04 Nov NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
Welcome to November with the BHA
The Melbourne Cup long weekend is very busy and now very wet as we write this. Looks like a number of our drains are blocked.
The Bellarine Arts Trail has been amazing, we hope you all got a chance to visit at least a few of the artists. Congratulations to the Barwon Heads Arts Council for organising.
Welcome to November with the BHA
MONDAY NOVEMBER 10TH AT 5.30PM BARWON HEADS ASSOCIATON ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AT THE BARWON HEADS BOWLING CLUB AGENDA ATTACHED
FOLLOWED by CHRISTMAS DRINKS & NIBBLES
Please consider joining our BHA Committee for 2025-2026. We are keen to encourage new members and new ideas.
Talking Heads
The link to the SPRING Talking Heads is here. We look forward to the summer edition – please share: click here.
Diary Dates
Wednesday 26th November – 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.
What’s Happening – Ongoing
- The Barwon Heads Hotel has some very interesting plans for renovations which will be advertised soon. The hotel has shared these plans with the neighbours for input.
- At the Heads is now fully open, nice to have the kiosk open again.
- New coffee popup “Charlies” on the Kiitos corner, with other food popups.
- Beach house re-opened looking great.
- Annies finished looks and feels great
- Barwon Heads Golf Club re-opened
- Tommy Gunns open
- Hanoi Kitchen open
- Che Vuoi open
- Starfish has changed its hours and will now be open Thursday – Sunday
- Lobster Pot – will open on Sundays from 1:00pm
- Jia and Pal have formally taken over the Barwon Heads Post Office
- Lolly shop crossed the road.
Transport and Traffic
City of Greater Geelong (CoGG):
- Has advised that all short term Barwon Heads/CoGG Traffic Implementation plan have now been completed including:
- The Ozone, Seaview Ave and Margate Street Traffic speed humps and line marking
- Hitchcock Ave and Geelong Road corner traffic roundabout
- Small changes to parking in Hitchcock Ave
- Has introduced 40k speed on CoGG roads in Barwon Heads, including Sheepwash Rd & Carr St. This has not been well communicated; however, the BHA has supported lower speed limits over many years. We are advised that CoGG is seeking further input.
- Has approved installation of more School Bollards for the safe route to school program. These will be in Von Nida Ave and through Seabank Estate,
Future projects to be considered by Traffic and Parking Subcommittee:
- Speed humps or traffic calming along Flinders Pde
- Better Pedestrian access/or shared path in Golf Links Road from Bridge Road heading south to the Golf Club
Barwon Coast Committee of Management (BCCM)
- 13th Beach Rd – BCCM continuing to seek contribution from CoGG for maintenance of road shoulder vegetation and improvements to road and crossing safety at the Surf Club.
- There is ongoing concern about the growth of jetty jumping – Flotation rings and signage to be installed at Ozone and Main Jetties and William Buckley bridge
Cycling Club
- Supports reduced speed limits but concern that reduced town speed limits may be seen by community as a revenue raiser
- Has requested that the BHA write to CoGG to seal/ Improve road edges eg Sheepwash rd/Carr St
- Are concerned that new roundabout at Hitchcock/Geelong Rd – raised concrete edge dangerous for cyclists
- Has requested BHA support for improved vegetation management on 13th Beach Rd/Ewing Blyth
Works on the Barwon Heads Road
Here is the response we received from the Department of Transport – Western Projects, regarding our concerns about the safety of the works, and the time it was taking for completion:
Thank you for your email on the intersection upgrade on Barwon Heads Road.
We appreciate that the construction of this major project is disruptive and we thank road users for their patience and understanding during this safety upgrade.
We appreciate that there have been delays on the first stage of construction. The first stage works were planned to take up to 12 weeks. Unfortunately, there have been a number of factors that impacted the initial construction. There was a significant issue with the soil quality that negatively impacted the standard of the temporary pavement constructed for vehicles during the first stage of works. To ensure the safety of road users during construction, the temporary pavement was repaired, which resulted in a delay to progress of construction. There were also challenges with the installation of the new drainage for the roundabout, the safe removal of underground asbestos, and coordination with the power authority to remove pre-existing overhead wiring and poles to enable the construction of the roundabout.
These complications are now resolved and all components of the stage one works will be completed in the next week, with stage two works starting immediately.
In the week of 20 October, there will be changed conditions as traffic switches from the existing temporary pavement that you have referenced in your email to the newly constructed road surface. At this time, Staceys Road will reopen to traffic. Please note: dates and timeframes of these works are dependent on a range of factors, including favourable weather and site conditions.
As part of stage two works, there will be concrete barriers and a reduced speed of 40km/h in place to keep crews and road users safe. During the second stage of works, Blackrock Road will be closed at the intersection for up to 8 weeks, with access to Blackrock Road via Bluestone School Road and Breamlea Road. There will also be a no right turn restriction in place for vehicles turning from Staceys Road onto Barwon Heads Road. Vehicles wanting to turn right from Staceys Road onto Barwon Heads Road will be detoured via Shaws Lane and Lake Road. Two-way traffic will be maintained on Barwon Heads Road for the duration of the project.
