Mayor's Column – 8 September 2022
Published on 08 September 2022
Hello to all residents, ratepayers and visitors to the Borough of Queenscliffe. Spring is in the air in Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale and some major landmarks are either at or nearing completion. The boat ramp is open for business, ready for what will be a big summer for boaters. Meanwhile, the front fencing on the Hub is down, which means it’s only weeks away from opening.
More than $18,000 distributed to local community groups
I had the great privilege of attending the Queenscliff Town Hall last Wednesday to take part in the Community Grants Program presentation evening, where myself and Cr Grigau announced 12 grant recommendations totalling more than $18,000 to a crowd of grateful local organisations and community groups. It was the first in-person Community Grants Program presentation evening we’d had since 2019 and it was great to have so many familiar faces back together in the one room.
As I said in my opening speech that night, the people in the audience were there representing organisations that are extremely valued by the Borough community. By putting forward for grants each year, it allows to Council to continue to develop those symbiotic relationships, and it benefits everyone in the process.
Congratulations to the following winners:
- Queenscliffe Coast Guard – $1,091 for hand held spotlights for their rescue vessel
- Combined Probus Club of Queenscliffe – $500 for their ‘Rugmakers’ craft group
- Queenscliff Lonsdale Yacht Club – $2,000 for sailing dinghy equipment
- Queenscliff Football Netball Club – $2,000 for a cricket pitch cover
- Queenscliffe Maritime Museum – $1,369 for the safety and protection of artifacts
- Uniting Queenscliff – $650 for the men’s cooking night monthly community meal
- Queenscliffe Neighbourhood House – $2,000 for the gallery 10-year celebrations
- Swan Bay Environment Association – $1,512 for plant propagation tables
- Queenscliffe Climate Action Group – $2,000 for an energy efficiency audit program
- Point Lonsdale Primary School – $1,989 for the ‘Nippers in School’ program
- Queenscliff Lighthouse Theatre Group – $2,000 for their 21st birthday celebrations
- Queenscliffe Historical Museum – $1,500 for a touch-screen display
Victoria Park policy adopted
Council is continuing to work hard on protecting the environment values and enhancing the amenity of Victoria Park in Queenscliff. This is now guided by Council Policy 054: Victoria Park, which was adopted at August’s ordinary meeting.
As detailed in the policy, this document sets out the principles Council will use to manage Victoria Park in a way that delivers on our commitment to improving the management of Council-operated tourist parks for the benefit of the whole community, while also upholding our core values of sustainability, the protection of the environment and our commitment to delivering environmental regeneration actions under the CERP.
The policy contains a total of 18 principles that underpin the ongoing management and future use of the park, and these are divided into park management principles and environmental management principles. I’d like to thank everybody that took part in the draft policy consultation period and provided thoughts and suggestions – as always, your feedback is graciously appreciated. You can read the final policy on Council’s website.
Council reduces emissions by 80% in a single year
Reducing emissions on the path towards carbon neutrality is one of the key fundamentals of our Climate Emergency Response Plan at the Borough, so I’m thrilled to share that Council has reduced its emissions by a whopping 80% in just one year.
The drop in emissions from 527 tonnes in 2020–21 to just 106 tonnes in 2021–22 is largely thanks to Council’s decision to purchase 100% renewable electricity through the Victorian Energy Collaboration for all of its operations, including council buildings, tourist parks, street lights and public facilities.
While we still have more work to do, this result demonstrates our commitment to being a climate leader. I encourage you at home to take actions to reduce your own emissions – this can be anything from buying 100% renewable energy, installing solar panels, or simply leaving the car at home and taking another mode of transport to your destination instead.
What Council has achieved over the past year shows that small changes can add up to a big impact, and I hope we can inspire some of our residents to take the next step on our journey to becoming a more climate-friendly community.
As always, if you have anything you’d like to discuss with me about the Borough, drop me a line via the contact details on Council’s website.
Kind regards,
Cr Ross Ebbels
Mayor, Borough of Queenscliffe