Five years after it started, the multi-million dollar redevelopment of the Queenscliff Recreation Reserve has finally concluded. 

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence officially unveiled a commemorative plaque at the reserve on Tuesday 5 September. She was joined by Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant, Borough of Queenscliffe Mayor Isabelle Tolhurst, Councillors and sports club leaders. 

The ‘Queenscliff Sport and Recreation Precinct Development Project’ builds on the previous Monahan Centre redevelopment and has delivered facilities widely-regarded as among the best in the league. 

"These state-of-the-art facilities provide a home for all things sport and recreation in Queenscliff and give our clubs and community more opportunities to get active in a way that best suits them,” Ms Spence said.

"Facilities like the Queenscliff Sport and Recreation Precinct make it easier for people to lead active and connected lifestyles full of the health and wellbeing benefits offered by participating in sport and recreation."It includes two new courts and change rooms, a four-wicket cricket training facility, a covered deck for spectators, lighting upgrades goal. 

Constructed in stages, the redevelopment has delivered new training rooms, a community gym and club and meeting spaces, boasting ocean views. The final stage of the project included a new amenities block for campers.  

The Victorian Government contributed more than $3.3 million towards the works, with the BoQ adding $835,000.
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“Investment in community sports infrastructure increases participation and improves community health and wellbeing, contributing to a culture where sport is more accessible,” said Mayor Tolhurst.  
“The plaque unveiling marks the successful conclusion of a five-year project that locals and visitors alike will benefit from for many years to come.” 

A vegetation vandalism sign will be installed in an area of recently cleared land along Lover’s Walk.
The BoQ said it believed the illegal clearing - behind the Crow’s Nest estate - occurred on Saturday 24 June, causing “considerable damage.”

Following two subsequent visits, DEECA officials have consented to signage and fencing being erected.
The matter has also been reported to the Conservation Regulators. 

“Every case of vegetation vandalism costs ratepayers, and depending on the severity of the case, the cost to the community can be significant for investigation, signage, replacement, and remediation. However, the costs in terms of native habitat, visual, historical, and environmental value, and urban character, require far more effort and time to recover,” the BoQ said.

“Any person who is found responsible for vegetation vandalism is liable for prosecution and will be actively pursued for the recovery of costs, including fines under Council's Local Law, the Planning and Environment Act 1987, and the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, if applicable.”
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It has encouraged anybody with information about this incident to contact Council’s Local Laws team on 5258 1377.
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Visitors to Queenscliffe this month may see colourful swans popping up in unusual places. 
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Community members and local artists have been tasked with adding their own creative touches to porcelain swans, for display in shop windows and elsewhere in our twin towns. 

The novel project is part of the Queenscliffe Literature Festival (QLF), and in keeping with this year’s theme, encourages people to ‘take time to think’ a little differently.

“With swans already being part of our brand I thought how fabulous would it be to do something that would connect creativity and community as an installation and window displays, the same way that writing and reading and literature connects creativity and community,” said QLF committee member Collette Stewart. 

“They’re called the QLF swans and they’re a mix of re-vamped and up-cycled swans and beautiful vintage originals.”

Collette purchased the swans, of all shapes and sizes, online. Residents and local artists were then invited to a Neighbourhood House up-cycling.

Among the participating artists is award-winning illustrator Anne Spudvilas, who used sketches from her own aptly-titled book, Swan Lake.

“I think one of the fascinating things about doing this is watching the different types of swans come back because each one is very individual,” said Collete. “Everyone has a different twist of creativity or just a different thought process. And that’s one of the most exciting things, watching that connection between creativity and community.

Queenscliff has announced Hayden Illingworth will be senior coach next season - an appointment three years in the making. 

A stalwart of the Geelong-based St Peter’s Cricket Club, Illingworth said after originally declining an offer, he decided now was the right time to make the shift. 

The highly-regarded opening batter replaces friend and former team mate Frank Mileto, who, with the imminent birth of his first child, has stepped aside from the coaching role.

