Volume 13, Issue 4Summer 2013 Price $1.00

Get involved with decision making at

Sandy Point

The Sandy Point Community Group welcomes your involvement with our very active and fast growing group. Why not join our members in working to make Sandy Point a better place to live and play?

The cost is minimal, just $10 a person, and the form attached to this newsletter will take only a few minutes of your time to fi ll in.

As a member of the SPCG, if you give us your email address, you will receive regular updates from our committeee as well as getting this newsletter emailed to you free of charge.

Your feedback and contributions are

welcome

We welcome your enquiries and feedback about our quarterly newsletter. If you have an article, photograph or other news item you think would be of interest to the community, or if you have a special event you or your group would like publicised, we’d also love to hear from you. Email: SPCG.editor@gmail.com, or write to: The Editor, Sandy Point Newsletter, c/- Post Offi ce, Sandy Point, Vic. 3959.

(Continued on page 2)

A range of issues impacting on

Sandy Point have been brought

to the attention of the Sandy

Point Community Group (SPCG)

Committee, which has engaged in its

“advocacy” role and has been seeking

solutions.

Telecommunications

We remain hopeful that our

presentations to Telstra and to

Council will result one day in

improved mobile phone and wireless

communications. An article

describing this issue in more detail is

published on page 9.

Septic tanks and bores

Victoria’s Environmental Protection

Authority (EPA) has introduced a

new regulation which requires new

sewerage systems to be no closer

than 50 metres from an existing bore.

This distance can be reduced to 20

metres if the sewerage system has

an “advanced” feature for treating

the discharged water. Your President

gave a presentation to all Councillors

in Leongatha on 27 November to

explain the possible impact of this

new regulation on property values and

building constraints at Sandy Point.

The full article published by The

Mirror is reproduced on page 5.

Community Plan

Genuine progress is being made on

the development of a Community

Plan for Sandy Point. There have

been two public meetings with

another scheduled for 9 February.

Council offi cers who are facilitating

the Plan were surprised and delighted

at the very strong attendance at the

public meeting on 1 December.

Further details are described on

page 7.

Surfers Walk closure

A groundswell of support for the

temporary closure of a section of

Surfers Walk, immediately in front

of the children’s playground was

noted. Safety concerns about young

people running onto the road from

an unfenced play area have been

registered with Council. Further

details on page 9.

Defibrillator

SPCG committee was informed on

18 December that we have received a

grant from Council of $1,300 towards

the cost of a defi brillator. Both the

SPCG Committee and TP Taylor

CoM have contributed a further $500

each to reach the purchase price

of $2,300. The defi brillator will

be purchased immediately and will

be held at the Community Centre.

Details of how to access the machine

in an emergency will be announced

soon.

Marine Rescue Service

At the last AGM for the SPCG a

resolution was passed to support the

establishment of a proposed new

Marine Rescue service operating from

Our community in action

2

Sandy Point News

(Continued from page 1)

Sandy Point. An amount of $2,000 from your community

funds have been set aside to assist the new service,

provided it becomes established as a recognised group by

the marine authorities and is a fi nancially independent

entity. We encourage members of the community,

especially those living regularly in the area, to become a

volunteer with the service. Further details on page 6.

Environment

Many of the 300 Manna gums offered for free to SPCG

members have been collected but there were some trees

remaining, so the SPCG Committee has donated these to

a local group, led by Jan Hallis, supporting our resident

koala population. Jan has re-potted the tubes and these

trees will be available for purchase at the Sandy Point

Market on 4 January, 2014.

Our campaign to eradicate Indian Myna birds with

special traps continues with the support of some Sandy

Point farmers. If anyone observes these pest birds in our

township area, please inform the Committee and we will

redeploy the traps into the locations identifi ed.

Green waste disposal

Free tipping of green waste is now available at Council

landfi ll and transfer stations but will end on 31 December,

after which the fee will be $10 per cubic metre.

Sandcastle Competition

Once again your SPCG committee is organising the

extremely popular sandcastle event on the main surf

beach, opposite the shops. This superb family event will

be held on Sunday 29 December, starting at 10 am, with

prizes being awarded at 11 am. It’s just $1 per person and

all children get a prize. A sausage sizzle will follow.

