COMMUNITY ACTIONS for a SUSTAINABLE BARWON HEADS February 2016
Acknowledgements Traditional Owners We acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and pay our respects to their elders past and present, and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in our community today. Those That Provided Assistance We would like to sincerely thank all those that helped to create this document including: the Barwon Heads Community Bank for providing the funding for this review of the original Community Plan the members of the Barwon Heads Sustainability Group the Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden the representatives of the many local community groups that shared their ideas and perspectives those that participated in the 'Great Ideas for Barwon Heads' facilitated conversations at the 2015 Festival of the Sea residents of Barwon Heads About Barwon Heads Sustainability Group Barwon Heads Sustainability Group began in 2009, and is a sub-group of the Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden Incorporated. The Group has over 150 members, and holds meetings, market stalls and social events regularly at the Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden, the Barwon Heads Hall and local cafes and restaurants. For further information, please visit www.bhsustainability.org.au or email: info@bhsustainability.org.au 2 of 37
Contents Acknowledgements Contents About this document Themes 'Great Ideas' for Barwon Heads Community, Culture & Health Summary of 'Great Ideas' Food Summary of 'Great Ideas' Local Economy Summary of 'Great Ideas' Natural Environment Summary of 'Great Ideas' Resource Efficiency Summary of 'Great Ideas' Transport Summary of 'Great Ideas' Urban Design Summary of 'Great Ideas' 'Projects' Community, Culture & Health Summary of 'Projects' Food Summary of 'Projects' Local Economy Summary of 'Projects' Natural Environment Summary of 'Projects' Resource Efficiency Summary of 'Projects' Transport Summary of 'Projects' Urban Design Summary of 'Projects' 'Gaps' in Projects Priority Projects Summary Next Steps Appendices Appendix 1: Program Logic Community Workshop Selected Summary Appendix 2: About Barwon Heads Appendix 3: Barwon Heads Sustainability Group Actions 2011-2013 Appendix 4: Barwon Heads Sustainability Group Actions 2013-2016 Appendix 5: Other Actions in Barwon Heads Appendix 6: Bike Friendly Barwon Heads Appendix 7: Sustainable Transport Hierarchy Appendix 8: Local Community Groups Appendix 9: Glossary Getting Involved 2 3 4,5,6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 3 of 37
About this document The Community Actions for a Sustainable Barwon Heads () has been created by the Barwon Heads Sustainability Group and has been made possible through funding support from the Barwon Heads Community Bank. 1) Purpose of this document: This document is an update of the Community Plan for a Sustainable Barwon Heads Stage 1, which was released in 2013. The Stage 1 version of the plan was based on a number of community workshops, and largely contained the projects of the Barwon Heads Sustainability Group. This updated document is an attempt to represent the 'Great Ideas' and 'Projects' of a much wider range of the community within Barwon Heads, with the intention of using this document to celebrate current projects and initiate broad discussion within Barwon Heads about possible future priority projects. Please note that this document does not show the actions of every group in Barwon Heads, but rather the actions of those groups that participated in the community consultation. Any group wishing to be included in future versions of this document is encouraged to contact the Barwon Heads Sustainability Group at info@bhsustainability.org.au 2) This Community Actions document shows: Thematic summaries of the 'Great Ideas' for Barwon Heads gathered through community consultation 'Projects' occurring in Barwon Heads Links between 'Great Ideas' and 'Current Projects' Identification of 'Gaps' between 'Great Ideas' and 'Projects' Brief summary of 'Priority Projects' and 'Possible Future Priority Projects'. 3) A range of community consultation events and documents have informed the development of this Plan: The previous version of this Community Plan (Stage 1) 'Pizza for Your Thoughts #2' community plan review workshop, October 2014 Responses from the community at the 'Great Ideas for Barwon Heads' facilitated conversations at the 2015 Barwon Heads Festival of the Sea Interviews and/or written responses from the following local groups*: All Saints Op Shop Barwon Coast Barwon Grove Golf Club Barwon Heads Association Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden Barwon Heads Golf Club Barwon Heads Primary School Barwon Heads Senior Citizens Club Barwon Heads Tennis Club Barwon Heads Tourism & Traders Association Bellarine for Refugees Bellarine Landcare Bop Bop Karrong (Early Learning Centre) Festival of the Sea Friends of the Bluff Friends of the Lobster Pot (Barwon Estuary Interpretive Centre) Holy Family Catholic Church Ocean Grove Coastcare *Please refer to Appendix #8 for further information about these groups. 4 of 37
