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The Drysdale & Clifton Springs Community
Association Inc. (DCSCA) has today lodged its “Top 6” projects with the City of
Greater Geelong’s Community Budget Submissions program.
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| Oh really? |
The
program invites community
groups and organisations to submit proposals for consideration as the council
prepares its 2016-17 budget.
Eligible
projects would consist of capital works on council assets, but there is plenty
of opportunity for local ‘in kind’ contributions by local communities. For
example, DCSCA has good links with local clubs, groups and schools; and
it would be happy to assist in collecting information for scoping studies and
in disseminating their results for public comment.
Below are abbreviated versions of DCSCA’s Top 6 projects.
(It was meant to be “Top 5”, but three projects tied for 4th place!)
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1. A Swimming Pool at the Drysdale
Sports Precinct
The council should create an indoor/outdoor swimming pool
and related facilities as part of the Drysdale Sport Precinct, to service the
central Bellarine. Council officers have said that the population of Drysdale and Clifton Springs needs be 45,000 to justify a pool; but this figure is based on a recommendation from 2008 – six years ago – since when the advice and recommendations of health and leisure professionals has changed significantly. For instance, in March 2012, Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA) recommended that a 25m pool should be provided for a population of 30,000 people (http://www.parksleisure.com.au/documents/item/1280).
If a pool in Drysdale were to open tomorrow, it would serve a population of over 35,000 (i.e. well over the PLA recommendation), with summer holiday-makers increasing the figure to approximately 55,000. However, Drysdale is a designated Growth Area, which means that its population will increase to approximately 40,000 by 2019; with summer holiday-makers increasing the figure to approximately 65,000. At the same time, the pressure on Ocean Grove's already overcrowded pool will continue to grow independently, as it, too, is a designated Growth Area; and the imminent closure of the privately owned pool in Portarlington will only make a bad situation even worse.
The project should be in four stages:
1: A scoping study to determine community support; to
forecast needs, patronage, benefits and, therefore, design; and to estimate
costs.
2: Construct the swimming pool.
3: Construct a Wellness Centre (Hydrotherapy, Gym, Spa,
Sauna).
4: Construct waterslides, a diving pool and a competition
pool.
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Objectives of the
project
·
To provide long-term, water-based sporting,
health, educational and social benefits to people of the central Bellarine
Peninsula, especially the 3,500 students at 3 local kindergartens and 6 local
schools.
·
To reduce the costs and the 'carbon footprint' of
travel to and from existing pools (e.g. Ocean Grove - over-subscribed already)
·
To increase and diversify local employment and
career opportunities.
·
To provide a new attraction to potential tourists.
·
To create economies of scale (infrastructure and
staff) by locating it in the Sports Precinct.
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2. A lookout tower on Murradoc Hill,
Drysdale
The
council should design and build a lookout tower on Murradoc Hill, in Drysdale.
This is the highest point of the Bellarine Peninsula and it offers panoramic
views around the peninsula and over Port Philip Bay to the Mornington
Peninsula. A lookout tower at this location would be a ‘must see’ destination –
not just for tourists but for Bellarine residents, too. Its attraction would
increase traffic in Murradoc Road, offering businesses increasing custom; and
the commissioning process could favour local architects and builders, while still
seeking value for money.
The project
should be in 3 stages:
1: A scoping study to determine community support; to
forecast patronage and benefits; to determine site ownership and management;
and to set design parameters.
2. Invite proposals (including costs) by competitive
tender, actively encouraging local architects and builders to apply, and put
them on display for public comment and voting.
3. Commission the construction of the tower and any
associated infrastructure.
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Objectives
of the project:
· To provide the Bellarine Peninsula
with an iconic tourist attraction
· To increase custom in the businesses on Murradoc Road
· To emphasise the tower’s
‘localness’ by actively involving local architects and builders in its design
and construction.
3. A Railway Museum at Drysdale
Station
The
council should collaborate with Bellarine Railway to design and build a Railway
Museum at Drysdale Station, as part of Bellarine Railway’s continuing program
of renovating and upgrading its sites and rolling stock. The project is likely
to attract funds from state and federal governments’ regional funding and from historical
and/or rail societies. It is also very likely to attract ‘crowd funding’ (fund-raising
online) from rail enthusiasts across the state.
The
Museum should be run by a Trust; the council would have no responsibility for
its maintenance.
The
project should be in 3 stages:
1: A scoping study to determine community support; to
forecast patronage and benefits; to determine site ownership and management; to
investigate possible sources of Museum contents; and to set design parameters.
2. Invite proposals (including costs) by competitive
tender, actively encouraging local architects and builders to apply, and put
them on display for public comment and voting.
3. Commission the construction of the Museum.
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Objectives
of the project:
· To enhance the attractiveness and
social/historical standing of the Bellarine Railway
· To add to the Bellarine Historical
Society’s status as a portal to the region’s history
· To offer visitors to the area an
added incentive to travel on the Bellarine Railway and/or to walk or cycle on
the Bellarine Rail Trail.
