AIDA Newsletter 1

AIDA NEWSLETTER MAY 1995

SURF COAST SHIRE ELECTIONS.

The Surf Coast Shire and the City of Greater Geelong were the first municipalities to have elections since the recent amalgamation of shires in Victoria. lt certainly was a red letter day for residents of the Surf Coast and there was an air of excitement not usually noted at polling booths.

Figures published in the local paper indicate there was a turnout of just over 57"/",50% in the coastal wards and70"/" in the area of WinchelsealMoriac. The results for our ward are as follows:

Ms Julie Hansen Mr Brian Butterworth MrEA(Mick) Archer

Prior to the elections, AIDA provided a questionnaire to each of the candidates. Their answers were printed and displayed on the public notice board. For the benefit of members who were not able to read these, we are including the questions and answers in this newsletter: Q.1 How do you perceive the settlements of Aireys lnlet, Fairhaven and Eastern View as differing from Anglesea and Lorne?

HANSEN: Aireys has retained a village atmosphere with less intrusive commercial development, less service infrastructure. People make a more definite lifestyle decision in choosing to live in this region.

BUTTERWORTH: Don't see them differing very much. Lorne somewhat different, something of the singles, playhouse scene and Anglesea, Aireys and Fairhaven are more family criented. And more family facilities such as golf, footbalt ovals, etc pre.;ented by Greens.

ARCHER: There are 6 or 8 areas of the Shire which are different and need to be treated differently. Torquay, Anglesea, Aireys and Lorne are very different. Anglesea and Aireys, for example, while being different need to cater more to families and people in retirement.

Q.2. How do you see Council carrying out the recommendations in the Aireys lnlet to Eastern View Structure Plan?

HANSEN: ldeally, through a new Surf Coast Planning Scheme with conservation and other overlap where appropriate , that conserves and reflects the special characteristics of AIDA Newsletter 2 individual areas and the overall Structure Plan. Controls to save us from Vic Code 2 maybe, if necessary.

BUTTERWORTH: Don't know about Structure Plan, but zoning is necessary part of planning.

ARCHER: Painkalac Creek should be left as is with passive recreation, but there will probably need to be a compromise reached with land owners. I basically support the zoning in the Structure Plan.

Q.3 Should building regulations and controls be uniform throughout the Shire? ls there a place for specific controls in sensitive areas?

HANSEN: NC, spare us all from the'urban character'of Torquay, please. YES, e.g. maximum retention of native vegetation on even minimum blocks and this be ENFOHCED. Believe that from Anglesea to Eastern View is very deficient in this area.

BUTTERWORTH: Zoning must be flexibie to blend with environment.

ARCHER: Need to be flexible, room for negotiating different restrictions in different areas, on a case by case basis. The RHR building regulations are heading in the right directions. Q.4 Expanding tourism along the Great Ocean Road produces both benefits and costs. How can Council work with local communities to solve the problem of providing additional necessary services?

HANSEN: Rubbish bins where appropriate, efficient litter collection, maintenance of car- parking areas, toilets possibly at Great Ocean Road Arch. Council also to implement a coordinated, integrated management approach with Foreshore Committees, AIDA, etc.

BUTTERWORTH: Council gets grants for tourism. Ocean Road must be widened to take additional tourists similar to some American freeways, similar to Big Sur in America. Must have room for big buses to park.

ARCHER: I have proposed for a long time the need to rationalise conservation, natural resources, foreshore and Council and to facilitate a cooperative management structure.

Q.5 lf elected a Councillor, how would you see your role in tapping the energy, knowledge and ideas of local communities? How do you envisage the share of participation and control between Council and local communities?

HANSEN: By being accessible, liaising, consulting with groups like AIDA, drawing on their expertise, advocating for Council funds, auspicing body for submissions for grants, advising where money is available to apply for. lnvolvement in Council advisory groups (e.9. Conservation Committee) in place of Councillors. I feel passionately about the wealth of resources communities have which are underutilised and undervalued. l'm not advocating exploitation to save Council dollars. l'm advocating partnership.

BUTTERWORTH: Local people will involve themselves and feed in the best ideas. qlDA Newsletter 3

ARCHEH: Local representative with an ear to the ground, like an old style Councillor representing local PeoPle. Q.6 What is your vision for Aireys lnlet and District over the next five years?

HANSEN: Vision of a town that is still a great place to live, relax for a weekend. Where there is a balance between quality of iife, the environment and future development. A healthy vibrant comm unitYl

BUTTERWORTH: No i'eal plan. Would like to see recreation and sporting facilities develop.

ARCHEH: Must be retained as a village. Wise to put efforts into promoting increase of permanent residents from the present 25% lo at least 400. More permanent residents would start to generate self-esteem in the community and provide necessary infrastructure, such as medical facilities, etc.

