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Apollo
Bay, what's happening in paradise!
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Edition
4-29 25/1/07 -
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 Music
Festival Community
News Landcare
Health
Letters |
Apollo
Bay Home | Great
Ocean Road Home |
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PUBLIC
RALLY IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR
APOLLO BAY
Many members of the Community are concerned that
current development proposals for Apollo Bay are
unsustainable While opinions have been voiced widely.
Council appears not to be hearing us Concerns are
Uncertainty about water Uncertainty about power
Oversupply of land for sale Inability of our roads
to take the traffic Ignoring Climate Change Environmental
sensitivities
Come along to the Public Rally and find out more
featuring the band SPYNDRIFT Saturday January 27th,
11.00 am Adjacent to Surf Club, Apollo Bay
Enquiries John Spencer. (5237 6408)
(on behalf of a Community Group)
Help Promote the Great Ocean Road on the new Australian
Monopoly Board. Simply log on and vote, go to the
website www, monopoly, com, au and vote now - and
do it everyday until February 10th or we'll end
up out of the action. Also, forward this to anyone
who you think would like to vote and support our
Great Ocean Road. |
| Celebrate
Australia Day in Colac Otway Shire
Mayor, Cr Warren Riches is encouraging residents
and visitors to the region to attend the
Shire's Australia Day Celebrations in Colac
and Apollo Bay on January 26. Celebrations
in Apollo Bay run from 12 until 2pm with
free entertainment on the Apollo Bay foreshore
and formal presentations in the Apollo Bay
Surf Life Saving Club.
Celebrations will include the presentation
of awards for Citizen of the Year, Young
Citizen of the Year, Community Service Award
and Sporting Service Award and Australian
citizenship ceremonies.
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apollobay.com
would like to acknowledge
with thanks the content supplied by
the APOLLO BAY NEWS SHEET.
If you would like to have an article
or advertisement printed in the
Apollo Bay News Sheet please email
it to ApolloNS@bigpond.net.au
by
5PM on Tuesday (printed weekly) |
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Southern Otway Landcare
Network 'Landtalk' |
Landcare
Projects Now is the time
to think about projects.
If you are interested in a Landcare
Project for 2007 or becoming a Landcare
member please contact the office or
drop in and discuss your ideas. We
would like to talk to any landholden
that are thinking about projects for
this coming spring, plant numbers
and species are limited. We are also
looking for past projects that we
can add greater plant diversity to.
If you have a past project that needs
a top up' of upper or lower storey
species come and put in an expression
of interest.
Native Vegetation Law and Policy If
you are a member of a community group
working
to enhance and protect native vegetation
in your area, you may be interested
in a community
workshop presented by lawyers from
the Environment Defenders Office,
Victoria. The EDO is a not for profit
community legal centre specialising
in environmental law. Activities include
involvement in law reform and policy
issues and providing advice and representation
to individuals and community groups
about environmental law. WORKSHOP
CONTENT
Workshops are tailored to suit community
needs, possible topics include:
• implementation of the Native
Vegetation Framework in local planning
schemes including permit requirements,
offsets and opportunities for community
participation in decision making
• protection of endangered species
under Victorian and Commonwealth legislation
About the Workshops
• The workshops include a comprehensive
set of written materials and resources
for each person
• Attendance is restricted to
community groups and their members
• A charge of $20 per person
to cover EDO costs The EDO would like
to hold one of these worftshops in
Apollo Bay in mid February. If you
would be interested in attending please
call the number below.
Townies Group
Meet Wednesdays 2.00-4.00pm, give
us a call and join in. January 31rt
- Meet up at the Nursery (Landcare
Project Support centre, Montrcwe Ave
Apollo Bay).
"if you have aspirations to improve
the habitat and conservation value
of your property, now is the time
to talk to Landcare!"
Enquires about Landcare contact Vani
Grbich or Greg John on 5237 - 6904
during office hours or call into the
Landcare Office at 69-71 Nelson Street
between 9am -1pm.