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4. An artificial reef for the
Clifton Springs fishing jetty
The
council should design and build an artificial reef for the Clifton Springs
fishing jetty, as part of its continuing program of improving the stability,
access and attractiveness of the Clifton Springs foreshore. The reef will
increase fish numbers by offering a relatively safe environment, making the
area more attractive to recreational fishers. If practicable, the reef should
be made partly or wholly of glass, contributing to the area’s growing
reputation as a centre of glass-related activity.
The
project is likely to attract funds from state and federal governments’ regional
funding. It is also likely to attract ‘crowd funding’ (fund-raising online)
from fishing enthusiasts in the region.
The
project should have 3 stages:
1: A scoping study to determine community support; to
forecast the effects on the usage of the fishing jetty; to determine management
of the reef; and to set design parameters.
2. Invite proposals (including costs) by competitive
tender and put them on display for public comment and voting. Actively encourage
local businesses and glass artists to apply, while still seeking value for
money.
3. Commission the construction of the reef.
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Objectives
of the project:
· To ensure that fishing at the
jetty is sustainable by increasing fish numbers
· To promote the work of relevant local businesses and glass artists.
4. An artificial reef for The Dell,
Clifton Springs
The
council should design and build an artificial reef for The Dell at Clifton
Springs, as part of its continuing program of improving the stability, access
and attractiveness of the Clifton Springs foreshore. The reef will increase the
area’s attraction – especially to snorkellers - because it will increase fish
numbers by offering a relatively safe environment. Also, it will offer a
picturesque view from The Dell lookout. If practicable, the reef should be made
partly or wholly of glass, contributing to the area’s growing reputation as a
centre of glass-related activity.
The
project is likely to attract funds from state and federal governments’ regional
funding. It is also likely to attract ‘crowd funding’ (fund-raising online)
from snorkelling enthusiasts in the region.
The
project should be in 3 stages:
1: A scoping study to determine community support; to
forecast the effects on patronage of The Dell; to determine management of the
reef; and to set design parameters.
2. Invite proposals (including costs) by competitive
tender and put them on display for public comment and voting. Actively encourage
local businesses and glass artists to apply, while still seeking value for
money.
3. Commission the construction of the reef.
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Objectives
of the project:
· To enhance The Dell’s
attractiveness a) by increasing fish numbers to encourage snorkelling and b) by
offering a picturesque view from The Dell lookout
· To promote the work of relevant local businesses and glass artists.
4. Improved access to the Clifton
Springs foreshore at Beacon Point
The
council should create a new easy and safe access to the foreshore at Beacon
Point, as part of its continuing program of improving safety and access at the
Clifton Springs foreshore. Easy access and signage should encourage residents
and visitors to walk east and west along the Clifton Springs foreshore –
perhaps even to take the 2-hour scenic foreshore walk to Portarlington.
The
project should have 3 stages:
1: A scoping study to determine community support; to
forecast the effects on the foreshore and its infrastructure; and to set design
parameters.
2. Invite proposals (including costs) by competitive
tender and put them on display for public comment and voting. Actively encourage
local businesses to apply, while still seeking value for money.
3. Commission the construction of the new access point.
Objectives
of the project:
· To encourage greater use of the Clifton
Springs foreshore for health & recreation.
·
To
promote the work of local businesses involved in the project.
Signage for Scenic Trails in Drysdale
and Clifton Springs (also submitted)
The council should provide signage at strategic points to
identify existing scenic trails for walkers and cyclists. The trails link
points of interest and scenic locations around Drysdale and Clifton Springs,
such as The Dell Lookout, Lake
Lorne, McLeod’s Waterholes and Griggs Creek.
Identifying and promoting these scenic trails will attract
more visitors to Geelong and the Bellarine, which DCSCA believes could become
an internationally-recognized destination for recreational walkers and cyclists.
DCSCA has actively promoted scenic trails in Drysdale, Clifton Springs and the
Bellarine Peninsula more broadly. As a result, some are identified in the REMA
Tourist Information Map and in the 2014 North Bellarine Business and Services
Directory.
The project could start with four signs: at Drysdale
Station, the Boat Harbour, The Dell lookout and a location on the Rail Trail.
The project is likely to attract sponsorship, because State
and Federal Governments, businesses and service groups would be glad to be
associated with it.
Objectives of the
project
·
To promote the central Bellarine to potential tourists,
especially recreational walkers and cyclists.
·
To reduce health costs by improving community
health and well-being through active recreation and social activity.
The High Tea was booked out two weeks in
advance and, not surprisingly, owner Marc Rodway is delighted. “It will be a great start to this
year’s Festival of Glass and to its Treasure Hunt”, he said.
