MEMBER for Northern Victoria Damian Drum says everybody should “have a cold shower” over Fortuna Villa.
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Mr Drum said he had been working to facilitate the sale of the Chum Street land, which is a vital component of the council-backed plan from former mayor Daryl McClure to save Fortuna, for a fraction of its value.
He said Cr Elise Chapman should therefore clarify why she was on a hunger strike.
“Since the Bendigo Council voted in favour of the McClure plan last week, I have been working around the clock trying to facilitate a situation where the state government can sell the Chum Street land to the council for a nominal price,” Mr Drum said.
“What this will do is free up the land valued by Daryl McClure in his proposal at $20 million, for a fraction of its expected return.
“And the report clearly says that it is not suitable for substantial residential developments.
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“Quite simply we have over 100 disused mine shafts on that land, heavily contaminated soil and a natural water course that runs through the middle. But Daryl McClure’s plan has been endorsed by the City of Greater Bendigo, and therefore I want to ensure the City of Greater Bendigo gets the chance to purchase that land at a nominal rate.”
Mr McClure said while he was concerned about Cr Chapman’s health, her actions had given a lot of attention to the historic mansion and his plan to save it.
“In a matter of a few hours the actions of Cr Chapman have gotten the attention of more people than all of the efforts that have been put in certainly over the last several months,” he said.
“I think someone needs to get this to the attention of the media and the government, she seems to have been able to achieve that.
“People are now talking about Fortuna and I see that as a plus.”
But Cr Chapman has received little support from Bendigo Advertiser readers, with about 80 respondents to an online survey saying they didn’t support her hunger strike.
