Former Queenscliff High School Principal Rob Hurley is the Borough’s new Citizen of the Year. 

A resident for more than 30 years, Mr Hurley has been an active volunteer with many organisations including the Queenscliff Music Festival, Community Association, golf club, the Swan Bay Environment Association, Swan Bay Gardens for Wildlife, and Trinity Aid for Refugees. 

He was also instrumental in establishing the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House and, more recently, has volunteered his time to support those living with Parkinson’s Disease. 

“I am very honoured, but there’s also a lot of other people involved. This is a tremendous community for volunteers, it’s also a tremendous community for being involved with things like the music festival, or schools, the golf club,” Mr Hurley said. “It’s just so nice to be involved in a lot of those things. 

Talented junior water polo player Alexandra Scorgie and Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club junior captain Belle Kidd shared joint Junior Citizens of the Year. 

Alexandra has been identified a future star of the sport. She has captained the Victorian U/16 team and was named most valuable player in the State Water Polo Championships. 

Over the past two years Belle has reached 100 hours of voluntarily patrolling the Point Lonsdale back beach. She has assisted in Bronze Medallion and Cadet life saving camps and was instrumental in, and captained Queenscliff’s first all-girl football team. Belle is also a badged netball umpire and last season coached a junior Queenscliff netball team. 

Queenscliff Primary School’s Biggest Morning Tea is the Community Event of the Year. The event raised more than $1,300 for cancer research. 
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Having removed 210,000 square metres of weeds from across 12 work sites in the Borough since 2013, Conservation Volunteers Australia was named Community Environment Project of the Year.

Concerned residents will have their chance to hear details of and ask questions about a proposed redevelopment of the former Sims Lodge nursing home at a Council meeting on March 15, amid concerns it could be used as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre. 

Queenscliff Councillors have voted to remove the delegation of the borough’s planning officers to make a ruling on the application for 81 Nelson Road, after receiving a “substantial” number of objecting submissions. 

The application proposes to transform the 22-bed vacant building into the Bellarine Wellness Centre – a “short stay retreat and respite centre” offering off-site for individuals and couples such as yoga, snorkeling, swimming and day trips.”

 “The proposal would make use of an under-utilised building on the site” and would be a “positive addition to the community, providing further health-related services,” according to the application.

“The facility would be staffed 24 hours and visitors would be encouraged not to bring their vehicles. “The facility will offer a shuttle bus to and from Geelong,” it says.
  
Guests would be offered stays of up to one month. 

The application makes no specific mention of drug and alcohol treatment, however the individual whose name appears on it is understood to be a drug and alcohol counselor with links to another rehabilitation facility.
Queenscliffe CEO Lenny Jenner said the interest in the application warranted a separate planning meeting, giving those for and against it to have their say. 
“There is a very high number of submissions Council has received. It would be clearly appropriate to provide the proponent with that significant number of submissions and to provide an adequate level of time for both submitters and the proponent to prepare, so that we get the best out of that meeting,” Mr Jenner said.
The building adjoins Council-owned land in Murray Road, earmarked for a residential development estimated to deliver as much as $4.7 million. 
Mr Jenner said there was no risk of Council having a conflict of interest, because no voting Councillors stood to benefit personally. 
Councillor Ross Ebbels, who lives nearby the centre, did not participate in last month’s vote. 
“The Local Government Act outlines in a level of detail the question of when does a conflict of interest apply. If there is a direct, personal, individual gain then Councillors would need to consider and where appropriate declare a conflict of interest,” Mr Jenner said. 
”That’s Council land and council is responsible for making a decision as and when is necessary in relation to that property. There is no private or personal gain to be achieved by any individual councilor, so there is no conflict of interest.”
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Stingray feeding has been scrapped in favour of a new interactive walk highlighting our fishing and seafaring history, under Queenscliff Harbour’s new vision for Fisherman’s Wharf.

A revised planning application currently before Council includes a full rebuild of the badly damaged wharf, formalised car parking and landscaping.

