Voice News
1st March 2024
69 McLachlan St. update
The Tiny Towns Fund application has been submitted to Regional Development Victoria for a $50,000 grant for minor works to the building to facilitate its use by the community. We will know the outcome in May and are feeling hopeful.
Council is now inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from entities that wish to take ownership of the property to ensure its future and ongoing community use. As you know, ABCV will be making a submission on your behalf. Originally it was intended to apply on behalf of the community for a Trust to be created as the owner and an incorporated association to be formed to manage it.
We are thrilled that Great Ocean Road Health (GORH) has proposed to be the Manager of the property which saves the formation of another incorporated body and removes the problem of finding new people to be on yet another committee. GORH will look after bookings at no charge for community use; maintenance; cleaning; will have better access to grants to build a new facility in time; they have DGR status, so no rates/taxes will apply, etc. They will ensure it is accessible to the community and community groups, similar to Marrar Woorn.
Having liaised with various stakeholder groups and the GORH Board, the ABCV committee is now seeking the community’s support to submit an EOI to the Council, on the community’s behalf, suggesting that the ownership of the property be transferred to a Charitable Trust, of 5 Trustees, to protect the property from being sold and to ensure its ongoing community use. The Trust will then hold a Management Contract with GORH, who will take charge of the facility’s operation.
This proposal must be submitted to Council by the 22nd of March. Please let us know your thoughts as we are most excited about this structure, having given it a lot of thought, having received legal advice and feel confident that it will achieve the best outcomes for the community now and into the future.
Portfolios / points of contact for groups
The following committee members are now confirmed as points of contact for each of the following groups. If you have an enquiry or concern, please email the nominated contact, as below:
Arts & Events: Bill Hurley Fraser
Business & Tourism: Beth McLoughlin
Education & Youth: Fran Roberts
Elderly: Edmond Shea
Emergency Services: Mick Wright
Environment: TBC
Fishing & Farming: John Marriner
Health & Wellness: Jane Gross
Sport & Recreation: Graham Hill
Members’ skills register
In the next few months, we hope to create a database of the many skills that our community members have to offer. More information to follow.
Meetings with Colac Otway Shire
The first meeting for this year between ABCV and the Shire is now scheduled for mid- March and dates for a further 3 meetings in June, September and December have been confirmed.
Meetings with GORCAPA
Similarly, ABCV will meet with GORCAPA this month as the first for the year and will schedule dates for the remainder of 2024.
Please email us at any time with any general concerns, queries, or comments to
Jane Gross
President
(03) 5237 6335
Apollo Bay Community Voice
PO Box 155, Apollo Bay VIC 3233
For more information please email apollobayvoice(at)gmail.com.
See our website abcvoice.com.au. 