27 Jan JANUARY + FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
Happy New Year for 2025 – this will become the Year of the Snake.
Wow! Barwon Heads has been busy, but in a nice way. Great weather, busy beaches, happy people, happy businesses. Australia Day weekend always the culmination of a great summer.
Next weekend we look forward to the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. For further information www.cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au.
A Big congratulations to Christine and Tony Wheal who have both been honoured with OAMs for decades of volunteer service in Barwon Heads. Thank you.
Well done to our wonderful Barwon Heads Opportunity Shop. During January the volunteers have had to bag and dispose of 1,335kgs of unsalable clothing and linen. It has been collected by a company and recycled. They also put a hold on deliveries. Please don’t leave your junk there – and even though we are all supporters of recycling maybe if you don’t want old encyclopedias neither will anyone else. There seems to be a limited need for old sheets and towels etc.
And be careful. There are some disturbing reports of people being followed and an attempted child abduction. If you are concerned call the police and try and walk with a friend.
BHPS returns on Thursday 30th January.
Talking Heads
The link to the summer Talking Heads is here. Another amazing Talking Heads. Here’s your link to read online and to share.
BHA Business
Our Committee for 2024-2025 is:
President Philip Bade
Vice Presidents Geoffrey Waite & Sandy Gatehouse
Treasurer Brian Cook
Secretary Paul Brewster
Committee: Colin Bridges, David Littleton, Karen Firth, Rod Ashby, with 2 new nominees Rachel Fleury and Tony Judd.
Please let us know of your ideas for speakers or activities you might help organise. We will be working closely with the school to help celebrate the 150 birthday.
What is happening in town
Starfish is closing and we are all so sad. Thankful to Paul & Dinah and Chloe for providing us with such a wonderful meeting place which has been the centre of many new friendships and such a happy place to be. We all gravitate there and enjoy the welcoming environment, great coffee and epic muffins. Not sure what the record is for squishies in one weekend, but there are people who drive from Melbourne to buy them.
Here is their message:
Hi everyone,
A different update from us. The Fox family have made the very hard decision to sell Starfish Bakery.
We’ve been part of this community for over 25 years, but it’s now time for a very well deserved retirement for Paul and Dinah.
This isn’t goodbye from us just yet, we will still be operating as usual for at least the next 6 weeks (likely longer too). We wanted the chance to share the news with you all and say a very heartfelt thank you, some of you have been round long enough to watch the Fox girls grow up, and we’ve watched your families grow too, others have come to us in the last few years, or just made the trip down from Melbourne for your favourite squishy – but all have been welcome here!
Thank you for all your kindness, love and support over the years, we really wouldn’t be here without you.
Please share this news with your friends and family, you never know there might be someone out there wanting to carry on the Starfish tradition!
All our love,
The Fox family xx
Barwon Coast Emergency Markers
Stage 2 of our emergency marker implementation is now live in the Triple Zero (000) Computer Aided Dispatch system. Installation of the physical markers has commenced and will be completed within the next two weeks.
Key Updates:
· All new emergency marker locations are now active in the Triple Zero system
· Beach-level markers will be installed at key locations
· Larger signs (450mm x 300mm) are being used for better visibility
Implementation Timeline:
· Installation begins 7 Jan 2025
· Expected completion: End of Jan 2025
· All markers fully operational in Triple Zero system: Immediate
We’ve particularly focused on addressing community feedback about beach-level access and local orientation. We’ve included local beach names, at selected locations, helping maintain our community’s connection to these important spots while providing enhanced safety benefits.
The markers are part of a Victorian Government initiative to standardise emergency response systems, ensuring faster and more accurate emergency service responses. For more information about emergency marker locations, visit: emergencymarkers.com.au
We welcome any questions you might have about these changes. Thank you for helping us create safer beaches for everyone.
Email: office@barwoncoast.com.au
Phone: (03) 5254 1118
Tripping Hazards
People are tripping on uneven footpaths and poorly maintained verges. Please report any tripping hazards to the City of Greater Geelong – mark them urgent and copy to our Councillor Elise Wilkinson.
If you trip or witness a person tripping please take a photo and share it with us and the council.
