Nobbies Centre

Nobbies Centre
Exterior of the Nobbies Centre

The Nobbies Centre is an ecotourism destination located at Point Grant, on the western tip of Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. Once known as the Seal Rocks Sea Life Centre, the centre is managed by the Phillip Island Nature Park, and features educational displays, cafe, children's play area, and gift shop. A network of boardwalks outside the centre overlook Seal Rocks, The Nobbies, and The Blowhole. Home to Australia’s largest colony of fur seals with an estimated 16,000 inhabiting the area, around half a million people visit the centre yearly, with 53% being international visitors.

History

Work towards a privately developed marine centre at Point Grant commenced in January 1995 where a call for tenders was made by the Kennett Government.[1] The winner was Seal Rocks Victoria Australia Pty Ltd (SRVA), who signed a 25 year build-operate-transfer contract with the State of Victoria in March 1997.[2] The centre opened in April 1998 as the privately operated "Seal Rocks Sea Life Centre", with stage one of the development completed at a cost of $13 million, including the Nobbies Centre seen today. Stage two was to cost $50 million, and involved a 1.9 kilometre long undersea tunnel leading to an observation tower at Seal Rocks.[2] This expansion was opposed by local independent MP Susan Davies, who held the balance of power in the Bracks Government which took power at the 1999 state election.[3][4]

Contractual disputes relating to stage two of the project resulted in SRVA lodging an compensation claim against the State Government for breach of contract, resulting in the appointment of an independent arbitrator in July 2000 to settle the matter. An interim order was handed down in August 2002, finding that the Government had breached the original contract, and required the Government to pay $37.3 million in compensation in addition to the legal fees of the operator.[5] The Government appealed the order in the Supreme Court of Victoria, and in September 2002 SRVA also lodged their own application in the Supreme Court, seeking up to $400 million as compensation for loss of future earnings.[2] The State Government appeal was rejected in April 2003,[5] with the Auditor-General finding in November 2003 that the final cost to the Government was $55.9 million.[1] This was made up of $37.3 million compensation and $5.6 million in costs to centre owner SRVA, and $9.3 million in Government legal fees.[6]

The centre itself closed in August 12, 2003 when a mini-tornado ripped the roof from the building,[7] causing $200,000 damage and leaving 30 staff members out of work.[8] In May 2005 the State Government announced $7.1 million in funding to repair the centre,[9] with finally reopened to the public in April 2007.[10]

References

Looking over The Nobbies towards Seal Rocks
  1. ^ a b Chee Chee Leung (March 14, 2007). "Island centre signed, sealed and about to be delivered". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/island-centre-signed-sealed-and-about-to-be-delivered/2007/03/13/1173722467666.html. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c Public Accounts And Estimates Committee (September 2006). "Report On The 2006-07 Budget Estimates". parliament.vic.gov.au. p. Pages 398–402. http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/paec/Budget_Estimates/2006-2007/PAEC-70_2006-07_Budget_Estimates.pdf. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
  3. ^ Jason Dowling (August 7, 2005). "The 'kiosk' that cost taxpayers $55m". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/the-kiosk-that-cost-taxpayers-55m/2005/08/06/1123125945855.html. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
  4. ^ Gabrielle Costa (October 16, 2002). "State sent Seal Rocks broke". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/15/1034561159075.html. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
  5. ^ a b Richard Baker, Peter Gregory (April 25, 2003). "Seal Rocks appeal sinks with $50m". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/24/1050777358331.html. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
  6. ^ Angela O'Connor (November 21, 2003). "Workers' lament at Seal Rocks". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/11/20/1069027255690.html?from=storyrhs. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
  7. ^ Larissa Dubecki (February 10, 2003). "Bracks 'betrayed' Seal Rocks staff". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/09/1044725673638.html. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
  8. ^ AAP (August 20, 2002). "Government locks out Seal Rocks' staff". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/08/20/1029114096882.html. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
  9. ^ "SEAL ROCKS TOURISM CENTRE TO BE RESTORED". Victorian State Budget 2005-06. May 3, 2005. http://www.budget.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/budgets/budget05.nsf/7b97d9472cf2520cca256e6900201d10/d6d2176492829b81ca256ff60007f9fc!OpenDocument. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
  10. ^ Orietta Guerrera (April 4, 2007). "Whiff of salt and politics as seal centre reopens". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/window-of-opportunity/2007/04/03/1175366241112.html. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 

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