Surf Coast Times
Tuesday 31 May 2011
VOL 9. No 22
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
FREE WEEKLY
Shire goes to court
Warralily Coast launched on Saturday with the first round of sales proving popular with buyers. Brock and Alysha Sansom, from Waurn Ponds, were the lucky first purchasers – and they celebrated with wine and chocolates. See full story page 11.
BY NATHAN HALE
INQUIRY CALL Photo: MICHAEL CHAMBERS
Push grows for a full parliamentary inquiry into Anglesea River fish deaths
is sufficient to establish the cause of the Anglesea River Fish Kills nor the related health issues that have been occurring in the community,” the statement said. Anglesea Business and Tourism president, Raylene Fordham, said the association was content with findings already handed down and wanted to look forward – not back – to keep the town at the top of people’s holiday wish-lists. “We are looking forward to the outcomes from the review,” she said. “We have been told what the cause is and we are satisfied with that.” The State Government was unavailable for comment.
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Surf Forecast
kills be written off as ‘a naturally occurring phenomenon’. “I’ve been here 40 years and seen fish kills – but not total devastation…,” he said. “There’s not one sign of life or aquatic growth on the bottom of the river seven months on. It’s been catastrophic and for people to say it’s a naturally occurring thing – well, it hasn’t happened in last 40 years.” In a statement released, VRFish expressed its “dissatisfaction over the (Sustainable Water Environment) Department’s decision to downgrade the investigation to a review”. “VRFish does not believe that a review
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LOCAL anglers and fishing groups are calling on the State Government to hold a full parliamentary inquiry into their ongoing concerns over the Anglesea River. In a saga which is dividing opinion in the town, long-time local fisherman and deputy chair of the Anglesea River Support Action Group, Gary Bonner, has demanded a full inquiry into the river and what caused the hundreds of fish deaths last year. Bonner has been outspoken on the river – and now the state’s leading recreational body, VRFish – has echoed his calls. The government has commissioned a
review into the river, but Bonner is adamant that is not sufficient to find the real cause of what caused the fish kills. “At the moment the review is very limited in its scope… it’s limited to metals (in the water) and all the community is after is a full comprehensive inquiry,” he said. “We are definitely not happy with it being whittled down to a review. The way I read it, is that it will be a review of historical data, and to me, the only research recorded is that done by Professor Sherwood. “And that was basically funded by Alcoa and presented by Alcoa – and it was a very limited study anyway.” Boner also dismissed claims that the fish
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BY NATHAN HALE
SURF Coast Shire is set to launch an appeal over VCAT’s decision to overrule the footpaths special charge scheme in Jan Juc. The shire said it would appeal the decision in the Supreme court because of concerns the decision breaches legislation and might set a Victorian legal precedent. VCAT set aside the Jan Juc pathway special charge scheme on the basis that some of the properties included in the scheme to fund footpaths in Jan Juc would not receive a special benefit. Council chief executive officer, Mark Davies, said the appeal did not mean council has decided to proceed with the construction of pathways in Jan Juc. “Council will not make any decision on the construction of pathways in Jan Juc until the Supreme Court has determined the outcome of this appeal,” Davies said. “This appeal is based on the legal implications of VCAT’s decision, which could have significant impacts on councils throughout Victoria. “Council’s legal fees for the appeal have been capped at $5,000.” Meanwhile, council is also exploring the possibility of contributing funding to Torquay Commerce and Tourism Association’s appeal against VCAT’s decision to allow Bunnings to build a store in Torquay. Acting mayor, Libby Coker, said council will not be involved in the Supreme Court legal appeal based on legal advice, but it supports the traders in their appeal. In August last year council rejected Bunnings’ application and defended its decision after Bunnings took the matter to VCAT.
Factory Outlet Store, 55 Little Fyans St, South Geelong.
Melways Ref: Page 452 B8.
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