SURF Coast Shire Council has appointed a 14-member Bells Beach Visioning Taskforce to provide advice on developing a shared vision for the future of the surfing reserve.
The taskforce will be chaired by former Victorian deputy premier John Thwaites.
The taskforce includes a cross-section of community members with a range of expertise including surfing, ecology, events, heritage, land management, recreation, business and planning. Members have been appointed as independent participants and not as representatives of groups or organisations.
The taskforce’s objectives are to provide advice to council within six months after its first meeting on:
– An extensive consultation process that gathers a broad range of community views on the future of the reserve
– A proposed vision for the reserve
– A review of the current Bells Beach Coastal Management Plan to ensure it is in line with the new vision.
The reserve, which is on Australia’s National Heritage list, is Crown land managed by council.
The taskforce members are Dave Matthews, Max Wells, Colin Birch, Michael Estcourt, James Deans, Alistair Lawson, Jane Currie and Eve Mahlab. Councillors Eve Fisher, Clive Goldsworthy, Rod Nockles, David Bell and Libby Coker also sit on the taskforce.
Mayor Rose Hodge said it was important council reviewed management plans for the Bells Beach Reserve with the broad range of community views in mind.
“The reserve is a special place for many including surfers, walkers, hang gliders, visitors, our indigenous community and for a diverse range of community organisations,” Cr Hodge said.
“This community visioning process is being run so council can present a plan to the State Government confident that it balances and respects the many views of those who enjoy the reserve now and those for whom it will remain a treasured place into the future.
“This means the taskforce will need to consider how it can gather all those views to inform its advice to council. I encourage anyone with an interest in the reserve to get involved when consultation begins next year.”
