Bellarine TimesBellarine TimesYOUR COMPLETE REAL ESTATE GUIDEINSIDE TODAY

Ocean Grove skater Riley Heatherington with a nice frontside air at the Day of the Shred event in Ocean Grove on the weekend. For more, see page 4.

Tuesday 21 May 2013 VOL 6. No 21 www.bellarinetimes.com.au

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OCEAN GROVE & BARWON HEADS EDITION

BY HAMISH BROOKS

THE Ocean Grove Community Garden can look forward to permanent toilet facilities following provision of funds in this year’s City of Greater Geelong budget.

The $20,000 in last year’s budget for a shed for the garden at 108 The Parade has turned into $38,000 so the shed and toilets can be built.

Community garden members use the facilities at the nearby Ocean Grove Neighbourhood House, but will lose

access when it moves to John Dory Drive next year.

It will take the place of the Maternal and Child Health Centre, which is in turn moving to the Ocean Grove Integrated Children’s Hub in Shell Road early next year.

Ocean Grove councillor Jan Farrell said there was a domino effect forming around the children’s hub.

“The ducks are all lined up; we’re just waiting for them to fall. What is fabulous about the community garden shed and toilet facility is that it is a community

project, designed by a community-sourced architect, with full disabled access.”

In another significant funding boost for the town, $200,000 was announced for the community performance space in Ocean Grove Park.

However, Cr Farrell said the funding was predicated on Trust For Nature ceding the park’s management and ownership to the council.

“There is a report being prepared for consideration by council where funding would be made available on the basis the

park is handed over to council. Council is prepared to invest in the facility but not in an external asset.”

Cr Farrell said the handover would need the community’s blessing.

“If the land was transferred, it would be under a watertight deal that it was preserved as open space.”

Ocean Grove Park Inc has managed the park for 18 years, and president Colin Atkins welcomed the funding towards the $1 million project.

“We welcome the funding, which moves us closer to the total we need,

which we hope to achieve in the near future.”

Mr Atkins said his group were looking at a succession plan to hand over the management of the park, but it would only be with a covenant that maintained it as passive open space for the community.

“It’s just getting the words right. There is a lot of legalese to get through and we’re working towards getting that done.”

For more budget news, turn to page 5. For an update on Ocean Grove’s Integrated Children’s Hub, see page 7.

GARDEN GAINBudget plants cash for Ocean Grove community garden

Photo: PETE ING

HAM