Despite nearly 5000 people signing a petition against a Harry Potter experience that many believe will have a negative impact on the environment, a local council still plans to push ahead with it.
The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, southeast of Melbourne, is set to host the Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience at the Briars nature reserve in Mount Martha.
The reserve is known for its wildlife – emus, kangaroos and koalas – and is a popular spot for organised bushwalks.
Despite the concerns, the council has pushed ahead with the event, stating that it has taken into account any possible impact on local wildlife and the experience will only use a small portion of the reserve.
“The placement of props, lights and sounds has been carefully considered,” a spokesperson said.
“The majority of the experience is on existing paths which reduces the impact on vegetation.”
Petitioners on Change.org, however, said they were “deeply troubled” by the idea of the experience and the reserve was “far from appropriate for such an event”.
“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.”
Petitioners went on to say they weren’t against the experience itself, just its placement before referencing previous similar events that had negatively impacted the local environment.
“This isn’t about being against fun or entertainment. In fact, I believe that this light-filled show would be fantastic, but not at The Briars,” the petition reads.
“We need only look at what happened when a similar event was held in Belgium; due to its detrimental impact on wildlife and vegetation there, such an event will never be repeated in that location.
“We must learn from these past mistakes and find a more suitable venue for our Harry Potter light show, one that won’t disrupt or harm our precious local ecosystems.
“Let us stand together and urge Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to reconsider their decision.”
The same Harry Potter experience in Belgium suffered from similar concerns before it opened with organisers, event platform Fever as well as Warner Bros. releasing a statement to ease concerns.
“We are committed to environmental preservation and ensuring the event runs in harmony with the environment and worked closely with the Agency for Nature & Forest of the Flemish Government, who consulted on and approved the event,” the statement read.
“A beautiful and natural environment is essential to (the) experience, so minimal impact to the area’s natural habitats is part of the program and includes a replanting program.”
No such statement has been made regarding the upcoming Victorian event.
One Belgium resident, Hugo Schoukens, spoke with the Brussels Times about the impact the experience had on the local environment at Groenberg Park.
“This is simply an amusement park,” he said.
“The nature in the park is inevitably damaged as a result. I understand the economic logic, but it must not come at nature’s expense.”
The Victorian event is expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors, with a council spokesperson telling the ABC it’s important for the region to take on big events.
“Events such as this provide an important boost for our local businesses through spending at local shops, restaurants and cafes,” they said.
“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.”
Tickets are already on sale for the event, which is set to start on April 6 and will take between 60 to 90 minutes to complete.