Bellarine Times
Tuesday 9 March 2010
VOL 3. No 10
festival of the sea
www.bellarinetimes.com.au
FREE WEEKLY
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 9-PAGE FEATURE
BELLARINE PENINSULA EDITION
www.coastal-properties.com.au
Stylish entertainer
48-PAGE PROPERTY LIFTOUT INSIDE TODAY
Ocean Grove
A COSTLY DROP SPECIAL FEATURE > PG 20 & 21 > PG 71
WINE | FOOD | GIG | S ARTS
7 Heathwood Way, OCEAN GROVE
$489,000
Step inside this exquisite four bedroom, 30 sq family home and experience the feel of style and elegance. This stunning home is situated on a 610m2 (approx) block in the midst of the well known and highly sought after Kingston Estate. Open plan living / dining creates enormous space to fulfil the whole family’s needs. Includes theatre room and built in bar topped off with tasteful feature walls and all the mod cons. Master bedroom boasts walk in robe, parents retreat and ensuite,
whilst the three remaining bedrooms are double in size with built in robes and plenty of storage room. Outside is perfect for entertaining with a very private landscaped garden laced with mature trees, huge decked alfresco area, which leads to a secluded in ground spa for the perfect parent’s retreat. Other features include stainless steel appliances, stylish colour schemes throughout and double garage with remote and internal access. Be quick this wont last long!!!!
Inspection: Saturday 13th March at 11:30am
Agent: Wallington Real Estate, Wallington
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House size30sq (approx)
Land Size 610m2 (approx)
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Ducted heating and cooling
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Floating floorboards throughout
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Brand new stainless steel dishwasher
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Double side gate access to yard
Contact: Erin Llewellyn 0406 613 911 or Allason Lynch 0410 334 079
MONTHLY FEATURE
> PG 6 & 7
Wine tastings at local fairs and festivals could be under threat as Bellarine wine growers digest the impact of massive licence fee increases
BY ALISON MARTIN LOCAL winegrowers and tourism representatives are urging the State Government to re-think new licensing laws which threaten to “erode the Bellarine community as we know it”. The impact of new licence requirements on venues which present live music for patrons has been heavily publicised, with thousands of people taking their protest to the streets of Melbourne last month. However, the impact of increased licence fees on local vineyards and Bellarine community events is only just being realised. Wine growers could be forced to increase prices or simply not attend the Bellarine’s fairs, festivals and fundraisers. Bellarine Tourism chair, Hugo Armstrong, said the Bellarine and other regional areas were being “tarred with the same brush as a Melbourne nightclub”. “It appears to be a knee-jerk response but the blanket approach across Victoria shows the lack of thought that has gone into the changes to stop brawling and violence,” he said. Geelong Winegrowers Association (GWA) president, Lyndsay Sharp, said the new laws, introduced by the Victorian Government in January, were short-sighted and almost certainly guaranteed to sabotage numerous tourism activities in Geelong and throughout Victoria. “The ramifications of the fee increases are already being seen – fewer local wineries are choosing to participate in public events such as festivals, farmers’ markets, school and charity aligned fundraising activities and other public events,” Sharp said. “While the GWA endorses the Brumby government’s desire to reduce alcohol-induced violence, taking a shotgun approach to this issue – and simply introducing unrealistic fee hikes across the board – has crippling and broad-reaching implications for the Victorian hospitality and tourism industries as well.” Sharp said since January, a vigneron’s licence had
Surf Forecast
increased by more than 100 per cent to $397. “A limited renewable licence – to sell other wine and beer at a winery café – has increased by 698 per cent to $397,” he said. “A Temporary Liquor Licence – to attend one-off events – has increased by more than 300 per cent to $90.50.” Sharp said there were 62 members of the GWA and a vast majority of local wineries were small, family operated businesses that would now have to seriously consider whether to be involved in presenting and selling their wines at a range of public and community events throughout the year. “It’s a losing scenario all around – less wineries will become involved in tourism events designed to showcase local wine and less wine experiences will be on offer for the wine enthusiast to enjoy at cellar doors and public places,” Sharp said. “The state government will lose out as well when it finds it has dramatically reduced support for tourism ventures designed to attract people to Victoria.” She said the GWA would be pro-actively pushing for the new laws to be reconsidered. Armstrong urged the Bellarine community to get behind the protest against licensing charges and write to their local member and Brumby about their concerns. He said community events brought the Bellarine together and it would be a tragedy if they were impacted by increased licence-related costs, introduced to stop violence. “We are trying to get people to visit and enjoy our local wines but how do you recoup the money and remain competitive?” he said. “These changes could mean we lose our toe-hole in the tourism industry… Melbourne people will just take a cheap flight to Bali where you can listen to music and have a beer anywhere you like.” Armstrong also pointed out the licensing changes showed “a complete denial” about what’s fuelling the violence, which primarily was happening late at night at city venues.
CONTINUED PAGE 4
The Bellarine’s newest open water swim – the Wreck2Reef – proved a hit on Saturday with competitors from throughout the region taking to the water. In the women’s 18-29 years age division, Alison Moore proved too strong. For a list of winners, a full story and more ERIK HOLT photographs, see Pages 10 and 11.
WED 3-5ft+ easing, SSW 15° THU 2-3ft inconsistent, SSE 21° FRI 1-2ft peaky ESE 22° SAT 1-2ft clean NE 23°
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