Thank you to everyone who completed our Community Values and Guiding Principles survey in September 2025.

These community values and principles will be used to help evaluate Apollo Bay’s future water security options, ensuring they reflect your views and aspirations.

We drafted these community values and principles from earlier engagement before developing them into themes and ideas. The Apollo Bay Community Working Group then refined these into a set of eight values and principles, which we tweaked based on your feedback in the survey.

Again, thanks to everyone who contributed, this is the final set of values and principles:

Climate resilience: Strengthen the region’s ability to adapt to climate changes by planning ahead using science-based and innovative approaches.

Cultural heritage: Listen, respect and maintain First Nations and local cultural heritage – sense of place and connection to Country.

Sustainability: Act responsibly, avoid waste and support a sustainable future by making decisions that protects our environment, safeguards water resources while supporting a circular economy for current and future generations.

Environmental care: Act today to reduce harm, conserve resources, protecting it from overuse and decline, supporting our community’s quality of life now and for future generations.

Community connection: Support a strong sense of place and identity by involving local people in decisions that affect their environment and resources.

Sustainable tourism: Support tourism and local industries that benefit local people, businesses, and the economy, while minimising harm to the environment and respecting the region’s unique character.

Fair and reliable services: Deliver quality water and infrastructure services that are affordable and reliable, ensuring everyone equitably shares the benefits, costs and responsibilities.

Build knowledge, participation and self-reliance: Build understanding of water management and environmental issues to help communities feel informed and confident, supporting practical, everyday activities that foster self-reliance, meaningful change and care for the environment, our communities, and the things we love.

If you need more information or have any questions, please reach out to our friendly project team via projects@barwonwater.vic.gov.au or 1300 656 007.