15 May MAY NEWSLETTER
Hi there, April seems to have been a very busy month for the BHA with Easter & the Duck Race, Anzac Day commemoration and the candidates forum for the recent Federal Election. Even though it is now May we are experiencing truly beautiful weather with our town shining and locals smiling. CoGG has published its draft budget for comment – see below. They are also seeking input into a significant range of projects. We wonder why they are rushing these through together and unfortunately we don’t have adequate resources to draft a response to them all.
Talking Heads
The link to the Autumn Talking Heads is available, click here.
Watch out for the winter edition in June. We will really miss it if local businesses stop supporting Talking Heads and we no longer have it. Community Groups are given free space – by advertising local businesses are also supporting our local groups and we will support our local businesses.
Upcoming BHA Meetings
MONDAY 2ND JUNE 7:00PM AT THE BARWON HEADS ARTS HUB CLIFFORD PDE BARWON HEADS
OUR GUEST SPEAKER IS TONY WALKER – LOCAL RESIDENT, AUTHOR, JOURNALIST
We are excited that Tony Walker will talk about his more than 50 years in journalism as: Diplomatic correspondent for the ABC, foreign correspondent for The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and the Financial Times in China, the Middle East and America, political editor for The Australian Financial Review, and columnist for the above. Awards include Walkley’s for commentary, plus journalist of the year, parliamentary press gallery. Member Order of Australia, contribution to journalism. His books include Arafat: The Biography, The Peter Thomson Five, and Time and Place.
Please join us and bring your friends and neighbours.
CoGG Draft Budget 2025-2026
Here are some initial thoughts about the `COGG 2025/26 endorsed draft budget 22/4/25`:
Overall the budget demonstrates fiscal responsibility. It projects an operating surplus of $205M with capital expenditure of $211M. Rates are proposed to increase by 2.5% across five of the six rate categories based on average property values at January 2025, which have fallen 2% in the previous 12 months. The rate in the $ has been increased by 4.5% to ensure that the City receives an increase in rates based on falling property values.
The budget has benefited from contributions of $80M and $42M from Federal and State governments $122M in total compared with $99M the previous year.
The vision of the COGG is that by 2047 Greater Geelong will be internationally recognised as a clever and creative city-region that is forward looking, enterprising and cares for the people and the environment`
Of special interest to residents of Barwon Heads who represent about 1.4% of the population of the COGG, (one of the largest Councils in Australia) is whether our ratepayers and environment are ‘cared for`.
The capex budget for $210M does not seem to feature any benefit to Barwon Heads and not surprisingly includes many projects for the region`s growth areas especially Armstrong Creek. 35% of residential rates were allocated to capex for 20224/25 , which is not much for the average rate payer who is expected to pay $1584 in 2025/26 but is very significant for the Barwon Heads ratepayers many of whom pay three times the average rates and for which they benefit very little.
Real Estate.com reports that our property values have fallen by 20.7% from May 2024 to April 2025, based on the median price from 58 sales, being $1.42 M for a median value house.
Rates notices are sent to ratepayers in May and the rates are based on January property values. If you wish to object against the value used in your rates then you must do so within 60 days of the rates issue date. Ratepayers therefore need to discuss with your friendly real estate agent the value used in your rates as soon as you receive them.
The Barwon Heads Association will continue to lobby the relevant authorities including the COGG to try and ensure that the region receives necessary funds for capex.
The budget papers are 126 pages long – so be prepared if you are going to read them.
What is happening in town
Barwon Heads Primary School 150 years celebration:
The Barwon Heads Association Committee is working with the School Council and encourages our members to join in. We will be donating $1,000 (our Duck Money), to the school bollard project.
Message from the School Council: We are excited to start planning our BHPS 150 Years Community Day, we have set a date for this event on Saturday 20th September later this year. We are looking for any community helpers that would like to be involved in planning / organizing / setting up our historical exhibition.
The first planning meeting will take place at the school on Wednesday 14th May at 2:30pm.
New Roundabout/Traffic Management works corner of Hitchcock Ave and Geelong Rd East
This has started and various roads will be closed while works are completed commencing the week beginning 12th May.
Changes to the planning act
The Victorian Government is proposing sweeping changes to the state’s planning system. We have met with the Minister for Planning the Hon Sonia Kilkenny. We believe there is a better way — one that integrates housing needs with the protection of the places that make Victoria unique.
We are pleased with and support the National Trust Victoria in its advocacy and endeavours to help create a planning system that delivers balanced policies for heritage protection, rather than overlooking it in favour of development.
Through recent amendments to the Victorian Planning Provisions (VC257, VC267 and VC274), the Government aims to fast-track housing development across the state. But in doing so, it has not adequately considered the impact on coastal environment, heritage places and local character.
