Surf Coast Times
Tuesday 7 December 2010
VOL 8. No 49
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
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Brilliant sunshine greeted Torquay’s High Tide Festival on the weekend as the community event drew people from throughout the region. Saturday’s street parade encouraged community groups to take part and enjoying the ride were these budding surf life savers. See more High Tide Festival photos from PETER MARSHALL on Page 13.
BIG SPLASH New mayor Dean Webster says he will continue to push for an aquatic centre in Torquay
BY NATHAN HALE THE FIGHT for an aquatic centre in Torquay is set to be renewed after Surf Coast Shire Mayor, Dean Webster, announced he will do all he can to push for the much-needed facility. Speaking after he was elected at last week’s special council meeting at Surf World, Webster said the shire is set for an exciting 12 months ahead. “I definitely think our community’s vision for an aquatic facility has to stay on council’s future agenda,� he said. Webster – who is in his second stint as mayor having held the position from December 2007 to December 2008 – was elected to the top spot unopposed, replacing Libby Coker (pictured). He has been a long-time supporter of the push for
Surf Forecast
an aquatic facility and his election will be welcomed by many throughout the community who want to see action on the possibility of a pool in Torquay. Along with the push for an aquatic centre, Webster is also adamant the shire will protect Bells Beach Surfing Reserve to the full. “We will protect Bells from the adverse impacts from commercial buses by reducing their frequency and enforcing a licence fee to be directed back into maintaining the reserve,� he said. “We have a big year ahead of us with the recent election of a new state government and we are committed to working with them to achieve the best outcomes for our community. “Also, we need to ensure the completion of major projects like the 2040 Sustainable Futures Project and we have the Community Civic Recreation
Precinct in Torquay North, now under construction. “In Winchelsea we will partner with the community for the Eastern Reserve redevelopment, with a $2.5million Community Hub and we will also actively engage with the Coalition to facilitate a natural gas connection to the town. “We will also continue our commitment to improving our relationship and engagement with the Lorne community.�
Lights go out BY NATHAN HALE TORQUAY business leaders and Surf Coast Shire representatives are fuming after the town’s first community Christmas tree was ruined just six hours after its lights were turned on. As the town basked in the afterglow of another successful High Tide Festival – which culminated with the lighting of the Christmas tree along front beach on Saturday night – joy was turned to despair within hours. Some time after 2am on Sunday morning vandals climbed the tree and tore down the solar panels which lit the showpiece – as well as ripping wires from the structure. “Whoever did it are a bunch of bloody idiots,â€? said Torquay Commerce and Tourism’s Martin Duke. “They have destroyed the town’s Christmas spirit‌ they haven’t broken us, but it is just so disappointing.â€? Duke said upwards of $2,000 will now need to be raised in the next couple of days in a bid to have the lights back up and running for Saturday night’s Carols by the Sea.
WED 0-1ft tiny N/NE 22° THU 0-1ft flat, W/NW 20° FRI 1ft small W/SW 16° SAT 1-2ft+ building W/NW 19°
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