Surf Coast Times
Tuesday 30 November 2010
VOL 8. No 48
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
FREE WEEKLY
A mesmerising fusion of fire and dance will be on show at this weekend’s High Tide Festival in Torquay. The 20-minute show – titled Infinite Inferno – will deliver a breathtaking performance as part of the three-day festival. Pictured preparing for the performance were (from left) Gabby Earle, Renne Vetrone and Julie Clough. Photo: PETER MARSHALL
SCHOOL BOOST Torquay’s education puzzle set to be solved with the Coalition poised to form government
BY NATHAN HALE TORQUAY is set to have a standalone primary school and standalone secondary school as the Liberal-National Coalition was last night on the verge of ending 11 years of Labor Government rule. As Andrew Katos ousted Michael Crutchfield as Member for South Barwon, the Coalition was also set to return to power, with Premier John Brumby expected to conceded defeat. With the election result comes clarity over the future of education in Torquay. One of the hottest pre-election topics, the future of Torquay schooling can now be secured – with the Coalition promising $20million to build a new secondary school in Torquay north and reverting Torquay College to a primary school. Katos, who just two-and-a-half years ago was
working with the family seafood business, said the result was the culmination of a number of factors – including a strong local campaign and years of infrastructure neglect in the region. “This has been 12 months of hard work but it has all been made worthwhile,” Katos said. “There are a lot of issues in South Barwon and we will now work hard to start rectifying those. “We campaigned hard on schools, kindergartens, health, law and order and transport – and if we are able to form government it will be a priority to make sure all of those commitments are met.” The formation of a government will provide surety for thousands of concerned parents who had no idea what direction their children’s future schooling was going to take. “The first thing we will implement will be the education promise – that’s priority,” Katos said.
Surf Forecast
“Regional infrastructure is another priority and we will be making sure our commitments are honoured as soon as we can.” Katos, a current City of Greater Geelong councillor, said he will resign that post as soon as the election is declared. With a swing of just 2.3 per cent needed for Katos to oust Crutchfield, the voting mirrored that of the majority of the state with a huge swing against Labor. As of yesterday, the swing to Katos was 5.9 per cent. With 78 per cent of the votes counted, Katos had 54 per cent (19,799) of the two-party preferred vote, compared to Crutchfield’s 46 per cent (16,812). In primary voting, Katos polled 46 per cent of the vote (16,969), Crutchfield 36 per cent (13,301), with Surf Coast Shire councillor and Australian Greens candidate, Simon Northeast, next with nine per cent (3,314).
Crutchfield – who had held the seat since 2002 when he broke the Coalition stronghold – said he had enjoyed his stint. “It has been a pleasure representing this electorate – a real privilege to represent the people of the Surf Coast,” Crutchfield said. “I want to thank the voters for the opportunity and a lot more politicians from all parties know a lot more about the Surf Coast from the work done over the last eight years.”
WED 3-5ft inconsistent, E/SE 18° THU 3-4ft+ easing, E/SE 23° FRI 1-3ft small N/NE 23° SAT 1-2ft+ tiny N/NW 22°
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