“I’ve been playing with St Peter since I was around 14 years old and I’m 31 now, so more than half my life,” he said. “Coming to Queenscliff got mentioned a few years back and I put a line through it pretty quickly because I was content where I was at St Peters, then after winning a premiership… the idea of making the shift became a bit more attractive and it was seemed like too good an opportunity.

“The decision goes back to Frank, that’s where the tie lies. He played at St Peters a few years back and we’ve stayed in contact ever since. He’ll probably tell you that he’s only been trying to get me for a couple of years, I’d say it goes back a bit further than that.”

Queenscliff finished on top of the ladder at the end of last season, but were knocked out in the first final.
Despite never having held a coaching position, Illingworth said he was looking forward to working with the young squad and hopefully taking the side one step further.  

“I’m excited and a little bit nervous… I think the coaching part will come pretty naturally and whilst I haven’t done it in the sporting sense, I feel pretty comfortable in front of a group of people and definitely in a sporting environment I feel comfortable working with people in any capacity really so I’m looking forward to working with a young group that wants to learn.

“I keep a pretty good overview of all cricket in Geelong and that include the Bellarine and I’ve followed Queenscliff for a number of years now and generally see the same names popping up year after year, which tells me the retention of players here at Queenscliff is pretty good and that tells me a lot about the club,” Illingworth said. 
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“I know that it’s a young group and I know that it’s guys that have generally played a lot of cricket here … I want to try to get the best out of those guys.” 
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The Borough of Queenscliffe has implored residents to keep an open mind about a recommendation to reduce speed limits in residential streets to 30km/h, amid growing community furore. 

The proposal is a key recommendation of Council’s yet-to-be-approved Draft Queenscliffe Active Transport Strategy (QATS). 

As many as 150 people packed the gallery at the April Ordinary Council meeting to vent their opposition to the idea. A petition carrying more than 1,700 signatures was also tabled. 

With community consultation closing on May 1, Mayor Isabelle Tolhurst stressed no decisions had been made - contrary to media reports - and Councillors would be be guided by the feedback it received. 

"We are listening,” she stressed. “We are asking you what you think, and we embrace the diversity of opinions we receive. Feedback ensures a strategy reflects the wants and needs of our community.” 

The meeting was told the ideas contained within the draft QATS flowed from an initial round of community consultation undertaken in 2021, that included input from residents as well as stakeholder meetings with local schools, Victoria Police, Regional Roads Victoria, Bellarine Community Health and Searoad Ferries.

“What we’ve put into the strategy its about re-testing the community ideas that were suggested by the community. That doesn’t mean it’s a job done, ever, the consultation process is very much ongoing,” Cr Tolhurst said.

“If people aren’t satisfied with them, if they take issue with them, if there are concerns, that’s perfectly fine, but what we’re trying to do is re-test ideas that we heard through the consultation.”

If the proposal is approved, Queenscliffe would become the first municipality in Australia to adopt 30km/h speed limits in residential areas.

Drawing loud applause from the gallery, Point Lonsdale resident Raelene McDonald, who initiated the petition, said it showed a lack of understanding of existing community behaviours. 

“When we already go slow in our streets, you don’t have to put a limit on what we can go. We go 20km per hour when there are pedestrians in the street, we don’t need the Council saying you can’t go above 30km…  and this is what doesn’t make sense sense to us,” she said. 

“On top of that… this is a really active community already and there’s no need for you to keep pushing it to be more active, I think we’re doing a really good job already. It makes it sound like we’re all sitting on the couch doing nothing.”

Responding to a separate question on the need for reduced speeds, BoQ Infrastrure Manager Stuart Hansen said there had been seven deaths on Queenscliffe roads since 1970, including a cyclist. 

“Between 2015 and 2021, there were 21 traffic accidents in the borough; four involved pedestrians, four involved bicycles, 13 involved vehicles only including motorcycles.” 

