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The friendly village across Port Phillip Bay

Crime coming to Portarlington

Last year the Writing Group held a Winter Words weekend with  budding writers attending workshops that were run through the Neighbourhood House. The program was rich with authors, publishers, script writers, providing wonderful informative workshops. As a result Winter Words will run again in the last weekend of July and promises to be even better than last year.  Although the program is yet to be finalised, I can tell you that Sunday's program is jam packed with workshops and guest authors.  The morning session features two well known local writers, while the afternoon has three well known published crime fiction writers coming from Melbourne.  The Sunday sessions are open to members of the public, but you will need to get in early.

The Black Sheep Reign

The local rock band  ‘Black Sheep’, a ‘ band with soul’, who recently rocked the Portarlington Neighbourhood House with great music is now available for functions.   Featuring well known Port indentities such as Ian Cunningham and Andrew Snow the band can entertain you with old rock and roll songs.  Their rates are very reasonable , and the guys are open to suggestions for songs. 

Construction Of the Retirement Village

After years of looking at an empty paddock locals will soon be able to watch the construction of this much needed

retirement village.  Tenders have been called to build private roads, drainage, and install the necessary electrical and communication  requirements.  This facility will consist of 99 ,2 and 3 bedroom units, aimed at the 55 plus age group.

Street Sculpture

The Port Arts Network were successful in their application for a City of Greater Geelong 2011 Community Arts and Festivals Grant for a Portarlington Street Sculpture. The sculpture stands at 1.2 metres high. Made of 6mm marine stainless steel, it features two kelpie dogs bolted onto the footpath. Each dog has a ring on the collar, where dog owners can tether their dogs! One of the dogs is named by the local school children who have researched kelpies as part of a school project. The other dog bears the name of Mungo who belonged to after a well known community member who passed away recently. The sculptures are a gift to the Portarlington community on behalf of the Port Arts Network who partly financed the project.  

Main Street Upgrade

Local residents and visitors alike have mixed views on the new streetscape now that it has been completed. However this is part of the bigger picture, and judging by what has happened over the holiday period the concept has achieved what it is set out to do-link the lane ways to the street and flow down to the beach. Of course their are those who are critical of losing car parking...12 in total. There are over 100 parks around the back with a very short stroll to the shops. The project now completed certainly has given the town a clean look and once the trees begin to grow and the Rotunda has more of a community feel with music and entertainment we should be proud of our town.

Rotunda

The 100 year old Rotunda has finally been renovated or some say rebuilt. The state of the building was a lot worse than first thought; hence we have steel beams to ensure that the old girl will remain for another 100 years.

Tourism

Every town needs it, and we all welcome it. However what we don’t want is the endless rubbish that id left behind on the beach after a nice day out. Take it home with you, and don’t butt out in the sand. Portarlington is a dog friendly town and the locals pick up after their four legged friends. It is evident that during the peak holiday period visiting dogs are allowed to mess wherever. There are enough bins and bags around so pick up after your mutt.