Council briefs

Fastest ever meeting?

The April council meeting was arguably the fastest in history, lasting just 45 minutes.

Three councillors were also absent – Crs Les Larke, Letitia Laing and Brett Tessari – with Cr Larke already missing several meetings in recent months.

Engineering services

Bass Coast Shire has joined with Cardinia Shire to create a register of professional engineering services for future tender work.

The register, which will run for three years, includes arborists, and flood modelling, to sports lighting and landscape architects.

The budget available for the contract is estimated to be about $7 million, with all expenditure to be consistent with council’s approved annual budget.

Censorship?

In public question time, Inverloch resident Kevin Griffin said it had been more than a year since the CEO had started “intercepting and censoring my correspondence to councillors” under the unreasonable conduct by customers policy.

“The UCC requires that a review be undertaken 12 months after restrictions are initially imposed,” Kevin said.

“How much longer does the CEO intend to continue intercepting and censoring my communications with our elected representatives?”

CEO Ali Wastie responded the next review date was June 29, “12 months after your meeting with the CEO”.

Social housing

With the upcoming roll-out of social housing in Cowes and Wonthaggi, resident Nathan Smith asked how the shire – in the “absence of their own social and affordable housing strategy – justify recommending sites to Community Housing Victoria (CVHL) for future development?

“What is council’s response to the immediate neighbours of the proposed social and affordable housing sites who will see an instant devaluation of their property?” Nathan asked.

Ms Wastie responded the shire’s healthy communities plan 2021-25 had a clear objective to support social housing in Bass Coast.

“Any impact on property values is subjective, however the impact on property values is not a planning consideration,” she said.

“This has been a widely held planning principle that has been established at VCAT.”

Community consultation on Cowes social housing ran until April 6, with the housing set to be built on the vacant land between Roydon Road and Wyndham Avenue by CHL.

CHL will develop the 1599 sqm land to build five two-bedroom dwellings and remove 12 trees.

Building of the houses will start late this year, with completion expected by the end of 2024.

The Planning Minister is the responsible authority and not Bass Coast Shire.

Shetland Heights Road

Resident Jillian Mitchell asked whether the current roadworks to seal Shetland Heights Road in San Remo were being funded by a special charge scheme or was the majority of funding being provided by council?

“What percentage of the sealed roads in Newhaven, Rhyll and Cowes have been funded by special charge schemes?” Jillian asked.

Ms Wastie responded that Shetland Heights Road was funded by a Federal government grant and developer contributions. 

“A percentage of road network funded through special charge schemes is not recorded on council records,” Ms Wastie said.