Derelict sheds will be demolished, but the Peter Locke/Cayzer slipway will be retained for the launch of small craft, such as kyaks and dinghies.

Interpretive kiosks would be placed along the full length of the harbour waterfont, with potential elements including periscopes for underwater viewing, telescopes or touch screen displays.

“These works will substantially enhance the functionality and amenity of Fishermen’s Flat, benefitting both the local community and visitors to Queenscliff,” said the vision's author, Echelon Planning.

“The interpretive trail will allow visitors to tap into the rich history of the location,”. “Along the way the trail will direct visitors to other information sources such as various local museums and tourism features within the township.

“The discovery trail is about bringing the harbour to life.”

The new proposal was created after extensive consultation and following widespread anger over initial plans for a stingray feeding stadium and outdoor cinema.

It appears to have won the approval of nearby Fisherman's Flat  residents, some imploring Council to approve and “get on with” the project.
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“For many years this issue has been unresolved, but thanks to the Queenscliff Harbour Pty Ltd we have a long-sought after result,” one supporting submission said. “Workshops were financed by them and experts were hired, Parks (Victoria) and residents were invited, all in collaboration and with good will, to find an alternative to the objections and outcries of residents to the stingray proposal. Amazingly we all agreed.”
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Do the four remaining P1 huts on the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve have any historical significance and should they be retained?

That is the question Borough of Queenscliffe councillors will need to determine, when the recommendations of the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reference Group are put before them in coming weeks. 

Members of the group have met four times in the past month, chiefly to thrash out the future of the huts, which date back to WWII.  

A community-backed resolution, reached some three years ago,  favoured their removal, however an application to have the reserve to included on the National Heritage List – supported by the Council and local state and federal politicians - has shifted the goal posts and made it difficult for a demolition order to be given, said group member Councillor Bob Merriman. 

“The starting point is that we have a resolution from the community that there should be no buildings on that site. But early in the life of this reference group, the question was raised as to the heritage value of those huts and given that there’s been an application made for Australian Heritage Council recognition of the whole area, the question has been raised as to the effect of moving all of those huts, moving three of those huts or  leaving one hut,” Cr Merriman said. 

“The Reference Group is looking at those three alternatives to make a recommendation to Council. It hasn’t been finalised in any detail yet. 

“The concern of the reference group is that they want to be able to be confident that whatever we do with the P1 huts does not in any way affect or put at risk the heritage application."

Council would also have to consider the cost of each of the alternatives and whether they can be met, he said. 

“That is the other main consideration, what is the cost of the three alternatives and can we afford it.” 
Utilising one of the huts - the McDonald Hut - as an interpetive centre - is undestood to be among the group's favoured options. 

According to the heritage application, the P1 huts are important for their association with our military past including the Australian Women’s Army Service [AWAS] and the housing of Italian prisoners of war. 
The Toc H charity took over the buildings in 1946. 
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In recent years however the discarded buildings have been targeted by vandals, with one being burned to the ground in suspicious  circumstances.

Our municipality’s biggest sporting event celebrates its 30th birthday this month.
 
Upwards of 1500 swimmers are expected to line up for Rip View Swim Classic on Saturday December 30. 

"It's great timing this year, just betwen Christmas and New Year when a lot of people are in town, so we're expecting good numbers," said Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club president Mathew Ponsford. 

"I would expect the big guns to be in it again because they use it as a training swim before the Pier to Pub." 

Commenced by social swimming group the Gruesome Groyne Gropers in 1989, the event – initially called the “Springs to Swings Classic”  - is now one of the biggest open water swims in the state, boasting 1.4 and 3.8 kilometre courses. It is also the PLSLSC's biggest annual fundraiser.  
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Registrations are open for both swims

FOOTBALL - Queenscliff's senior footballers have sweated it out in 30-plus degree conditions, in early preparations for a fresh assault on next season's Bellarine Football League premiership.
 