Website

Our new website at www.sandypoint.vic.au is now fully

functional and is being maintained by a group of trained

committee members. New items are always welcome.

Please send articles, advertisements or news to anyone on

the website “Contact Us” page.

Conclusion

Sandy Point is a wonderful place all year, and it can be

fabulous over summer. We anticipate many visitors,

tourists, holiday makers and property owners in town

over summer, with the increased risk of road accidents.

Please keep vehicle speeds down in recognition that our

roadways are shared by many users, including vehicles,

pedestrians, children on bikes, and horses. We also ask

that pets, especially dogs, are restrained at night and not

allowed to roam the streets. Last year wandering dogs

were a nuisance and several koalas were, we understand,

killed by dogs.

We thank the Foreshore Committee for their excellent

efforts in maintaining the public spaces on the foreshore,

and congratulations to the TP Taylor Reserve Committee

of Management for the opening of their magnifi cent

Community Centre.

On behalf of the SPCG Committee we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Neil Shaw, PresidentSandy Point Community Group.

3

Sandy Point News

As the holiday season approaches the Committee is gearing up

for a very busy and hectic time with many events being held at

our wonderful new Centre.

Deputy Premier and Member for South Gippsland, Peter

Ryan, offi cially commissioned the Community Centre

as a Neighbourhood Safer Place/Place of Last Resort

(NSP/PLR) in a ceremony on Friday 22nd November. It

took a collaboration between the Victorian Government,

emergency services agencies, South Gippsland Council

and the community to establish the Centre as a NSP/PLR

and representatives of all the above attended the ceremony.

During the launch it was stressed by all the speakers that it

was imperative that everyone in Sandy Point, whether they

are a resident or visitor, be constantly aware of the weather

conditions and have their own Bushfi re Action Plan in place as

this building, as a Place of Last Resort, cannot guarantee their

safety if they have to use it.

On a brighter note, Peter Ryan announced the success of the

grant application to the Regional Growth Fund of $133,000

towards the TP Taylor Reserve Open Space Enhancement

Project. South Gippsland Shire Council will contribute $33,000

and the remaining $10,000 will come from the Committee of

Management. This will make a total of $177,000 and the project

will see the installation of playground shade sails and seating, a basketball half

court, new tennis fencing, a pathway connecting the playground to the reserve,

a barbeque and rotunda and landscaping. The work will commence in February,

at the end of the busy summer season. This funding is very much appreciated

as it means that the Reserve will become an area that the community can fully

utilise as there is a shortage of open space areas in Sandy Point.

On Sunday 12th January there will be the Community Opening of our Centre

as the Committee decided it was time to have a celebration of the facility.

Invitations have been sent to all those people that over the last 12 years have

contributed to bring the Community’s dream to a reality and everyone is

invited to help us make this a great day. All are welcome, so come along on

the day and join in the fun. The Committee, in conjunction with local artist

David Bell, is creating a sculpture which will recognise the dream and vision

of the Sandy Point Community to achieve the new Centre, and it is hoped

that it will be ready for this day. There has been a book produced, by past and

present members of the Committee, entitled “The Sandy Point Community

Journey”, which will be on display at the Opening and orders will be taken

for anyone interested in purchasing it.

As the Centre is becoming a very popular venue for wedding receptions,

it has been decided to host a Wedding Expo on Sunday 19th January, to

highlight what local businesses and the area has to offer to bridal couples.

However, anyone is welcome to come along to have a look and appreciate our

great Centre.

Community Centre News

Present at the Opening of the PLR were, left to right: Jim Fawcett, Mayor SGSC; Deputy Premier Peter Ryan; John Schauble, Manager Policy and Planning for the Fire Services Commissioner; Dianne Cooper, President TPT CoM; Jeanette Harding, Deputy Mayor and Mark Potter, Gippsland Regional Director of the CFA.

On behalf of the TP Taylor Reserve

Committee of Management I would

like to wish everyone a Merry

Christmas and a happy, healthy and

prosperous New Year.

Di Cooper – President TP Taylor

Reserve Committee of Management.

4

Sandy Point News

Nippers Program WBSLSC Nippers (junior activities) program will be every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 10am till 12 noon from Christmas until 25 January.

Sunday 29 December Sandcastle Competition, 10am on the surf beach.