Morning
The prodigal cat who, each night sat
on my outdoor
mat, has returned to her own habitat.
Each morning, at the break of day
a proud magpie
struts up and down outside my door.
She pecks and feeds on worms and snails,
which help
her to break her morning fast. Now
she has taught her
chicks to forage for themselves, they
have left their
nest and gone out west.
She now sits on the antenna - high
- and watches as
the world goes by.
Esme Bell
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BUSH FIRE PROTECTION
Barham River Valley Residents' Meeting
As previously advertised the meeting was held
at the Paradise Picnic Area, however the date
was changed from Sat. 20 to Sun 21 so that
it would not clash with the Apollo Bay Rural
Show. Both days were pretty much a wash-out
with heavy rain and showers. It must have
been the devastating fires in eastern Victoria
and the ever increasing fire risk in the Otways
over recent years that brought about a sizeable
attendance at the fire meeting. Katherine
Bryan, facilitator from Community Fire Guard
(CFG), was pleasantly surprised how well organised
the Barham River Road CFG group already is.
Most residents do already have a copy of the
fire protection kit and telephone tree and
have also been to previous meetings, but for
a number of the attendees the presented information
was new. Important points made at the meeting
were as follows:
=> Statistics show that no homes were lost
where residents
decided to stay and defend.
=> The fuel build up in the Otways makes
this summer
season the most dangerous so far.
=> The Community Fire Guard offers to visit
individual
properties and to discuss their particular
situation. To
make this more efficient a number of neighbours
should
be invited to join these discussions.
Residents of the Barham River Valley can contact
Valerie Stahn on 52376 888 in Apollo Bay or
on 98466333 in Melbourne for copies of the
fire protection kit, telephone tree and if
they wish to organise a visit by a Community
Fire Guard consultant to their property. The
meeting thanked Katherine for her informative
presentation on what must have been the wettest
CFG meeting on record.
Colac Otway «w»
.< Council To Hold Farmers Forum
Colac Otway Shire will host a Farmer's Drought
Relief Information Forum on Thursday, February
1 from 10.30am to 2pm at COPACC to discuss
managing property through drought including
feeding sheep and cattle, animal health, stock
containment, access to water and other services.
This Shire has assembled several key speakers
including representatives from Centrelink,
the Victorian Farmers Federation, Rural Financial
Counselling Service, Barwon Water and the
Department of Primary Industries to provide
information and practical advice on dealing
with drought conditions. Colac Otway Shire
Mayor, Cr Warren Riches encouraged primary
producers, their families and other interested
people to attend the session. "The forum
will be a great opportunity for farmers to
have their questions answered and be reassured
that they were taking the right approach,"
Cr Riches said. "It will also provide
the opportunity for people to catch up with
each other and share information."
Further to the Drought Relief Information
Forum, Council will be holding a "form
filling day" from 10am to 3pm on Thursday,
February 8 to enable people to sit down with
key agencies to apply for the various assistance
and resources that are available to support
them throughout the dry season. For further
information or to RSVP your attendance at
the drought information forum for catering
purposes please contact Marg Scanlon on 52329476.
APOLLO BAY AL-ANON GROUP
Please note meeting change. We are currently
meeting fortnightly, every 2nd and 4th Monday
of the month, 8-9pm in the Blue Room, Uniting
Church Hall, Nelson Street, Apollo Bay. Visitors
and newcomers welcome! Al-anon is anonymous.
"If you have been affected by the drinking
of someone close - Al-anon offers hope."
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SHOW BRINGS RAIN
In some respects the most positive thing
about the Apollo Bay Show last Saturday
was the full tanks, refreshed gardens
and dams with water which the weekend
rains gave to the district. Whilst not
one person complained about the rain
it was, however, not the most congenial
weather for a Show, and attendances
reflected the weather. We missed out
on many visitors, as well as some of
the planned attractions and competitors
in the livestock rings. The hardy souls
who competed in the rain are to be congratulated,
and those who did brave the weather
to come to the Show were able to find
attractions and competitions of interest.
