Autism forum
Geelong’s autistic community, families and carers are being invited to a free one-day forum at the Geelong Conference Centre on Tuesday 9 October . The forum is designed to improve access to education, employment and NDIS support in the Geelong area.
Amaze, Victoria’s peak body for autistic people and their families, will run the free one-day forum at the Geelong Conference Centre, drawing on the latest autism research. Visit www.amaze.org.au
Barrier rescues
A woman in her 60s was taken to hospital in a stable condition with leg injuries after crashing into a barrier on the Princes Highway, Mount Moriac on Wednesday morning.
In a separate incident that afternoon a man in his 30s was taken to Geelong Hospital after breaking the barriers of a bridge along the Hamilton Highway between Inverleigh and Teesdale.
Funds flow
A total of 22 initiatives across the Barwon region will have a slice of $2.685 million in State Government funding from the Pick My Project program. Thirteen of the projects are based in Greater Geelong.
Sports clubs, school, children’s services and recreation area will benefit, including $200,000 to Collendina Sports Reserve in Ocean Grove where light towers will installed for women’s football.
Demo works
Alcoa’s decommissioned Anglesea Power Station was finally demolished by controlled explosion this week after an unsuccessful attempt in May. Crews left its chimney intact to be retained for the future redevelopment at the site.
According to WorkSafe, dust and asbestos monitoring was in place and results indicated that there were no asbestos fibres detected around the perimeter of the power station.
Free kinder
Disadvantaged families around Geelong and the Surf Coast will be able to send their child to kinder for free, under a proposed Labor plan if the Andrews Government is re-elected.
Under the program, three-year-olds from low income families will receive at least five hours each week of free or subsidised kindergarten or pre-school from 2020.
Hotel backlash
Torquay residents are fighting plans for a five-storey residential hotel in Torquay they say breaches current height limits for the site at the corner of Bell Street and Geelong Road.
The proposed 16.9 metre high building would house 128 rooms along with food and drink premises, as well as a licensed premises and indoor recreation facility.
Greater Torquay Alliance president Andrew Cherubin said the group’s main concern is the height limit.
Village sold on
Belmont Village shopping centre has been sold for $58 million to a private Sydney-based investor. The sale is one of 11 regional shopping centre sales divested by Vicinity Centres which also owns the Chadstone complex.
Vicinity Centres said the sale of Corio Central shopping centre was also currently under negotiation. Its value was listed at $130 million in the company’s interim results published in February.
