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Voice Ocean Grove
LOCALS DEFEAT TOWER PLAN - PAGE 3
OCEAN GROVE’S NUMBER ONE NEWSPAPER
FREE FORTNIGHTLY
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13 - 26 February, 2019
Trio on board for titles Hollie Smith, Molly Slavinskis and Sibella Lehmann represent Ocean Grove in the under-9s board relay at Life Saving Victoria’s Mordialloc state carnival on 3 February. (Nish Photography)
Bumper summer Visitor rush ‘puts cash in pockets’
By Gill Cooper VISITORS streaming to the coast to escape the heat of Melbourne and inland regions kept Ocean Grove traders flat chat over the summer school holidays, according to operators. Most hospitality businesses had reported “a bumper season”, said Ocean Business Association president Ty Simmons. “We’ve had an amazing summer. Person-
ally, I reckon my business is up 20 per cent on last summer,” he said. “Across the board people seem to be doing well. It’s been perfect weather, and we’ve had a lot of visitors from Bendigo and Ballarat escaping the heat and coming to the coast.” Mr Simmons said many hospitality businesses like his were “caught off guard” with crowds still at Ocean Grove on the Monday
public holiday of the Australia Day weekend. “We thought everyone would be heading home but it was a massive day, maybe due to many schools starting later in the week. “It’s been an enormous season and it has a knock on-effect. Staff have more money in their pockets, which is really good for the community, and everyone can pay a few bills.” Continued page 2
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