Surprisingly, entries in the Crafts,
Horticulture, Cookery & Arts sections
in the Industrial Hall were well up
on previous years. The new Birds of
Prey exhibition was very well received,
and almost all those in the area had
the opportunity to get up close and
personal with handfuls of snakes and
reptiles.
Some of the key results to hand so far
are as follows:
Supreme Champion Dairy : Ivanhoe Illusion
G & D Robertson, Carpendeit
Champion Commercial Dairy:
Tara Teletha C Sutton
Junior Jump (under 12 & under 14
years)
Billy Mahoney, Colac
D Grade Jump Joe Di Cecco, Apollo Bay
B & C Grade Jump Brooke Wilson
Champion Pony under 12.2 hands Karla
Box
'Good Hands' Riding competition, 12-14
years Michelle Beggs, Apollo Bay
Best Junior Photograph Sarah McColl,
Apollo Bay
Best Open Photograph Samantha Clee,
Apollo Bay
Digital Photo, Open Elizabeth Dawe,
Apollo Bay
Digital Photo, Junior Hayley Evans
Best Exhibit, Vegetables Beryl Cahill,
Apollo Bay
Best Bread Frits Wilmink, Apollo Bay
Best Decorated Egg, Under 16 years Lucy
Wheeler, Melbourne
Creative Arts, Open Ron Beck, Berwick
Best Commercial Sheep Frank Murnane,
Apollo Bay
Most Successful Exhibitor, Sheep G &
N Baker
Many thanks go to all those who came
to the Show, worked under very trying
conditions, and did their best for the
community this year. The real value
of events like this lie in the people,
both local and visitors, who combine
to make it a positive experience. You
are all much appreciated.
Lauris Jephcott, on behalf of the Committee.
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"What is a flood?
A simple definition of flooding is water
where it is not wanted (Chapman 1994). Flooding
occurs most commonly from heavy rainfall
when natural watercourses do not have the
capacity to convey the excess water. Floods
however do not necessarily need to be caused
by heavy rainfall. In coastal areas, inundation
may occur because of a storm surge, tsunami,
or a high tide coinciding with higher than
normal river levels.. . Flooding, therefore,
can occur even in dry weather conditions.
In general, the factors that influence whether
or not a flood will occur include:
> the volume, the spatial distribution,
the intensity and duration of rainfall over
the catchment;
> catchment and weather conditions prior
to the rainfall event;
> ground cover;
> the capacity of the watercourse or
stream network to convey the runoff; and,
> tidal influence.
What causes flooding?
Riverine flooding occurs in relatively low-lying
areas adjacent to streams and rivers. .
. In the mountain and coastal regions of
Australia flooding can occur rapidly and
warning times are short, perhaps only a
few hours. Flash floods can occur almost
anywhere where there is a relatively short
intense burst of rainfall such as during
a thunderstorm. During these events the
capacity of the drainage system has insufficient
time to cope with the downpour. Although
flash floods are generally localised, they
pose a significant threat to the loss of
human life because of their unpredictability
and the short duration of an event. Floodplains
in many catchments have been extensively
encroached upon, thereby increasing the
number of buildings vulnerable to flooding.
In addition, the construction of new buildings
on the floodplain in one location can increase
flood levels at another location by increasing
the amount of runoff from the floodplain.
Simply because an area has not been flooded
in the past does not necessarily exclude
the possibility of the area being flooded
in the future. The Bureau of Meteorology
maintains the Australian Flood Warning site
at Bureau of Meteorology. This site contains
up-to-date rainfall and river information
for all catchments within Australia. A number
of informative and useful brochures on floods
have been published by Emergency Management
Australia in conjunction with the Bureau
of Meteorology including:
=> Floods - Warning, preparedness and
safety => What to do before, during and
after a flood => Flood action guide "
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APOLLO
BAY COMMUNITY NEWS |
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APOLLO
BAY
CHURCH
SERVICES |
St.