MOBILE TELEPHONE TOWERS

So you thought the problems of mobile telephone towers were confined to Brighton, Beaumaris and Belmont! Not so. We are about to have our very own high tech towers right here in beautiful Aireys lnlet.

While recognising the need for modern communications and the right by legislation for companies to do so, AIDA deplores the number of towers that could be erected. (Did our forefathers object to the number of coops being erected to house carrier pigeons?) agI-'r Already }tdeco-m has negotiated with the Aireys lnlet Water Board io erect its tower at the site of ihe water treatment plant. Now Vodaphone is pressing to put its tower in the vicinity of Spence Street.

AIDA has written to Austel asking it to use the precedent recently set at Jan Juc where Telecom and Vodaphone agreed to share the one tower, thus minlmising the visual interruption to the magnificent coastline.

Aireys lnlet is part of a unique and largely unspoiied coastline and is valued highly by both r.esidents and visitors. Many of us find the electricity poles and TV aerials an intrusion on the views. The opportunity lor underground power supplies was missed in 1983. Let us be vigilant this time and not allow further intrusion on the wonderful area so many of us treasure.

INDEPENDENT PANEL HEARING PROPOSED BEZONING AND SUB.DIVISION OF LAND ABOVE WYBELLENNA AND OFF BIMBADEEN DRIVE

Due to the large number of objections to this amendment the Minister for Planning appointed a two-member panel to make a decision on this matter. The panel, after an AIDA Newsletter 4

recommended the area NOT BE exhaustive two day hearing and visit to the site, FEZONED. Toni Mccormack committee members were very disappoi{9d that the commissioner ArDA that decision. She very rast ouv',. or[" it il . surt cbhst shire, chose to ignore on her the usual planning recommended to the Minister a new plan which was developed-without process. "fris cf aciicn excruies subsequentiy AIDA ilrote to tiinis-er tvlaclellan siating fiat ccrjrse make a mockery of the time community comment on the new proposal and.would seem to and the independent panel and effort put into the originat ameniment OV the obiectors McCormack would have members. We feel a more approptiit" Corrs" of aciion for Ms deveropment to the been to leave the decsion on such i sensitive and controversiar Councillori o1. to accept the panel's recommendation"' "t".teO has left many AIDA members The action by Ms Mccormack is puzzring to say the teast and quite non-Plussed. rcit'l reilvant cornments' lhe nrodified plan iecomrnencei tc &e minisier is sholvn sn page 7 tcgelher ***** CC$ISERVATICX{ CO\E N AN TS decisions where From time to time AIDA is pleased to give reports of significant are preserved and protected' commonsense h;;';;;;rir5Jino uilir ot oJr preciou5 coast held.ltlhq pic.nic-arelof the lronbark Basin, representatives of At a delightful ceremony surf gor"rn*-.nii,'vrr, eirr oixicii ine c.c.c. uno Ms Toni Mccormack for the two rocar Trust, Landcare, Coast Shire, arong ;ith representatrves of the Viciorian Conservation state Parliament witnessed the Angair, AIDA and-others dnd t*o memoers of the Victorian of environmental significance' signing of conservition covenants on tt'.r" following five areas

IRISIBARK BASIN I',IELLORS SWAMP PAI|\JKALAC CREEK GRASS TREE PAHK BR E Ai'rlLE,tuP 0tl'l T IMP0SSIEL= WE TLAND $ and Painkalac The areas most dear to AIDA members are, of course, Metlors sy3*p THE WETLANDS" subsequently creek. A smag but dedicateo group;r!i Fntrruos oF Please keep you fingers crossed has sought fundiJiom the t-an?cirL ,otogt,qT1 in.1ne area. know and ho.pe to.hav,? many for rhem. lt rs nJpel io noro i Field Dayl We will lef yoy the Weilands Study will realise the members loin usl ff,os" of you who have read importance of this unique area. AIDA Newsletter 5

HOW OBSEBVANT ARE WE?

Have you noticed little white buildings popping up like mushrooms at Easter? Don't despair, these are not toilets for the Little People but pumping stations, eight in all, to pump waste water from various sites to the number one (no pun intended) pumping station at the corner of the Great Ocean Road and Bambra Road. Our contact on the Water Board assures us it is not necessary for the buildings to remain white and may be painted a colour more in keeping with the surrounding area. Hurry on connection day!

AIREYS INLET ART AND CRAFT SHOW.

This annual show, which is run for the benefit of local organisations including AIDA, is in danger of lapsing for want of committee members to organise and administer it. The Art and Craft show has always been held on 1 and 2 January.

AIDA is desperately seeking members willing to assist in this event, as it provides a vital source of income for the association.

Volunteers would be asked to attend about half a dozen meetings during the latter half of the year and be present on either of the two days of the show. BUT MOST OF ALL, WE NEED YOUR IDEAS.

