A Vision for Mallacoota’s Future
In the aftermath of the fires, many of us are asking: where to next?
I believe there’s a real opportunity for Mallacoota to rebuild stronger — not just our houses and gardens, but our sense of community. Here are a few starting ideas to spark discussion:
🌱 A Local Co-op
A community co-op could help us share skills and resources. Think local produce, seedlings, and food plants grown here and distributed at affordable prices. Green thumbs could start propagating, helping neighbours rebuild their gardens and even creating new spaces for fresh food.
🌳 A Food Forest
With newly opened land, we could design a food forest — a long-term investment in abundance and resilience. Fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs growing together, supplying the town with fresh, healthy food.
🏊 A Community Pool
Another dream might be a community swimming pool. It may sound ambitious, but every idea starts with a sketch on the map. Whether beside the hall or somewhere else, a pool could become a year-round hub for locals and visitors.
Join the Conversation
This is just the beginning. I’ve put together a short video that walks through these ideas — have a look:
Please like and subscribe if you’d like to see more of these local discussions.
I’ve also set up a Google Group where we can share and record ideas more clearly than on social media. Just search for Mallacoota in Google Groups to find us.
Post-Fire Reflections: Ideas for Mallacoota’s Future
Hi, my name is Colin Dixon, I’m a Mallacoota local, and like many here I’ve been thinking about the way forward after the New Year’s Eve 2020 fires.
We lost over a hundred houses, and the scars are still clear on the landscape. But the heart of our town remains — most of the infrastructure survived, and places like the golf course will reopen, though with fewer trees and bigger ocean views. The roads are open, businesses are coming back, and so is the community.
Now is the time to look ahead.
Reimagining Our Coast
One of the ideas I’ve long been drawn to is the creation of a sea bath — a protected ocean swimming pool. During the fires, the controversial boat ramp proved essential for Navy ships bringing in supplies. What if we could reimagine that area to also host a 50-metre sea bath?
It may sound ambitious, and there would be environmental and economic hurdles, but let’s look at the possibilities:
The shoreline near the boat ramp could host a pool, with a seawall extension if needed to manage silting.
Parking could be expanded into areas already cleared by the fire, avoiding further loss of trees.
Such a development could offer locals and visitors a safe, year-round swimming space that celebrates our coastal identity.
Restoring Rivers and Creeks
Further along, places like Betka River and Tip Creek have also been heavily burnt. Access there could be improved with more parking and, just as importantly, work to break open the river mouth so fresh water can flow again. Right now the system is silty and brackish, clogged by runoff and ash. A managed breakthrough could restore health to the estuary.
Islands and Opportunities
Just offshore lies Gabo Island, a jewel I’ve never yet visited but hope to soon. It’s close enough that easier access could be considered, opening it up as another place where people can experience the wild beauty that defines Mallacoota.
Join the Discussion
These are just thought bubbles — ideas to get a conversation going about what Mallacoota could become as we recover. Some may be radical, some impractical, but all are offered in the spirit of discussion.
Take a look yourself on Google Earth or Maps, and imagine what could be. Share your thoughts, challenge mine, and add your own vision for this beautiful place we call home.