With new coach Steve Clark at the helm, a squad of more than 40 were put through their paces in a  series of gruelling time trials and skill drills on the first night of training last month. 

The former Leopold premiership coach said the strong turnout was a sign of positive season ahead. 

"The roll-up has been fantastic. There's 46 here tonight and there was a dozen apologies, so that's a great effort on the first night," Clark said. 

"The competition for spots will no doubt drive the squad that little bit harder... with the numbers being around, the training steps up and  the enjoyment steps up."  

Among the new faces was new recruit Ben Carmichael. The classy midfielder followed Clark from the Lions. 

Other recruits include Nick Aringo (Waubra), Mitch Butteriss (Leopold), Tim Connolly (Leopold), Nathan Monk (Lake Wendouree) and Brayden Warren (Ocean Grove). 

"At this stage it looks like there could be nine new players," said Clark.

"All the boys that have come here now have played some pretty good senior footy and they should be capable of doing that this coming season. 

"But the most improvement you always get from your list comes from within, so someone from within will be the biggest surprise packet, putting in a big pre-season or playing in a new position or whatever it will be. 
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'The flip side I hope none of these blokes get too comfortable  because then they'll probably have a comfortable year," Clark said.    
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Queenscliffe is set to become the first municipality in Australia to have almost entirely LED street lighting.

Councillors have voted to replace more than 400 existing mercury lights in coming weeks, in a move expected to significantly reduce energy costs. 

“The decision to transition to LED street lighting is both financially and environmentally sound,” said Mayor Tony Francis. 

“LED technology produces up to 75% less carbon emissions than the mercury vapour lights currently used, and has the potential to save Council up to 50% per month in operational expenditure.”

Street lighting is the single largest contributor to electricity use within the Borough of Queenscliffe, generating 206 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2016-17. 

Council pays all operating costs for 325 streetlights and a further 117 on VicRoads-managed highways and roads. 

Seven of the 325 Council street lights feature a style of fitting for which there is currently no approved LED equivalent available. Council has been advised that there may be an approved fitting available for these lights in the near future and will continue to pursue a complete transition to LED technology.
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“Based on discussions with specialist consultants in the field, we believe that the Borough of Queenscliffe will be the first municipality to use LED technology for all Council street lighting,” said Cr Francis.

The Victorian Government has threatened  to take control of the Queenscliff Recreation Reserve redevelopment, following revelations the project’s costs have blown out by 40 percent. 

Bellarine MP Lisa Neville said she is “extremely upset” and “annoyed” with the Borough of Queenscliffe’s handling of the project to date. 

The senior government minister, who played a pivotal role in securing $3.15 million for the stage two works ahead of the 2014 state election, says she has asked the Sports Minister's office to carefully monitor its progress going forward.

“All along the Council wanted this funding to be provided in our first budget as they were ready to go,” Ms Neville said.

“I have once again raised concerns with the Minister for Sport’s office about the slow progress [and] I have asked them to intervene as a matter of priority.” 

​In August last year a clearly frustrated Ms Neville pledged new netball courts and cricket nets – key elements of the redevelopment – would be ready by 2018 or she would “dig them herself.” 

A civil works contract has been awarded but construction is yet to commence.

Council has committed in recent days to have the facilities finished within the next five months -  a deadline the government will be enforcing, Ms Neville said.  

“I am concerned that part of the delays relate to the council pursuing other projects and not being able to project manage all of those at once,” Ms Neville said. 

“This is a critical project for the community and must take priority over any other project.

“I share the community’s anger about this and will continue to push the Council and seek ministerial intervention if the project does not commence works by December.” 

Council has blamed higher than expected carpark drainage works for the blowout. It has denied its decision to tie the reserve project to its Destination Queenscliff plan – incorporating a cabin development and tourist activities on nearby Shortland’s Bluff - is responsible.

“The civil construction program indicates that the netball courts, car park (and associated drainage works) and cricket nets will be completed by April,” it said in a statement.

