2020 Year in Review: April-June

APRIL 2: WHEN the Bellarine Salvos pulled up to a residence in Portarlington last week, neighbours isolating across the road stood at their doors and cheered; their elderly Italian friend was finally getting help. As she opened the door, Salvation Army Officer Peter Hobbs said the woman began to cry and as he gave her various essentials, he gave her something far more priceless – hope.

APRIL 9: COTTAGE by the Sea may have temporarily closed its gates, and while children may no longer be coming in, hot food and essentials are heading out thanks to chef Marc Dean. Cottage chief executive officer Adam Wake said now was an opportunity for the Queenscliff charity to give back, following years of community support.

APRIL 16: WHAT began as a small project among four best friends evolved into a mass sewing project, with hundreds of Australians sewing hats for nurses. Janine Langley from Clifton Springs has been sewing her whole life and said she finally has a project to help work through material she’s built up over the years.

APRIL 23: RETURNED and Service Leagues (RSL) across the country asked people on the Bellarine Peninsula to commemorate Anzac Day on April 25 in alternate ways, including the Light Up the Dawn initiative, due to the cancellation of their traditional services for the first time in more than 100 years because of the coronavirus pandemic.

APRIL 30: A GROUP of volunteers banded together in 2018 to form the Portalington Produce Tree, a place where people could share and collect excess homegrown produce. While Stage 3 restrictions forced a hiatus on weekly swaps, the table was still open.

MAY 7: FEEDBACK from the Ocean Grove community was to play a key role in addressing erosion along the popular Barwon Estuary Walk. Barwon Coast Committee of Management and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning presented three revetment design options, and also wanted feedback on access points to the beach.

MAY 14: THERE was a slight easing of restrictions on people’s movement in the City of Greater Geelong as the state government continued to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus. As of 11.59pm on May 12, a fifth reason for leaving home was added – it was now okay to visit family and friends, with up to five visitors allowed at a home. In line with the statewide changes to restrictions, the City of Greater Geelong council opened public access to a range of outdoor spaces this week, including boating ramps, piers and jetties, golf courses, tennis and basketball courts, equestrian centres, and beaches, including Eastern Beach Reserve.

MAY 21: CAFES, pubs and restaurants in Victoria could re-open their doors in less than two weeks to serve meals to up to 20 customers in each enclosed space, and traders on the Bellarine were cautiously optimistic about how it might work. The number of people per enclosed space could increase to up to 50 patrons by June 22 and up to 100 patrons by the second half of July.

MAY 28: LOCAL police intel from the Bellarine Peninsula showed serious road accidents and injuries had reduced in the region by about half over a 12-month period. Anecdotal data collected from March 2019 to March 2020 showed a drastic road trauma reduction – particularly on Bellarine country roads – in part due to Operation Backroads.

JUNE 4: COASTAL properties prone to future flood events and climate change induced sea level rise would be covered in change to existing planning scheme controls. The City of Greater Geelong council adopted amendment C394GG44, a new Land Subject to Inundation Overlay to help reduce future risks associated with climate change.

JUNE 11: THE siren sounded on senior footy and netball for this year across the Geelong region, with the Bellarine Football Netball League, Colac and District Football and Netball Leagues, Geelong Football Netball League and Geelong and District Football Leagues competitions officially cancelled because of the impacts of the coronavirus. The decision, jointly announced on June 9 by the leagues and the AFL Barwon Commission, includes senior football home and away seasons (including seniors and reserves) for all listed competitions, as well as all senior netball home and away seasons (including all senior grades).

JUNE 18: A NEW CFA station for the St Leonards-Indented Head brigade was another step closer with land secured to support future growth of the brigade. Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Bellarine MP Lisa Neville made the announcement on June 11, much to the delight of captain Niki Habibis, who said it was an exciting time for the group.

JUNE 25: THE Portarlington Community Association warned the Bellarine Distinctive Areas and Landscapes discussion paper offered the best and perhaps last chance to preserve the special nature of the peninsula’s unique characteristics, heritage and culture. This was the view of the Portarlington Community Association, whose submission, along with other Bellarine Peninsula community groups, highlighted the many critical challenges requiring urgent action to protect the area from over-development.