Angling club calls on pollies for support as election ramps up

WITH the state election looming, the Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club is calling on both governments to support its campaign for ramp access to the bay.

Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club Commodore Ivan Bereza said with 321 members, having bay access was a necessity at a geographically perfect location.

The club’s clubhouse is located on Portarlington Road, but currently there is no boat access between Limeburners and Clifton Springs boat ramps.

Mr Bereza has previously met with City of Greater Geelong administrators and representatives from the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning to share his plight, but to no avail.

“We are an angling club on the shore of Corio Bay yet we are restricted to get our boats out on the bay,” he said.

“At present only kayaks and very small boats can launch from the beach.”

Mr Bereza said now that netting was banned in Corio bay, the fishing had improved and more locals and visitors were wanting more boat access facilities on the Bellarine.

“This is evident with the amount of cars and boat trailers that need parking spaces at Clifton Springs,” he said.

“They are parked up on the hill at Bayshore Ave and locals are complaining that the ramp there is extremely busy, especially on weekends.”

Mr Bereza said Dennis More, the owner of the property on 711 to 729 Portarlington Road, had kindly donated exclusive use of a shed on the property as their clubhouse, and that he had also donated one acre of land for a long-term lease for a new clubhouse.

“An opportunity exists for an incoming government to take advantage and create additional recreational, boating and foreshore facilities in Leopold,” he said.

“The area is ideally placed to provide enormous benefits to the Leopold community, greater Geelong and Victoria.”

Mr Bereza said as the population in the City of Greater Geelong continued to grow an extra piece of open space and coastal frontage could only be an asset to the community.

“The incoming government only needs to commit to the site and promise its support, as the club is capable of managing this valuable community asset,” he said.

“But we have offered land to both major political parties but so far none have committed.”