“The budget for the project has increased based on the detailed design, quantity survey and market response through a public tender. Council is working hard to identify project savings without compromising objectives of the project.

“The eco-cabins plans have not impacted the delivery of the sport precinct project.”

The Borough will take money from other budgeted projects to fund the shortfall, including
■ $150,000 in loan borrowings proposed for LED light replacements
■ $75,000 earmarked for lighting the path between the pier and ferry, and 
■ $180,000 from the Borough’s asset renewal fund. 
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Around $400,000 of the $3.15 million grant has been spent on lights, solar panels, goal netting and project designs, Council said.  

A former boat builder, a champion footballer and a popular GP are among five residents picked to carry the baton during the Queenscliff leg of the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay. 

Jack Beazley, Tom Limb and Jacquie Johnston will be joined by former Young Citizen of the Year Meagan Canaway and Point Lonsdale Tennis Club stalwart Sue Winton in performing the honour, during the February celebration. 

Mr Beazley, a lifelong resident and former Port Phillip Sea Pilot Servive master shipwright of 50 years, said he was honoured to have been nominated by neighbours but joked he’d prefer a downhill section. 

“I’ve lived here all my life and to finish up doing something like this is very nice," Mr Beazley, 88, said. 

"If they put me at the top of the Royal Hotel hill going down to Bethune Street, that would be perfect,” he, joked.
   
Mr Limb, Queenscliffe Council's nomination,  is something of a local sporting hero, having, in 2011, captained Queenscliff to its first Bellarine Football League premiership in 36 years, then coaching the club to a further two. 

“I recognise that this is an extremely rare opportunity provided to me and look forward to the special experience,” he said. “I’m always proud to represent our town and appreciate being given another chance to do so again next year.”

News of the nomination was the perfect 30th birthday gift for Point Lonsdale secondary school teacher Ms Canaway; “When you see the other names that are doing it around Australia, it’s a pretty big honour to be listed among them and it’s great to see other Borough residents on the list as well. The borough is big on community and I think that is reflected in the participants selected,” she said. 

Another nine Bellarine residents, and former Australian netballer Bianca Chatfield, will carry the baton when it arrives in Queenscliff on February 12. 
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“The baton bearers have been nominated and selected for their achievements and contributions to their community,” said Mayor, Tony Francis. “This is a great honour and presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of history in the lead up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.”

Original toys, fashion, books, letters and an original menu from a local guesthouse feature in a newly released book showcasing the Queenscliffe Historical Museum’s 50 most significant items.
 
Former Premier and recently-named Museum patron Ted Baillieu officially launched Celebrating History…Items from the Queenscliffe Historical Museum Collection on Sunday October 15. 

Compiled by volunteers Rosemary Brown, Jocelyn Grant, Sandra Lee and Diana Sawyer, the book celebrates the Museum’s 50th anniversary. 

Mr Baillieu spoke of his own family’s long ties with our municipality, including his great grandfather, James George Baillieu, who jumped ship at Portsea in 1853 and swam ashore here, and carved out one of the region’s strongest pioneer dynasties. 

He also presented a new addition to the Museum’s collection - his own father’s christening cup, dating back to 1903.  
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Ms Grant said the book was a tribute to the volunteers “who have accepted the roles of archivist and keeper of the many thousands of items now in safe-keeping in the Museum’s purpose-built facility and to the continuing support of the community.

Melbourne Cup long weekend will serve up a feast for art lovers, with more than 40 galleries, private studios and cafes signing on as venues for this year’s Bellarine Arts Trail. 

In only its second year the event will showcase the works of more than 100 painters, sculptors, photographers, illustrators and jewellers.

“The Barwon Heads Arts Council is thrilled with the development of the Bellarine Arts Trail.  We have more than doubled since the first event last year,” said event coordinator Karen Shirley.  

