Six teams are flying the finals flag for the Queenscliff Football-Netball Club, including our senior, including our senior footballers.

Despite losing last weekend's final home and away clash against Ocean Grove, the Coutas finished fifth on the league ladder and will meet Geelong Amateurs in an elimination final this Sunday August 19). 

Had they managed a win, the Coutas could have secured second spot and a double chance. 

Meanwhile, our U/15 (Division 2) and U17 (Division 3) teams have moved straight into the grand final, with wins in last weekend's first finals clashes. Both teams finished on top of the ladder. 

The U/17's, coached by Luke Orvis, are looking for back-to-back premierships. 

And three netball sides are also in the hunt for premiership glory - U/13 (Division 2), U/17 (Division 1) and B-Grade (seniors).

All teams will be in action at Leopold this weekend. 

This weekend's games: 

Saturday August 18
NETBALL - U/17 - Leopold 10am
NETBALL - B-Grade - 1pm
Sunday August 19
FOOTBALL - seniors - Leopold - 2.10pm
NETBALL - U/13 - Leopold - 9am 

Queenscliffe Councillors have rejected a call from 23 business operators to halt progress on the controversial Destination Queenscliff project to allow more time for consultation. 

The $7 million tourism initiativet, which includes 10 5-star cabins and a 40-seat ocean front cafe - was unanimously passed with minor amendments at the July Council meeting, despite a petition detailing trader concerns regarding unfair competition.  

The fight appears far from over, however, with the operators, including key accommodation houses and eateries, now seeking government intervention to halt the project and Bellarine MP Lisa Neville already threatening to withdraw her government’s $2.69m funding contribution. 

“As business owners in Hesse Street, we embrace development, however we have grave concerns about the proposed 40 seat café at Shortland’s Bluff and major development works outlined in the Destination Vision and Brief and the impact this will have on the established cafes, restaurants and other businesses in the retail heart of Queenscliff,” the petition said. 

“We wish to make clear that we are not resistant to change and development in Queenscliff per se; however, we firmly believe your current plans dissects the town and further, you must take into consideration the need to lift and revitalise Hesse Street before reinvesting in any development at the ferry terminal or on Shortland’s Bluff. Hesse Street is the hub and heart of Queenscliff and deserves attention.”

A 2016 financial analysis of the Destination Queenscliff, prepared by Urban Enterprise, predicted it would boost the local economy by more than $12 million and create 77 direct and indirect local jobs.

The Council, however, has failed to date to provide an assessment of its direct impact on other businesses.
“Our concerns with the master plan include the absence of any financial analysis or information about the impact the tax payer funded café/kiosk and high end lodgings will have on existing businesses – in particular the cafes, restaurants and accommodation providers across the Borough [and the] lack of consultation with the local businesses and residents most likely to be affected by the development plans prior to the Master Plan’s release,” the petition said. 

Frustrations were evident when Mayor Susan Salter, Acting CEO Phil Carruthers and General Manager Planning and Infrastructure,Phil Josipovic, fronted upwards of 20 business operators at the Shelter Shed Cafe on Wednesday July 24. 

​Cafe owner Donnie Grigau described the consultation process to date as an “abject failure,” while Circa 1902's Chris Dinneen accused Council of putting Hesse Street traders second.

“As a newcomer the temperature that I’m feeling is that the traders in the main street are feeling left behind. Council is putting money in and book-ending the town basically to our detriment,” he said. 

“There needs to be a more personal relationship that really honours and respects the people in the main  street... it seems like [we’re] an after thought and we’d prefer to be a forethought.”

In fending off the criticism, Mr Carruthers said the project would attract more tourists to the town and provide a level of accommodation not currently available.

“This will bring new people into the town that don’t currently come to the town because it’s a different market. 

“We’re not looking at competing with existing  town properties, we’re looking at getting new people in. They’ll come here and they’ll come into town, they’ll walk around, they won’t sit in their room,” he said. 

Traders were due to meet with Ms Neville this week, and, with Canberra contributing $3.5 million to the project, have also stepped up pressure on Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson.

“They [Council] need to do it properly, I absolutely agree. I am concerned if they haven’t properly taken those traders through what the business and financial assessments were, they absolutely should do that and if they’re not willing to do that, I’ll get RDV (Regional Development Victoria), because it’s an RDV-funded project… to do that. 

“My view is if they haven’t done it properly, if they don’t do all of that properly, then we would go back and push them to it,"  Ms Neville said.

"If you think of all of the issues that the borough has had over the last three years, they've all come down to the fact that they’ve decided they’re just going to ram raid their way through it all, do their own thing and not engage people properly. 

"Let’s not do that again, let’s start early with the community and let’s have the community enaged throught this process properly," she said.

The design for the Shortland’s Bluff precinct, prepared by Hassell Studio and revealed at recent Open House sessions, includes: 10 Council-managed cabins within the Recreation Reserve – replacing an existing seven - new Council-owned ocean-front cafe-kiosk, walking trails, revamped car parking at the Bull Ring, a ship spotting platform, visitor information facility and light activations on the Fort of Queenscliff walls.  

