Bellarine Bayside’s plans the focus of PCA meeting

IT was a full house at Portarlington Community Association’s (PCA) most recent general meeting, where members heard from Bellarine Bayside chief executive officer John Nankervis and Daniel Brooke of Mondo Energy.

The Bellarine Bayside chief gave a detailed presentation on progress to date with implementation of the 2009 Portarlington Safe Harbour Masterplan.

PCA president Geoff Fary said actions still to be put in place included relocation of the beachfront carpark to provide for a waterfront promenade and dining precinct, improved public transport access to the ferry terminal, a major upgrade of the children’s playground and better alignment of intersecting roadways.

“Establishment of a foreshadowed marina will require a commercial development. Members were also keenly interested in plans to remove and replace hazardous aging cypress trees and the processes for the staging of events on Bellarine Bayside administered areas.”

Mr Fary said John also outlined a forthcoming review of the seven-year-old foreshore plan that covers all of Bellarine Bayside’s facilities from Portarlington to St Leonards.

He said he explained the coming release of a discussion paper and mechanisms for PCA and community input.

Mondo Energy Hubs is a commercial offshoot of AusNet Services, which has a particular focus on the development and networking of renewable energy.

Daniel Brooke spoke to the meeting about the successful establishment of a micro-grid at the north east Victorian township of Yackandandah, how it had been achieved and the savings that had been realized by that community.

Mr Fary said Mondo was working in partnership with Deakin University and hoped to develop future plans for 100 per cent renewable energy for the Bellarine and greater Barwon regions.

The PCA meeting also approved of the establishment of two new sub-committees.

One will deal with planning issues and develop positions for the Association regarding the detail of forthcoming State Government designation of the Bellarine as a special zone under the Planning and Environment Act, while the second sub-committee will explore options for the role and location of a future Portarlington Community Hub.

Mr Fary said the well-attended and informative gathering further reinforced PCA’s role as the peak body representing the views and interests of all Portarlington residents and stakeholders.

“We are entering a period of rapidly increasing growth and change in our community. A vibrant residents association is of critical importance in having our voice heard by decision makers in Town Hall and Spring Street.”

The next PCA general meeting will take place on June 5 – for enquiries and membership applications, head to portarlington.asn.au.