Mayor's Column – 23 January 2023

Published on 05 April 2023

Mayor Isabelle Tolhurst headshot

Hello to all in the Borough of Queenscliffe on Wadawurrung Country. I hope you’re settling into the new year, enjoying the summer, and have made the most of the holiday period. It’s been great to see our streets and beaches abuzz.

Speaking of visitors, last week beachgoers at Point Lonsdale were met by a giant elephant seal, who lumbered up from the Springs beach and ventured as far as the local service station. The visit made international news (see the New York Post for proof),  the seal is rumoured to be Henry, a familiar face to those across the Bellarine. Victoria Police and Parks Victoria arrived onsite to support in guiding the seal back to shore and safely out to sea, but it was a thrill to see this creature up close. As Henry appears to be making regular visits to land in the area, be sure to keep a safe distance (the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action recommends 30 metres or more), and ensure dogs are tied up or kept away. Seeing the excitement of onlookers and hearing the exhilarated stories in the aftermath was a reminder of the persisting wonder of our natural world, and of the great privilege it is to have marine national park at our doorstep.

To that end, it’s timely to reflect on how our role as coastal managers, along with Council’s Coastal and Marine Management Plan will play in ensuring we understand what is required to care for the coast now and into the future. This key strategic document forms an agreement between the Victorian Government, Council, and the community as to how our coast will be managed and will be a major part of our Council Plan to be delivered in 2023.

This weekend will be busy for the Borough’s coastline following another public holiday. I urge residents, ratepayers and visitors alike to take care on the beaches and surrounding areas, to understand the fragility of many of these environments and appreciate, as Henry the seal has shown us, that they are almost always shared with the Bellarine’s rich biodiversity - great and small! Offshore, a trip out with Coast Guard Queenscliff (CGQ) last week was an opportunity to understand the challenges faced when crews are providing support to those in trouble at sea. Our Rip is a notoriously challenging stretch of water, and it was great to be guided out by the highly capable Flotilla Commander Michael Donohue and crew members John, Peter, and Wayne. The Coast Guard is entirely volunteer run, and annually, undertake around 90 rescues. In 2023, CGQ will undertake upgrades to their headquarters, purchase a new custom flotilla vehicle, and undertake radio mast repairs. Get in touch with them to hear about the critical community safety and education work they do – I promise you’ll be impressed.

A reminder that January 1 marked the opening of nominations for Councils 2023 Community Service Awards. If you know an individual, community group or organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to our community, I encourage you to nominate them for a Community Service Award. Doing so will create an opportunity for us to celebrate their contributions and recognise the significant efforts we see across the Borough. Nominations close on February 19.

Next weekend, we welcome the Geelong Street Rodders to the Borough for their annual Queenscliff Rod Run. Car enthusiasts from far and wide gather for the weekend to enjoy a range of events including the “Show ‘n’ Shine” in Princess Park on Sunday February 5.  Please be aware that road closures are in place for the duration of these events; visit the ‘Public Notices’ section of Council’s website for more information.

I value the contributions of our residents and ratepayers, and love hearing from you, so if you have anything you’d like to discuss with me about the Borough, please get in touch via the contact details on Council’s website. ‘Til next time. 

 

 

 

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