Three of the accidents occurred on 50km roads and were classified as serious, Mr Hansen said.  
The meeting heard Ratio Consulting was the only agency approached to develop the QATS and would be paid almost $33,000  for the work. 

An active transport strategy is a key action of Council’s Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP), which aims for a zero carbon community by 2031.

In an email to its members, the Queenscliffe Community Action Group (QCAG) expressed concern the 30km/h proposal could derail the strategy and encouraged them to make submissions.

“We agree that the 30 km/hr proposal should not be considered in its current state. But we don’t want to lose this opportunity to support and improve other aspects of the strategy.
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“A good Active Transport Strategy will make choosing to walk, ride or wheel in the Borough a safer, easier and more enjoyable option. “Getting it right will be crucial to reducing transport emissions - currently a whopping 38 percent of the emissions,” the group said. 
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Through a selection of oil paintings, sketches and etchings, Soula Mantalvanos will this month take visitors to the Queenscliff Gallery on a special journey through Venice. But not the “touristy” Venice we have come to know. Soula’s Venice  reflects her own cultural heritage, travels and life experiences.

"My works are all drawn on location in various areas of Venice. These reflect a longer, more personal relationship with the city,” she says. “The colours are deeper, richer, less representative of that first bedazzled side of Venice, where you see just the gold bits.

“I'm familiar with the surrounds, the works are far more intimate and reflective of a richer experience.” 
Soula is teaming up with renowned painter and print-maker Jim Pavlidis for a special exhibition at the gallery she owns with husband Theo, titled ‘Here and There'. And just a few days out from the show, she is still busily creating more pieces.

"After saying to myself, 'ok, that's enough, surely you're done with Venice Soula', all I can think of is being back there again. Venice satisfies my love for eccentric characterisation, it's a stage set.” 

Beginning her professional career as creative director of her own design company ooi.com.au, Soula has previously exhibited  at various Melbourne galleries. 

Her love for both design and the visual arts is reprersented through whimsical characters, spiritual icons, building facades and streetscapes.

"And clothes lines! That's the face of Venice for me, sorry, no gondolas," she says.
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‘Here and There’ opens at Queenscliff Gallery on March 16 and runs until April 9.

The Borough of Queenscliffe could become the first municipality in Australia to adopt 30kp/h speed zones, under a plan to improve safety, encourage residents and visitors to walk and cycle more and reduce use of vehicles.

The Draft Queenscliffe Active Transport Strategy (QATS) sets out an ambitious list of actions and initiatives for the next 10-years to achieve a community vision of; “a connected Borough, where walking, riding and wheeling are safe and enjoyable ways of moving to, from and around the Borough regardless of age or ability.”

The document, prepared by Ratio Consultants and unanimously endorsed by Councillors at the February Council meeting, has been released for 28 days of public feedback.

 “Walking, wheeling and cycling is not only a great way to get around but also is good for our health, wellbeing and the environment. It is also a key tourism attraction, with the Bellarine Rail Trail connecting the Borough to Geelong and also the Mornington Peninsula via the Queenscliff-Sorrento Ferry,” the document states.

“Active travel is already one of the major ways to get around the Borough, with many high quality and well connected paths and trails. Notwithstanding, the network is incomplete, and these missing links create barriers for participation.

“The majority of residents within the Borough of Queenscliffe live within walking or cycling distance of key destinations such as shops, recreational and community facilities. Removing the key barriers will open up active transport to a wider range of users.”

The QATS includes four key strategies and actions for reaching the vision – including reducing the speed limit to 30kmp/h - and an “aspirational” network or walking and cycling pathways and upgrades that would cost an estimated $1.76 million.

According to the draft, dropping the speed limit would have the biggest impact in achieving the active transport vision.

“The connection between the speeds of vehicles and chances of injury or worse a fatality are well researched and accepted,” it said. “Making the Borough of Queenscliffe a 30km/h wide municipality will ensure safe streets for all people.

“The implementation should initially focus on Point Lonsdale, where there are next to no footpaths in local residential streets, and users often are required to walk on the road carriageway.”

