MAYOR’S COLUMN-AUGUST 30, 2018

Destination Queenscliff
Council’s Destination Queenscliff project is designed to place Shortland’s Bluff at the heart of Queenscliff’s special character, conserving the significant military, maritime, indigenous and settlement heritage and the stunning beauty of the coastal vista, and rehabilitating vegetation in the area to create a focal point for residents and visitors alike.

Council’s vision for the Borough is that it remains a safe haven defined by its unique heritage, rich culture and significant natural environment, and a special and restorative place for an involved and caring community and our visitors.

We have an enduring role to play in conserving the extraordinary natural beauty of our region with ecological values of global significance, rich architectural heritage and military history fundamental to Australia’s defence.

These values underpin all the initiatives we undertake in the Borough, and they are at the heart of our planning for Destination Queenscliff.

Our recent community consultation activities on the concept designs for Destination Queenscliff included a set of open house sessions and a community survey that could be completed online, by mail and in person at Council’s offices or at any one of the open house sessions.

Independent analysis of the 122 survey responses revealed significant support for key elements of the project.

For example, 82 per cent of respondents support the proposed shared pedestrian and bicycle path connection to the township and foreshore, and the Queenscliff Lighthouse Reserve pathways and improved planting, while 74 per cent support the pathway linking Lovers Walk and 73 per cent support the provision of new public toilets at the site.

It has been extraordinarily disappointing to note recent misinformation broadcast on social media and in the wider community in relation to this project.

Council has prepared a folio of material about Destination Queenscliff, and we invite you to review this information, which is available at our offices at 50 Learmonth Street, Queenscliff, at the Queenscliff Library at 55 Hesse Street, and on our website queenscliffe.vic.gov.au.

If you are interested in this project and the future of the Borough, please take the time to read the whole story of Destination Queenscliff. We welcome and encourage your feedback, but equally we recognise the importance of providing you with correct information so that you can form a balanced view.

Vote now for Pick My Project initiatives in the Borough
Voting is now open for the Victorian Government’s ‘Pick My Project’ initiative.

Visit pickmyproject.vic.gov.au to find out more about the projects proposed in Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff and vote for up to three of your favourites before 5pm on Monday September 17 to help make these marvellous community ideas happen.

Projects include:
• Outdoor gym equipment stations in Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff
• Conserve the Lonsdale Rocket Shed as an interactive heritage site
• Interactive educational operating display of original lifesaving and radio equipment
• Point Lonsdale: Born to Rock!
• Community musical garden, musical instrument library and music education program
• Create a non-seasonal heritage-driven economy for Queenscliffe
• Integration and cooperation of current historical organisations
• Club rooms for Point Lonsdale Tennis Club
• Extend existing club rooms and create a shaded outdoor social space
• Preserving nationally important Australian heritage
• Urgent conservation of four nationally important heritage structures around the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse
• Queenscliff180 Family Swim
• Not-for-profit community event in the Borough of Queenscliffe
• Geelong and Bellarine Business Clinic
• Walk in, walk out, on demand support for small business owners.

Waddawarrung place names
Earlier in the year, the Councillors wrote to the Waddawarrung Co-op asking for confirmation of the Waddawarrung names for geographical features around the Borough of Queenscliffe, including Swan Island, so that we can use these names when we talk about the Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff Lighthouse Reserves and the Shortland’s Bluff area.

We would like to remind everyone that Queenscliff has been previously known as Whale Head as well as Shortland’s Bluff, so named by Captain William Hobson as the HMS Rattlesnake sailed up Port Phillip. Lieutenant John Shortland was a crew member on this voyage that also carried Captain William Lonsdale in to Melbourne.

Lieutenant Charles Latrobe changed the name to Queenscliff in 1853, in honour of Queen Victoria’s ascension to the throne.