For more details: Jane Grant 8S,6 556. Homa Parslow 897 004.

HELPING THE STONES TO SPEAK tne Monuments of Aireys Inlet.

The Shire is about to produce the Conservation Strategy for our cornment and review. It is sure to be an interesting document, covering environmental and heritage conservation issues.

Jeanette Spittle, the Conservation Officer, reports that many people in the consultation process expressed the wish to hear the stories of this area. Who lived here before? What are the reasons for the names of beaches, special places, even the streets? And what are the stories behind the many different monuments in our district?

We think we might develop a story-te[ing heritage tour based on the many and varied monuments in the district . But many are not very eloquent. They don't tell much of the human story. Perhaps that is understandable because when they were put up, the stories were fresh and known to everyone. But now with direct memory faded, their meanings are obscure and their tales untold.

Take the Great Ocean Road Arch, for instance. Five plaques on the seaward pillar record the dedication of the Road and the official narrative of the three arches, but the human story of who built the road and at what cost is missing.

The two Moggs Creek monuments recording the arrival of Sir Samuel and the pioneers on 29th February 1759 a,re possibly Victoria's most famous informal memorials, but the details of this wonderful spoof may be unknown to many.

And what about all the seats, usually donated by family members or friends to remember someone who loved the views from the cliffs. But who were they? AIDA I'hslebter 6

The written histories from the Anglesea Historicai Society provide information about some of these memorials, but there are many stories still to be recorded.

Here is a list. If I have left any out, please let me know.

The Great Ocean Road Arch. Sir Samuel Moggs and The Moggs Creek Pioneer memorials The Bark Hut and the Pearse Cairn The Allen Noble Reserve Seats: Larry Ethell, Jack Mawhinney, Ian Brown Anderson-Roadknight Hall The Coiin Barton Oval. The Shipwreck Coast The Lighthouse.. icon/ symbol of Airey s.

Are there no monuments to women? None to the Wuthaurong, the Aboriginal people of the area? And no marker to Captain John Airey?

The most important event in the life of the community this century, the i983 Ash Wednesday Fire has no formal monument. The Colin Barton oval is named after the president of the Airey s Inlet School who died on Ash Wednesday, but there is no explanation on the sign which bears his name. What about The lron Barks? An unintentional memorial with many important stories, full of meaning? If you have stories you think should be told, I would love to hear them to assist in the preparation of a guide to the heritage of Airey s Inlet, Fairhaven, Moggs Creek and Eastern view.

Please contact Rachel Faggetter, P.O. Box 73, Airey s Inlet. TEL 896 399

STOP PRESS : laie thought the Newsletter was finished, but, no, flEu:ly items of interest became current so we had to State gets 20 lighthouses pu11 out our trusty old tlpewriter and The Federal Government has ecotourism." Mr Birrell said. the cut and paste squad with the foIl- agreed to transfer 20 Victorian "We wiil immediatelv be plac- owing resul-t. lighthouses to the state for the ing the lighthouses on the-His- nominal price of $198,120, end- toric Buildings register and lool ing a long standoff over the pro- at incorporating them inro AIREYS FLASTMR pased private sale of the sites. exisring national parks where The state Environment Min- possible." ister, Mr Birrell, said last night He said the sites could be O: reading the article alongside which that the state had agreed to used for backpacker accommo- was in "The Age" on 15 I',lay, we checked maintain and manage the prop- dation and recreation. w.ith our contact in the Australian Mar- enies and protect their conser- The sites, including Cape Ot- itime Safety Authority how vation and heritage values. The way, Cape Nelson, Cape on our Split sites had a book value of Schanck, Wilsons Promontory, Point lighthouse would be affected. $2,268,000. Citadel Island and Gabo Island, "This is great for Victoria, for will be transferred in Iuly. The advice given to us was: our coastal environment and for - Jason Koutsoukis

- the Conrnonwealth will be leasing the l-ighthouse back from the State and it will be continued as a functional (flashing) navigational aid,.

- the Conrnonwealth land on the cliff top betueen Lighthouse Road and A1lce Road (see map on page B) is stil1 subject of negotiation with the State but, a reguirerrent is that it remains as public open space.

It should be noted that, policy expressed in the 1993 Aireys Inl-et to Eastern View Adopted Structure Plan is: "Council...... will continue efforts to have the Conrnon- wealth land between Lighthouse Road and Alice Road transferred to the State and the area alongside Eagle Rock Parade annexed to the foreshore reserve',. AIDA NFlslebter 7

MODIFTED PLAN FOR WYBELLENNA LAND z'"- r\n I i(ira ! (Refer back to pages 3 & 4) r-r'J l"'"iL,-l

The plan now: i- \ ------t \ reduces number of lots from 73 Lo 48; \ removes all allotments east of l^rybelf- enna Drive and transfers that land into public ornrnership;

increases average lot size.Lo 723On2 with minimum size of lOOOrnz; requires a wildlife corridor at rear of lots along northern boundary by way of a prot,ective covenant on titles preventing any activity in these areas (including: removal of trees or under- storey); and reguires submission of furlher plans for approval to ensure road atignment minimises removal of significant iron- bark trees.

