive flooding.

Kirwans Bridge residents are unhappy after a plan was approved by council on Tuesday to build an 80 tent glamping site, a proposal which was unanimously rejected by council in 2021.

A massive glamping resort has been approved for a wetland near a small rural town angering locals who fear it will kill off wildlife and be washed out if there is a repeat of the 2022 Victorian floods.

Strathbogie Shire Council approved the plan on August 20 for 80 permanent glamping tents — despite knocking back a similar proposal in 2021 — to be erected on the banks of the Goulburn River near Kirwan’s Bridge, 5km from Nagambie.

The resort — which was approved by council administrator Peter Stephenson – will include

a caravan park, restaurant, a function centre, a two lot subdivision, and the removal of native vegetation.

The proposal was brought to the council by Parklea Developments.

Two jetties will also be built under the plan, and the land already has a restaurant and function centre building.

Kirwans Bridge. Picture: Facebook

Locals said they were concerned that a flood similar to that of October 2022 would see more than half of the proposed tents inundated by water.

They also worried that it would kill off platypus, brolgas, rare frogs and other wetland creatures.

The proposed site of an 80 tent glamping site at Kirwans Bridge. Picture: Strathbogie Shire Council

Kirwans Bridge man Bob Arnold said the proposal was “totally inappropriate” for the area, while fellow resident Darren Lyons said Mr Stephenson — whose tenure at the council finishes up in less than a fortnight — “has no skin in the game” and that he was yet to meet anyone from the town who supported the resort, arguing the proposed development in 2021 had a “larger economic and jobs benefit” than approved plan.

But Mr Stephenson said: “I reject that … I was put in place of the council, I was there to make the decisions as the council … If I had not made a decision, then I would be abrogating my responsibilities.”

Residents are not happy about the plan, as they are concerned about the effect on the environment, as well as what may happen in the event of a flood. Picture: Strathbogie Shire Council

The outgoing administrator said it was his “best judgement of the proposal” which was “worthy” of approval.

A Strathbogie Shire Council spokesperson said they would be “administering the state government planning process, and will issue a Notice of Decision (NOD) that will be sent to all objectors in the coming days and they will have 28 days in which to lodge an appeal against the NOD at VCAT”.

If no appeal is lodged a planning permit will be issued, the council spokeperson said.

In 2021, the council knocked back a similar proposal by Parklea, who sought to subdivide more than 40ha as part of its application to build a tourism park with room for at least 800 people.

A petition from residents opposing the 2021 proposal. Picture: Facebook

Plans included 117 cabins, 153 camping sites, a boat ramp, four jetties, a swimming pool and other sports facilities on 16 hectares that is zoned for farming.

The site previously operated as a winery and function centre.