17 Aug AUGUST NEWSLETTER
Days are getting longer; spring is in the air but not quite here yet. Barwon Heads is very quiet and we are enjoying the luxury of being able to park in the main street and walk on the beaches on our own. For the first time in a very long time we have a number of empty shops, and too many “for sale” signs on businesses. Let’s try and put a more positive image forward as we come into spring and bigger crowds.
The BHA has always been a strong supporter of the idea of having a strong traders group and even though there were times we disagreed it was always good to have a leader to talk to and it was good for the traders to have a group that they could meet with. We encourage the traders to work more closely together to promote and protect our beautiful village.
Thank you to all our members who have renewed. Please renew your membership if you haven’t already and encourage others to join.
Talking Heads
The link to the WINTER Talking Heads is here, we look forward to the spring edition please share:
https://flipbookpdf.net/web/site/e437caf3837167abf7d9be42e31d1c1b1c687af3FBP31752840.pdf.html
It is important that local businesses continue to support Talking Heads. Community Groups are given free space – by advertising local businesses are also supporting our local groups and we will support our local businesses.
Diary Dates
Wednesday 27th August from our Connewarre Ward Councillor Elise Wilkinson will be at the Barwon Heads Arts Hub from 9:00am to 10:30am to talk to residents about any CoGG matters. We understand that Elise will be here every month on the last Wednesday at this time.
Monday September 8th for 7:00pm BHA members meeting at the Barwon Heads Bowling Club. The bar will be open before and after the meeting – We have invited Kate Seddon, well known landscape designer and serious friend of Barwon Heads to talk to us about the importance of gardens.
Monday November 10th at 5.30pm Barwon Heads Association Annual General Meeting at the Barwon Heads Bowling Club.
How quiet will August be?
Some local trivia from the street not sure how accurate, but just sharing:
– CHE VUOI closes on the 17th for their annual break, check notice for opening date later in September.
– ANNIES closes on the 17th for rejuvenation, open by the following Friday if all goes to plan (which sounds very exciting).
– TOMMY GUNNS opens on the 14th August check their blackboard.
– AT THE HEADS closed until the end of September, but remember DUNES has some great specials.
– BEACH HOUSE is open has great happy hour on Fridays.
– BARWON HEADS HOTEL – is amazing, always buzzing.
– LOCOs re-opens on the 18th September.
– HANOI KITCHEN opening in September.
– BARWON HEADS GOLF CLUB RESTORATION PROJECT will be completed in September.
Thank you to Starfish, Coffetti, Bowls and Ebb & Flow for opening early and for looking after the swimming, cycling, bridge groups.
Lobster Pot – will open on the 16th August.
Barwon Heads Post Office – Gaye and Geoff have sold the Post Office – we thank them for their friendship and all the help they have given. We wish them both a great retirement with their family.
We will make the new owner feel welcome and understand that changeover is in the process of completion. This is an important business in Barwon Heads please support it.
What is happening in town
Barwon Heads Primary School 150 years celebration: Put in your diary the weekend of the 20th September. The BHA will be partnering with Talking Heads for a joint celebration.
Traffic works: Works in town seem complete, new roundabout and traffic management works are all looking good.
Barwon Heads Road from Warralily a mess, and at airport can be quite confronting. Be careful.
Barwon Coast Foreshore Master Plan: the next phase
This project has attracted significant community support and participation. Over 175 people participated last weekend. Results and next phase will be made available later in the year.
The Village Park
The BHA will continue to ensure that revegetation of the Village Park continues. This included the re-establishment of the Firth Memorial, tree planting around the Bowls club, and the reinstatement of grassed areas damaged during recent Barwon Water works. Rain needed.
COGG have plans for the re development and expansion of facilities for the Cricket, Soccer and Football clubs which can be viewed on the Council webpage.
COGG are currently looking to refurbish the Pony Club facility and incorporate the Scouts in the same area. We support both groups which obviously need improved facilities, but we wonder about the proposed location for what appears to be a significant building, which will involve a lot of money and significant developments and changes to the current park layout and ambiance. Do you think that this is the best use of funds by the COGG in Barwon Heads?
Planning
Amendment to planning permit 2A Talbot St and 4-8 Paringa Lane – reasons for the refusal.
This development is in a very vulnerable location and even without the amendment will have a significant impact on the area and will markedly change the neighbourhood. We attended the Planning Committee meeting at CoGG with many objectors and heard very clear reasons why the amendment should not be approved. It was also very apparent that the constant digging and hundreds of truck movements are having a significant impact on the health and well being of the neighbourhood.
