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Positive feedback on ecotourism plan for former coal mine

Alcoa and The Eden Project say initial feedback for their plans to create an ecotourism project at a former coal mine in Anglesea, Victoria, has been “overwhelmingly positive”.

Staff reporter
 The Eden Project Anglesea concept proposes an ecotourism project at a former coal mine in Victoria

The Eden Project Anglesea concept proposes an ecotourism project at a former coal mine in Victoria

Alcoa closed the mine and power station in Australia's south-east in 2015 after 46 years of operation.

Eden created Biomes in a former china clay quarry in Cornwall, England, which has attracted 21 million visitors since opening in 2001.

The Eden Project Anglesea concept plans to "immerse visitors in the extremes of the elements - earth, air, water, fire" and create a must-see prelude to a journey on the Great Ocean Road.

The duo said last week they were excited feedback from community engagement activities held in May and June had been "overwhelmingly supportive of the concept".

Eden Project International CEO David Harland and landscape architect Jane Knight are back in Anglesea this month for further research and community discussions.

"Our experience in Cornwall shows us it's possible to take a former mining landscape and create a place that celebrates our natural world and educates and entertains people from all walks of life, while providing a year-round positive impact for the community," Harland said.

Alcoa's Anglesea site asset manager Warren Sharp said they understood concerns around traffic and were confident of finding solutions by working with the community.

The proponents said the critical next steps were the resolution of the water strategy to fill the mine void and determining the relevant planning authority for the next phase.

Another former mine turned into a tourist destination is the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland Hotel, dubbed the "quarry hotel", which opened in Songjiang in China in November.

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