Councillor column – 5 April 2023
Published on 06 April 2023
Hello to all those interested in the Borough of Queenscliffe from Councillor Michael Grout. I have been on the Borough’s Council for nearly two and a half years now, with responsibility for the Heritage, Planning, and Infrastructure Portfolio.
The days are a little cooler as we say goodbye to daylight savings and hello to light-filled mornings. The water is a little cooler too if, like me, you swim in the morning – but what a great way to start a day in the Borough. There’s still plenty happening as we make our way through the autumn months. The Easter long weekend is just around the corner, local football and netball are back underway, there’s lots to look forward to.
My Council portfolio gives me the opportunity to facilitate Council working effectively with our community, Wadawurrung people, State Government Departments, and land managers to care for our distinctive coastal areas. To this end, I’m pleased with the progress we are now making on our Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP), as described by Cr Fleur Hewitt in The Bellarine Times 24 March. The plan will provide an up-to-date roadmap for how we’ll use, manage and protect our coastal Crown Land, helping to ensure risks are managed and any changes on the coast are considered strategically and in line with State and community policies and priorities.
In my thirty or so years in Queenscliffe, I have seen that Planning is one of the main games in the Borough. Many of us live or visit here because we love the coast, or the historic maritime, bayside character of Queenscliff, or the seaside charm of Point Lonsdale. To ensure our unique heritage is not eroded the current Council has initiated an update of heritage protections, starting with a review of Fisherman’s Flat in Queenscliff. Council contracted Ecology and Heritage Partners to propose improvements to our planning scheme for Fisherman’s Flat with reference to previous heritage studies and now with input from our community. This consultation is currently receiving valuable feedback from residents. So do get in touch with our planners or myself if you wish to contribute.
In Infrastructure, Council is overseeing the implementation and improvement of our asset management plan: including ongoing maintenance or replacement of roads and drains, installation of safer road crossings, replacement of the Queenscliff Recreation Reserve amenity block, recladding of the Point Lonsdale P1 Huts, to be followed by replacement of the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse area public toilet facility. The Borough has also seen completion of three big projects in the last two years: Wirrng Wirrng (the new historical museum, visitor centre and refurbished library), the upgraded boat ramp (a Better Boating Victoria project), and the new ferry terminal (a Searoad Ferries project).
My other activities include contribution to the G21 region plans for transport and urban development, given annual growth is anticipated to continue at about 3% - this will add another 140,000 people to the region by 2040. In short, this means we have to make informed choices about increasing housing density or building on more open spaces, as well as choosing public/active transport options or risk contributing to more road congestion and parking problems.
In terms of community engagement, we’d love to hear from you! Council is now seeking your feedback on our Draft Active Transport Strategy (ATS). Research shows walking, wheeling, and cycling aren’t just healthier ways to get around, they make our community safer and reduce our impact on the environment. While we’ve been making a lot of pedestrian safety upgrades recently, our Active Transport Strategy would help us improve pedestrian and cycling infrastructure throughout the whole Borough, resulting in a well-connected, safe, and accessible pathway network. You can find the document here - https://boq.news/ATSdraft
We are looking forward to seeing smiling faces over the Easter long weekend as the Queenscliff Hub - Wirrng Wirrng welcomes the Easter Bunny to town on Easter Saturday 8 April, from 10.30 am to 1 pm. There will be an Easter Egg giveaway and a colouring-in station for kids. Get down there if you can. Council’s ‘Shop Local’ campaign had been rebranded as ‘Hop Local’ over the course of the Easter period, with locals and visitors encouraged to shop close to home for their sweet treats and gifts. Well done to all the traders getting into the spirit, and of course the residents and visitors for their support.
In the next column, you will hear from my colleague Cr Ross Ebbels, who holds responsibility for Council’s Local Economy portfolio.
As always, please feel free to communicate with me and/or any of the Borough of Queenscliffe Councillors via the contact details on Council’s website.
Enjoy your Easter.
Nyatne baa Gobata
(Thank you and take care)
Cr Michael Grout
Councillor, Borough of Queenscliffe