12 Oct October Newsletter
Welcome Spring with the BHA
Spring is here and we are sneezing our way around town and trying to avoid the mosquitos.
Congratulations to the Barwon Heads Primary School on such a wonderful celebration of the 150 years anniversary. It was fabulous seeing old friends reunite and the fabulous displays.
Please support the school and go online for the silent auction.
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:
https://www.flipbookpdf.net/
We say it every time – and again we stress that for Talking Heads to be viable it is important that local businesses continue to support it – which they have obviously done for the Spring edition. Community Groups are given free space – by advertising, local businesses are also supporting our local groups and we will support our local businesses.
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.
Diary Dates
- Wednesday 29th October – 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 NOVEMBER 10TH AT 5.30PM BARWON HEADS ASSOCIATON ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AT THE BARWON HEADS BOWLING CLUB – AGENDA WILL BE ON OUR WEBSITE AND WILL BE EMAILED SEPARATELY
Followed by an early Christmas drink.
What’s Happening
- At the Heads is now open – congratulations on a great refurb
- New coffee popup “Charlies” on the Kittos corner
- Beach house re-opens on the 17th after a refresh
- Annies finished re-furb looks great
- Barwon Heads Golf Club re-opened, looks and feels amazing
- Tommy Gunns open
- Hanoi Kitchen open
- Chez 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.
THE BHPS SILENT AUCTION IS LIVE!
From surfing lessons to dinners out, a round of golf, a bottle of local whiskey (maybe your car washed by our Principal Mr Bennetts!) and so much more – there’s something for everyone. A perfect chance to tick off a few Christmas gifts for those hard-to-buy-for people 
A HUGE thank you to the generous businesses and individuals who donated prizes
Every bid helps support our BHPS Outdoor Learning Space 
Head to galabid.com/bhps150
Bidding closes Sunday 19th October at 8pm!
What’s Happening
CHAOS Oh dear – what a mess the Barwon Heads Road is. It not only takes much longer it is unsafe.
Part 1 of the mess is the new roundabout at the Barwon Heads airport
- Roundabout being built at the airport is quite unsafe. Apart from its very poor condition which degrades daily to the point of releasing large bitumen rocks that could cause a serious injury, the actual lines and markings are unclear and very dangerous. There is at least one incident where someone missed the lane transition in bad weather and was driving inbound down the outbound road towards the narrows.
- This project has really dragged on with many days when little or no works have taken place. The whole point of the roundabout being installed is to reduce risk. However they have increased it during construction that doesn’t appear to be a priority and has already extended beyond the initial timeline. Multiple reports to council and the Department of Transport has so far yielded silence from both. Considering the number of potholes and rocks the size of tennis balls that are now loose, it’s only a matter of time until somebody is injured.
Part 2 of the traffic mess is the duplication of the Barwon Heads Rd at Warrillily
The upgrade of the Barwon Heads Road will add new lanes between Reserve Road in Charlemont and Lower Duneed Road, Connewarre. Seems that roads only built a few years ago are now being dug up and replaced. Not sure what this means for Barwon Heads, but it is very disruptive and the detour signs are very misleading.
PLEASE REPORT YOUR CONCERNS VIA THIS LINK
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.
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.
BHA provided feedback on the City of Greater Geelong’s Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS). A copy of our submission is on our website.
There is an urgent need for co-ordinating transport planning for Barwon Heads and the Bellarine. Since the opening of the new Barwon Heads bridges and the removal of load limits Barwon Heads has become a major traffic thoroughfare servicing the route to the Geelong By-pass, ferry traffic going to and from the Great Ocean Road, commuters from Ocean Grove to Geelong, and to rail links. This is in addition the normal traffic generated by the town.
The traffic goes down mainly residential roads, past the Primary School and seems to be ever growing. It is important for the liveability of Barwon Heads that urgent consideration is given to the following:
- The Bellarine Link project has been in the system for over 10 years We encourage CoGG to lobby for this project as an alternative route to other areas on the Bellarine which will take traffic away from Barwon Heads – This link is now urgent.
- Reduced speeds through Barwon Heads
- Reduction of load limits on the Spit Rd and Barwon Heads Bridge
- Park and Ride opportunities on the borders of Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove
- Better public transport links between Barwon Heads and Marshall Station and between Lara Station and the Avalon Airport, as well as a future rail link.
We also request that the Barwon Heads Transport and Parking Study is reviewed and long-term changes that were recommended are re-assessed in the context of the growth we are experiencing and expecting in the future.
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.
The BHA will continue to lobby to ensure the roads and footpaths remain safe for all road users. Police will be on the lookout for any breaches of the e-scooter rules or riding behaviour that puts other road users at risk.
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
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.
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.
Barwon Water plans to build a recycling facility at Black Rock
We are in contact with Barwon Water about this project. We will organise a site visit for our members so they we can ask questions directly and visit this very important facility.
Other projects we are involved in
- Traffic and Parking Sub Committee
- 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.
CoGG Have Your Say
Special Rates and Charges Policy Review 2025
Have your say on Council’s Special Rates and Charges Policy. Feedback closes 5 November, 2025. Learn more about the project yoursay.
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
at the Barwon Heads Bowling Club
Agenda
Welcome: Philip Bade (Chair)
- Apologies:
- Acceptance of Minutes:
- that the Minutes of the AGM held on 18th November 2024 be accepted.
- Annual Reports:
- President – Moved that the Presidents report be accepted
- Treasurer – Moved that the Treasurers report be accepted
- Selection of Chairman for the purpose of electing office bearers
- Election of Office Bearers for the Committee for 2024-2025
- President
- 2 Vice-Presidents
- Treasurer
- Secretary and Public Officer (currently combined but can be separate)
- Committee
- Confirmation of membership fees for 2026-2027
That the meeting approve the following fees from July 1 2026:
$40 Family
$25 Individual
$10 Concession
$25 Local Business
$10 Friend (non resident and ratepayer, but interested in being kept informed)* non voting
- Any other Business
Motion re the Bellarine Link – “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.”
- Brief updates from Libby Coker, Alison Marchant and Elise Wilkinson
- Meeting Close & Drinks
PLEASE NOMINATE FOR THE COMMITTEE TO THE SECRETARY BY 7TH NOVEMBER 2025
bheadsasecretary@gmail.com
NOMINATION FORMS AND PROXY FORMS ARE ON THE WEBSITE – Note that proxies will be allowed for any items where voting is required. Proxies must be nominated on the official form and forwarded to the Secretary or Chair before the commencement of the meeting.