Shaping the Future of Arthurs Seat Eagle
Community connection is at the core of Arthurs Seat Eagle. Our gondola ride is a place where families, friends and nature enthusiasts connect with the natural landscape of the Mornington Peninsula.
Beyond this, we understand we contribute to the prosperity of the Mornington Peninsula, both through the employment of locals and by attracting visitors to experience and explore the region.
Given many of our team members live locally on the Mornington Peninsula, this shapes how we engage with and contribute to the community.
We are committed to offering a space everyone can enjoy for generations, which is why we are proposing family-friendly and sustainable improvements to the beloved Eagle.
With these goals front of mind, one of the first steps we took in considering upgrades to Arthurs Seat Eagle was to seek guidance from many experts including environmental, planning and economic assessment to identify both the opportunities presented by undertaking an upgrade and the issues we need to consider protecting the landscape and the quality of life of those living in and around the Eagle. Equally, we have aimed to engage and listen to the community.
Impact
Based on a preliminary assessment by Nature Advisory, we have received guidance on how to minimise and mitigate direct and indirect impacts on the native vegetation on the site.
Furthermore, current advice shows the initial estimate of economic benefit throughout the delivery of the project upgrade forecasts is in the order of $45.4 million in economic output, generating 113 jobs and $17.2 million in value during the construction phase.
Following the completion of the upgrade, economic input to the Mornington Peninsula is estimated to provide up to $23.6 in economic output, 121 jobs and $10.4 million in value added to the region per annum.
Community Input
Understanding and responding to the community’s perspective on upcoming upgrades is a priority for us. To help shape our plans for upgrading Arthurs Seat Eagle, we conducted a community survey to gauge the community’s thoughts. The survey provided valuable insights, including a desire for more observation and viewing spaces, resonating with our goal of creating immersive experiences that connect visitors to nature.
The survey findings also reflected a longing for cultural and exhibition spaces, family-friendly recreation, and enhanced protection of our green spaces in collaboration with Parks Victoria.
Additional feedback included the incorporation of sustainability initiatives, such as designing with the natural terrain, which has been identified by Arthurs Seat Eagle as a key inclusion to be realised in the upgrades’ masterplan.
The initial findings were presented at an in-person community engagement session in early October, where locals could share ideas, ask questions, and meet the project team behind the upgrades including Arthurs Seat Eagle’s CEO, Matthew Mulkearns, Ben Daly from Tract Consultants and Andrew Norbury from project architects Metier3.
Community Feedback
It is clear the protection of the environment and the consideration of its inhabitants, both human and animal alike, is a key concern amongst the community. Furthermore, preserving natural beauty, enhancing the facilities, such as parking, and introducing low-impact activities are areas the community wants the project team to address.
Community members’ interest in sustainability is also evident. These issues align closely with our vision of minimising the upgrade’s environmental footprint while enhancing the Arthurs Seat Eagle as an iconic Mornington Peninsula landmark.
We want to ensure that Arthurs Seat Eagle’s evolution is inclusive and community-driven, so we have shared documents from the session, including the presentation materials, and responded to follow-up emails.
We are also continuing discussions with community members and stakeholder groups to address areas of concern and working with them to create positive outcomes. To assist this process, we have created an online suggestion box that allows community members to share their thoughts beyond formal meetings and provide an opportunity to pose further questions about the upgrades.
Our Vision
The vision behind the proposed upgrades to Arthurs Seat Eagle honours the history of the location and attraction while embracing positive change. Enhancements like cultural spaces, family-friendly amenities, and green space preservation will add layers of value for our visitors and locals alike.
We envisage building a bright future for the Arthurs Seat Eagle – one where locals and visitors alike can connect, create memories, and enjoy the wonders of Arthurs Seat, knowing that their voices have helped shape this journey.
As we progress with the upgrades, we look forward to providing further updates via our social media channels, website, e-newsletter and engaging more strongly with the community.
By staying engaged we hope to create a vibrant future for Arthurs Seat Eagle that celebrates the natural beauty, community spirit, and sustainability values of the Mornington Peninsula.