Surf Coast Times July 13

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Surf Coast Times

Tuesday 13 July 2010

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www.surfcoasttimes.com.au

VOL 8. No 28

FREE WEEKL WEEKLY

whale of a time

Torquay played host to a display of nature at its best yesterday when whales turned on an unforgettable show just off Torquay front beach. For more than an hour the whales entertained onlookers in the winter sunshine, to continue the run of whale sightings along the Surf Coast in recent weeks.

PEOPLE POWER PHOTO: STEVE RYAN

Concerned Surf Coast groups and residents to meet to pool resources in a bid to tackle climate change

BY NATHAN HALE THE FIRST Clean Energy Coast Forum will be held at Anglesea later this month with the aim of establishing a united front in the battle against climate change. Community groups and individuals from the Surf Coast, Bellarine and Otways will converge on Anglesea’s Memorial Hall on Friday, July 30 for a two-hour session. The forum is the initiative of Liberal candidate for Corangamite, Sarah Henderson, however, the forum steering committee underlined that the session will hold no political alliance whatsoever, with the main focus on community action. During the forum, the floor will be thrown open to everyone to contribute ideas on how best to utilise clean energy and tackle the threat of climate change

on our coastal region. “We are really lucky in this region to have so many alternate energy choices – and the trick here is to have all these groups together sharing ideas and talking about a common theme,� said Simon Pockley, co-chair of Otway Ranges Climate Action (ORCA) and chair of the forum’s steering committee. “It is terrific that we can have this forum happening and up and down the coast we have a number of community groups all striving for a similar outcome. “So to be able to have a clean energy forum, which is open to everyone, will be a great starting point to see what ideas people and groups have.� Pockley said the forum – which will be held from 3.30pm-5.30pm on July 30 – would act as a sounding board for what step to take next.

Surf Forecast

Apart from regional community groups, Pockley was also hoping a number of individuals would attend the afternoon session to show their support and put forward any ideas. The idea of providing a united front to tackle climate change is sure to gain merit – as it would provide not only strength in numbers, but pool resources and the knowledge from each group. “What has happened is that groups have looked at the different type of clean energy available – from wind, geothermal, solar, wave and tidal,� he said. “But when it comes to looking further into wind power, we have found that groups run into brick walls with planning overlays. “So that is something the forum can discuss, and hopefully we can look at the whole region from a planning perspective and perhaps get G21 involved.�

Along with Pockley, other members of the steering committee include Chris Mason, Strategic Planner with St Quentin Consulting, Andrew Lucas from Eco-Living and Caroline Hawkins, from the Surf Coast Energy Group. “The primary reason why I have agreed to participate is the need for a regional approach to renewable energy on a scale beyond the capacity of individual councils and groups,� said Hawkins. “The steering committee brings together a group of people with first-class credentials,� said Henderson. “I greatly appreciate the committee’s enthusiasm and fully endorse the politically neutral objectives of the forum.� Anyone interested in attending the forum is invited to the Anglesea Memorial Hall on Friday, July 30, from 3.30pm.

WED 3-5ft windy, WNW 12° THU 2-4ft dropping, WSW 12° FRI 3-4ft easihg NW 12° SAT 2ft+ lumpy N 14°

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Surf Coast Times July 13 by Surf Coast News Australia Pty Ltd - Issuu