Voice News

There has been plenty of action since the AGM held earlier this month! 

As ABCV President, I attended the first face-to face meeting of the Great Ocean Road Communities Network (GORCN) discussing issues common to the communities along the road with representatives from groups from Torquay to Port Campbell.

ABCV representatives met with the COS Mayor & CEO to meet, greet, discuss major issues of affordable housing & childcare and establish the foundations for a working relationship.

The first meeting of the newly elected committee was held 2 weeks ago with 10 out of the 11 committee members in attendance. With a huge agenda, it was a productive meeting, membership applications were approved, our current membership is approximately 270 and growing. There was considerable discussion of the Council’s proposed sale of 69 McLachlan Street (the old kindergarten). ABCV submitted some questions to Council, and it was decided to do everything possible to stop or at least pause the decision of the sale to allow for further community engagement. The Council resolved to proceed with the sale despite Cr Costin’s attempts to oppose it. Cr Costin has now lodged a rescission which halts any action on the resolution until the next Council meeting. ABCV has circulated a petition to oppose the sale as it will not achieve the best outcomes for the local community and its future generations; and by Council’s own admission, it is the only vacant, suitably zoned, Council owned land along the GOR that could be used for social or key worker affordable housing in response to the declared housing crisis; and history demonstrates the genuine stake our community has in the property and the building, having purchased the land in the 1950’s, secured Government funding, gifted it to the Council and raised further funds to complete the build and equip it as a Preschool & Infant Welfare Centre for the next 60+ years.

The petition will be at the Bakery until Wednesday 13^th September, the more signatures the louder the message OR go online here. Please share this link far and wide. Please sign! I haven’t met one person in the community who supports the sale of this important asset.

Also, if you are concerned about childcare, please complete the Council’s short survey at short survey online here.

ABCV representatives met with GORCAPA last week to discuss a collaborative approach to working together, the Recreation Reserve Draft Masterplan, the City Deals’ Harbour Redevelopment and Improvements to Tourism Infrastructure at Kennett River. ABCV is intent upon not taking a particular position but ensuring that GORCAPA is following proper process in their community engagement and responding to community input that has been received.

The website for ABCV is in production. A WhatsApp group has been created for more efficient communication amongst the committee members.
It was decided to subscribe to the Colac Herald to keep abreast of local Council news.

Portfolios, working groups, sub-committees, calling in expertise as required, are all areas that require further discussion. The aim is to conduct monthly meetings now, to clarify structure and to address the issues. We cannot expect all 11 committee members to be available to attend every meeting, but regular committee contact is important.

Regards

Jane Gross
President

For more information please email apollobayvoice(at)gmail.com.