Friday 3 January South Coast Boardriders Film night, 7.30pm at the Community Centre. “This Time Tomorrow”. Tickets available at the door or pre-book at Mini Golf.

Saturday 4 January Sandy Point Market, 2–6pm at the Community Centre and Tennis Courts.

Mon 6–Fri 10 January Kidz Klub – Community Centre.

Sunday 12 January Community Opening of the new Community Centre 12 noon–3pm. Fun for the whole family. Free sausage sizzle.

Sunday 19 January Waratah–Sandy Point Fun Run (registrations from 8.30am). Contact Gabby 0419 841 360.

Sunday 19 January Wedding Expo 10am–3pm, Community Centre. For details ring Sally 5684 1545.

Saturday 25 January Bizarre Gazzard, Hypnotist Show at the Community Centre. 7.30pm start, $35 a ticket for adults. Supper provided. Drinks at bar prices. Fish Creek Football and Netball Club. Ring Gabby 0419 841 360 or Greg 0427 841 362.

Sunday 9 February Next Community Plan Meeting, 12 noon till 3pm, Community Centre.

What’s on at Sandy Point over summer

5

Sandy Point News

Red tape in the form of a new regulation from the

Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is putting the

development of Sandy Point and other unsewered coastal

communities, such as Venus Bay, at risk.

That was the stern warning issued to South Gippsland Shire

Council in a public presentation last Wednesday from Sandy

Point Community Group President Neil Shaw.

In a new regulation in its Code of Practice relating to onsite

wastewater management (domestic sewerage) the EPA

stipulates that secondary sewerage must be at least 50 metres

from a bore, where a ‘secondary’ system is defi ned as a

modern, council-approved water treatment plant.

Advanced treatment systems (in which the fi nal output

water is further treated) need only be at least 20 metres from

a bore.

However, as Dr Shaw explained, with Sandy Point riddled

with bores — almost every property has one — the new rule

makes it extremely diffi cult to site a sewerage system of any

type, secondary or advanced.

“Blocks are about 15 metres wide, so a bore even 50 metres

away could prevent any permits for a new sewerage system,”

said Dr Shaw.

He said the restrictions would have a devastating impact on

vacant land values, as people would not be able to build a

house if they could not install a sewerage system. This, he

said, would render a standard $250,000 block effectively

worthless, and would do nothing to boost rates revenue.

Vacant blocks are only part of the problem, Dr Shaw

continued. He pointed out that increasing numbers of the

Baby Boomer generation are wishing to retire to their beach

shacks — after they have been upgraded. Additions of

modern comforts, such as en suites or second bathrooms,

Red tape tangle for Sandy Point’s sewerage

however, require upgrades to sewerage systems.

Homeowners are caught in a bind when they fi nd that

existing bores prevent the issue of permits for new

sewerage systems.

Dr Shaw said that the new regulation had come into

effect back in February, but few people seemed to be

aware of it. It had come to his attention as the president

of the local community group. “People have been

rattling our cage!” He urged council to inform the

public, specifi cally Sandy Point property owners, and

also inform local real estate agents so that they could

advise prospective purchasers.

He also recommended that council lobby the EPA for

a “local interpretation” for Sandy Point and for “some

proper science” to justify a rule which he felt was hard to

justify.

Cr Andrew McEwen remarked that with so many

people due to retire in the next few years the potential

ramifi cations of the issue were serious indeed. “This is

a major issue. We should be going into bat on this,” he

urged.

Cr Mohya Davies asked for a briefi ng so that councillors

could be better informed on the matter, and Cr Jeanette

Harding suggested that the briefi ng should be held over

the summer when holiday house owners were around.

The shire’s director of development services, Phil Stone,

said that the shire was in discussions with Southern

Rural Water, especially in relation to new systems.

“Don’t think we’re the only council facing this issue,

though the full impact was possibly not understood until

Dr Shaw’s very articulate presentation. It is a challenge

for us. We’ll keep council informed,” he advised.

Reprinted with kind permission from the Mirror newspaper, 4 December, 2013.

6

Sandy Point News

The Boardriders Club recently held a contest at Venus

Bay and all who attended had a great time. Results were:

Open: 1st Rory Thomas, 2nd Jason Law. Junior: 1st Matt

Chalmers, 2nd Darby Walker. Over 40: 1st Paul O’Neill,

2nd Jamie Taylor.

