Locals opposed to the mega fishing trawler Geelong Star are being encouraged to join a protest rally in Torquay is coming days.

Recreational fisherman Jason O’Neill has organised the Sunday October 25 event, with the backing of the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation and VR Fish.

Federal member for Corangamite, Sarah Henderson, has also voiced her opposition to the super trawler.
“To call this vessel the Geelong Star is a real slur on our city – this vessel is no star of Geelong,” she said.
“In the electorate of Corangamite – an electorate which includes 188km of coastline - there is very significant opposition to this trawler.  The scientific evidence to support the fishing of the small pelagic fishery in the manner being proposed is simply not conclusive.

“On both environmental and recreational fishing grounds I believe a ban is justified,” Ms Henderson said.”
The 95-metre Geelong Star voluntarily suspended fishing in May after killing eight dolphins on its first two trips in Australian waters. Fishing resumed in June after operators applied additional safeguards.
The rally will bring together the fishing fraternity, families, boaties and those concerned about the trawler’s impact on the environment.
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It will commence at 11am at the Torquay Angling Club. 

​The #visitqueensclifflonsdale campaign will air on Channel Nine during some of its marquee shows including The Block, Today, The Ellen Degeneres Show and the afternoon news. The 30 second adverts, highlighting Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale, feature the message: “So what are you doing this weekend?” They will screen on television from November 8 to December 6. The campaign will also feature online and social media components.

Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine (TGGB) CEO Roger Grant said the initiative was a “bold” and “exciting” step forward for the newly-established body in terms of promoting the region.
“When you undertake advertisements you realise that within 30 seconds you don’t have the time to document all those fantastic assets that Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale have. Really what you’re trying to do is to engage with the consumer, in a way that motivates them to want to undertake further actions in terms of visiting.

“Will the ad have cut through? I think it does. Will it relate to the target audience? I believe that it does but at the end of the day you can do all of the testing and hypothesising and I guess we’ll know when it’s out in the marketplace,” he said.  “The feedback from everyone, from the marketing gurus within state government to the local operators, everyone thinks that it is a sweet little ad and hopefully it will deliver for us.”   

The Borough of Queenscliffe, TGGB and local business jointly funded the campaign. Key tourism players, including Searoad Ferries, Beacon Big 4, The Queenscliff Music Festival and the Blues Train contributed around $14,000. Upwards of 40 smaller business operators also pitched in $6,000. “Industry has really stood up to the plate to make this possible,” Mr Grant said.  “We would all love the million campaign funded by government and we’ll continue to pursue that but until we secure those funds it’s great that industry has put its shoulder to the wheel along with Council and ourselves.” 

The six are among the most-admired in the community. They include:

• The Gas Works Garden - 21 Symonds St Queenscliff
• Marg and Warrick’s Garden - 2o Winterley Road Pt Lonsdale
• Suma Park - 2135 Bellarine Highway Queenscliff
• Theo and Krista’s - 33 Peterho Boulevard, Point Lonsdale
• Mia Cook and Ken Adam’s garden - 11 Lakeland Court, Point Lonsdale
• Manse Garden - 48 Gellibrand Street Queenscliff