April 2026

• Community Priority Projects - we are pleased to announce that our funding application to the Foundation for Rural, Regional Renewal (FRRR) for the Looking Ahead - Shaping Our Future project for Apollo Bay was successful. We plan that this community forum to discuss the future will be held on a Sunday in early September. To this end, facilitators have been engaged with whom we meet next month to plan the event. There will be more to share with you then and everyone is invited to participate.

• The Community Hub, 69 McLachlan St (the old Preschool) Community Hub project has encountered some unforeseeable delays relating to the cost of the necessary renovations to allow it to be compliant for use by the community. More information in the coming weeks.

• Affordable Housing: the Housing Task Force is investigating possible options and models for the community, yet to be finalised. The Task Force recently met with the Colac Otway Adaptable Precincts Project team re Nelson St, and with Council officers to discuss other potential locations for affordable housing.

• Colac Otway Shire engagement meetings for 2026 – our first meeting for the year was held last week, having been delayed until now due to the busy start to the year with the bushfires and floods. We are pleased that invitations to these quarterly meetings have now been extended to all Councillors in addition to the CEO. Cr Potter & Cr Howard & CEO, Andrew Tenni attended last week to discuss Electric Vehicle charging stations, the Structure Plan, Affordable Housing & Childcare, Economic Development, GORCAPA, Streetscapes & Public Open Space, Community Consultation, mutual updates.

• Great Ocean Road Communities Network (GORCN) represents more than 15 communities along the GOR and ABCV regularly attends meetings. Along with other groups, we were a signatory to the letter GORCN sent to the Minister requesting an independent enquiry into the disaster at Wye River & Cumberland River.   

• Meetings with GORCAPA continue quarterly – the first for 2026 was in February. ABCV also made a submission to the proposed

• Port of Apollo Bay Set-Asides highlighting the importance of a balanced approach maintaining safety, allowing for community access and future opportunities given that it is not just a working port, it’s an important piece of community infrastructure that supports recreation, health, safety, tourism, and social connection. Its real value lies in being accessible, flexible and widely used by all parts of the community. We asked for a more balanced approach that uses conditional, time-based restrictions rather than blanket prohibitions.

• ABCV continues to submit to Colac Otway Shire whenever community input is sought. The latest one being to the Draft Road Upgrade Policy – deadline 5 May. See  https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Community-Consultations/Draft-Road-Upgrade-Policy We have asked for more consideration of dust health and amenity impacts of unsealed roads.

• ABCV committee members’ resignation Due to family commitments, Cathy Donovan and Sue Mackay have had to resign from the committee for this year. We are most grateful for their contributions to date which we will miss, and we wish them both well.

• Donations  For those who are in a position to help to sustain the Community Voice into the future, please make your donation to Apollo Bay Community Voice BSB 633 000  Account Number 206 051 526 . Membership is free, so we rely on donations for the general running of the association Please support us so that we can continue to advocate for you. Many thanks to those who have already donated.

• Memberships Thank you to all those who have submitted membership applications. Click ‘Join Us’ at www.abcvoice.com.au to make our voice even stronger.Jane Gross, President