COMMUNITY group Save Our Seat have raised questions about the state government’s transparency after the Planning Minister failed to respond to a request for information.
In August, a government document revealed the Arthurs Seat Eagle was invited to propose changes to the draft planning permit conditions for its rollercoaster-style luge before final approval was granted (“State government consulted with Arthurs Seat Eagle over approval conditions”, The News, 19/08/26).
On 5 August, Save Our Seat wrote to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny and requested the public release of information regarding any changes to the permit conditions.
The group sent a follow up letter on 29 September and are yet to receive a response.
Save Our Seat spokesperson Tony Robertson said it’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that the government wants to keep details of the behind-closed-doors process out of public view.
“Why should a developer be given the opportunity to propose changes to permit conditions behind closed doors, while the community is left in the dark about what was requested, what was changed and why?” said Robertson.
“The Minister’s failure to even acknowledge our correspondence is deeply disappointing and raises serious questions about accountability.”
The letter requested a public release of any changes to draft permit conditions proposed by Arthurs Seat Eagle, details of any proposed changes that were accepted or rejected, and an explanation of the planning grounds for any changes.
Robertson said the peninsula community deserves to know whether the final permit conditions were determined on planning merits or due to pressure from the developer.
“Planning approval may have been granted, but that does not remove the government’s responsibility to be transparent about how that decision was reached,” said Robertson.
“We are simply asking for the information needed to scrutinise the outcome. What’s the Minister hiding?”
Robertson said given Kilkenny’s refusal to act, Save Our Seat is calling on the Arthurs Seat Eagle to come clean on what changes it sought to the permit conditions, and why.
“If the Eagle wants to restore its reputation in the community, it can start by being open about what changes it sought behind the scenes,” said Robertson.
Government spokesperson Liam Miles provided the following response, requesting it be attributed to a Victorian government spokesperson: “Upgrades at Arthurs Seat Eagle were approved following a thorough planning assessment and consultation process.”
The state government declined to comment on the lack of response to Save Our Seat’s letters.
First published in the Mornington News – 27 October 2026
