Mayor Message Cr Rochelle Halstead

Last week, Bass Coast had a strong voice at Parliament House as our Deputy Mayor Cr Brett Tessari, the CEO, Greg Box and I undertook a full day of advocacy on behalf of our community.

Across 12 meetings with the Premier, Jacinta Allan's office, the new Opposition Leader, Ministers, Shadow Ministers, we took the stories, aspirations and challenges of our towns directly to the people who can help us make change happen.

We met with leaders across a number of portfolios including Local Government, Planning, Community Sport, Agriculture, Transport Infrastructure, Creative Industries and Emergency Services.

We met with Opposition Leader, Jess Wilson, Deputy Leader, Sam Groth and Shadow Ministers whose portfolios influence our region's future.

What stood out was the genuine interest in Bass Coast and the shared belief that our community's needs deserve attention and partnership.

A key and urgent priority was the future of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

This event means so much to Bass Coast - supporting thousands of local jobs, energising our visitor economy and shaping our identity as a region that proudly welcomes the world.

With the current contract ending in 2026, we made it clear that urgent action is needed to secure the event's long-term future here at home.

This is a time-sensitive conversation, and we will continue pushing for certainty for our businesses and tourism operators.

Alongside this, we progressed five major long-term priorities that reflect what our community has told us matters most:

Co-funding to renew the 45-year-old Wonthaggi Aquatic Centre;

A consistent statewide approach to coastal erosion and inundation;

Investment in recreation infrastructure at the Phillip Island Recreation Reserve;

Partnership to activate the former Wonthaggi Secondary College site as a vibrant community precinct;

Protection of the Western Port Woodlands through an Environmental Significance Overlay.

We also reinforced our long-standing advocacy on the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund, improved public transport, peri-urban financial sustainability and the implementation of Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) into the Planning Scheme.

These conversations were positive and constructive, with several Ministers and Shadow Ministers committing to visit Bass Coast in 2026.

Nothing replaces seeing our needs and opportunities firsthand.

Advocacy is about persistence and partnership.

We are deeply committed to securing the investment and support our community deserves.

I look forward to keeping you updated as these conversations continue.