Council briefs

From Cape Woolamai to Cape Town

Resident Gina Rosamilia at the August council meeting asked what happened to "old, discontinued equipment removed from each site?"

Shire CEO Greg Box said old playspaces were "carefully removed so they can be catalogued, packed into shipping containers and reused overseas as part of the Rotary
Overseas Relocation Project".

"Following the recent upgrades, the old Cape Woolamai playspace is on its way to Cape Town, while the playspace from Outrigger in Inverloch is on its way to Cambodia," Mr Box said.

Affordable housing

Joe Waralow asked councillors for an update on Victorian Government plans to build social housing in Bass Coast.

CEO Greg Box said the government had committed $16.5 million of the $25 million guaranteed investment to eight projects.

"Seven homes funded through the Big Housing Build have been completed, with 31 homes currently under way and 149 local jobs created through the investment," Mr Box said.

Waste costs

Council watchdog Graham Jolly asked how the State Government's proposed Good Practice Regulations for setting waste charge will change how council charges.

"Public waste collection council cost is $1.2million per year now payable by a number of properties," Graham said.

"What action is council undertaking before the 2025/26 budget year to its waste charge reduction to the paying properties?"

CEO Greg Box said the impact of any legislative changes to the waste charge would be considered through the 2025/26 budget process.

"The community will have the opportunity to provide comment on the draft 2025/26 budget when it is released in 2025," Mr Box said.

Rhyll path

Mario Boffa asked for an update on the progress of the path from Cowes to Rhyll.

CEO Greg Box said council was delivering the path with Phillip Island Nature Parks in five stages, with stage one complete, and stage two due for completion in September.

"Stages 3-5 are in various stages of design," Mr Box said.

Art acquisition

Councillors have approved the Art Collections Policy, which will increase gender equity in artworks acquisition.

Councillors debated the policy, for acquiring, managing, and deaccessioning artworks, with Cr Leticia Laing saying people were unaware of their "internal bias" towards men when evaluating art,

saying there was a "disproportionate" amount of male art and female artists were discriminated against.

Cr Rochelle Halstead responded the community had "embraced" gender equality but understood it "takes a long time" to flow through to all systems.

Since the early 1990s, Bass Coast Shire Council has collected artworks through donations, public art commissions, and acquisitions from local community art exhibitions.

Crown land criticism

A councillor has warned the community about the "myth of gifts" in response to a debate about Crown land.

Councillors approved a new Crown Land Policy, which received five submissions including concerns from the Inverloch Recreation Reserve Committee of Management about their ability to manage the maintenance of the oval, gravel road and car park without council's financial assistance.

Cr Michael Whelan responded saying when the state "gifted land" to council they were "apportioning costs of managing that land leaving council with a burden".

"The management of Crown land is broken. There's not enough money going into it from the state," Cr Whelan said, highlighting erosion at Silverleaves as an example.

"They need to step up and manage their own land. They are not doing that."

Growing population's waste needs

Five allotments on King Road, Corinella will be rezoned to cater for increased demand for wastewater services from population growth.

Councillors voted to approve a planning scheme amendment to rezone land owned by Westernport Water from farming zone to public use service and utility at the King Road Wastewater Treatment Plant (KRWWTP).

The KRWWTP serves about 10 per cent or 3000 people of wastewater services provided by Westernport Water, with demand expected to increase to 8000 people by 2040 from ongoing subdivision in San Remo, Grantville, Coronet Bay and Corinella.

The shire will now request the Minister for Planning to intervene in the amendment process or to provide exemptions from notice requirements.

The expansion will feature wetland storage.

Million-dollar upgrades

A $1.2 million upgrade will be given to the Almurta - Glen Forbes Road culvert.

"Constructed over fifty years ago, the culvert at Almurta - Glen Forbes Road is near the end of its useful life and due for renewal," shire officers said.

The council meeting also saw a one-year $1 million contract for the management and operation of Bass Coast Shire Leisure Centres awarded; and a two-year contract for just under $1.5 million was given for environmental health services.

Climate questions

Several residents had questions around council's climate change work.

Clint Heinze asked for an estimate of the likely financial impact of the changes to investments that have resulted from council's divestment in companies that support fossil fuel projects.

CEO Greg Box responded preferencing non fossil fuels investments had "no financial impact to council".

"Records maintained since this policy was adopted in December confirm the largest interest rate differential applied was 0.10 per cent and that the mean differential was 0.037 per cent, well within the parameters of the prior policy," Mr Box said.

Resident Ernie Westergard asked about council's plan to reach net zero by 2030.

"At current reduction CO2 levels per year council might reduce CO2 by 65,000 tonnes at year 2030. What will be the net reduction on average in climate temperature be in year 2030," Mr Westergard asked.

Mr Box said the shire had reduced its emissions by about 50 per cent since 2020.

"Climate change is a global issue, and all parties must commit to reduce emissions to ensure a stable climate," Mr Box said.

Terry Parkin asked for an update on electric vehicle charging stations proposed at the Newhaven Information Centre. Mr Box replied the stations were "scheduled to be completed by the end of the financial year".

There were also two questions about why council had one councillor and one officer sitting on South East Councils Climate Change Alliance.

"Council works collaboratively with SECCCA and the eight member councils to achieve efficiencies in projects which deliver climate change outcomes across the region," Mr Box responded.

Footpath cleaning

Fred Morris asked when theCowes' shopping strip footpaths were cleaned, to which Shire CEO Greg Box replied they were swept twice a week, and this  was increased during peak periods and for special events.