Letters obtained under Freedom of Information show support for the project from big local businesses players;  Searoad Ferries, Beacon Big Four Resort, Queenscliff Harbour, Geelong and Bellarine Tourism.  
Cr Tony Francis, in his previous role of Chamber of Commerce CEO, also penned a glowing letter of endorsement, but said he was not conflicted by the stance and remained open-minded about the project. 

MEANWHILE - An assessment of the community's support for the project has been rubbished by local community groups. 

The Kismet report measured sentiment from Open House consultations, a community survey and public submissions. Twenty two submissions were lodged. A further 122 people completed a project survey. 

Kismet concluded 69 per cent of participants generally supported Destination Queenscliff.

However, the Queenscliff Community Association (QCA) said the analysis failed to take into account the membership of it and other organisations opposed to the plan. 
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"It is our understanding that the Community and Civic Associations and other environmental groups boasting over 100 strong memberships each were counted as one submission," the Association said. 

A community initiative to tackle plastic pollution has arrived in Queenscliff. 

Boomerang Bags encourages locals to donate unwanted material and to transform it, via sewing bees at the Neighbourhood House, into reusable shopping bags. 

The program, already running in other communities, is among three local projects to share in $6,800 under the Queenscliffe Community Environment Association (CEA) grants program. 

“Boomerang Bags is a grassroots, community driven movement aimed at shifting societies throw-away mentality to a more sustainable revolution of re-purposing and re-use,” said project spokesperson Jane Rodwell. 

 “We are looking for volunteers from all walks of life to get together to help make re-usable bags. We need to enlist people who can help mark out and cut materials, pin, iron, stamp and sew.

“The bags will be given away to friends, family, colleagues, local retailers, bagless strangers and so on, as a plastic bag alternative that can be used and reused, or passed on to others,” Mrs Rodwell said.

The program coincides with Queenscliff IGA’s decision to scrap single use plastic bags from this month and ‘Plastic Free July’ – an initiative of the newly-created Transition Towns group.  

“The circulation of reusable bags within the BOQ creates an opportunity to spread an important social and environmental message about sustainable solutions, and fostering conscious habits that extend well beyond the plastic bag,” said Mrs Rodwell. 

The St Aloysius Primary secured funding under the CEA program to host a ‘Kid’s Teaching Kids’ conference in September. The one-day event will bring students from across Geelong to Queenscliff to teach each other about sustainability initiatives and environmental issues.

The Swan Bay Environment Association also gained funding to extend its Gardens for Wildlife program, providing residents with advice on improving the ecological value of their garden. 
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To donate fabric or participate in Boomerang Bag-making workshops email: qnhouse@fastmail.com or phone 5258 3367.  All ages are welcome and no experience required.

Amateur whale watchers are being encouraged to help track the movements of the mammals in out of the bay over coming weeks, as part of the Two Bays Whale Project.

Whale watching season is well and truly underway and experts are tipping increased local action with several sightings already, including a pod of Humpbacks off Queenscliff last month.

Launched in 2015, and run in conjunction with the Dolphin Research Institute, the project aims to provide a more accurate understanding of numbers and movements. 

“The 2017 whale season broke all previous records, with a total of 218 validated sightings of four whale species between May 15th and December 5th,” said the project’s co-founder and curator David Donnelly. 

“In total, the estimated number of individual whales was 458, which is a whopping 296 more than whales than the 2016 season. 

“Whether this is a case of more whales, more people looking or a combination of both is yet to be determined but one thing’s for sure, whales never fail to attract the attention of the public,” Mr Donnelly said. 

Having been hunted to the brink of extinction, sightings of Humpback whales have steadily grown in recent years, with eastern Australian numbers expected to reach around 33,000 this year. 

Southern Right whales are still classed as threatened, with between just 250 and 400 individuals and no noticeable population increase. 

“Understanding whale numbers and movements is critical to their management and protection but it is a huge challenge, taking decades of piecing together snippets of data, Mr Donnelly said. “This is where the Two Bays Whale Project has been making a difference.” 

Penalties apply for deliberately approaching a whale closer than 200m for vessels; 300m for jet skis; 500m height for aircraft and drones. 
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For project details, log onto www.dolphinresearch.org.au
​

Construction of Queenscliff’s new netball facilities is back on track, with the State Government stepping in to help fund game day change rooms. 

The additional $200,000 comes on top of the $3.15 million already pledged by the government for stage two of the recreation reserve redevelopment. 

The Queenscliffe Council will contribute a further $400,000 towards the cost of the netball change rooms, which will also include a kitchenette and toilet. 

The grant will come as welcome relief to the Council, which recently revealed costs for the redevelopment project had blown out by $650,000. 

After several delays, work is progressing on the redevelopment, however the courts are now not expected to be finished before the end of the current season.  

