The recent Coast to Coast conference held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from 29 August to 1 September included a field trip to the Bellarine Peninsula that was sponsored by Bellarine Bayside. This field trip was guided by geomorphologist Neville Rosengren and geotechnical engineer Tony Miner together with local land managers.

Based in Geelong, Jessica is currently working in the Northern Bellarine Green Army Team that is supported by Conservation Volunteers Australia and hosted by Bellarine Bayside, Barwon Coast, Parks Victoria, Bellarine Landcare and Bellarine Catchment Network.

In 2014 Bellarine Bayside was allocated $4800 as part of the Coastcare Community Grants Program to improve the natural condition of the Indented Head saltmarsh.  The funds were allocated to weed and litter removal, revegetation with indigenous species, and community engagement to increase environmental awareness of the saltmarsh-wetland, which is a nationally protected ecological vegetation class.

n the 1950s, Josiah Windmill planted two pine trees in front of what is now the Indented Head Community Hall to commemorate the opening of the Indented Head boatshed. This honour was bestowed upon Josiah, a blue stone quarry worker, due to his instrumental role in the development of the popular community space.

Bellarine Bayside, together with Barwon Coast, Bellarine Landcare, Bellarine Catchment Network, and Parks Victoria, are currently hosting a Green Army team with support from Conservation Volunteers Australia.

A series of fauna surveys will be undertaken at the Pt Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve over the coming months with the Geelong Field Naturalists Club. The first set of surveys will commence on Thursday 7 July.

Bellarine Bayside, together with Bellarine Landcare, supported St Leonards Primary School Grade 4 class in the establishment of a starfish-shaped indigenous garden. The garden has been created around their commemorative 1975 centenary sundial and will provide a diverse habitat to support native bees and butterflies.

On Saturday 18 June, Bellarine Bayside supported The Dive Victoria Group and Bellarine Catchment Network to clean up litter at St Leonards Pier. While a group of dedicated divers braved the cold water to collect litter in and around the pier, a group of community members collected litter along the foreshore and in the car park.

Every winter, as part of our on-going conservation effort, Bellarine Bayside hosts three winter community planting days, one in each of our three local communities. Bellarine Bayside relies on your help to ensure the success of our winter planting program and we encourage you to actively participate in these days.

The Friends of Pt Richards received funds in 2015 from Bellarine Bayside that have been allocated towards the construction of a picnic rotunda at the Point Richards Rd entrance to the Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve.