Mayor’s Column: Cr Ross Ebbels from the Borough of Queenscliffe, June 18

WITH restrictions easing almost by the fortnight, it was encouraging to see the main streets of Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale a hive of activity over recent weekends as local cafes and restaurants were able to open their doors to a limited amount of dine-in customers.
It reminded me that we may have taken that feeling of sitting down for a coffee or meal for granted, and having that taken away from us during the lockdown period has made it all the more sweeter now we can return.
I might sound like a broken record here, but I need to reiterate the importance of supporting our local businesses, who now need our help more than ever. It’s those same local businesses that have, for so many years, supported our town and its people by providing sponsorships, assisting community groups and contributing to fundraisers.
Get on the phone, jump online, make a booking for a sit-down meal or perhaps even just keep up your weekly takeaway trend. Every little bit counts.
You might have seen on our Facebook page recently that Council is installing a free RV dump point on Hygeia Drive, Queenscliff for campervans, motorhomes and all self-contained vehicles to dispose of their waste efficiently and in an environmentally friendly manner. I was so pleased to see the overwhelmingly positive response on our post, particularly from the keen travellers who noted that they will now make a point of stopping by Queenscliff specifically to utilise the dump point now that it will be soon be operational.
The flow-on effect from having more people using Queenscliff as a specific destination or designated stopping point due to the dump point will certainly be beneficial for our traders and café owners. I must thank the Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia for their financial support in helping fund the installation, which will be promoted nationwide throughout their vast network.
Other well received recent news was the planting of new Monterey cypress trees in the Avenue of Honour’s existing gaps. This has been a long-term project for Council and it’s brilliant to have something tangible in place that we can all watch grow over the coming months and years.
Thank you to everyone who has provided their feedback and suggestions over the journey. The Avenue is such an iconic part of the Borough, not only for its physical beauty but also its historical significance, and we must protect that.
Have you popped into the Queenscliff Library yet? It’s back open! The Borough has one of the highest library membership rates in the state, so I know how much you all value its presence – and how much you’ve missed it being open for business. The team at Geelong Regional Libraries (GRLC) have been doing a great job with their online offerings over the shutdown period, but there’s something irreplaceable about being able to pick up a book in your hands once more. Make sure to check out the GRLC website or Council’s Facebook page for social distancing guidelines and precautionary measures to be taken when entering the library.
I must thank the GRLC, actually, for inviting me to take part in their ‘Story Time @ Home’ series that has been streamed on their YouTube page (and Council’s Facebook page) over the last few weeks. During the isolation period, a number of councillors and other community leaders from the around the area have taken part in the initiative that sees us reading children’s books to camera for kids to watch at home while the libraries were still closed. I was lucky enough to be able to read the book Defiance Goes to Sea: A Tale of the Queenscliff Couta Boats written and illustrated by a group of Borough locals, and then follow up with the sequel a couple of weeks later.
Finally, don’t forget that it’s important to continue practicing social distancing and taking all the necessary health measures to keep the Borough COVID-free. Keep up the great work!
As always, please stay safe and continue to do the things that make our community great.

Cr Ross Ebbels
Mayor, Borough of Queenscliffe