Initial funding for the redevelopment was announced in the lead up to the 2014 state election and netballers were originally promised the courts would be ready for this season. 

Ms Neville conceded they had been “very patient” and had been forced to put up with “shoddy conditions.“
“We’re close now… hopefully [this] means were all on track and it’s all going to be done by September and I will be here to open it and I appreciate your patience along the way,” she said. 

“This is going to be a great facility, not just for you but also for the players coming through as well. 
“I can’t wait to be back here and shooting some goals,” she said. 

Mayor Susan Salter said she was grateful the money had been made available. 

“This funding will enable us to gorge ahead together to highlight the importance of creating an environment that supports health, wellbeing, inclusion and participation in sport,” she said. 

‘The community are very passionate about this project, it’s supportive of planned improvements and it’s fantastic to see their vision is coming to fruition.” 

The tender for construction of the netball change rooms has been awarded to BDH Constructions. 
Once completed, the redevelopment will also include four new cricket nets, a gymnasium and new car parking facilities. 
​
Plans for the gym are currently being finalised. Council will complete that element of the project as an owner builder.

In 1978 netball dresses laced up at the front and were a little more "potato-sackish" than the current styles.

The pool of players from which Queenscliff could draw upon was a lot smaller than today’s talent offering and the likelihood of our small club winning an A-Grade premiership was, well, pretty slim.

Nevertheless, that’s just what happened and this month, past players, supporters and the wider community is invited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the unlikely win.

The team, coached by Barb Moloney went in to the clash against Leopold as slight underdogs, but came away four goal winners. During the season the two sides met three times, for a draw and a win each.

“They had a huge number of players from Geelong comps that flooded into their club,” recalls Doreen Bramwell, the team’s centre player.  “Many of them had played at a very elite level and we were just home-grown Coutas girls, with the exception of Coral Hammond who came to us from Geelong. 

“Our coach was a calm and a clever influence on us all. Very fair but always expected the best from us all,” Doreen said.

It was the last time, and possibly the only time, the club tasted A-Grade glory, according to fellow team member Sue Orvis.

“I believe it’s the only one we’ve won, but I could be wrong. There might have been one before but I haven’t heard of one since,” she said.

While Sue doesn’t remember much about the game, she does remember the party at the Bowling Club afterwards.

The Saturday August 4 reunion will commence at 1pm and include a gathering at the netball courts to watch our current A-Graders in action and a President’s luncheon, followed by a celebration.

“I don’t want it to be just a ladies day or just for that group I’ve girls,” said Sue, who is also organising the event. “I want it to be for everyone, I want it to be netball through the ages and anyone else who wants to come. I want supporters, coaches, committee, I’m trying to get in touch with as many people as I can.

“I hope all the girls are coming, we’re working on it.”
​
Pictured from L to R: Leanne Baillieu (Neville), Coral Hammond, Doreen Bramwell, Sue Orvis (Briggs), Jenny Oakley (Shapter), Bev Young (Barrett), Gail Renzenbrink (Main), Robyn Birrell (Hewitt), Margaret Giddings (Sullivan) and Coach Barb Moloney.
​

A local photographer says he “came as close to death as he’s ever been”, after being smashed by a rogue wave on Point Lonsdale pier. 

Peter James was taking footage of the giant swell, during stormy conditions last month, when the wave washed over the pier, forcing him to the ground and his $7,000 camera from his hands. 

Four fishermen, also on the pier at the time, rushed to his aid. 

“There was two things that stopped me from going straight into the ocean; the small four inch-high piece of timber that edges the pier decking and one of the fishermen who grabbed my backpack as I was about to go under the first railing,” Mr James wrote in a Facebook post. 

​His camera continued to roll, capturing the ordeal on video.

It left Mr James with sore ribs; “but I’m alive so that’s all that matters.”

​Point Lonsdale's Lester Hunt, was looking on from the Point Lonsdale lighthouse lookout and managed to photograph the dramatic moment. 

His stunning images went viral on The Rip Facebook page, with more almost 2,000 hits and more than a thousand shares. Many criticised those on the pier for putting lives at risk. 

The incident also prompted a safety warning from Parks Victoria. 

“While the structure itself is stable, it is definitely not safe for members of the public to be fishing or standing on the end of Point Lonsdale Pier during conditions where there are large waves crashing over the pier,” said Parks Victoria Chief Ranger David Ritman.

“Unexpected large waves can wash people off the pier in seconds and without warning. When there’s an obvious danger it’s important for people use common sense to stay out of danger.

“Not only were the anglers putting their own lives at risk, they also risked the lives of rescuers and emergency services personnel who would need to respond if the unthinkable happened and they were washed off the pier,” Mr Rittman said. 

Photos courtesy: Lester Hunt
​

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. 
​
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.”
​

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.
​
“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.”
​

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. 
​
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. 
​
'The flip side I hope none of these blokes get too comfortable  because then they'll probably have a comfortable year," Clark said.    
​

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.