“This year we have more than 100 artists participating at 40 venues across Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff.  We’ve also included the very popular Ocean Grove Rotary Art Show this year, which attracts a huge following.  

“The depth of talent on the Bellarine is incredible.  One of the main aims is to provide opportunities for artists to raise their profile and take their art to the market.  This event provides opportunities for artists of all levels from hobbyists through to professionals.  We also want to showcase the Bellarine Peninsula as an arts destination.”

Ms Shirley said she would not be surprised if last year’s patronage of the trail double from 3,000. More than 5,000 maps have been printed to cope with the anticipated interest. 

“We are hoping to be able to continue with the Arts Trail next year, but of course that is subject to funding.  At this stage we will aim to limit the number of artists and venues in future years to a manageable number, given the event is completely organised and run by volunteers.  

Salt Contemporary Gallery will host world renowned artist Robert Ingpen’s exhibition, Marginal World. It features paintings inspired by a “curious” object he found in Queenscliff in 2015.  

Queenscliff Gallery and Workshop will showcase the works of local artists Joel Wolter, Amanda Firenze and Andrew Gunnell. Artists will be demonstrating printmaking during this event.

Renowned glass artist David Hobday will be in his studio and represented at Seaview Gallery.

In Point Lonsdale, Tussock Upstairs Gallery will show an exhibition of ‘small works’ – paintings, prints, jewellery and ceramics by 13 well known artists – and Lighthouse Arts Collective will showcase a range of artistic endeavours including painting, music, performance and poetry.

Other local artists participating in the Bellarine Arts Trail include:
Carolyn McKinnon with sculpture, silver jewellery and photographic works at the venue she shares with Meryl Hodgson in Point Lonsdale
Photographer Tom Rayner at Belsize Cafe
Helen Martin, Vicki Clissold and Kelly Koumalatsos at St Georges Old School Hall
Eight diverse and talented artists at the Queenscliff Uniting Church
Darin Frankpitt and Jane Flowers at the Marina in venues 39 and 40
Botanical artist Lavinia Cuming at her studio in Pt Lonsdale
Textile artist Cheryl Toth and many artists and art students at the vibrant and exciting Queenscliffe and District Neighbourhood House

Having finished on top of the ladder at the end of the home and away season, Queenscliff's U/19 netballers - coached by Hannah Stephens and Luci Hedley - went into their September 16 grand final showdown with Anglesea as favourites and did not disappoint.

​After trailing narrowly at the end of the first quarter, the Coutas put their foot down and ran away 19-point winners. Defender Felicity Rush was named player of the match.  
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Queenscliff needs a “common, shared, compelling narrative” to attract visitors and  promote a strong year round economy, according to a newly-released blueprint for future growth of our municipality. 

The Draft Economic Development Strategy, prepared by Deloitte, has listed our failure to properly tell our own story as one of the borough’s key challenges.  

“Previous efforts in developing this have not been thorough and inclusive, and so have not been successful,” the report says. 

The $65,000 strategy, jointly funded by the state government and Borough of Queenscliffe, highlights a “fractured” retail and hospitality landscape and warns against further fragmentation. 

Our size, ageing population and rents and rates are also listed as challenges to growth. 

“The relatively small size and the peaceful village atmosphere is undoubtedly more opportunity than challenge when looking to the future. But the borough is not an island and cannot see itself as such. Proactive, managed economic activity is the key to not just preserving the past but also enabling the future,” the strategy says. 

Unlocking and maximising the tourism potential of Queenscliff Fort, an integrated arts and culture calendar and building our reputation as a health and wellness destination are listed among potenital measures for success. 

The Queenscliff Council has just awarded Deloitte a $200,000 tender to prepare a Fort tourism masterplan. It denies the contract undermines the objectivity of the Economic Development Strategy's recommendations. 
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‘The resolution to appoint Deloitte to undertake the EDS work was undertaken under the CEO’s delegation on 20th March 2017 and the resolution to appoint Deloitte head of the Fort of Queenscliff business case was made at the Council meeting of 24 August 2017,” said Phillip Carruthers, General Manager Organisational Performance and Community Services. 

