Barwon River Loop Board Walk petition response

THE Surf Coast Shire says it has taken community feedback on board in the new design of stage 2 of the Barwon River Loop Walk in Winchelsea.

Councillors received a report about a petition relating to stage 2 at their meeting last month.

The Barwon River Loop Walk was identified in the Growing Winchelsea Shaping Future Growth document as the highest infrastructure priority.

The project comprises two stages, with Stage 1 completed in 2021 including access pathways and two pedestrian bridges.

Stage 2 will deliver the final stage of the walk and connect the four quadrants of Winchelsea, with completion scheduled for July of this year.

At their December meeting, councillors received a 10-signature petition from Winchelsea Ward residents asking the shire to reconsider its plan to install a 35sqm viewing platform on the south bank of the Barwon River as part of Stage 2 of the project.

“In making this decision, we believe the Surf Coast Shire has failed to communicate or consult with the residents impacted by its intent to install and has failed to consider the social, amenity and environmental factors of this river space,” the petition states.

According to the officers’ report to councillors, officers met with seven petitioners on January 17 to discuss their concerns with the proposed platform on the south bank.

“Based on the discussion, officers investigated the option to reduce the size of the platform and this has been achieved.

“Officers also outlined the community engagement opportunity where a revised design will be able to be reviewed and commented on.”

At their meeting, councillors unanimously resolved to noted the approach by officers of meeting with the petitioners and investigating potential adjustments to the design of the proposed platform referred to in the petition, and that community engagement planned for late-February will invite comments on the project, including the platforms.

Speaking at the meeting, Winchelsea Ward ccouncillor Heather Wellington said the affected residents were surprised by Stage 2 and the first they knew about the proposed platform was when holes were being drilled to determine the foundations of the platform.

“The problem with all this, of course, is that it happened without the local community knowing anything about it.

“I think when it was first raised in council – and it’s in the report tonight – it was pointed out that the local community groups had supported the concept of the walk and the platforms, but you can’t put the responsibility on community groups to consider the needs of the small number of adjacent neighbours who are affected, and I think we need to learn from that.

“In fact, we should never be doing something like this without talking to the neighbours who are affected by it… we can’t just say ‘The majority support it, therefore it’s fine’.”