LETTER TO THE EDITOR

6 June 1998

On Wednesday June 3rd, the Geelong Community Forum Inc. facilitated a public meeting about the proposed watersports complex on Belmont Common. We would like to thank the Geelong Trades Hall and the Friends of the Belmont Common, comprising the Geelong Environment Council Inc., the Geelong Field Naturalists Club, and the Barwon Valley Golf Club, for the opportunity to facilitate this meeting. Our thanks must go to speakers Joan Lindros, Trevor Pescott, John Krantz, Gordon Scholes, John Long and Leon McNamara.

It was a very informative night, and it was particularly pleasing that such a broad cross-section of the community had the opportunity to hear Joan and Trevor - two of our most dedicated and selfless environmental volunteers. We are grateful that Crs Stretch Kontejl, Lou Brazier, Tim Santalucia and Rob Binnie were able to come at short notice. Given that we had just over one week to advertise the meeting, the turn out of over 600 people was very impressive and reflects the deep community concern, if not outrage, that such a proposal has been given the green light to apply for funding. This was the meeting which the City of Greater Geelong should have called two years ago.

Representative democracy is not about people being elected into positions of power so that they can go their own way. It is about being open and responsive to community concern. With the exception of about 30 people who left during a break, the meeting voted unanimously to preserve and enhance the social and environmental values of the Belmont Common for future generations. Now that the Geelong community has taken the initiative, we hope that the City will listen to the voice of the community and rescind their decision on the Belmont Common issue.

Serena O'Meley
Geelong Community Forum Inc.