By MICHELLE HERBISON
PORTARLINGTON’S iconic rotunda could become an information centre to benefit tourists and community groups, according to the town’s business association.
Portarlington Business Development Association president John Rae said his “vision” included promotion of local festivals and groups at the rotunda and regular concerts on its bandstand.
“We’re working with the community association at the moment and are also having discussions with Bellarine Tourism about the idea that it could become a community and tourist information centre,” he said.
“Various community groups would be able to use it, like the Mussel Festival or the National Celtic Festival. In the month of January we should have almost every weekend concerts with different styles of music on top of the rotunda.”
Mr Rae said his group had so far spent 14 months discussing with council the rotunda’s future uses.
Ward councillor Lindsay Ellis said council was yet to open expressions of interest for the site.
“Several groups are interested for various reasons. I believe a couple of traders in the town are interested in perhaps having some commercial venture there.”
Council this week installed a garden at the rotunda featuring natives and pelargoniums to “beautify” the town square, Cr Ellis said.
“We want to make the town square the place to be. I want to see the rotunda being used back as a bandstand and show off some local talent.”
Cr Ellis planned to “move quickly” toward determining the rotunda’s future after formal closure of Pier St and VicRoads’ transfer of a piece of land to council ownership had slowed the process.
“It’s all been resolved finally. I’ve been pushing it with the council officers so I would hope we’d have something in place for the coming summer holiday season.”
The Independent reported in November that Bellarine MP Lisa Neville had blamed VicRoads in parliament for inaction on the rotunda’s future due to the land ownership issue.
Rotunda tenant Bellarine Community Health op shop has been on a month-by-month lease since it unsuccessfully applied for a five-year extension in 2011.
Chief executive officer John Fendyk told the Independent in November the organisation had upgraded its garage in case council evicted it from the rotunda.