The National Trust is calling on our members and supporters to contact their local Member of Parliament before Friday 9 May to urge them to support our recommendations for a planning system that:
Recognises and protects heritage values
Integrates heritage early in planning decisions
Promotes design excellence that responds to place and identity
These reforms could allow developments to proceed with limited community input, weaken local oversight for re-developments of unassessed heritage sites, and encourage demolition over adaptive reuse of existing buildings. Mature trees may be replaced with saplings, heritage streetscapes may be compromised, and local councils could lose the ability to shape significant development outcomes for their communities.
Heritage is not a barrier to housing — it is part of what makes our cities and towns liveable. Thoughtful, place-based planning can achieve both. In its submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry, the National Trust has put forward practical recommendations to protect cultural heritage alongside new housing, including:
- Clearer integration of Heritage Overlays
- Stronger protections for existing tree canopy
- Heritage Impact Assessments
- Community consultation rights
- Support for adaptive reuse
- A dedicated heritage unit within the Department of Transport and Planning.
Please Participate
CoGG: Special Rates & Charges Procedure – Reference Community Group
Work with CoGG to develop a clear and effective approach for delivering the upgraded infrastructure residents need. Applications close 26 May, 2025.
Learn more about the project yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/special-rates-charges-procedure-reference-community-group
Integrated Transport Strategy – Phase 2 Now Open!
Phase 2 of CoGG Integrated Transport Strategy is now open for community feedback!
Message from CoGG: “Thank you to everyone who participated in the first phase of engagement that considered all modes of transport more broadly. All responses have been compiled into a summary report which can be found on the HYS page. These insights are being considered in shaping the development of the strategy. In this second phase, we’re focusing on ways to improve and encourage active travel for local trips. We’re also seeking feedback from the community and user groups on proposed updates to the Principal Bicycle Network.”
Your input will directly help shape the draft Integrated Transport Strategy.
Have your say until 22 May 2025.
Draft Community Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-29
Help shape the City’s priorities for health and wellbeing for the next four years.
https://yoursay.
Greater Geelong Creative & Cultural Sector 2025 Survey
The City of Greater Geelong is committed to strengthening and supporting our local creative and cultural industries.
Learn more about the project yoursay.
Barwon Coast Committee of Management
Barwon Coast Foreshore Master Plan – the next phase
Community and Stakeholder Design Sessions for the Barwon Coast Foreshore Master Plan will commence on Friday 27 June to Sunday 29 June, these 50-minute, in-person workshops at the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club will give community members and stakeholders the opportunity to explore ideas, test early directions, and help shape the future of our foreshore. A total of 19 sessions will be offered across the three days, followed by an Open Gallery event on the Sunday for anyone to drop in and view what has been happening over the three days. I would highly encourage you to come to the Open Gallery (if possible).
Participants will need to register via Eventbrite so we are able to manage numbers in each session. We want to encourage as many people as possible to sign up, so we’ll be sharing detailed information in the coming days to give the community plenty of notice to register.
Apply for the Barwon Coast Committee of Management
The Board recruitment process will be commencing shortly for both Barwon Coast Committee of Management (BCCOM) and Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management (BBFCOM) . Candidates will be invited to apply through a local EOI process ie. local newspapers and media. The EOI process is expected to run from 15 May and close on 5 June.
Traffic and Parking
Traffic Controllers Barwon Heads
We have received the following correspondence from Alison Marchant the member for the Bellarine:
Dear Philip,
Thank you for your letter regarding traffic congestion in Barwon Heads during the summer period.
I appreciate the Barwon Heads Association’s continued advocacy on local traffic and pedestrian safety issues, and I acknowledge the concerns raised in relation to the impact of pedestrian movements on Bridge Road near Hitchcock Avenue.
The Department of Transport and Planning has advised that cost savings have been achieved within the originally funded four-year program for traffic controllers at the Bridge Road zebra crossing. As a result, it is expected that funding for this program will now be extended and continue until mid-2028.
Thank you again for sharing the Barwon Heads Association’s support for the continuation of this program. The Association’s feedback is valued and will help inform ongoing efforts by the state government to improve road safety and traffic flow in Barwon Heads.
We are also pursuing the following matters with Regional Roads:
- Golf Links Rd/Sheepwash Rd/Geelong Rd intersection especially re pedestrian crossings
- Safety refuges on the Spit
- Pedestrian and footpath diner safety at the Barwon Bridge roundabout
- Seasonal crossing supervisors ongoing role
- Pedestrian crossing in Golf Links Rd
- Bellarine Link – Ring Rd extension across Barwon River
Barwon Water plans to build a recycling facility at Black Rock
We have not heard anything about this project and continue to be concerned about its impact on Barwon Heads and our coastal surrounds. How does this project align with the Coastal and Marine Act and the Bellarine Distinctive Area and Landscape Statement of Planning Policy?
BARWON HEADS ROAD STAGE 2 OF THE UPGRADE
For more information visit the Barwon Heads Road Upgrade webpage, or contact us via phone on 1800 105 105 or email contact@bigbuild.vic.
BHA BUSINESS
The Committee has reviewed our constitution and set out our strategic plan for the next 5 years. Following sharing with our members we are strengthening reference to the 54 acres, heritage, and the environment.