The remaining three key strategies include:

• A complete, connected and well-designed pathway network that enables smooth and continuous and safe access along key streets and places within the Borough.
• Completion of the Bellarine Railway Trail’s “missing links” in Murray Road and all the way to the ferry terminal, and  
• A target of 200 additional bicycle parks by the year 2032, with 100 in both Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff.

​The QATS was developed following an initial round of consultation last year that included community workshops and discussions with the Department of Transport, Victoria Police, the City of Greater Geelong, local schools and Bellarine Community Health.

"Our towns are quite unique, particuarly when you look at the township of Point Lonsdale where most of the side-streets don't have footpaths," said Cr Ross Ebbels. "So we've got to be really careful how we plan for the future and whether we slow traffic down, we need to make it more accessible for people to walk and ride their bikes and feel safe. If they feel safe they'll use it, which is obviously the outcome we as councillors want top have as well."

Cr Michael Grout encouraged all residents to have their say on the draft document. 

"There's quite a lot of detail in the draft and really we would want you to focus attention on the strategies... to see if we'vemiswed anything. We want to see if there's things in there that shouldn't be in there and we also want to see the improve the way we can improve the strategies.

"Im really pleased to see we're getting a bit more of a coordinated approach to how we as residents and visitors might move around the borough. If we can facilitate that with infrastructure changes or improvements, that's what we're seeking to do here. 

"We want to, as far as possible, minimse the use of fossil fuels in getting around a boroug, which for most of us, is quite possible to walk or cycle around," Cr Grout added.

Kelvin Spiller has been appointed Acting Borough of Queenscliffe CEO, after Martin Gill took indefinite leave for undisclosed personal health reasons. 

Mr Spiller, a former City of Greater Geelong CEO, was appointed at a special Council meeting on Wednesday 15 February. 

"Council is pleased to welcome Mr. Spiller to the Borough of Queenscliffe to support the organisation until Martin’s return to work," said Mayor Isabelle Tolhurst. "We undertook a comprehensive process to ensure we appointed the right candidate for this interim position. 

“Highly recommended, we are certain that Mr. Spiller has the experience and commitment necessary to guide the Borough through this period.”

Mr. Spiller has held nine CEO positions across local government, water, and disability sectors.
He said he was keen to get started in the acting role. 

“I’m highly motivated and ready to take on the challenges that undoubtedly come with a role such as this one.” 

Mr. Spiller said his specific focus will be on “advancing the implementation of the council plan for the current financial year, progressing the CEO’s work program, supporting staff throughout the organisation and advising council when required across a broad range of matters.”

His appointment will be reviewed at the end of April. Council would not disclose Mr Spillers remuneration package. 
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“With Martin Gill on leave, the Borough of Queenscliffe requires an acting CEO who has the experience and qualifications to hit the ground running,” a spokesperson said. “Mr. Spiller has worked with over 20 councils, this is his tenth role as a CEO. Accordingly, Mr. Spiller’s remuneration package is consistent with the Borough of Queenscliffe’s CEO Employment and Remuneration policy and is comparable to that paid to Mr. Gill.”

The Borough of Queenscliffe will await the outcome of a fresh arborist assessment before determining the health and future of the borough’s Avenue of Honour, after a vehicle was struck by a falling branch last month. 

The driver and his passenger were lucky to escape serious injury when the large bow fell on top of the classic Holden, crushing its roof and smashing the windscreen. 

The incident occurred in The Narrows, near the intersection of King Street, just before 8am on Thursday 23 February, when the Bellarine Highway was busy with work, school and ferry traffic.

“After the event in the Narrows, Council officers requested an Arboricultural assessment for the tree that dropped the limb onto the road,” a Council spokesperson said. “The arboriculturist recommended the removal of three limbs over the carriageway, and this work was undertaken Friday morning. 

“The inspecting arborist mentioned no sign of decay or rot and that the wind twisted the branch, and it has subsequently broken.”