Aidans Anglican
9.00am
Rev John Grace
5237 6615
Uniting Church
9.30am
Rev
Kevin Cranwell 5232 1360
Sunday School every 2nd & 4th Sundays
Star of the Sea Catholic
10.30am
Fr Damien Heath
5237 6782
Apollo Bay Assembly
of God
6.00pm
Ps Peter Smith
5237
766 |
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COMMUNITY YOGA
Meets each Monday morning 10.00 to 11.30am
to
practice postures, breathing and relaxation
to CD's
Venue - Marrar Woorn House Pengilley Ave.
Bring mat and blanket. Minium Cost $2
Ring Ken or Lilly for details on 5237 7134
SENIOR CITIZENS
Saturday 27th January Carpet bowls 2pm
Monday 29th January Carpet bowls 2pm
Tuesday 30th January Carpet bowls 2pm
RED CROSS - Apollo Bay
Unit
We are appealing for helpers to collect
during March
for Red Cross Calling. If you can help please
ring Betty on 5237 6632
Next meeting will be
on Wednesday 7th February at the Senior
Citizens at 1.30pm
C.W.A. Next meeting will
be on Friday 2nd February at 1.30pm at
Marrar Woorn
BAY WATCHERS will resume
on
Wednesday 7th February 12pm Hope to see
you there. Rita, Secretary/Treasurer
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| Free
Performance!
Entertaining Vocalist
GREG JONES
with guitar in Blues, Jazz, Folk
& Gospel
Saturday 27th January 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm
St Aidan's Church, 23 Nelson Street, Apollo
Bay
The Emily Reid Art Show is open next door
for free entry as well Enquiries: Rev. Tim
Cohen 5237 6615
Consumer Affairs Victoria is returning
to Colac
Consumer Affairs Victoria has established
Regional Offices across Victoria with offices
located in Geelong and Warrnambool. A regular
mobile service extends Consumer Affairs
Victoria services to all local government
areas across regional Victoria. The mobile
service will be visiting Colac on a weekly
basis commencing Wednesday 31 January
from 10.30am to 12.30pm at the Visitor Information
Centre.
We provide free advice on.......
> Buying, selling or renting properties
> Buying a car
> Building and renovating
> Credit and debt matters
> Scams
> Refunds, lay-bys and warranties
> Other consumer issues
For information or appointments call 5221
4650
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Is Alcohol costing you more than money?
Meetings held twice weekly in Apollo Bay
For details phone 9429 1833 or 5237 6428
or 5237 6235
Tuesday Art Group
A group of women meets each Tuesday 10-12
for a painting/drawing workshop. The group
offers
either:
Peer group support for women who wish to
paint or draw with others - $2 per session
Or
Art tuition with Carole Hegarty (qualified
art teacher) for those who want help - $12
per session
Come and join us King Parrot Gallery - Tuxion
Rd
Commencing Tuesday 13th Feb '07
For more information please ring:
Angie 5237 9253: Beth 5237 1033
or Carol 5237 6678
KIRTAN
Chanting in a group
Thursday February 1st 7-8pm
Meet in front of Surf Club
Phone Lyndi: 5237 7903
WOMENS THURSDAY NIGHT NETBALL
Please put your name on lists at Commonwealth
Bank or School or ring Lauren on 0423 811
649. Need names by Friday 2nd Feb at the
latest
to begin competition Thursday 8th Feb. Emergency
players welcome and umpires needed!
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OTWAY
HEALTH NEWS |
Help us get
to you!
In an emergency there are a number of things Ambulance
members can do which will help paramedics get to
you quickly and easily.
Preparation for an emergency:
• Make sure your house number is clearly visible
from the street both day and night
• Make sure you have your address, nearest
intersection and phone number written down by your
phone
Making the Triple Zero (000) call:
• Call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an ambulance
• Answer the call taker's questions as calmly
and clearly as you can and stay on the line until
they advise you that it is OK to hang up
The call taker may ask for your call back number
so they can contact you again whilst the ambulance
is on its way to you.
