Borough of Queenscliffe
The Borough of Queenscliffe is the smallest municipality in Victoria, with a permanent resident population of 3263 and covering only 13 square kilometres, the predominantly urban Borough was created on 12th May, 1863, and has remained in existence in its entirety since that time.
Located at the eastern tip of the Bellarine Peninsula forming one side of Port Phillip Heads, the Borough of Queenscliffe is only a 1.5 hour drive from Melbourne and 30 minute drive from Geelong.
Tourism is the major economic activity of the Borough of Queenscliffe . As a result retail, commercial and service sectors are prominent. There are also a number of government and private institutions that are major employers.
The Borough of Queenscliffe had an estimated permanent resident population of 3,263 in 2002. These figures do not account for the significant numbers of temporary residents who own property and holiday or live part-time in the Borough. The high percentage (49%) of unoccupied private dwellings during the census collection period in 2001 is indicative of a large temporary population.
One of the Borough's main service deliveries is health and community services with the highest percentage per population (36%), in Victoria, of residents aged over 60. Planning and heritage services are also in high demand with the introduction of an Urban Character Study ensuring that the Borough's unique charm is retained.
The main industries include marine fishing, building construction, cafes and restaurants, accommodation, all of which have strong links to tourism.
History of the Borough of Queenscliffe
Queenscliff was first and foremost built for Government purposes. It provided postal, customs, health and telegraph services, lighthouse and signal services, military and defence establishments and the sea pilots service.
The Borough of Queenscliffe has a rich history of Aboriginal and European activity and settlement which contributes to the cultural and historical significance of the Borough. Urban conservation has been a long standing objective for the Borough and has contributed to the retention and enhancement of its European heritage. Well preserved heritage buildings are one of the key tourism assets of the Borough.
The Borough of Queenscliffe welcomes the opportunity to participate in G21 and work with other organisations to pursue opportunities that will benefit the region. This strategy provides the forum for Councils, State government agencies and businesses to work together collaboratively to further strengthen our communities.
By bringing together the collective knowledge that exists in the region we are better placed to identify and take advantage of projects and processes that add value to our communities. We believe strongly that the Borough of Queenscliffe will see significant benefits flowing from this co-ordinated co-operative approach and for this reason will be active long-term participants in G21.
Chief Executive Officer
Ms Kaylene Conrick
Mayor
Cr Pat Semmens
The City of Greater Geelong
Geelong has a population of over 190,000. It is Victoria's largest regional city covering an area of 1,250 square kilometres. Geelong is situated on the shores of Corio Bay 75 kilometres south-west of Melbourne.
The name Geelong originates from the Aboriginal word for 'bay' - jillong - 'a place of the sea bird over white cliffs'. It is a region of contrasts with coastal, rural, urban and natural environments, creating a landscape rich in diversity. The region includes communities of rare flora and fauna.
Bounded by the Barrabool Hills and Corio Bay, the City of Greater Geelong also has extensive basalt plain grasslands to the north. This area extends to the landmark peaks of the You Yangs and the Brisbane Ranges. In the southeast the undulating hills of the Bellarine Peninsula extend through to the coastal dunes. Geelong has strong links to the water including many kilometres of pristine beaches.
An economic snapshot
The City is the leading industrial centre for Victoria's south-west, with approximately 10,000 business enterprises and a labour force of around 80,000.
Geelong has traditionally been a centre for the manufacture and processing of automotive components, transport equipment, metals, textiles, clothing and footwear, aerospace, chemicals, timber and food products.
In recent years sectors such as tourism, health, education and training and research and development have also become central to the City's economic base.
The unemployment rate in the Geelong region has consistently remained below the state average and there has been record growth in development and building. This growth has been supported with considerable improvements to infrastructure within the City.
Many areas have undergone revitalisation through various projects; from the award winning Waterfront Geelong redevelopment to the upgrade of the City's central shopping and business district.
Geelong the lifestyle capital
The Geelong region boasts one of the best lifestyles in Australia. The City area is just minutes from the waterfront and overlooks a natural north facing harbour. The City offers a diverse mix of shopping, entertainment and dining experiences, from major international retailers to boutique shopping precincts and cosy cafes and restaurants.
The City of Greater Geelong encompasses the historic and picturesque coastal townships of Portarlington, Indented Head, St Leonards, Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads.
The region's beaches vary from sheltered bays to world renowned surf breaks.
The region also boasts some of Victoria's most acclaimed wineries and is renowned for producing premium Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties. The need for a "Strategic Direction" for the City of Greater Geelong was identified in early 2001. A long term strategic plan for the City would provide clear direction and help establish long and short term priorities through the City Plan (Corporate Plan) which includes resource allocation plans.