The branch failure prompted renewed concern about the health of the Monterey Cypress pines - the oldest of which were planted in 1918 to honour local soldiers who had fought and died in World War One. 

According to the Council spokesperson, further inspection of the Avenue was  booked prior to the incident and commenced from Monday 27 February. At the time of this publication going to print, Councillors were also due to meet to review the Avenue of Honour schedule of works. 

"Council will learn more about the status of the trees along the Avenue of Honour once this report is completed,” she said. 

“Councillors take these matters seriously and are committed to reducing the risk.”
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A 2015 assessment of 112 of the cypress by Homewood Consulting found many of the trees were in poor condition and identified Seridium Canker, an incurable disease. It recommended an alternative species be chosen for re-plantings.

The Rip understands that prior to it being dissolved in late 2021, members of an Avenue of Honour community reference group also raised concerns about the safety of the trees, and Council’s decision to replant Monterey Cypress as part of an adopted Conservation Management Plan.

A suggestion from mum, Emily, that George Limb answer an advert for “big” players has paid dividends in the sport of gridiron, and could lead to further opportunities in the football code.

After just his first season with the Geelong Buccaneers, the Point Lonsdale 16-year old has been selected in the Victorian U/20 gridiron team, to compete in next month’s national championships, to be played in Wollongong.

“Mum just saw a post on Instagram saying we want some of the biggest guys in Geelong and thought I’d suit the role,” George said.

Nudging 6.2 ft and having grown up in an Australian Rules football-loving family – Dad Michael Limb is a three-time Queenscliff premiership player and his uncle, Tom, the club’s former premiership captain and coach - George more than suited the role, despite a limited knowledge of the rules.

“I’d watched gridiron and the Super Bowl, but I didn’t know anything about the rules really,” he said.

“I enjoyed the first try out, but it was a bit weird I guess. I didn’t really know what was going on, they just told me to hit a few bags and I did and went from there.”

Playing in a defensive role – that guy tasked with taking out the quarterback - George helped the Buccaneers reach recent Grand Finals in both U/16 and U/19 competitions, narrowly losing both to Melbourne teams. In doing so, he was named Victoria’s U/16 Rookie of the Year and picked up the Buccaneers’ Most Valuable Player and Player’s Player awards.

For now, George will continue with both grid iron and AFL, but has not ruled out further pursuing a career in America’s national game.  

“They love the Aussies in America, so there’s always scouts looking at the local competition and there are definitely pathways.

“I think if the opportunities come up where I am being looked at, I’d definitely jump at the chance. I have thought about colleges over there and I know some people with connections, so depending on where I’m at when juniors finish, it could definitely be a possibility and an opportunity.”

With little brother Angus also playing with the Buccaneers,  the Limb family is quickly adopting a passion for the sport.
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“They actually love it and have done a lot of research in their own time to learn about the sport, which is pretty nice,” George added.

CRICKET - Queenscliff’s D-Grade women’s team has created history by becoming the first all-female side in the club’s 150 year history to secure a BWCC premiership.
 
The side, coached by Tim Frankenberg, defeated Grovedale by 85 runs in the Grand Final, played at  Armstrong Creek on Sunday 26 February. 

Batting first, the Couta’s set a run chase of 140 for the loss of just four wickets. In reply, Grovedale managed just 8/55 in the 20/20 format match. 

Captain Jess Fletcher was a standout, scoring 28 runs, including four boundaries, and taking 3/11 with the ball. Susan Monahan top scored with 29 not out from just 33 balls, including five fours, while Alex Birrell chimed in with 3/12.

“After being undefeated all season and having a great build up to the preliminary finals, we were feeling confident, but nothing is ever certain so we never took a win as a given,” Fletcher said.

“Everything went right on the day, we won the toss and elected to bat. The openers did a great job forging the way for the late batters to swing freely.

“Our opening bowler was a hat trick in the first over, so it was really the best start anyone could hope for. Our fielding was also top notch.”

