Anglesea’s future up for talks

ANGLESEA residents will have the opportunity to discuss the town’s future once Alcoa departs with a community consultation event next week.
Alcoa ceases operations at its Anglesea power station and mine site on 31 August.
The Community Conversations Series will be jointly coordinated by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Surf Coast Shire Council.
The first session will be held on Wednesday 19 August at the Anglesea Senior Citizens Centre between 5.30pm and 8.30pm.
The series will provide a forum for community discussion and feedback on a range of issues of importance, including future land use, water, planning and the long term vision for the Anglesea region once Alcoa departs.
Local community members are encouraged to attend the sessions, providing an open forum to raise and discuss their concerns, questions, and visions in relation to the Anglesea site occupied by Alcoa for more than 50 years.
Member for Bellarine and Minister for Environment Lisa Neville said the issue was a “tremendous” important to the Anglesea community.
“Working through the planning, rehabilitation and future use of the site, and getting it right, is paramount,” Ms Neville said.
“It is important that we hear the diversity of views and perspectives held by the community over the next few months, to establish the foundation for action in the coming decade.”
“We must understand all of the issues and complexities that exist in rehabilitating the site and considering future use options, and to do that, we need the community’s input.”