FRESH VIEW

New PLCA president passionate about tourism and community

THE new Point Lonsdale Civic Association (PLCA) president wants to focus on attracting smaller events to the Borough of Queenscliffe.

With more than 18 years’ experience in travel and tourism, Robert Minty, 65, is the new president of the PLCA, and says one issue he would like to focus on is creating a quality tourism strategy for the towns.

“We have our biggest event the Queenscliff Music Festival in November, which is great for the Borough, and we also have smaller ones like the Peninsula Film Festival and the Queenscliff Rod Run,” he said.

“But if we can attract more smaller events, we can draw more people down here throughout the year, which would be better for businesses and would have less impact on the residents and their way of living.”

Mr Minty, who built his home in Point Lonsdale about 30 years ago, said he was also passionate about protecting the town’s Crown land from inappropriate development.

“One thing that attracted me to Point Lonsdale was the amenity of the town, which is why I don’t want it spoilt,” he said.

“Over the recent past we’ve been able to help with the National Heritage Listing application for the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve, and helped fight the proposed inappropriate development at Shortlands Bluff.

“We are here doing our best for the people of the Borough and friends of 3225.”

Mr Minty and his wife Ann have been members of the PLCA for six years, and on its committee for the past two years.

“We felt we had something to offer and the PLCA is a good organisation to belong to because it provides a voice for our community,” he said.

Mr Minty originally joined Qantas Airways as a management trainee in 1969 straight from school.

He then joined Malaysia Airlines to help them open offices in Australia, and then later became the director of operations for Jetset North America, before returning to Australia where he was appointed national sales manager for the travel company. Mr Minty left the travel industry to join Agfa Gaveart Limited, one of the world’s largest photographic companies, before he found another career in local government.

His interests include fishing, travel and family, plus community support and service, and he is a member of a number of organisations, including Probus and the RSL.

If you have any issues to discuss with Mr Minty concerning the community, you can contact him by emailing [email protected].