Council briefs

Bay protection

Bass Coast Shire councillors have called for the state environment minister to protect Western Port bay’s environment with a new dedicated fund.

Councillors at the May meeting voted unanimously in support of “A Framework For the future of Western Port Bay”, released by an alliance of groups last year, detailing the threats to the bay.

Cr Clare Le Serve moved a motion supporting the protection of the bay’s marine environment, and writing to the Environment Minister to request recognition of Western Port as an “important environmental, social and economic region”.

The motion also called for a dedicated fund to restore and protect the marine environment, “to provide for a sustainable, thriving economy for the future.”

“Western Port Bay has the highest number of deteriorating environmental health indicators of anywhere in Victoria, including declining populations of snapper and waterbirds,” the framework says.

“Western Port has a serious water quality problem.

“These biodiversity and environmental health indicators and projections are urgent signals that action and collaborative management are needed.”

Quarterly performance

The installation of public electric vehicle charging stations in Grantville and Newhaven has been “adversely impacted and is unlikely to be delivered” on time.

The shire’s quarterly performance report states 24 initiatives were due to be delivered by June 30, with most “tracking well” except for three, including the EV charging, as well as the reconciliation plan.

Shire officers said these were delayed because they were dependent on external stakeholders.

The report states the shire has a $20 million surplus forecast to the year ending June 30.

Cr Les Larke was the only councillor to vote against supporting the report.

Paying their debts

Council has agreed to the repayment of $3.73 million of a treasury loan.

And the council will be re-financing the balance of $8 million when it falls due for rollover in June this year.

The total loan of $11.737 million was established in 2022 with Treasury Corporation Victoria (TCV).

At the May meeting, councillors voted to give CEO Ali Wastie the authority to accept any quotes for the purpose of refinancing the loan.

What do we want?

Councillors adopted the Advocacy Strategy 2023-26 at the May meeting.

Unlike the previous strategy released ahead of the state and Federal elections, this one does not detail specific projects for which the shire will seek government funding, but rather the “overarching principles” of how the shire will advocate in the future.

Snap, send, solve

Two residents at the May meeting asked council why they had stopped using the app “Snap Send Solve” used by councils and government authorities around the nation.

CEO Ali Wastie said community members can use the app to report issues to council “however it is not the most effective method as the app provides only limited information”.

“Community members can log requests directly via Council’s website or through customer service. This ensures Council receives the necessary information to resolve the matter.”

Pollution

Resident Louise Lyell asked for the number and location of gross pollutant traps on Phillip Island?

CEO Ali Wastie said there are 16 traps on Phillip Island: two in Cape Woolamai, 13 in Cowes, and one in Newhaven.

Special charge funding

With the Surf Beach Sunderland Bay Special Charge Scheme resident vote set for later this year, Susie Wickes quizzed councillors on funding.

“Over the past 15 years how many special charge schemes has council sought external funding for?” Susie asked. 

“Of these applications for external funding support how many have been successful and in what locations across the shire? 

CEO Ali Wastie said council has conducted nine special charge schemes in the past 15 years and had sought external funding opportunities on all potential scheme areas.

Three of these special charge scheme projects received external funding: Pioneer Bay, Tenby Point and White Road, Wonthaggi.

The costed proposal for Surf Beach and Sunderland Bay (concept option 1: base case (with modifications) – adopted at the March council meeting – will be sent to ratepayers in July/August this year.