Surf Coast Times
Tuesday 5 January 2010
VOL 8. No 01
SEE PAGE 4
TO WIN
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
FREE WEEKLY
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 10-PAGE FEATURE
> PG 87
BELLARINE PENINSULA EDITION
www.coastal-properties.com.au
¼ Acre of paradise 18 Martin Street, INDENTED HEAD $459,000
WINE | FOOD | GIG | S ARTS
64-PAGE PROPERTY LIFTOUT INSIDE TODAY
Located in the quiet holiday hamlet of Indented Head all the hard work is done on this 5 year old B/V home. Peaceful and quiet, the tranquil life you desire is within a short stroll to the beach. All is in readiness for you to move in and enjoy what seaside living can offer. The reality of a quality home on that larger block by the seaside can become a reality. You will be impressed with the design of the home and the quality of the fittings utilized. • 3 generous sized bedrooms (master with full ensuite) • Tasmanian Oak polished floorboards in living area – carpet in bedrooms • Open and spacious family and dining area • Modern and spacious kitchen • Natural gas cook-top, electric wall oven, spacious corner pantry. • Formal separate living area • Reverse cycle heating and cooling • North facing timber deck for entertaining • Double glazed windows • Double garage with remote and internal. • Access to rear yard from side of property • Beautiful established gardens and garden shed • Plumbed water tank ready to maintain the gardens • Fantastic children’s cubby house This home is well worthy of your inspection in order to appreciate the peace and tranquility of the area The wonderful home on offer and ultimately what bayside living of this caliber can offer. Inspection: By appointment Stockdale & Leggo, Portarlington Agent: Contact: Glen Downard 0409 502 620
WEDDING BLISS > PG 19
While most four year olds are learning to ride a bike or scooter, Lulu Higgins has already mastered the surfboard. The youngster was out catching waves with the best of them at Jan Juc last week, and judging by her style, she knows what she is doing… so watch out Steph Gilmore! Photo: ANDREW MATHER
XMAS BONANZA Local retailers enjoy the best holiday season in years as thousands flock to the Surf Coast
BY NATHAN HALE SURF Coast retailers are hailing this ChristmasNew Year holiday season as the best they have seen. Thousands of visitors have again flocked to the coast to enjoy the summer sunshine, brilliant beaches and superb shopping – and they have been splashing out in the process. Torquay’s Bakers Delight shop has undoubtedly been the busiest shop, serving between 1,300 and 1,400 customers every day since the lead-up to Christmas. Franchise owner, Christian Jackson, said his team of bakers had been working throughout the night to ensure stocks were sufficient for each early rush.
Surf Forecast
“We have had six bakers working from about midnight and we are turning the ovens off each day at around about 3pm, so it is a lot of baking,” he said. “We are probably getting around 1,300 to 1,400 customers per day at the moment… it has been great for business and it is definitely busier than last year. “And with the warm weather expected to remain, it will ensure people continue to visit the area during the holiday period.” Jackson said the increase in daily customers represented a boost of more than 50 per cent to his normal trading figures. Rosemary Featherston, from Torquay Books, echoed the comments of Jackson, saying the preand post-Christmas weeks had proven busy.
Featherston said a number of familiar faces had again returned this year. “We had a really good period leading into Christmas and post-Christmas has also been very strong,” she said. “The bulk of people we get are people who come down here to Torquay each year – they either have holiday homes here or they camp here. “We see some familiar faces every January and that has again been the case this year. They come down each holiday season, and when you mix that with other tourists, it has been a very busy period.” Torquay Commerce and Tourism president, Martin Duke, who also operates Surf Sight Optical, said the weather has played a major role in retaining
tourists this holiday season. And with the weather expected to remain good, Duke expects the remainder of the month to remain busy. “There are definitely more people than there have been over the past few years,” he confirmed. “We are up in trade by about 30 per cent, and the big thing this year has been that it has stayed fine. “The last two years it rained between Christmas and New Year and people went home. This year has been fine – and is expected to stay that way – so people are staying down here. “I think there are also a lot more day-trippers, and they add up as well. It all makes for a great start to 2010 for local businesses.”
WED 2ft+ peaky, SW 20° THU 3ft+ bumpy, E 22° FRI 2-3ft easing NE 30° SAT 1ft clean NW 33°
PAGE
Friendly & reliable service Manufacturers warranty Over 20 years experience Motorised blind specialists
Specialising in awnings, motorised and roller blinds, plantation shutters and timber venitians. 2930 Champion 80x258_SCT_V2
Call 5261 9666 for an obligation free quote. Stocking
103