Whilst the ambulance is on its way:
If you or others around you are able to:
• Turn on an outside light, especially at
night, to assist paramedics find their way to your
home
• Unlock your front door
• Tie or lock up your pets
• Have someone wait outside for the ambulance
• Ring back on Triple Zero (000) if the person's
condition changes
As published in Ambulance Victoria's, Lights and
Sirens Magazine. See www.ambulance.vic.qov.au for
more information on ambulance membership.
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OTWAY FORUM 14th January
2007
In discussion the following points to do with Shire
responsibilities were covered:
The Barham River Road has scenic road classification;
however no authority is taking responsibility for
its unsuitability for tourist traffic. It has badly
damaged shoulders on the seal.
The airfield runway has been sealed, but not on
the alignment to be used if there is an extension.
The 2 councillors present believe no extension would
happen in the next 20 years.
The C29 Great Ocean Green Panel hearing will commence
on 1014107 and requests to be heard by submitters
need to be done by 214107.
The draft Harbour Development Plan has been completed.
It will probably go to Council in February and then
be on public exhibition for comment.
Under ResCode there is no minimum lot size for subdivision.
Very small lot sizes are being approved by Council
for subdivision.
Car Parking continues to be not treated seriously
by Council. Parking requirements on developments
continue to be waived.
Council has been briefed on progress by Barwon Water
in regards to site investigations for a new reservoir,
but is treating all information as confidential.
On request, Barwon Water stated that their final
report is still 3 or 4 weeks away but site investigations
have been completed.
Rubbish bins in front of shops in Pascoe St. have
been overflowing and a nuisance due to being infrequently
emptied.
Resealing of Moore St. completed before necessary
repair work to fill hollows in the road was carried
out.
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Letters
to the Editor
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Dear Editor,
The Western Coastal Board (WCB) is a statutory authority
set up by government to implement the Victorian
Coastal
Strategy. The WCB has indicated to the Independent
Panel set up to investigate Great Ocean Green Project
that it,
Is not satisfied that the Great Ocean Green Project
is sustainable. Is concerned about the nexus between
the Apollo Bay Structure Plan and the Great Ocean
Green Project
Questions the interpretation by the Panel of the
Great Ocean Road Region Strategy and the Coastal
Spaces Report to justify the Great Ocean Green Project,
since both documents focus on sustainable development
and not simply on making Apollo Bay a centre of
growth. States that the critical issue in considering
Coastal Spaces is preventing outward sprawl of coastal
settlements. Believes that the matter of inundation
of the Barham River Estuary have not been adequately
addressed. Maintains that the Great Ocean Road must
eventually be relocated away from the primary sand
dune between Apollo Bay and Marengo. Suggests that
the proposed location of the 300+ bed Hotel - Resort
is problematic. The Direction Reports of the Independent
Panel appear to be in favour of the project. In
doing so the panel seems to have ignored the WCB
concerns and many of the Governments own policies
on these matters. E.G. Stuckey, Marengo
Dear Editor,
Alternatives to Great Ocean Green
There is, in my opinion, a general feeling of angst
in the community with regard to the impasse between
Barwon Water and the Great Ocean Green Project.
Compromise is a word that I like to use. Has the
Golf Club seriously looked at alternatives to the
scale and size of the GOG? The RACV, for example,
has developed a golf course at Cape Schank including
resort style accommodation. What about no houses
but include an eco friendly resort? Perhaps Barwon
Water could be accommodated in a revised (scaled
down) proposal? If Barwon Water were to compulsorily
acquire Golf Club land at development prices, perhaps
the Golf Club could buy adjacent land. Revised plans
could include eco tourism with developed wetlands
and the Barham River Estuary as the Primary focus.
