Surf Coast Times
Tuesday 22 June 2010
VOL 8. No 25
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
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Torquay Hotel bumper giveaway! FOR DETAILS SEE PAGE 66 » STICKER INSIDE Anthony Barnett made history on Saturday when he became the first person to own a block of land at the Warralily residential development – the first of its kind at Armstrong Creek. Barnett, pictured with his children, Brydan, 10, and Charlie, 5, and his parents, was the first person drawn out in the ballot system used to secure blocks. See full story Page 16.
BELLS BEST Photo: COURTESY OF REDSTICK
Surf Coast scoops the pool at state awards with Bells Beach named Victoria’s best
BY NATHAN HALE THE SURF Coast Shire has received a huge tourism boost with Bells Beach taking out the State’s top prize at last week’s Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Awards. As competition for the tourist dollar continues to grow, the naming of the iconic Bells as the State’s cleanest beach is set to thrust the shire back into the tourism spotlight. In a memorable night for the region, the shire took home four awards – sharing one with the Bells Beach Advisory Committee – to lead the way at the gala function. Apart from winning the top award, other awards included:
Surf Forecast
• Community action: Council and Bells Beach Advisory Committee – Bells Beach • Pam Keating Environmental Innovation: Council – Bells Beach Coastal Management and Interpretive Plans – Bells Beach • Towards Zero Waste: Council – Waste Wise Bells – Bells Beach. Surf Coast Shire Mayor, Libby Coker, welcomed the announcements and said the awards were recognition for a lot of hard work. “These awards recognise council’s concern for the Bells Beach Surfing Reserve,” she said. “Bells Beach is an internationally recognised location and these awards serve to highlight the efforts going into managing this special place.” Coker also took the opportunity to underline
that, contrary to recent reported comments, draft management plans currently on public display were designed to ensure a sustainable future for the iconic surfing destination. “The draft Bells Beach Coastal Management Plan is about finding ways to deal with the risks to the fragile environment of reserve and look after it into the future,” she said. “It is about managing the increasing people pressure it faces. “The fact that the Surf Coast has won the Environmental Innovation Award for the draft management plan recognises our careful and strategic approach to the management of the reserve. “We have a responsibility to act. If we do not, Bells Beach Reserve will be further degraded.”
Coker encouraged people to comment on the draft plan, which contains recommendations including: • Developing a licensing scheme to ensure the more-than 30 commercial operators that now use the Bells area contribute to maintenance • Providing upgraded infrastructure including a renewal of the stormwater systems, toilets at the Winkipop car park, new rubbish bins and landscaping that will preserve vegetation and views from current car parks • Reconfiguring the Winkipop car park to provide more efficient use of space and provide better, safer access for pedestrians, while preserving views of the surf. The plan will be on exhibition until Wednesday, June 30.
WED 2-3ft consistent, NNE 15° THU 2-3ft building, N 20° FRI 2-4ft+ building WNW 30° SAT 3-4ft steady NW 20°
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