We are also holding a Movie Night at the Community

Hall on Friday January 3, 7.30pm start, when a couple

of great surf movies will be shown on the big screen.

Tickets can be bought at the door or at the Mini Golf.

Our Friday night development sessions are continuing,

with plenty of kids hitting the water.

A new thing we are going to try this summer is a “ Surf

and Sip” night for our adult members to come down

and get some tips on surfi ng ( club boards available ) and

afterwards have a barby and a cold one together.

For more information about dates/ times or how to join

the club have a look at our Facebook page.

Paul O’Neil

South Coast Boardriders Club

Boardriders Club news

Top: Paul O’Neil in action at Venus Bay recently.Bottom: Bones weaving his magic with the youngsters at a Friday night development session.

Some progress has been made to get this service operational. Waratah

Beach SLSC has appointed a Marine Rescue sub committee to oversee the

operation, with Tim Barbour taking on the role of chairperson. Tim spent

a lot of time and effort trying to get the service going when the boat fi rst

arrived in Sandy Point and is the ideal person for this role. Tim and Rob

O’Brien have just completed Coxswain’s training, so we will soon have two

more qualifi ed skippers. A training plan is being developed and should be

fi nalised in the new year.

We need new recruits, especially permanent residents of Sandy Point, as we

plan to eventually develop a roster for crewing the boat.

There will probably be another movie night over the Christmas holiday

period, details of which will be in the window of the General Store and also

on the Sandy Point Community Group website.

For information on becoming involved, please contact Ray Henderson

0429958866, or Greg Moulding 0427813323.

Marine Rescue Waratah progress report

7

Sandy Point News

Progress on the development of a Sandy Point Community Plan continues

at an excellent pace. The latest meeting was held in the Community Centre

on Sunday 1 December and was very well attended by about 60 participants.

Facilitators who conducted the successful meeting were Ned Dennis,

Manager of the Shire’s Community Strengthening Department, and staff

member Barbara Look. Together they explained the nature of the Plan, its

purpose, and the process for its development.

Sitting at numerous round tables throughout the main hall, local full time

residents as well as property owners from afar (mostly Melbourne) created

lists of items which each group thought was relevant and important to the

future of Sandy Point.

Spurred on by a wonderful lunch supplied by the Community Centre

volunteers, the participants continued to debate preferences for the

township’s development, and each table gave a summary of their collective

thoughts.

Next step in the process will be undertaken by the Shire staff, who will

collate all the written responses collected at the meeting and build a

summary document containing the total feedback gathered at the meeting.

This document will be distributed to all registered participants as well

as being made widely available to anyone interested. During January,

when more people are expected to be in residence in Sandy Point,

further information will be distributed. For example, at the Market Day

on Saturday 4 January there will be a SPCG stall where people can ask

questions about the Plan and submit ideas.

Of special importance is the fact that this Community Plan belongs to

the “people of Sandy Point” and is not an offi cial Council document.

Furthermore the plan is dynamic and can be modifi ed in accordance with

public wishes and with changing circumstances.

Community groups, such as SPCG, can make reference to the Plan

when applying for grants, thereby demonstrating the relevance of a grant

application to the broader community interests.

Neil Shaw

Sandy Point Community Plan Spotlight on Sandy Point

This population and housing data for Sandy

Point is drawn from the 2011 Census.

POPULATION

South Gippsland Shire 27,506

Sandy Point population 197

• male 99

• female 98

AGE

Median age 54

0 – 14 years 15.7%

65 years plus 32.0%

DWELLINGS

Total 642

Occupied 10.6%

Unoccupied 89.4%

HOUSEHOLDS

Family households: 77.0%

Single person households 21.1%

Group households 1.9%

EMPLOYMENT

Population in labour force 70 people

Full time 52.9%

Part-time 37.1%

Away from work 5.7%

Unemployed 4.3%

8

Sandy Point News

The summer ahead: WBSLSC newsWell our summer season has fi nally arrived: beach patrol

services will be provided from the start of December

through to the Easter long weekend. You may have noticed

already a fair degree of activity around the Surf Life Saving

Club with two training camps already completed, the annual

requalifi cation day out of the way and the commencement

of Beach Patrols from the 30 November. There is one

more Bronze camp to occur this season in January, as well

as Waratah once again hosting the Bass District life saving

development camp in mid January. So you will see a bit of

action, training our next crop of life savers over the coming

weeks. Drop past and have a look at what is going on and

think about possibly getting involved.