The Queenscliff Recreation Reserve is set to be the new home of a 10-cabin development, after the Borough of Queenscliffe was forced to scrap plans to build the dwellings on Shortland’s Bluff. 

Councillors unanimously approved a motion last week to investigate building the mostly two-storey dwellings at the southeast end of the reserve, currently housing seven single storey cabins. 

The backflip follows an ultimatum from Bellarine MP Lisa Neville to either find a new home or miss out on $2.69 million in state government funding towards the borough’s $7 million Destination Queenscliff Project – of which the cabins are a key component.  

It also follows a sustained community campaign opposing development on the Bluff. 

“There’s been rightly some really strong views in the community about what should happen in that area and whether there should be any development like eco-cabins,” Ms Neville told residents gathered at a public meeting last week. 

“I do remember saying to Council that as far as I can see, people aren’t happy about it but show me otherwise, and that’s hasn’t happened. 

“Although there’s been a view that we need the cabins to support some kind of tourism… I think largely, overwhelmingly, people did not think that was the right place to put those eco-cabins,” Ms Neville said. 

“This is a strong community that has strongly made its views known to everyone and you have been heard, you’ve been heard by me,” she said. 

A report on the change of location will now be prepared for this month’s Council meeting and the search for a “world-leading” architect to design the cabins is continuing. 

Council officers are also examining where the reserve’s manager’s lodge and existing cabins can be relocated.
 
“It will probably include the moving of the existing house to make more space and of course we’re also going to get a new kiosk,” said Cr Bob Merriman, who put forward the motion. 

“The intention is not to in any way impose upon the existing recreation area for the sporting bodies. 

“One of the options could be to relocate some of them to Golightly [Caravan Park] but we need to go through the department… there’s certainly space there to look at relocating the existing rec reserve cabins,” Cr Merriman said.  “We know that we‘ve got to put them somewhere to earn money from them.” 
 
The federal government has agreed to amend its existing Destination Queenscliff funding contract, worth almost $3.5 million, to enable the relocation away from the bluff.
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The outcome as a “terrific victory for people power,” said Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson.

FOOTBALL – One of Queenscliff's favourite sons is coming home. In a major pre-season coup, the Coutas have secured Steve "Otis" Clark as coach for the 2018 season.
 
And he says he can’t wait to get his teeth into the role.

A life member of the Club, Clark played junior football here before coaching the Coutas for seven years between 2000 and 2006. 

“This has all happened a bit quick but it’s exciting to be back around the club and back around family, the father of three says. 

Last year Clark coached GFL side Leopold to a drought-breaking premiership and this season coached his own sons, Billy and Jhye, to a Queenscliff U/16 premiership. 

He takes over the reigns from Jonno Casey and Andrew Hodgson, who stood down after the Coutas narrowly missed the finals. 

“There have obviously been reasons for that but the blokes that I’ve spoken to – Jonno, Hodgy and Tom [former captain coach Tom Limb] have been really positive about where the improvement can come from,” Clark says.“

“I haven’t seen much of them playing obviously in the last few years so I’m watching a bit of vision at the moment and talking to a few people. 
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"Looking as an outsider you raw with Newcomb, then you beat Torquay, so for whatever reasons there were inconsistencies but the difference between making the finals and not making the finals can be minute.

“I think it’s exciting that there’s improvement there straight away and you’ve just got to get your teeth into it. “

Clark’s arrival I likely to be a draw card for new players to the club, with players from Leopold and elsewhere indicating an interest in following him here.  He’s also sounded a willingness to give young players a better go. 

“You’ve definitely got to play the juniors at your club, there’s no doubt about that. 
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"Everywhere I’ve coached I’ve played kids, that’s something I have done. I’ll recruit, no doubt as we need to, at the same time you always have to get a balance of the youth that you’ve got coming through.” 
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