June Report

* 69 McLachlan St finally settled last month when the ownership was transferred from the Colac Otway Shire to the community via the Apollo Bay Community Charitable Trust (ABCCT). The community celebrated appropriately on 1st June on site with a great attendance. Local businesses and some lovely individuals were incredibly generous donating delicious food platters, drinks and amazing raffle prizes. $1100 was raised on the day from donations and from the raffle. Thank you to our wonderful community!The next step is planning the necessary renovations having secured funding from the State government Tiny Towns Fund, our Community Bendigo Bank and our partner, Great Ocean Road Health.

* Affordable Housing: ABCV is still working to form a Housing Task Force to continue the work that the Chamber of Commerce started some time ago to investigate options for the community.

* GORCAPA engagement meeting the next meeting is scheduled for the end of August with the aim to meet Christine Ferguson, the acting CEO and other senior managers. Our last meeting in April focussed mainly on the Harbour Development Plan.

* Tourism Reimagined and the Great Ocean Road webinar series Links to the recordings of all 5 sessions are now available on the revamped ABCV website. They are well worth a look and listen to consider sustainable tourism and the future.

* Paradise Picnic Reserve ABCV continues to advocate for its improved maintenance and refurbishment. *Our website has a new format, improving its accessibility. * Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) we are still pursuing possible options. 

*ABCV has written submissions to: Colac Otway Shire - 2025 – 2029 Draft Revenue & Rating Plan; Draft 2025 - 2026 Budget; 2025 - 2029 Council Plan and to GORCAPA – Harbour Redevelopment Plan.

*Priority projects list – we are looking to compile for possible philanthropic interest in Apollo Bay, suggestions welcome * Save the date our AGM will be held on Sunday 31 August at 2pm. Why not consider joining the committee? Please contact us for any information apollobayvoice@gmail.com  * 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 have no means of raising funds for the general running of the association and the unforeseen costs associated with the handover of the old Kinda (69 McLachlan Street) to the community. Please support us so that we can continue to advocate for you. * Memberships Thank you to all those who have submitted membership applications. Click ‘Join Us’ on this site, to make our voice even stronger.

Jane Gross, President