About this document (continued) 3) 'Great Ideas' and 'Projects' have been categorised across seven broad themes: Community, Culture & Health 4) Food Local Economy Natural Environment Resource Efficiency Transport Urban Design The 'Great Ideas' for Barwon Heads gathered as part of the community consultation have been classified as follows: - 5) 'Projects' have been classified into the following stages to show progress to date: 'Project in Concept Stage' denotes a project which has already had some preliminary work done by a local group, but without a commitment to further development. 'Current Priority Project' denotes an important project which is underway but also requires additional resources to continue (funding, personnel). 'Ongoing Project' denotes a project which is able to continue with current resources (though may need personnel). 'Possible Future Priority Project' denotes an important project which requires a commitment and resources to proceed (funding, personnel). 5 of 37
About this document (continued) Theory of Change If the Barwon Heads community is engaged to imagine a positive future, and if a Community Plan For A Sustainable Barwon Heads is created and owned by the community, and if sufficient passion, time and resources are available, then the Barwon Heads community will work towards creating that positive future. Key Aspirations The Key Aspirations for the future of Barwon Heads that emerged from the Community Workshop held in March 2012 are listed below, and relate closely to those identified in previous Community Visions (refer to Appendix #1 for further details): Reduced Resource Natural World Is Usage Valued and Loved Resilient and adaptable to pressures of climate and people Sustainability has its own momentum Barwon Heads businesses, residents and visitors are adopting sustainability practices Positive exemplar of sustainable, engaged community 6 of 37
Themes Projects and 'Great Ideas' have been categorised into seven major themes: 7 of 37
'GREAT IDEAS' FOR BARWON HEADS Themed summaries of 'Great Ideas' for Barwon Heads collected as part of community consultation in 2014-15. 8 of 37
Community, Culture & Health Summary of 'Great Ideas' 9 of 37
Food Summary of 'Great Ideas' 10 of 37
Local Economy Summary of 'Great Ideas' 11 of 37
Natural Environment Summary of 'Great Ideas' 12 of 37
Resource Efficiency Summary of 'Great Ideas' 13 of 37
Transport Summary of 'Great Ideas' 14 of 37
Urban Design Summary of 'Great Ideas' 15 of 37
'PROJECTS' 'Projects' currently being undertaken by groups (that participated in community consultation) in and around Barwon Heads are shown on the following pages. Groups* participating in 'Projects' are shown next to each project as follows: Links with 'Great Ideas' are shown as follows: *Please refer to Appendix 8 for further information about local groups. 16 of 37
Community, Culture & Health Summary of 'Projects' 17 of 37
Food Summary of 'Projects' 18 of 37
Local Economy Summary of 'Projects' 19 of 37
Natural Environment Summary of 'Projects' 20 of 37
Resource Efficiency Summary of 'Projects' 21 of 37
Transport Summary of 'Projects' 22 of 37
Urban Design Summary of 'Projects' 23 of 37
Project 'Gaps' 'Great ideas' not being currently undertaken by groups that responded during consultation phase: 24 of 37
'Priority Projects' Summary 25 of 37
Next Steps 26 of 37
APPENDICES 27 of 37
Appendix 1: Community Workshop Selected Summary Selected summary from workshop held on 30 th March 2012 to develop a program logic for a Sustainable Barwon Heads: 28 of 37
Appendix 2: About Barwon Heads SELECTED SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES & ASPIRATIONS A number of sustainability issues and aspirations were included in the Barwon Heads Structure Plan (2010): The potential impacts associated with climate change including sea level rise and storm events on future settlement planning and development; p5 Enhancement and protection of significant landscape and sensitive environmental setting; p5 Car reliant population with the majority of people driving to work, including those persons who work within the town; p5 Community survey revealed high proportion of newer residents, living in Barwon Heads less than ten years, and community opinion about frequency of public transport and poor supply of car parking; p5 Limited public transport coverage, both within and external to the township; p6 Opportunity to improve the limited pedestrian and bicycle linkages throughout the township and within open space areas; p6 Recommend the provision of...an improved transport, parking and movement