Key Points
- A Melbourne council has approved a Harry Potter event inside a nature reserve, angering locals.
- The Briars nature reserve is known for its wildlife and nature, with worries the event will negatively impact both.
- Thousands of people have signed a petition to move the event, but the council has decided to proceed.
Despite thousands of local residents signing a petition to move a Harry Potter event out of a Melbourne nature reserve, the council has decided to move ahead with their plans.
Residents in the area around the Briars nature reserve on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula have rallied after it was announced that Mount Martha Park, about an hour's drive south of Melbourne's central business district, would host an interactive Harry Potter 'Forbidden Forest' event.
The Briars nature reserve is well known for its local plant and animal life, with emus, kangaroos and koalas the subject of , as well as a wildlife sanctuary.
In the spring, a nighttime interactive walk-through experience will allow fans of Harry Potter to recreate scenes from the beloved books and movies by walking through the reserve - with thousands of tickets already sold.
What are the concerns?
Most of the pushback from locals centres on the potential damage such an event could do to the wildlife who call the nature reserve and sanctuary home.
"The Briars is not just any park; it is the only fenced sanctuary on the Mornington Peninsula, home to incredibly significant yet fragile ecosystems," the
petition reads.
"Our local animals should feel safe here without human interference. However, with thousands of people expected to walk through this sanctuary for hours every night during this event, we can anticipate a serious environmental impact."
More than 3,500 people have signed, hoping to push the local Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to move the event, citing Belgian news reports where local authorities said they would not host the event again due to its impact on nature.
MP for Mornington Chris Crewther chimed in on the petition page, stating that while he does not "normally publicly comment" on the council's decisions, he was choosing to stand with local residents and "urg[ing] the Shire to reconsider moving this event to another more suitable location within the Briars Ward that is not a wildlife sanctuary".
What has been the council's response?
The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council approved the event, which is expected to bring more than 200,000 people to the area.
"Events such as this provide an important boost for our local businesses through spending at local shops, restaurants and cafes," a spokesperson for the council told the ABC.
"This event will showcase our region, inspiring visitors to stay for a few days in what is generally a quiet time for our tourism sector."
The council also said it had taken into account possible impacts on wildlife and nature, and that the event would only occupy part of the 90-hectare sanctuary, "leaving plenty of undisturbed natural habitat space for animals".
"The placement of props, lights and sounds has been carefully considered.
"The majority of the experience is on existing paths which reduces the impact on vegetation."
The spokesperson told the ABC the council had engaged an ecological consultant and was "working with Traditional Owners via our heritage consultants".