In only its second season in the league, the club fielded two teams, the second in E-Grade - a measure of the sport’s growing popularity. 
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“The whole club is a very close community and we are a very close knit squad. May of the team were instrumental in the making of a women’s team, so it’s a very invested group,” said Fletcher. ‘We were also lucky enough to pick up a couple of very handy and experienced recruits this season.”

​Organisers of Queenscliff’s annual hot rod show have scotched rumours they will take the event elsewhere in protest over an accommodation ban at Victoria Park. They have, however, implored Council to extend camping by just one additional week from next year onwards.

Geelong Street Rodders President Greg Morrissey said last month’s three-day Rod Run - the first official show since pre-covid - was potentially the biggest to be held in Queenscliff yet, with more than 620 entries and upwards of 10,000 enthusiasts descending on the town.

Visitors lined the full length of Hesse Street on the Saturday night to watch the procession of classic vehicles. 

“I wouldn’t have a clue how many people were there on the Saturday night [for the Hesse Street cruise], but there were thousands and thousands and I genuinely believe, just looking around at the people and the cars, that it was probably the biggest Saturday night we’ve had. It was standing room only,” Mr Morrissey said. 

“And despite the weather not looking so great early, there was definitely a hell of a crowd there on the Sunday as well.”

The show is one of the biggest of its kind in the state, and in terms of numbers, is comparable with national level events, Mr Morrissey said.  

“We had 621 entries, which was maybe a little bit down on 2020, but certainly in the mix of what we’d normally get and we had people come from Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT, South Australia and probably beyond that.”

Always held on the first weekend of February, the Rod Run delivers enormous economic benefits to local charities, clubs, businesses and accommodation providers. The Queenscliff Lions Club receives and distributes gate-takings from the Sunday Show and Shine in Princess Park, while sporting clubs generate thousands of dollars through catering.  

In August, as part of the Victoria Park Management Plan, Councillors approved a ban on all camping from January 31 - less than a week before this years hot rod show. The decision forced members to seek accommodation outside of town and sparked rumours on social media that the drawcard could go elsewhere. 

Describing the event as “special” to his members, Mr Morrissey said the event would remain in town.
“Those rumours probably just started with people being a bit disgruntled about the caravan park, and ultimately gathered pace. 

“We’ll book in a meeting with the council for a bit of a wrap-up and a debrief and that will probably be mentioned, but at this point there are no legs to the story that we are moving. There is no truth in it,” he said.

At February’s Council meeting, in response to a request from club events coordinator Bob Ward for camping in Victoria Park to be extended by one week and approximately 20 sites from next year, Mayor Isabelle Tolhurst did not rule out a change to camping ban.

“Council acknowledges the success of this year’s Rod Run and the appetite to have these sites open will be taken into consideration when we review the policy later in the year,” she said. “The review will consider a range of stakeholder inputs and considerations from visitors and community members. 
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“The Borough supports the Rod Run, is committed to working with the committee and members to strengthen the event and looks forward to your 2024 return.”

A large elephant seal stopped traffic, smashed windows and had onlookers reaching for their mobile phones during several hours of mayhem last month. 

The curious mammal wandered ashore at The Springs beach on Friday 20 January, before making its way up onto the promenade path, across parkland and on to the Point Lonsdale Road.

It smashed two windows at the Point Lonsdale BP service station during the escapade.

Police set up barricades to protect the seal from harm, before wildlife officers eventually managed herd it back to sea.

Footage of its antics went viral and featured on international news bulletins. 

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) advised that while it had moved on for now, the seal could remain in local waters for some time. The same seal is believed to have popped up on beaches at Blairgowrie.

“Officers and other authorities will continue to monitor the situation,” the department said. “The public must stay at least 30 metres away and 50 metres if with a dog. Seals can become defensive if approached by humans or animals.”

Penalties apply to anyone who ignores the rules.

The seal’s antics prompted recollections of Henry, a regular visitor to Point Lonsdale who made international headlines in the mid 2000’s. 

