Dear Members
At this busy time of year, here is a quick dot point report updating you with the latest from ABCV.
We wish you a safe and festive season and look forward to continuing to work together in 2025.
Happy Birthday wishes to our special member Val Flitton who is turning 100 on the weekend. What a wonderful milestone for an amazing lady.
* 69 McLachlan St contract was signed in July by Colac Otway Shire (COS) and the Apollo Bay Community Charitable Trust. The transfer is still awaiting settlement as both parties work through some tax issues that should be resolved in the new year.
* Bendigo Bank Community Funds. We are most grateful to our wonderful Community Bank here in Apollo Bay for their generous contribution to the project for refurbishing the old Preschool building at 69 McLachlan Street. Many thanks to the Board, you do an amazing job.
* Tiny Towns Round 2 Grant Funding: sought for the major refurbishment of the old Preschool building at 69 McLachlan Street to accommodate its ongoing use by the community, will be announced in March 2025.
Before & After school childcare & holiday program: Great Ocean Road Health have received responses to the survey that reveal the need for After School Care and for Holiday Programs. Works continue to pursue the options on how this can be delivered.
Members’ Skills Register: we have now received some thirty-three responses and would like to build this database so please go to https://forms.gle/48qEWAzFTLsorwyHA or go to the website and hover over the ‘Join Us’ tab at the top to be directed to this link.
* Paradise Picnic Reserve works are ongoing. It is pleasing to see the improvements, some maintenance required following the big rains before the major tourist time.
* Affordable Housing: ABCV is working to become more informed about possible ways of creating affordable housing in rural and remote towns via online presentations to be held in January.
* Richard Riordan has been invited to an engagement session with ABCV next week, where we hope to discuss major ongoing issues for the community.
* Next Colac Otway Shire engagement meeting: Postponed until January as new Councillors are busy with inductions.
Great Ocean Road Communities Network (GORCN) AGM was held in Apollo Bay on Saturday 5 November providing representatives from community groups along the coast to discuss issues in common.
New Councillors elected. Congratulations to Mayor Jason Schram, Deputy Mayor Phil Howard, Chris Potter, Mick McCrickard, Zoe Hudgell and Chrissy De Deugd. It is pleasing to see two Apollo Bay based candidates were successful and we look forward to working with the new Councillors.
New Memberships Thank you to all those who have submitted membership applications. Currently, we have over 330 members and growing. To join, go to www.abcvoice.com.au and click ‘Join Us’.
GORCAPA’s Regional Trail Strategy – ABCV made a submission, thanks to Graham Costin.
* GORCAPA is seeking input on its Regional Coastal Adaptation Plan – go to https://haveyoursay.greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au/lookingforward ‘Help Shape Our Resilient Coast’ – you can attend in person community events and/or complete the online survey (full/express).
* Marengo ramp replacement – GORCAPA is replacing the Marengo beach access ramp to improve safety and accessibility for users.
Go to https://haveyoursay.greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au/marengo-ramp for more information and provide input.
* Our last engagement meeting with GORCAPA for 2024 will be held this week online* Otway Forum has now folded and we are grateful for the wind-up funds that were transferred to ABCV
* Marengo Toilets – we continue to pursue this item with GORCAPA as a real need for the community, thanks to Beth McLoughlin for her work on this.
* Colac Otway Shire seeks your input re sport and recreation via a survey. The data will inform Council’s future strategic planning and training opportunities. Complete the survey by 16 December here: https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Community-Consultations/2024-Sport-and-Recreation-Survey
Jane Gross
President
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