The Planning committee agreed and refused the application on the following grounds:
That the Responsible Authority having considered all matters which the Planning and Environment Act 1987, requires it to consider decides to Refuse to Grant an Amendment to the planning permit for ‘Construction of a single dwelling including a swimming pool and spa’ at 2A Talbot Street and 4-8 Paringa Lane, BARWON HEADS on the following grounds:
The proposal does not respond appropriately to the relevant decision guidelines of Clause 42.03 – Significant Landscape Overlay Schedule 9 as:
1. a) The proposed buildings/works exceeding 7.5 metres will dominate the riverfront and the streetscape.
2. b) In relation to the bulk, location and appearance of the proposed buildings and works not in keeping with the character and appearance of adjacent buildings, the streetscape or the coastal area.
3. The proposal does not respond appropriately to Clause 11.03-6L-01 Bellarine Peninsula specifically the strategies applicable to Barwon Heads that seeks to protect the unique character of Barwon Heads as a coastal village located within a sensitive environment and significant landscape setting.
4. The proposal does not respond appropriately to the objective and relevant strategies of Clause 15.01-1S Urban Design.
5. The proposal does not produce acceptable outcomes in terms of the decision guidelines of Clause 65.01 (Approval of an Application or Plan) of the Scheme as it:
1. a) does not produce acceptable outcomes in terms of the Municipal Planning Strategy and the Planning Policy Framework.
2. b) the effect on the environment, human health ad amenity of the area.
3. c) does not contribute to the orderly planning of the area.
4. d) will have an adverse effect on the amenity of the area.
Note: This refusal to grant an amendment to the permit does not affect the validity of the amendment permit PP-1299-2022/A issued on 5th April 2024.
Barwon Water plans to build a recycling facility at Black Rock
We are in contact with Barwon Water about this project. Following meetings the BHA have had with Barwon Water in the past, the BHA committee has expressed concern about the project which have still not really been addressed by Barwon Water. We don’t think that the current project reflects the project that was described to us 18 months ago.
On July 25, 2025, the EPA issued a development licence Barwon Region Water Corporation Pty Ltd under section 69(1)(a) of the Act. The development licence is subject to conditions and authorises the construct and commission a Waste Processing Hub (RRON Facility) that will use a combination of processing technologies to treat and convert organic waste streams:
1. Thermal Processing via Carbonisation to produce Biochar and Biogas ; and
2. Plug Flow Anaerobic Digestion (PFAD) to produce Digestate and biogas.
The EPA determined that the proposed project presents a low and acceptable risk to the environment. The proposal demonstrates compliance with the General Environmental Duty (GED) under the Environment Protection Act 2017 (EP Act), and minimisation of environmental risks associated with the facility’s operation, as far as reasonably practicable.
EPA has set conditions to ensure the facility’s design and operation minimise risks to human health and the environment.
EPA appreciates the community’s contributions during the application assessment process. The development licence can be found in the ‘Supporting documents’ section of the EngageVIC website: Barwon Region Water Corporation (APP038656) | Engage Victoria.
Our concerns
– clarification of the scale and purpose of the project (There appears to be a change in the proposed program to be undertaken at Black Rock from the original proposal to produce Bio Gas to replace gas being currently used to dry waste and production of Bio Char from green waste);
– the absence of a strong business case as to the initial cost of the project, and what costs and returns will be generated by the Project to ensure it is a profitable concern and not a drain on current Barwon Water customers;
– lack of clarity about number of trucks and traffic generation over 5 year period, and
– the actual environmental impacts.
The BHA committee will invite Barwon Water to address us when they have shared the permits they have been granted with all conditions, the business case and traffic projections.
Other projects we are involved in
– Traffic and Parking Sub Committee – Alison Marchant advises Traffic Controllers Funding until mid 2028.
– Bellarine Community Safety Group.
– Trees and Landscaping around Barwon Heads.
– Bus Time Table – Better Connection with Trains and connectivity across Bellarine
– Barwon Heads Road Upgrade webpage, phone on 1800 105 105 or email contact@bigbuild.vic.gov.au.
Please join/renew your membership
Thank you to our very loyal members. Membership subscriptions are due from July 1.
We are looking for new ideas and members for the Committee – please share.
Click on the following link to our website or copy this link into your web browser and complete the membership form.
https://barwonheadsassociation.com/membership-2/
Make the payment (INCLUDING YOUR FULL NAME) using your online banking to the BHA Account
Account Name: Barwon Heads Association
BSB: 633 000
Account Number: 130256704