Bellarine Times
Tuesday 15 December 2009
VOL 2. No 50
SEE PAGE 95
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Portarlington Monthly
SWEET RAIN 2-PAGE FEATURE > PAGES 6 & 7
BELLARINE PENINSULA EDITION
www.coastal-properties.com.au
Bright, airy and spacious
44-PAGE PROPERTY LIFTOUT INSIDE TODAY
20 Bonnyvale Rd, OCEAN GROVE
Kidz Korner
p a g es 8 2 & 8 3
$475,000 The property at 20 Bonnyvale Rd, Ocean Grove is an attractive 26sq home with plenty of space for the family situated on an elevated block of approx. 613sqm. Bright and airy inside with polished floorboards throughout, spacious living areas and hallways this home has a fresh open feeling as soon as you walk through the door. The master bedroom is located at the front of the property and has ensuite and WIR. Two further double bedrooms sit at the rear of the house zoned off from the family area providing peace and privacy, both have BIRs. The 4th bedroom could also be used as a spacious home office or guest room. The open plan living is perfect for the whole family to sit and relax at the end of the day. A large dining area and breakfast bar will be loved at meal times, while the cook in the family will be happy with the kitchen layout. Walk to schools, shopping centre and recreation facilities as well as the beach. Public transport is located nearby. This property will satisfy all the needs of today’s family and more! Inspection: By appointment Agent:
Wallington Real Estate
Contact:
Allason Lynch 0410 334 079
Three-year-old Wallington Christmas elf, Lucas Burns, gazes across the large crowd at Ocean Grove’s Christmas Carols in the Park on Sunday. Turn to Page 11 for more carol moments captured by photographer MICHAEL CHAMBERS.
Welcome recent rains set to provide Bellarine fruit growers with a bumper crop BY ALISON MARTIN AFTER years of drought, late spring and continuing summer rains are set to provide Bellarine fruit producers with a golden harvest. The peninsula’s farmers of cool climate grapes, olives and blueberries are celebrating an unexpected – but desperately needed – wet stretch which has the potential of rewarding the region with bumper crops. For the first time in many years, viticulturists and other fruit growers have been able to sustain their vines, trees and bushes with rainfall. Rain has also began to slowly fill dams and tanks, providing some farmers with the option to irrigate later in the season if necessary. Lighthouse Olive Oil manager, Tina McInerney, said her olive grove between Drysdale and St Leonards was thriving. “We had a lot of flower compared to last year, when the dry weather conditions really affected the fruit,” she said “The fruit was smaller than usual last season, which we put down to the lack of rain, and that resulted in less oil contact in the olives. “We only have rain water so we rely on the weather and last year we couldn’t water at all. “This year the dams are filling and we might even be able to irrigate. We have fruit set and it’s quite heavy.” McInerney explained that olive trees generally had one heavy season and one lighter harvest, and the coming season was expected to produce significantly higher yields than previous years and increased oil production. Local wine growers are also looking forward to
Surf Forecast
a profitable season, with vines responding well to the ongoing rain and bursts of sunshine. Leura Park Estate owner, David Sharp, said the vineyard at Curlewis was “looking fantastic” thanks to the spring and summer rains. “The amount of growth, the health and the colour is quite spectacular. We couldn’t have had better conditions,” he said. “We have had good flowering, no problems and at this stage we expect to have more fruit than last year; definitely above average cropping levels.” Kilgour Estate’s Anne Timms said her Portarlington vineyard was also “wonderful”, with promising signs for a bountiful crop. She said there was no sign of mildew, although they were keeping a watchful eye on the fruit. “The vines, the foliage just look fantastic and looking at the grape formation, we have the potential to have a really good season,” Timms said. Tuckerberry Hill blueberry farm owner, David Lean, said the Bellarine’s blueberries were ripening now and with a few warm days, some of the fruit could be ready to eat earlier than previous years. “It looks like it’s going to be a really good season and we could have some ready before our opening on Boxing Day,” he said. “There is more fruit on the bushes and the berries are bigger than last year.” Lighthouse Olive Oil, Kilgour Estate, Leura Park Estate and Tuckerberry Hill are all involved with the Bellarine Taste Trail initiative, which promotes the peninsula and its array of fresh, locally grown produce.
WED 0.5ft flat, NW 33° THU 1ft tiny, SW 19° FRI 3-4ft easing NW 22° SAT 2-3ft good W/NW 22°
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Bill Mouchemore BELLARINE PENINSULA
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