Bellarine Times
Tuesday 19 October 2010
VOL 3. No 42
www.bellarinetimes.com.au
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ELECTION LOOMS St Leonards artist, Irene Jenkins, has donated four of her colourful and quirky works to St Leonards Progress Association to be reproduced as postcards. The postcards will be sold at the St Leonards Community Festival to raise money for improvements to the community hall. Turn to Page 9 for the full story and festival details. Photo: MICHAEL CHAMBERS
State election candidates set to meet at Bellarine community forum
BY ALISON MARTIN WITH less than six weeks until the Victorian election, Bellarine candidates have confirmed they will debate each other and have been called to face a community forum. The forum has been planned by the Affiliation of Bellarine Community Associations in Portarlington and candidates who attend will be asked to respond to a series of questions, as well as have a brief opportunity to explain why they are standing. Member for Bellarine, Lisa Neville, Liberal candidate, Kurt Reiter, and Australian Greens candidate, Judith Baldacchino, have all been invited and are expected to attend.
Surf Forecast
ABCA representative, Patrick Hughes, said candidates would be asked how they would assist local communities on the Bellarine to retain and expand their community facilities, including public halls and neighbourhood houses. Community consultation will be a key issue, with candidates to respond to how they will ensure local people will be included in discussions at state and local level about the development of the Bellarine’s natural, social and economic assets. Hughes said the affiliation would ask how each party, if elected, would provide policy and funds to address the various threats from climate change facing communities on the Bellarine. Candidates will be asked to explain their clean
energy initiatives, ideas to promote a post-carbon economy on the Bellarine and opportunities for green job creation, particularly for young people. Hughes said the ABCA would also allocate time for candidates to outline their highest priorities for the Bellarine over the next five years and 10 years. Neville said she would be attending a number of forums with other candidates, including the ABCA. “Also, I am taking part in a radio debate with Mr Reiter on Pulse FM during the campaign. These forums will provide a valuable opportunity to debate issues in our community,” she said. “However, I am focused on talking to community members right across Bellarine and will continue the regular meetings and forums I hold with individual
residents, along with community, sporting and business groups.” Liberal candidate Reiter has welcomed the ABCA forum, confirming he would attend, and said he was also looking forward to the traditional election debate on community radio with the sitting Member for Bellarine. He said he had already hosted a series of public meetings to gauge community views on issues affecting the Bellarine, door-knocking and ongoing consultation over the past eight months, which had been crucial in forming in policy platform. The ABCA community election forum will be held from 7pm-8.30pm on Wednesday, November 10 at Parks Hall, Portarlington.
WED 1-2ft small, NW 19° THU 1-3ft best day, NNE 23° FRI 1-2ft+ small NNW 25° SAT 1-2ft small WSW 26°
Hon Lisa Neville MP Member for Bellarine
Please contact my office if there is anything I can help you with. Shop 1, Centro Newcomb, 71 Bellarine Highway, Newcomb 3219 Phone: (03) 5248 3462 Email: lisa.neville@parliament.vic.gov.au
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