Work on a plan started almost immediately, but it rapidly became apparent that it would be desirable for the planning focus to expand from the City alone to encompass the region. The reasons for this were based around the dependencies and interdependencies for the myriad of social, environment and economic factors that impact and need to be considered in planning for a liveable and sustainable region.
Boundaries no longer determine issues or opportunities. People live, work and recreate in different municipalities and regions. People also receive services, shop, do business, are educated, obtain health and utility services from organisations and agencies that may or may not be in the municipality they reside.
Around the same time, a number of community and business agencies such as the Committee for Geelong, Chamber of Commerce and the Geelong Development Board had also recognised the need and encouraged the development of a long term plan for the City.
Subsequent discussions with agencies such as the State Government South West Region Managers have supported the need for a regional approach to planning.
G21 is now supported as a key partnership initiative of the wider Geelong Region.
Chief Executive Officer
Kay Rundle
Mayor
Cr Bruce Harwood
Colac Otway Shire
The Colac Otway Shire Council has pursued a position at the leading edge of local government reform.
It is a progressive and innovative municipality serving a population of 21,000 and demonstrating outstanding success in the provision of relevant and cost effective services to the community.
With a budget of $30 million it has taken some courageous moves to secure its economic future.
In 1998 Council paid nearly $500,000 to the liquidator of the Colac abattoir. The Shire facilitated this $9 million development as it recognised that the Colac meat processing facility was an important part of Colac's psyche and one of the barometers of the prosperity of the town at any given time.
Confident that it could secure a buyer for the plant, Council operated the plant until an export licence was secured for a consortium of local business people.
The Shire investment is now entirely vindicated by the number of jobs preserved, the new jobs created, the wealth that this employment has and will generate in the district, the municipality's increased property value base and the leverage this project has provided for further development.
The Shire Council now operates the Colac Otway Performing Arts and Cultural Centre, Bluewater Fitness Centre and Visitor Information centres in Colac and Apollo Bay.
The Council was one of the first to introduce the divided waste scheme for each home.
The Shire's Economy
The Shire provides diverse employment opportunities through a range of primary industries, tourism and commercial and community services.
Colac is the key industrial, commercial and service centre for the Shire and surrounding region and is home to 12,000 residents.
Apollo Bay is the other major urban centre with a permanent population of 1,000 that swells to over 15,000 during the summer season.
Our climate provides a unique advantage for primary production including dairying and cropping.
The outstanding attraction of the Great Ocean Road on the Shire's southern boundary is well known and attracts significant national and international tourism.
Emerging in that landscape are tourism opportunities based around the Otway forest and the interior's attractive basalt lakes and plains.
Primary industry has flourished in recent times since the significant expansion in meat and dairy processing.
The Shire's close proximity to metropolitan Melbourne, its quality lifestyle and strong utility services including natural gas and water give a significant advantage to establishing and expanding industries.
History
Pastoralism, cropping, dairying, timber harvesting, railway servicing, and commercial activities have all played their parts in the history and development of the diverse area which is now the Colac Otway Shire .
Colac itself developed as a commercial centre, serving firstly pastoralists, then more diverse agriculturalists.
Timber helped the development of such centres as Forrest, Apollo Bay, Birregurra and Colac where they are still a major employer.
On the lush hinterland plains dairying developed as a major industry in the twentieth century.
A railway network centred on Colac provided much employment across the Shire, particularly at Cressy and Birregurra.
Chief Executive Officer
Tracey Slatter
Mayor Cr Warren Riches
Golden Plains Shire
...live, work, invest!
We are a proud and dynamic local government authority in the State of Victoria, Australia, located one hour from the state capital, Melbourne and between Victoria's second and third largest regional cities, Geelong and Ballarat. Golden Plains comprises of four former rural councils spread over 2705 square kilometers, and today services several township and rural communities totaling over 15,000 people.
Population statistics reveal a rapidly growing residential sector in the regions closest to Geelong and Ballarat. The level of services and proximity to these centres, combined with affordable housing and attainment of a semi rural lifestyle, are appealing to both residents and business operators. As a result, Golden Plains Shire is a developing municipality with much to offer.
History
Golden Plains Shire was established in May 1994, as part of the Victorian State Government's reform of local government. As its name suggests, Golden Plains has a rich gold mining history captured in townships such as Steiglitz and the Break O' Day reef area in its central region. The historical significance of Steiglitz and surrounds is also a tourism focus for the area, along with the natural bush land and landscape of the Brisbane Ranges in the South and the Enfield State Forest in the North of the Shire.
Our Natural Attractions
Natural beauty is a feature of the Shire, with the Brisbane Ranges, Enfield State Forest and Moorabool and Barwon Rivers offering day-trippers and backpackers an enjoyable tourism experience. Eco-tourism is a major growth industry with significant holdings of roadside native vegetation in the Shire. The Moorabool Valley wine region runs through the Southern end of the Shire with a number of beautiful wineries and the Ballarat/Skipton Rail Trail is popular with tourists in the North.
