Mornington Peninsula camping: Point Nepean National Park, Portsea
Waking up to dolphins frolicking near your tent is the latest experience proposed for the Mornington Peninsula.
South East
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Camping could soon be allowed at a historic quarantine station in a remote Mornington Peninsula park.
Parks Victoria has applied to Heritage Victoria for a permit to develop a “low impact campsite” in sand dunes within Point Nepean National Park at Portsea.
It would be the first time camping was allowed in the park, which includes the heritage listed Point Nepean defence and quarantine precinct.
The plan has two stages with the first campground flagged for Burgess Park on the foreshore of Ticonderoga Bay.
Existing buildings which form part of the quarantine precinct would be transformed into bathing and cooking areas for campers.
Campers would only be allowed to use tents and their vehicles would be left at an existing carpark nearby
The second stage, which is not included in the permit application, would be developed at the nearby Moonah Woodland and repurpose the old mortuary and administration buildings.
According to the permit application Parks Victoria would manage the first site for three year and then appoint an external operator.
The second stage would be rolled out when funding was available.
Dolphin Research Institute director Jeff Weir, who has run education programs in the park since the 1970s, said encouraging more people into the “unique and special” site would help keep it safe.
“If we want people to have empathy for our coastal environments we have to let them experience them first hand,” he said.
“This plan sounds like a good fit. A lot of the infrastructure is already there, it just needs modifying.”
Mr Weir said the site proposed for stage one was close to a dolphins’ playground and campers would be able to see the creatures from the shore.
“It’s a magical place and I imagine that the camping spots would be very highly sought after if it goes ahead.”
The camping proposal was included in a master plan developed for the park in 2017.
According to a 2020 heritage impact statement included with the permit application Heritage Victoria has already expressed support for the plan’s “light-footprint approach in establishing a new and compatible use” for the site.
“As the site has such high cultural heritage values and strong ties to the broader community, we are in support of community focused activation which can sensitively balance these considerations,” the report states.
The camping plan is a far cry from previous proposals for the former quarantine station and military fort.
In 2014 it was the site of a controversial bid to build a multimillion luxury hot springs resort.
The 50-year agreement with Point Leisure Group covered the 64ha park and 50 buildings that make up the quarantine station.
It was rushed through by the Napthine Government in the lead up to the 2014 Victorian state election.
Premier Daniel Andrews later scrapped the deal when he came to power.
In 2020 a plan to create a $25 million marine and coastal research centre in the park was announced.
Parks Victoria has been contacted.