Our Nippers (junior activities) program will once again kick

off after Christmas and will run every Monday, Wednesday

and Friday morning from 10am til 12 noon until 25 January.

This is an important part of our work, educating younger

children in beach and surf safety, while also having a bit

of fun and hopefully giving them a passion to go on and

become volunteer surf life savers in the future.

A bit more work has gone in to reinvigorating the Offshore

Rescue service, which will involve the boat being more

visible on the water this summer.

We ask all members of the community to take care at all

times when walking along the beach access track that our

vehicle uses, as this is primarily a vehicle track. Please

keep the end of the track clear where it meets the beach.

The new track was developed specifi cally to address the

hazard posed for pedestrians where our old vehicle track

met up with the end of the boardwalk.

People also still need to be mindful of the eroded dune

face from last season. It is slowly returning to normal but

in some places could collapse with little warning.

Once again our club members bar will be open over the

peak summer period for members and guests to enjoy

a peaceful drink as they watch the sun go down. If you

haven’t experienced the delights of sunset over Cape

Liptrap come on down and see for yourself. There will

be other events on at the club this summer, music and

Club BBQs which will be open to the whole community

to attend, so keep an eye out and come join us.

Unfortunately costs continue to rise for volunteer

organisations and we get very little in the way of funding

from government at all levels. We rely heavily on

donations and fund raising activities to ensure we can

keep delivering life saving and rescue services to the

community at Sandy Point, so once again our members

will take to the streets over New Year for our annual

Can Rattle. Please help support us and give what you can

when they knock on your door.

We have a range of memberships available that are open

to all in the community, so why not consider joining and

supporting our worthy volunteers. Information about

membership is available from the club website at

www.waratahbeach.com.au or you can enquire by e-mail

at info@waratahbeach.com.au.

The Club was established in 1963 and last year celebrated

its 50th Anniversary. We now look forward to the next

50 years.

Stay safe this summer, swim between the fl ags and have a

wonderful Christmas.

Julian Meagher

President, Waratah Beach SLSC

9

Sandy Point News

For a long time your SPCG committee has sought improved mobile phone and wireless internet services to the Black Spots around Sandy Point. Some of the authorities which can possibly infl uence a decision include Telstra, CFA (Melbourne), and our local Shire Council.

Each one has acknowledged the need for an improvement in our mobile communications, especially when the local population swells in summer time from a few hundred to a few thousand and the existing system doesn’t cope, even in locations where the signal strength is generally adequate.

Any emergency SMS message from the CFA is not likely to be distrib-uted in our high bushfi re-prone area with our existing telecommunica-tions service.

South Gippsland Shire Council has recently announced that it would take up our case with Telstra and other service providers, and their an-nouncement was published our local paper The Mirror. The trigger to motivate Council in this case proved not to be a concern for public safety but rather the fact that many visitors to Sandy Point who rent properties for a holiday are shocked to discover that they don’t have mobile phone or internet connections.

These visitors comment that they “love Sandy Point”, especially the beach, but they are not coming back if they can’t keep in contact with family, friends and business. The potential impact on accommodation businesses and local shops was a concern to Council and they have pub-lically pledged to support our case.

Meantime Foster has just been connected to 4G technology by Telstra. Hopefully our case at Sandy Point will also be acknowledged.

Neil Shaw

Telecommunications problems to be adressed by Council

There has been considerable discussion throughout the Sandy Point community about the possibility of closing a section of Surfers Walk between Ocean View Parade and the laneway which services the rear of the General Store and other shops.

Concern has been expressed about the safety of young children playing ball games and using the new playground in front of the tennis courts. At risk is a possible accident involving a child running onto the road. The mix of playground, with no boundary fencing, and passing traffi c is an obvious hazard.

A request was lodged to Council by your SPCG Committee seeking the installation of temporary barriers just for the coming holiday season during Christmas and through January. In reply Council has decided not to make any road closures and to maintain the current traffi c fl ow arrangements.

