Media release – Rally to Protect the Bellarine Sunday August 14
More than 150 people gathered at Edwards Point Nature Reserve last Sunday to deliver a very clear
message to the State Government – please follow through on your 2018 promise to protect the
Bellarine from uncontrolled and inappropriate development.
Combined Bellarine Community Associations Chair Dr Lawrence St Leger, and Protect the Bellarine
spokesperson Jenny Knox addressed the crowd, urging the Government to move quickly to complete
the Bellarine Distinctive Areas and Landscapes process.
Both emphasised the importance of protecting township boundaries in preserving the Bellarine’s
many special and unique places.
Those at the rally were in strong support of the view that urban development into pristine
environments and rural landscapes is a challenge to the whole peninsula, threatening the loss of
green spaces between Bellarine towns and villages.
Also in the crowd were several Bellarine State election candidates, and Legislative Council MP Andy
Meddick – a strong supporter of the DAL – a sure sign that this is an important election issue.
Decision-making power now rests with Minister Lily D’Ambrosio.
Protecting the Bellarine was one of the State Government’s key regional election promises at the last election.
Community Associations across the Bellarine held the combined rally to ensure the Government is again clearly and loudly reminded of the strong views of the community on protecting the Bellarine through the media coverage a rally could generate.
The rally was held on Sunday 14 August at 10:30am at Edwards Point at St Leonards
This map shows land that may have been purchased by Developers out side town boundaries. It is based on a map produced by the final Bellarine Vic Gov hearings showing locations of presentors. The map has been edited to remove presenters supporting the Bellarine DAL process.
5 August 2022. An enthusiastic group of people gathered at the Ocean Grove Nature Reserve on Friday 5th August to show support for the Bellarine DAL , a state government initiative to identify and protect Distinctive Areas and Landscapes across the Bellarine.
Friday’s group photo is advertising a rally being organised by the CBCA (Combined Bellarine Community Association) to show support for the Bellarine DAL Program. It will be held on 14 August at St Leonards.
For this event we need as many bodies as possible, including Committee members, family and friends and interested residents and groups.
This affects all residents of Bellarine towns including Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, Queenscliff and Pt Lonsdale, Indented Head, Curlewis, Barwon Heads, Clifton Springs, Drysdale, Leopold and Portarlington.
We need a good number of people for a Press photograph to show Dan Andrews and the new Planning Minister, Lizzie Blandthorn that we care about protecting our town boundaries.
A Reporter from Times syndicate is lined up to cover the .14 August at St Leonards.
The Protect The Bellarine website is great – Check it out.
Did you know that the DAL Advisory Committee hearing the time allocated to developers and their associates was approximately 80% . Many were represented by QC’s costing $1000’s per day. 20% of the hearing time was allocated towards to non commercial interests like concerned environment groups and Bellarine Community Associations.
https://www.protectthebellarine.com/about-2
This map illustrates the land on the Bellarine that may be subject to future development if the State Government doesn’t honour its election promise to protect the Bellarine.
It is based on a map from the Bellarine DAL process.
The illustrative map depicts land owned by owners or developers who oppose the proposed settlement boundaries is shown.
You can gauge for yourself the potential future look and feel of our towns if the Andrew’s State Government breaks its promise to protect The Bellarine.