The Golden Plains is separated into two distinct areas. The Western Basalt Plains, south of the township of Rokewood, is characterised by volcanic landforms, grasslands and woodlands while the Midlands is made up of steep rocky hills and generally unfertile soils.
Wool and grain, along with cattle, and poultry farming contribute to an increasingly vibrant local economy. Niche markets are developing in the farming arena with exotic and intensive farms becoming increasingly popular. Home-based business is thriving in the Shire, employing 38% of the Shire's workforce. Located between Geelong and Ballarat, Golden Plains Shire presents a unique, rural lifestyle opportunity within easy commuting distance to Victoria's major cities.
Golden Plains Shire Council welcomes the opportunity to participate in G21 and to work together with other councils and business leaders toward a successful future for our region. We believe that the Golden Plains Shire communities will see significant benefits in response to this cooperative strategy.
Chief Executive Officer
Mr Rod Nicholls
Mayor Cr David Cotsell
Surf Coast Shire
As one of the fastest growing regional municipalities in Victoria, Surf Coast Shire is experiencing significant growth and change. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the dramatic coastal scenery and superb lifestyle.
The Shire is located in south-west Victoria, 20 minutes from Geelong and 90 minutes from Melbourne. It has an area of 1560 square kilometres with some 55 kilometres of coastline and the start of the fabulous Great Ocean Road defining its southern boundary.
The Surf Coast Shire is strongly influenced by physical and topographical features, which impact on urban development and land use management. It is characterised by a diverse range of environments including rugged coastline, dense native forests and rolling, rural plains. In the course of time these features have contributed to creating distinctive communities with quite different expectations about how their areas should develop.
The Shire's coastline is characterised by a line of settlements hugging the Great Ocean Road - including Torquay, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven and Lorne. Save for Torquay, these towns are sited on the coastal edge of the Otway Ranges and are surrounded by substantial tracts of forested public land, restricting the development of roads and infrastructure.
North of the Otways is a large and distinctive rural community including the townships of Winchelsea, Deans Marsh and Moriac. The area is traversed by the Princes Highway and the main Melbourne to Warrnambool railway line.
Located at the eastern end of the Shire, Torquay is the largest town and the main administrative centre. The strong association with the surfing industry together with proximity to Geelong and Melbourne make Torquay an increasingly attractive proposition to combine lifestyle and working commitments.
Employment & Industries
- Tourism and related industries, notably the surfing industry
- Dining and accommodation venues
- Service industries
- Traditional mixed and newer intensive agriculture
- Aloca Anglesea Power Plant
Population
For the 15 years from 1986 to 2001 the permanent population of the Surf Coast Shire grew from 13,456 to 19,629 - an increase of 6,163 people or 45.87%. Projections forecast that by 2016 there will be 23,446 permanent residents: current trends suggest this may be a conservative figure.
Change in Resident Population
|
1986
|
1991
|
1996
|
2001
|
|
13,456
|
15,613
|
16,713
|
19,629
|
| |
|
|
|
Source: ABS Census material
Profile of Surf Coast Residents*
51% of the population live in Torquay
34% of residents are under 25
25% are over 50
82% are Australian born
8% live alone
27% work full-time
25% are retired or not in the workforce
9% of households are single parent families
26% of residential properties are fully owned
*calculated from council's ratepayer roll
Part Time and Permanent
Nearly half of our property owners do not live here permanently. Many are metropolitan residents with a second home on the Surf Coast. They live here part time, holiday here or own the property as an investment, perhaps with a view to retirement on the coast. (Indicators: 41% of private dwellings unoccupied at the 2001 census and 48% of rate notices sent to addresses outside the Shire.)
Visitor Numbers and Patterns
The impact of holidaymakers in the coastal towns from Torquay to Lorne means peak overnight populations of well over 40,000. Substantial numbers of day visitors and travellers along the Great Ocean Road add a further dimension.
In 2001, the number of people visiting the Surf Coast Shire totalled an estimated 2.2 million. An estimated 55% of all visitors are day-trippers, and they total some 1.2 million persons. An estimated 45% of all visitors stay overnight, totalling 1.0 million people.
(Essential Economics Pty Ltd - June 2002)
Surf Coast Shire is proud to be a member of the regional G21 alliance. We recognise the value of a combined strategic approach towards planning our future. Great things can be achieved when government, industry, business and the community work together.
The combined strength of five municipalities, 110 agencies and the State and Federal Governments, all working together, can achieve an outcome that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.
Chief Executive Officer Mr Peter Bollen
Mayor Cr Rose Hodge
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