Mayor's Message

By Cr Clare Le Serve

Last week I attended two announcements about significant investments for recreation in Bass Coast through the Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund.

Phillip Island District Cricket Club will receive $277,230 to construct a new four-bay cricket training facility at the Cowes Recreational Reserve. 

This facility will include two publicly accessible lanes, providing our community with top-notch training resources. 

The total project cost is $346,537 and is a partnership between the Club and the Bass Coast Shire.

The second announcement is for Wonthaggi Power Netball Club which will receive $1 million towards the construction of a new netball pavilion. 

This state-of-the-art facility will include change rooms, a social space, an umpires' room, meeting room, and accessible toilets, all designed to meet Netball Victoria guidelines. 

This project, with a total cost of $2.2 million, is a collaboration between the Bass Coast Shire and the club.  

At the announcements I met with representatives from the club who expressed their delight at being able to have a shower after the game - something that many other clubs enjoy without a second thought. 

This funding and project ensures our clubs are accessible, inclusive and equal and aligned to our fair access policy.

These projects are a testament to what we can achieve when councils, clubs, and communities come together with a shared vision. 

They will not only enhance our local sports infrastructure but also foster a sense of community, encourage participation, and promote a healthy lifestyle for all our residents.

Drowning

August 16 also marks World Drowning Prevention Day which aims to raise awareness of the importance of drowning prevention and to reduce preventable deaths.

I'd like to reinforce the importance of water safety within our community all year round. Together, we can ensure that preventative measures and education are at the forefront of our efforts. 

We work collaboratively with our agency partners through the Bass Coast Beach Safety Working Group to make our beaches safe for local communities and visitors to our beautiful region. 

This important work will also be supported by a Cross Council Water Safety Plan to ensure these water safety messages and initiatives are further communicated to our neighbouring councils' communities, acknowledging that many of their residents visit our beaches during the warmer months. 

Check out the tips on our website for water safety. 

Road safety

Finally, I'd also like to point out the importance of keeping our roads safe during the winter months, not only with driving but with the work council staff are out doing every day to fix potholes and make our roads safer. 

If you notice any new potholes or areas needing attention, contact our offices with details. We have just had a $20,000 state government investment into roadside weed management which tops up our council budget a little. 

This work is critical for our farmers as well as those using the roads. 

Keep warm and stay healthy.