STRIKING a balance between town planning and preparing for a changed climate will be among ongoing challenges in Moyne Shire, an outgoing council director says.
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Oliver Moles, the council's former economic development and planning director, retired on Thursday after 11 years at the council and 42 years in government, mostly in regional Victoria.
The Peterborough resident commuted to Port Fairy or Mortlake each day, which he said was "a dream" compared to a drive beginning at 3am in a previous state planning role.
"I see eagles fly, I see swans and their cygnets, I watch calves that have just been born," Mr Moles said.
Passionate about the environment, Mr Moles worked to secure a new rock wall to slow erosion at former waste and tip sites in dunes at Port Fairy's East Beach, he also ensured future township planning controls took inundation into account.
"It could be different overlays to ensure that development confers with the constraints of land, coast inundation, river inundation," he said. "It's deciding where development can occur, without spoiling the village character.
"The work we are doing should maintain property values because it is giving the community some value about the future."
Mr Moles anticipated wind farms would be the ongoing "hardest" challenge for Moyne, and pose tough decisions for councillors.
"The minster grants the planning permit, but we inherit all of the stuff afterwards. The noise issues, the traffic management plans," he said. "Unfortunately for people in those areas they are seeing a change in their landscape. But on the other hand it's providing a new energy source that isn't using coal."
He believed few countries worldwide were tackling climate change issues head-on, but said Moyne strove to keep up with community expectations. "Have we done enough? Moyne is doing it's best for today's community," Mr Moles said.
Mr Moles also headed the council's tourism department and recently organised for four 19th-century cannons in Port Fairy to be repaired in Sydney.
He described the council's reputation as "shaky" when he started. "Whereas I'm pleased to say the councillors I've worked with now, their hearts are in the right place, they are trying to achieve for their community, their financial management has been very strong along with the officers," he said.
Councillors praised Mr Moles' work for coastal communities at their August meeting.
Mr Moles said he looked forward to time with family and volunteering. "I will be dealing with plastics on our beaches and the ropes that wash in from professional anglers. My wife and I love walking for five hours down at Princetown and pulling it out," he said.
"I also look forward to having time to enjoy and smell the roses."
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Jackson Graham
Jackson is a reporter for The Standard.
Jackson is a reporter for The Standard.
