As we race towards the end of the year, it feels like a good time to slow down for a breath and look back on the moments that shaped 2025 on the Bellarine.
It has been a year full of progress, community spirit and local pride and many of the achievements I am most proud of speak to the heart of what matters most to our residents.
This year, we’ve seen development get underway on some important local projects, including the start of works on the $3.5 million Ocean Grove District Ride Centre, which has been shaped by strong community feedback from the very beginning.
Construction of Stage 2 of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre is also underway, supported by $20 million each from the Australian and Victorian governments, along with a council contribution.
Another highlight has been the reopening of Ocean Grove Neighbourhood House, which now has a bright new chapter ahead thanks to strong local support during the transition.
I am delighted that Stella Kinsella will be joining as the new coordinator and I know her passion for community programming and the arts will be a great fit for Ocean Grove.
Many residents have also spoken with me about the Ocean Grove Footpath Network, and I want to acknowledge the frustration caused by delays.
Firm plans are in place to keep the project moving and complete the missing links that will make it easier and safer to get around town.
Our Community Grants program is another highlight for 2025, with council awarding 261 grants worth a total of $4.3 million.
I was delighted to see Ocean Grove Film Society receive funding to establish a monthly film society to increase community connection and to provide access to films in an inclusive environment.
This was also a year of strengthening our environmental stewardship, with a new Memorandum of Understanding between council and Barwon Coast that will improve the way we protect our fragile coastal ecosystems.
Geelong Nature Festival returned bigger than ever this year with more than 50 events across the region and over 2420 attendees.
Council’s green waste program is one of our quiet success stories and a fabulous example of our circular economy in action.
Every year, about 35,000 tonnes of garden waste is kept out of landfill and turned into nutrient-rich compost at our Anakie organics facility, some of which is donated to community gardens around the region.
I also want to acknowledge the expansion of Farm My School to Colac this year, which is such a positive example of young people, educators and community partners working together.
Council’s adoption of the Rainbow Action Plan is another important step because every member of our community deserves to feel safe, supported and included.
We also continued detailed work to identify land for future social housing to help more families stay close to their support networks and build stable lives.
All of this hard work by our wider community sets us up well for much success in 2026.
In the meantime, I wish you and your families a safe, happy and restful festive season and perhaps I’ll see you down at the beach enjoying a summer swim.