ANIGLESEA HEATFiLANDS

The areas coloured black on the adjacent map are now well on the way to becoming public land for addition to the Angahook-Lorne State Park. fhis outslanding achievement has been largely brought about through the vision and dedication of a sma1l giroup of people r+ho came toqether as the "Great Ocean Road Conrnittee", and set about lobbying and fund raising for the protection of the coastal heathland between Anglesea and Aireys In1et. Their work has been strongly supported by fund raising for land purchases has been groups and individuals (i-ncluding AIDA) ; Commonwealthr, ruhich was guite separate.

Donations and land purchase were handled =; through the V.C.T., and the newly appoint-:'. ed Director, Dr Brian lnihelan announced at ,,, a meeting with the G.O.R. Conrnittee on .,i L2 May that the G.O.R. appeal had raised :r'' over $392,000, leaving a debt balance of ..\( some $73,000. * # champagne) he then went :o But,(get out the .ilr ="-i-r1;2fi*il;-lluotrc ownershro. I rlra6e sousn v C.:. .6 on to. say that in view of the outstandinq :.h.-ea'h erhtuffi, well F fund raiiing achievement and the .tt '' recognised environmental significance of -+t\ i^''T"x:":i':;', 17 ijelsa:.&-6rcioaos i Trust aqreed to wipe off the ;ii-lil a,lrno r.sed.'. the area the f 'ubric debt - OIJB \aERY SINCERE THANKS TO TI{E =z ..i-i VICTORIAN CONSERVATION I,-":.1-'"1 ?."."":'il?.*i; TRUST. '-== ---i;Ft Fre.hold land Srouqni =. .ors.fr.llon:ov.nanl It is noteworthy that decisions and init- Air'=yrs lniet iat,ives by the Minist,ry for Planning have r-).1-=--*J l assisted in the proteclion of this section'l-2 P.rfrrf,ed n.r nous€- of coastline lhrough negotiated settlements, consenration covenants and designatlon of lhe whole area as the Anglesea Heathlands Special Control Area in recoga:ition of i.ts ecolog:ical and scenic rralue and the need for special planning controls. ATDA l\H^Elebt€r B

L.\ND CONSERVATION COLINCIL MARINE AND COASTAL SPECIAL I}MESTIGATION - PROPOSED RECOI.O,ENDATIONS yes, it is another one of many reports by Federal, State and Regional authorities on management of the coastline and its problems. But, it is worth close study as it wilr nodoubt materiatry influence the Viclorian and Bay Management Council (CABMAC) which is cr:rrenlfy beinq set up by the State goverrlment to provi-de for " - - -co-ordinated strategic plar:ning and management for the Vietorian coast...".

T'he L.c.c. put out a ,'Descrlptive Report" in June 1993 ior conrnent and, from our local dredrsubfiisiions included ones from AIDA, ANGAIR, the Aireys lnlet Foreshore Contnittee and others. T'he L.C.C. "Proposed Reconrnendations were released in April of this year and are available for comment unt,il 6 July 1995. The reconrnendat,ions take the form of a 726 page report which is av-ailable for $B-50, including postage, from lnformation Vlctori-a, 318 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, 3000' perhaps the main point of interest is the proposed zoning for the foreshore- T\ro zones are proposed for the coastal reserve: ''S\AKE q.]LLY' M:EVILY AMJM - the Coastal Protection Zone, vhere ET M\R FCR }[DITIO\ TO T.IE PAR< the primarY aim is to Protect nat- urai and culturai v-a1ues; and - the General Use Zone where there is capability of provlding opport- Urqunrr' unities for enjoyment for large numbers of peoPle without undue nnga}rO<+ore loss of natural & cultural v-alues. State Parl<

The map alongside has been specially obtained to give detail of the proposed General Use Zone at Aireys, and of the Eagle Nest Reef Underwater Recreation Area. The Coastal Protection Zone is the area outside the General Use Zone, extending @SR[, MOTECITCI\] from Lhe mouth of Painkalac Creek to ZCI\E Lorne and from Boundary Road to Point Roadlcright in the other direction. Eagle Nest Beef It, seems to us that some refinement of these zones is needed to include F-- WllL I'ANFGEIT* .' at least the Pairhaven S-L.S.C. area and the Urquharts Bluff recreai- ion area in the G.U. Zone. AfDA wi-11 be makingi a submission, and we encour- age others to do so too.

Fairhaven o9.o !^r'vbotnq9

Aireys lnlet

ocASEL moimTol N\E