Henry is thought too have died in around 2006 after failing to show up for his annual moult.
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Elephant seals spend one month a year on land where they undergo a ‘catastrophic moult’ in which they shed all of their fur along with the underlying layer of skin.
to edit.

​Would-be local and international buyers are showing early interest in the Queenscliff Harbour, after the facility was listed for sale last month.

The privatised facility is expected to fetch upwards of $30 million. 

“There’s been good interest. Encouragingly, there’s been local interest, we’ve also had interest from abroad as well, as far as Singapore,” said Harbour Manager Sean Blackwood. 

That “local” interest included potential Queenscliff and Geelong-based buyers, he confirmed.   

However, the sale has prompted calls for public money invested in the venture to be handed back and has raised renewed concerns about another possible expansion push. 

The harbour was controversially leased in 2006 for 49 years to Queenscliff Harbour Pty Ltd,   a consortium headed by Doug Rathbone. The lease was extended to 60 years in 2014. 

Mr Rathbone is understood to own 50 percent of the business. The founder of the Rathbone Wine Group - which owns Victoria's oldest vineyard Yering Station, was in 2012 appeared on the Financial Review Rich List in 2012 with an estimated wealth of $215 million. 

Searoad Ferries Director John Barnes and developer Peter Sidwell share the remaining harbour stake.

According to Mr Blackwood, the company had invested around $40 million towards what is now a “very profitable,” business.

“I don’t think the sale is  so much about the money, I think it’s more about the directors want to concentrate on other family-run interests,” he said. 

The facility sits on 68,370 square metres and boasts 253 wet berths, 126 dry stacks - with a waiting list - and over 4,000 square metres of retail space.

Parks Victoria is among its tenants and three pilot services operate our of the marina. 

The net operating income for 2021-2022 was more than $2.2 million. 

A sales spiel describes the harbour as “one of Australia’s finest marinas,” with “significant expansion and value-added potential.”

The facility is zoned Special Use 1, and is subject to stringent planning controls that ruled out apartments and other ventures.

“There would be opportunities to re-model parts of the harbour, the boatyard and areas like that could be re-configured to provide more dry stacks and that kind of thing. That would still sit within the the permitted uses,” Mr Blackwood said. 

“But the sale of the harbour is just the sale of the business, nothing changes around the special use zone and the permitted uses and exclusions. Any sort of changes would still need to go through all of the planning requirements with the planning authority, being the borough. 

“There’s something like 21 prohibited uses and accommodation is one, a drive-in movie theatre is another, a supermarket is another, a newsagency is another [and] we can’t have a brothel. There’s a whole list of public uses and they’re pretty stringent, I mean you couldn’t whack up a hotel or anything like that,” he continued. 

Point Lonsdale Civic Association (PLCA) president David Kenwood said those who had fought against the harbour’s privatisation would no the surprised that the owners were now looking to “cash in” on deal. 

“The terms of the agreement allow the leaseholder to test the market for the lease or renegotiate the terms and conditions with Parks Victoria if they wish despite the fact that $7 million of public monies have already gone into the venture,” he said. 
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“Given the multi-millionaire owners now wish to depart, some local residents would also like to know what happens to the $2.3 million of State funding invested in the 2018 rebuilding of Fishermen's Wharf, which now forms part of the sale process.”

The future looks bright at the Point Lonsdale Bowls Club with the formation of its first junior bowls squad. 

The Stingrays is for children aged 10 to 13 keen to learn the skills involved in the sport. 

“Lawn bowls clubs throughout Australia are making huge in-roads with the implementation of various junior bowls programs for those as young as 10 years of age,” said spokesperson Steve Tomming. 

“This change of mindset has been the result of the recent focus to  include younger bowlers into state and national bowls squads and teams.”

Mr Tomming said the new squad would receive coaching suited to their skill level and needs, with a view to growing the sport locally.

“The hope is that these keen young bowlers will eventually be able to compete at local level, at district events and at state competitions.
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“Squad members have already shown early, yet exciting signs of bowls skills and these will only be enhanced with further coaching and game playing,” he said.