network, including pedestrian and cyclist linkages and public transport options which achieves sustainability objectives. P13 The Community Arts Garden...has a significant role to play in environmental awareness and protection of the environment; p16 Encourage retention and enhancement of existing vegetation on private land, roadsides and reserves, using locally indigenous plantings. p16 A VISION FOR BARWON HEADS A vision for the township was developed during the preparation of the Bellarine Peninsula Strategic Plan (2006-2016), as follows: In the year 2016 Barwon Heads will be a unique, sustainable, residential and environmental hub; a...community surrounded by pristine river, coast and wetlands. An intimate community which supports all age groups and provides a place of belonging for residents and visitors alike; where human impact is managed to support the fragile natural surroundings by: Clearly defined limitations on urban development Protecting and nurturing natural surroundings by managing human footprint Supporting walking, cycling, fishing, sailing, surfing, swimming and generally enjoying what our coastal village has to offer in an environmentally sensitive way. BARWON HEADS DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION 3536 people in 2011 (approx. 1.7% of CoGG) Predicted 2016 population 4,207 people (8% of the total 2016 Bellarine Peninsula population) Peak holiday population 10,172 (2006) Rated as an advantaged area Highest proportion of CoGG children performing well in language and cognitive skills (Source: Bellarine Peninsula Strategic Plan) 2126 Dwellings in 2011 (1246 Occupied; 880 Holiday) (Geelong Economic Indicators 2011) 29 of 37
Appendix 3: Barwon Heads Sustainability Group Actions: 2011-2013 30 of 37
Appendix 4: Barwon Heads Sustainability Group Actions 2013-2016 31 of 37
Appendix 5: Other Actions In Barwon Heads 32 of 37
Appendix 6: Bike Friendly Barwon Heads Mapping (selected extract) Selected images from Bike Friendly Barwon Heads Mapping created by Bike Safe: 33 of 37
Appendix 7: Sustainable Transport Hierarchy Promote Transport according to Sustainable Transport Hierarchy 34 of 37
Appendix 8: Local Community Groups All Saints Op Shop Barwon Coast Barwon Grove Golf Club Barwon Heads Association Barwon Heads Arts Council Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden Barwon Heads Community Bank Barwon Heads Golf Club Barwon Heads Primary School Barwon Heads Senior Citizens Club Barwon Heads Sustainability Group Barwon Heads Tennis Club Barwon Heads Tourism & Traders Association Bellarine for Refugees Bellarine Landcare Bop Bop Karrong (Early Learning Centre) City of Greater Geelong Festival of the Sea Friends of the Bluff Friends of the Lobster Pot (Barwon Estuary Interpretive Centre) Geelong Sustainability Group Holy Family Catholic Church Ocean Grove Coastcare Plastic Bag Free Torquay ReEnergise Geelong Surf Coast Energy Group Web http://oceangrovebarwonheadsanglican.org.au/?page_id=663 http://www.barwoncoast.com.au/ http://www.thetinshed.com.au/ http://www.barwonheadsassociation.com/ http://www.barwonheadsartscouncil.com.au/ http://www.bhartsgarden.com/ https://www.bendigobank.com.au/public/community/our-branches/barwon-heads http://www.bhgc.com.au/welcome/index.mhtml http://bhps.vic.edu.au/ https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/directory/item/8cec427fe7f547f.aspx http://www.bhsustainability.org.au/ http://www.tennis.com.au/barwonheadstc/ http://barwonheads.net/traders/traders.htm http://www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org.au/rar-groups/victoria/bellarine/ http://www.bellarinelandcare.org.au/ http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/directory/item/1517.aspx http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/ http://www.festivalofthesea.org.au/about_the_festival.html http://barwonbluff.com.au/friends-of-the-bluff/ http://barwonheads.net/clubs/lobster/lobster.htm http://www.geelongsustainability.org.au/ http://geelongdeanery.cam.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26 http://corangamite.landcarevic.net.au/ocean-grove http://www.plasticbagfreetorquay.org.au/ http://www.reenergisegeelong.org/ http://sceg.org.au/ 35 of 37
Appendix 9: Glossary CFL COGG Fietsbus IGA kw PBFBH PV Compact Fluorescent Light City of Greater Geelong Eleven Seat Bike 'Bus' Independent Grocers Association (supermarket) kilowatt Plastic Bag Free Barwon Heads Photovoltaic (Solar electricity) 36 of 37
Getting Involved Thinking of getting involved? There are many ways to be part of the projects listed in this Community Plan for a Sustainable Barwon Heads: For further information regarding the Community Actions for a Sustainable Barwon Heads, please visit the Barwon Heads Sustainability Group website: www.bhsustainability.org.au or email: info@bhsustainability.org.au or P.O. Box 1195 Barwon Heads Victoria 3227 37 of 37