The stage two works are planned to take up to 8 weeks. Following the completion of stage two works, the roundabout will open to traffic.
Construction will pause over the busy Christmas and New Year period with the site open to two-way traffic. In January, construction will resume to complete the final works on the upgrade. Traffic management may be required at times, including lane closures and reduced speed limits.
All project updates will continue to be published on our project webpage: Barwon Heads Road Blackrock Road intersection safety upgrades – Transport Victoria
Big Build Roads are delivering the duplication of Barwon Heads Road. The stage two upgrade from Reserve Road, Charlemont to Lower Duneed Road, Connewarre is underway. Construction of this major project will continue through 2026. For more information on the Barwon Heads Road duplication, visit Barwon Heads Road Upgrade – Victoria’s Big Build.
The Bellarine Link
The BHA has always been a strong supporter of the Bellarine Link. We consider that this project should now become the number one priority for funding and construction by all levels of government. We are pleased that the City of Greater Geelong has the project on its list of projects for the 2026 state election and add our support. We will lobby candidates for the State Election and our Federal member to fund and construct this project so that it is completed by 2030. We will discuss this at our AGM and will put the following motion to the meeting:
That the BHA urge the three levels of Government to commence the building of the Bellarine Link between Baanip Boulevard and the Portarlington Road during the 2026/2027 financial year.
Electric Scooters
Electric Scooters are now permanently legalised in Victoria, allowing privately owned scooters to be ridden under strict rules. The Police and government are very aware of the growing concern within the local Bellarine community of the increase of e-scooters being used illegally.
You can legally ride an e-scooter in Victoria if you:
- ride on:
- shared-use paths (not on footpaths), or
- roads that have a speed limit up to 60km/h
- are at least 16 years old
- wear a helmet
- do not travel more than 20km/h
- do not use your mobile phone
- do not carry a passenger (dinking).
Planning
Changes to legislation
On 18 March 2025 the Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Act 2025 (Amendment Act) received Royal Assent. We are still trying to understand the implications for Barwon Heads but know it will remove the capacity for third party objections in a number of areas.
The Amendment Act introduces key changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic) (P&E Act) including changes to the planning scheme amendment process, Ministerial powers and call-ins, the processing of planning permit applications and the procedures of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
These changes and expanded powers aim to streamline processes, enable faster decision-making and provide the Minister with greater oversight and control over significant planning matters.
Notably a further process of review of the P&E Act is underway, so these changes are an initial tranche of changes made under the banner of providing support to Victoria’s Housing Statement. We understand more significant changes are mooted and that targeted consultation is occurring with industry bodies.
We will try and get a “planning expert” to address a meeting of the BHA in 2026.
As expected CoGG has changed its terms of reference for its Planning Committee, here is an extract from the CoGG Council paper October 28th:
On 6 March 2025, the Minister for Planning amended all Victorian planning schemes via amendment VC267. This amendment replaced the clause 55 (previously known as ResCode) with the new clause 55 (now known as the Townhouse and Low-Rise Code.
Any planning permit application for two or more dwellings up to an including three storeys in a residential and mixed use zone lodged (or amended) on or after 6 March 2025, must be assessed against the new Code.
Under the Townhouse and Low-Rise Code, there are ‘deemed to comply’ standards. This means, if the standard is met, then the objective is automatically met. Where all the standards are met (and there are no overlays or other permit triggers to be considered), regardless of any objections that the application may have received, if the application is deemed to comply, then a planning permit must be issued.
Updates to the CoGG Council Planning Committee Terms of reference include:
– Revising section 30 ii) to require agreement from the ward Councillor, a second Councillor, and the Committee Chairperson for a call-in;
– Increasing the threshold for ‘call in’ from six to ten objections/submissions, and excluding applications that are deemed to comply with the relevant clause(s) from being called in.
Under section 29 of the updated Terms of Reference, provision has been included that where a proposal is deemed under the planning scheme to comply with the relevant state clause(s), and there are no overlays or other permit triggers applicable, the application cannot be referred to a Planning Committee. If this is not included in the adopted Terms of Reference, there is a risk that the Planning Committee could make decisions that are illegal.
Amendment to planning permit 2A Talbot St and 4-8 Paringa Lane – reasons for the refusal
This matter has been listed at VCAT and a hearing listed for early December.
The BHA objected and presented to the Council meeting which refused the amendment. We will not be formally represented at the VCAT hearing but are very confident that the local neighbours and other residents will put forward a well thought through and well supported case.
Barwon Water Plans to Build a Recycling Facility at Black Rock
David Snadden – General Manager – Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure Barwon Water attended our committee meeting in October. Our discussions ended with an agreement that we would organise a site visit and talk about the future plans for the site, including all uses.
The timeframe discussed would result in the facility going live in early 2029.
Ongoing Projects that we are involved in
- Traffic and Parking Sub Committee
- Bellarine Community Safety Group.
- Trees and Landscaping around Barwon Heads
- Village Park Reference Group
- 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://
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
Agenda for the AGM
