Hear that zzzzzzz noise? It’s the buzzing of apathy from (most of) our politicians over the continuing saga that is Fortuna Villa.
There she sits, surrounded in wire and costing $18,000 a week just in basic security and maintenance, while the State and Federal Governments bicker over who has to come up with the vision that will set in motion a plan for its future.
Efforts by local groups have been well meaning. For one man, Patrick Thwaites, the effort has been magnificent, resulting in a huge document outlining a vision for a community-owned and run facility.
So far, however, these efforts have created nothing but more excuses for government to do nothing.
Enter Rick Walduck.
As the relatively new owner of the glorious historic Goldmines Hotel, a stone’s throw from Fortuna Villa and over the road from the Victoria Hill heritage park, Mr Walduck has watched the saga over the past year and become increasingly frustrated at the situation.
His decision to organise a new group, to start over and create a phased plan for the development of Fortuna, may just be what’s needed.
Fortuna’s place in history makes it, as he points out, a national asset, not just a Bendigo one. It needs a big picture approach, because it will require resources beyond those of Bendigo.
It also requires bipartisan support – which means politicians capable of seeing, and responding to, that big picture.
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