The Ocean Grove Community Association provides a forum for residents and rate payers to work together to improve life in Ocean Grove for all.
Members of the Association are interested in a wide range of topics including the urban development of Ocean Grove, transport and traffic issues, and environmental concerns. When necessary, OGCA represents the community in discussions with Federal, State and Municipal Governments. OGCA encourages, fosters and, sometimes, coordinates community activities within Ocean Grove and the district.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville today visited Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club to deliver the Labor Government’s Statement of Planning Policy for the Bellarine Peninsula’s ‘distinctive area and landscape’ (DAL) – setting out a 50-year vision for the region to guide development controls and boundaries.
The Bellarine Peninsula is one of Victoria's most prized tourism and recreation destinations with its stunning beaches, rural landscapes and historic towns including Queenscliff and Portarlington.
The draft policy locks in protected settlement boundaries for all townships, to ensure the Bellarine’s agricultural areas, landscapes, environmental features, small villages and towns are protected from inappropriate development and direct future growth to strategic locations.
The Peninsula was declared a DAL in 2019, recognising that its beautiful coastal environment, unique green spaces, local producers, and lifestyle, were under pressure from urban overdevelopment.
The 2019 declaration triggered the need for a Statement of Planning Policy for the area, to ensure the landscapes, unique environmental and cultural values of the Bellarine are protected and enhanced for many decades to come.
The final draft policy was developed in collaboration with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, the Borough of Queenscliff, the City of Greater Geelong following extensive consultation with community and industry. It was also referred to an independent advisory committee in January 2022.
Due to the increasing levels of Covid in the community the OGCA AGM and Guest Speaker Presentation was held via Zoom. We believe this was the responsible approach.
The meeting commenced at 7pm on Wednesday 3 Aug with the AGM taking about 15 minutes and then moved onto our guest speaker Lawry’s presentation. Lawry’s talk, including time for questions, ran for an hour.
Professor Lawry St Leger was the Dean of the Faculty of Health at Deakin University for seven years and has also worked extensively with the World Health Organization in supporting national and international health related programs in Europe, Asia and North America.
Lawry spoke on a range of health related topics with a focus on Connection to Nature and the benefits to and impacts on youth learning of such connections including Australian and international developments and experiences in that space and on social media and youth learning. Lawry will draw on his knowledge and experience and to talk to us in a conversational style including some fascinating anecdotes.