John Spencer, Apollo Bay
Dear Editor,
Great Ocean Green Developments
Your readers should be advised that the Further
Directions report of the 'Independent' Panel released
to the developer of the Great Ocean Green Project
in September 2006, includes directions that are
contrary to the Apollo Bay Structure Plan and its
recommended changes report that was adopted by the
Colac Otway Shire Council in May 2006. The Apollo
Bay Structure Plan clearly states that there should
be NO housing development on the south east portion
of the subject land, that is on the south side of
the Barham River (that is between the Barham River
and the Great Ocean Road). The directions report
ignores this and merely says at it requires a 350
metre development buffer from the Great Ocean Road.
Who is in control? The Council and its 'due process'
of community consultation or the 'Independent' Panel?
I would urge all concerned community members to
support the Public Rally next Saturday. Allen Hokin,
Apollo Bay |
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Dear Editor,
We write this as a thank you to the community of
Apollo Bay. This year as per the previous two years,
my wife and I, along with other members of our family
were again fortunate enough to be able to spend
approximately one week of our annual holidays at
Apollo Bay. This year (Thursday 11th January) we
were unfortunate enough to be involved a rather
serious car accident after being run off the road
by a vehicle towing a pop top caravan, who by the
way did not stop after the accident. Fortunately,
the four occupants of our vehicle sustained only
minor injuries, a miraculous achievement, considering
that it was a roll over accident and that two of
these occupants are aged 91 and 83 respectively.
Our thanks go out to those who stopped to assist,
Michael Snowden and his family, the lady who went
on into town to notify the police (we don't have
her name but believe that she works part time at
the local picture theatre), the police (Peter, Don,
Scott and Ray), the ambulance drivers and all those
involved at the hospital. We as a family are deeply
indebted to all you great people and thank you sincerely.
And yes, God willing, we are intending to return
to Apollo Bay next year for our annual holidays.
Sincerely Yours, Ray and Kerry Whittingslow.
11 Orcades Place, Diamond Creek, Vic,
Dear Editor
In reference to the letter from Mr Ralph Leigh (Apollo
Bay News Sheet, Jan 18 2007) and to the proposed
public rally in support of sustainable development
for Apollo Bay, I would like to express my dismay
at the Colac Otway Shire's reluctance to abandon
Amendment Cl 7 as recommended by an independently
convened panel. "Mariners Vue" comprises
a 114-lot housing and 6-group accommodation development
proposal outside current town boundaries. I purchased
a block of land near the northern urban-rural interface
in 2001 with the reasonable expectation that this
area would be free from rezoning applications given
that the Shire had, at that time, identified an
approximate 17 year land supply within the existing
urban boundary. This still appears a reasonable
assumption when the Draft Apollo Bay Structure Plan
(2006) has concluded that there is still a 10-year
land supply capability.
Furthermore with respect to water supply it has
been made clear that the current infrastructure
is incapable of servicing outlying areas such as
"Manners Vue". In conclusion I would urge
Colac Otway Shire to take a sensible course of action
and abandon Amendment C 17 until such time as the
necessary demand can be accurately assessed and
the appropriate infrastructure is actually in place.
Yours Faithfully, W.H. Simpson, Apollo Bay
Thank You
I would like to give a huge Thank-You to Nick from
IGA Express, Andrew from Garden of Eden, John from
Apollo Bay Bakery and Sunnicrust for their very
generous donations for good for my B.B.Q. fundraiser
at the Show. Thanks to Tim at Mitre 10 for the B.B.Q.
& gas, to Denise and John for the trestle, to
Jacky and Arthur for the esky etc., to Baz and Kaz
for the trestle, esky, picking us up and dropping
off. To Matty Noseda for his generosity and last
but certainly not least "Kezza" you legend.
I cannot thank you enough. Thanks also to everyone
who supported me by purchasing something at the
Show. Thanks also to Nellie O'Meara for your kind
donation of money. I now have $725 to help me get
to the World Eight-Ball Titles in June. Thanks again,
Cheryl Congram |
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