Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management (Bellarine Bayside) is a not-for-profit, Category 1 coastal Committee of Management formed by the Victorian Government in 1994 to manage 17 kilometres of coastal Crown land reserve on the northern Bellarine Peninsula. The reserve includes natural and built assets, holiday parks, the Coastal Trail, playgrounds, community halls, boat ramps and boat sheds. Some of the key management programs include: - protection and enhancement of the natural environment; - maintenance of open spaces (parks, playgrounds, car parks); - ensuring safe access and provision of safe and functional facilities; - community education and engagement; - maintenance of five boat ramps and associated jetties and facilities; - accommodation provision related operations (Portarlington Holiday Park and five seasonal camping reserves); and - foreshore reserve use-related leases, licences and permits. Committee members are selected through a public, skills-based expression of interest process and appointed for a three-year term by the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978. Bellarine Bayside currently generates approximately $7 million in direct revenue annually, with approximately 90% of revenue generated as income from the six camping reserves. Other income is derived from a range of sources including lease, licence and permit fees. Revenue is supplemented by grants that are used for specific projects; however, no recurrent funding is received from commonwealth, state or local government. All incoming funds are utilised in the delivery of Bellarine Bayside’s functions and programs to preserve and protect the natural coastal environment and to provide high quality infrastructure along the coastal reserve for the benefit of community members, campers and visitors.
