Change for sea towns

CASEY’S coastal communities will be brought closer together as part of an initiative to strengthen small Victorian communities.
Cannons Creek, Cranbourne South, Tooradin, Warneet, Blind Bight, Pearcedale and Devon Meadows will be included in the Community Building Initiative (CBI), a four-year program of the Department for Victorian Communities.
The coastal towns were highlighted in the CBI – Coastal Communities Coming Together initiative as one of 19 locations across Victoria needing closer ties.
The initiative aims to build skills and knowledge, involve diverse groups and individuals, build relationships across communities and organisations, plan for the future, build on local strengths and assets, increase local economies and identify opportunities for new and improved community infrastructure.
As part of the grant, Casey Council will receive $140,580 over two years to employ a community development officer to implement the CBI, project operational costs and for CBI activities within the communities.
Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler said the project would be a great opportunity to get the area organised and to get a few things happening among the communities.
Cr Butler said at the moment activities mostly took place at Pearcedale and Blind Bight Community Centres at their own initiative while there was not much happening in Tooradin.
He said the CBI would be a good way of providing more opportunities for the coastal towns.
“The communities of those towns start to feel a bit left out from the rest of the community,” he said.