In recognition of the safety concerns, Council is now considering a fence along the playground boundary to keep children safely off the road.

Neil Shaw

Surfers Walk closure?

10

Sandy Point News

Planning your wedding? Come to Sandy Point’s very own Wedding Expo!Whether you are newly engaged or already into

planning your wedding, something not to be missed

early in the New Year, is the Wedding Expo which

will be held at the Sandy Point Community Centre on

Sunday 19 January. There will be numerous exhibitors

who are all there to help you create your perfect

wedding – from your hair, to your fl owers, to your

own especially designed stationery. Family and friends

will also have the chance to choose a perfect wedding

present, be it a massage, a facial or maybe a portrait.

If you fancy making a grand entrance, how about

arriving in the horse-drawn Wedding Carriage provided

by Horseman Carriages that will be found outside the

Community Centre on the day of the Wedding Expo.

Then there is also the chance of winning a prize in the

raffl e. which will be run and drawn on the day. All the

prizes have been generously donated by local businesses

including Hartley Wells, Henriettas, Pulhams, l’Oreal,

Panthers Menswear and Enjo.

Kate, of “Events by Kate” will be on the microphone

keeping everyone up to date with proceedings and

talking to all the exhibitors, while Marty Box will

provide background music throughout the day. A

highlight will be a display of wedding gowns on loan

for the occasion from Pomegranate in Leongatha that

will be complemented by suits provided by Panthers

Menswear.

Towards the end of the afternoon, prior to the drawing

of the raffl e, there will be a fashion parade featuring

clothing from Pomegranate that you may well wish to

wear as a guest at the next wedding you attend.

Sally Gibson

11

Sandy Point News

12

Sandy Point News

Friends of TP Taylor is a newly formed group, headed by Ann Kinne, who is the

daughter of TP Taylor, the instigator behind the bringing of the original hall from

the LaTrobe Valley to Sandy Point in the early 1960s to be used as the Tennis

Clubroom. He was a holiday home owner with great energy and drive and Ann

says she is sure her father would be very proud of all that has been achieved since

those early days and particularly of the new Community Centre.

With her father’s legacy in mind Ann has agreed to head up this new group,

which will keep an eye on the grounds of the TP Taylor Reserve and try to ensure

that they are kept neat and tidy. This could involve some weeding, pruning and

mowing as well as watering once we have our bore in operation and new grass is

put down.

If you would like to help in this regard please contact the President of the TPT

Taylor Committee of Management, Dianne Cooper, on 5684 1545 for more

information.

Friends of TP Taylor

This newsletter is produced quarterly by the Sandy Point Community Group (SPCG) on behalf of the local community. You may use content from it as long as you provide appropriate and proper reference to SPCG as its source. The newsletter can be purchased in hard copy from the Sandy Point General Store and is distributed by email to all members of SPCG free of charge. If you’ve received this newsletter by email it is because you subscribed to receive it when you joined the SPCG. You can unsubscribe or update your details by email ing SPCG.editor@gmail.com or by writing to: The Editor, Sandy Point Newsletter, c/- Post Office, Sandy Point, Vic. 3959. To join the SPCG and receive this newsletter by email, use the form attached or go to www.sandypoint.vic.au/membership.

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That was how Brett Godden, Community Liaison Offi cer with the Morwell Police described Sandy Point when sending the Neighbourhood Watch Commit-tee a copy of our crime report for the month of September.

The report showed nil crime in all categories — assault, property damage, burglary and theft. This is generally the case in Sandy Point, though there has been the occasional theft that makes the list, particularly around the Christ-mas/New Year period.

However, this view of Sandy Point as a crime-free paradise should be tempered with the comment that there are “crimes” that do not make this list: there has been some vandalism and also some attacks on wild animals by dogs that are allowed to roam free in Sandy Point. Several koalas, for example, have been killed, or mauled and then have to be put-down by vets, and young children are also potentially at risk from dogs who are allowed to roam.

So please think of our wildlife and don’t let your dogs roam free at any time, particularly at night when they may meet up with other dogs and form a pack.

Calendars, books and manna gums (the perfect koala food) are available from Jan Hollis at the Market Day on Saturday 4 January or by ringing her on 5684 1045. Proceeds go to the Southern Ash Wildlife Centre to help rehabilitate injured koalas.

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