AIDA’s requests re Surf Coast Shire 2016/17 budget
For the first time, AIDA’s committee decided to make a submission to the Surf Coast Shire’s draft budget. In our written and verbal submission AIDA raised four issues:
- Improve the appearance of the 160 metre long retaining wall on the Great Ocean Road, between the Painkalac Bridge and Lialeeta Road, with plants that will droop down over the wall. AIDA requested that the shire provide indigenous species recommended by ANGAIR, which AIDA could plant. The shire approved this request and has included a grant of $12,500 in the budget.
- Since about 2013 council has had $60,000 in its budget for a grass pathway and five small wooden bridges (to cross drainage streams) along the strip of council land that runs along the eastern side of the creek from Butlers Bend to Old Coach Road. We wanted to know when council would begin planning for this pathway and have been advised that there are some problems with constructing and maintaining a pathway along the creek, and that $60,000 would not overcome these constraints. We will make further enquiries to the shire so we can get a better understanding about the issues and whether this pathway will be developed. We are aware there is support for a pathway but there are also community concerns about a pathway in this location.
- Some AIDA members have been concerned about the build-up of silt in the Allen Noble Sanctuary and we asked if this could be addressed. It was agreed that the silt trap would be emptied and other aspects of the management of the sanctuary would be considered after consultation with the Friends of the Allen Noble Sanctuary and the wider community.
- AIDA asked for support to overcome Aireys Inlet and district’s telecommunications black spot problem and to make this happen as soon as possible. We congratulated the shire for placing our black spot problem on the list of projects that political parties could address to assist the community. We asked that they consider installing temporary base stations over bushfire seasons until telecommunications services are improved. This point was not addressed in the shire’s response but a commitment was made during the recent election to provide a new base station for the Aireys district.
AIDA is open to making additional budget requests in future years and welcomes suggestions from the community.
Gary Johnson