The City of Greater Geelong
We hope to have the CEO Ali Wastie and the Mayor as our guest speakers early in the year. We are now in Connewarre. We congratulate the new Mayor Stretch Kontelj and his deputy Ron Nelson. We welcome back Elise Wilkinson who has won on a very narrow margin of 3 votes and Trent Sullivan who is now representing Leopold.
Barw0n Water Plans to Build a Recycling Facility at Black Rock
We understand that there is support for this project in some parts of the community. However we continue to be very concerned that this facility is being built so close to the sea on this precious site and there is an element of “greenwashing” in the way it is being promoted. Despite the intense level of community engagement, we are still concerned about the environmental impact, the increase of garbage trucks going through Barwon Heads and on the Barwon Heads Rd to bring the garden and kitchen waste to the new plant and potential noise and smells and the unknown costs and benefits.
We understand that there are some benefits from biochar but there are also negatives and we wonder why this precious part of our coast is the preferred site for this big development. The site is already being used as a large sewerage facility for the Bellarine and parts of Geelong, and the new pipe network through Barwon Heads is much larger than the one it replaced. A new use does not seem appropriate. It is still unclear how the coastal squeeze might evolve here – this occurs when coastal ecosystems forced inland by rising sea levels run into human made barriers like the sewage plant and the proposed recycling facility.
We are witnessing the growth of Armstrong Creek, Ocean Grove and across the peninsula and around Geelong. This will have an impact on the use of beaches and foreshores, so why put a recycling facility next to the beach.
How does this project align with the Coastal and Marine Act and the Bellarine Distinctive Area and Landscape Statement of Planning Policy?
Financial questions the BHA would also like answered:
• What is the estimated Cost of production of the end product, and what will be the value of the end product to the proposed markets?
• What are the major proposed markets for the end product and the estimated profit?
• What work has been completed on noise of operation and smell emitting from plant?
• Will Barwon Water provide an Environmental and Business Case to justify a $40m plus investment?
• Will Barwon Water clearly demonstrate the need for and value of the products to be produced?
Village Park Update
We attended a “Village Park Briefing” held by the City of Greater Geelong on 4th December. The aim was to bring all interested groups up to date with development plans for the park and to ensure that the plans conformed to the adopted Masterplan.
The groups attending were the Barwon Heads Football, Soccer, Cricket, Tennis, Bowls, Athletics, Scouts, Pony Clubs and the Barwon Heads Association. It was proposed that this briefing be the first of a number of regular updates – although the number of times per year was not decided.
The presentation focused in the first instance of the sub-standard and non-compliant facilities occupied by the Scouts and the Pony Club. A new building to be built as a shared facility is being proposed. Consultants have been appointed to investigate a number of suitable sites, expansion of current facilities appearing to be impractical.
The second main subject was the proposed reconstruction and expansion of the shared Football/Cricket/Soccer facilities and the proposed staging of the works. Again consultants have been appointed and have prepared preliminary drawings for consideration.
Whilst both these proposals are timely, given the fact that the existing facilities fall below currently required standards and substantial growth in participation of all areas of sport, funding has yet to be sought and the projects could be some years away.
Other matters brought to our attention were the ongoing protection of open space and the environmental areas together with scheduled maintenance of the sports fields and the skateboard park.
We watch with interest the reinstatement of the John Firth Memorial Garden.
Barwon Heads Road Stage 2 of the Upgrade
Early works are set to begin on the Barwon Heads Road Upgrade – Stage 2 project to prepare for major construction later this year.
From mid-January, work will be undertaken between Reserve Road in Charlemont and Lake Road in Armstrong Creek to:
- conduct surveying and further site investigations along and near Barwon Heads Road
- install fencing along project boundaries
- relocate some services, such as electricity
- remove vegetation where utilities are to be relocated and new fencing installed.
The work will take place between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday and at times, between 8am and 3.30pm on Saturdays.
During this work, there may be minor traffic delays. To ensure the safety of workers and the community, there may be lower speed limits and closed lanes.
For more information visit the Barwon Heads Road Upgrade webpage, or contact us via phone on 1800 105 105 or email contact@bigbuild.vic.gov.au.
Please renew your membership
Thank you to our very loyal members and especially those who have renewed so promptly. 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://
Make the payment (INCLUDING YOUR FULL NAME) using your online banking to the BHA Account
Account Name: Barwon Heads Association
BSB: 633000
Account Number: 130256704