On Friday evening, 11 February 2011, community members from St Leonards, Portarlington and Indented Head came together at the beach in front of the Parks Hall Community Centre and Indented Head Community Hall to launch the Northern Bellarine foreshore planning project.
Uncle Bryon Powell started the proceedings with a welcome to country and gave an insight into local indigenous life over many generations. Cath Whelan, the new chair of the Bellarine Bayside foreshore committee of management, and Cr John Doull explained the project and encouraged everyone to get involved in the Northern Bellarine Peninsula foreshore plan, which will set future directions for the Crown land foreshore areas between Portarlington and St Leonards.
I know there is plenty of community interest in this project, which was demonstrated by the large attendance at the community walk held in adverse weather conditions. I take this opportunity to encourage other community members to get involved in the consultations. I wish Cath and her team, the City of Greater Geelong and the Department of Sustainability and Environment, all the best in their endeavours to ensure that we have the best possible plan for our much-loved public foreshore.