The Top 10 election issues

Concerned about potholes on your street? Paying too much in rates? Feel passionate about protecting the coast?

Then October is the time to make your issues count with the four-yearly local government elections.

The Bass Coast postal vote will see eight candidates stand in the Island Ward, four in Western Port Ward (which runs from Sunderland Bay, San Remo, and the Gurdies to Dalyston), and five in Bunurong (Wonthaggi and Inverloch).

While candidates stand on varying platforms, these are the big issues on which residents will vote, and on which successful councillors will for the next four years be focused.
In no particular order …

#1 Garbage

Rubbish collection is the meat and potatoes for a shire.
So when three bins were introduced several years ago, and red bins were collected fortnightly at peak holiday season, it was a red rag to a bull for residents, who continue to call for weekly waste collections in holiday season.
And in further pain, in this year’s shire budget, households will pay $496.50 for the privilege of kerbside waste removal, an 11 per cent increase. In 2017-18 we paid $374 for garbage charges.
While the high cost of rubbish will be a key issue for the next batch of councillors, they will also have to work on the Phillip Island Transfer Station, set to be built on a 45ha site at Gap Road.

#2 Roads

The big one is Regional Roads Victoria’s road plans for the area. At San Remo and Newhaven that includes four lanes, new roundabouts, compulsory land acquisition, even reclaiming a section of Western Port bay.
But in coming years RRV is looking at four lanes through Surf Beach, with the roads authority mooting a four-lane highway across the island.
RRV is also planning to start community consultation to review speed limits on the island.
Then there are ever-present other shire road issues.
Outgoing Cr Stephen Fullarton said one of his big regrets was that he wasn’t able to ensure more dirt roads were covered in bitumen, under the expensive, often controversial special charge road schemes.
Sunset Strip, Sunderland Bay, Smiths Beach and Surf Beach are among the most desperate.

#3 Major projects

All our Christmases have come at once on Phillip Island, with a proposed new Cultural Centre in Cowes, and a mooted sports hub on the corner of Ventnor and Phillip Island roads, complete with community pool. 
But these are far from a fait accompli, with detailed plans and costings required, some arguing it’s money well spent, others suggesting now is not the time to spend big.
Then there’s the controversial regional skate park, initially planned for San Remo, but moved to Newhaven after opposition at San Remo.
And of course, the long-controversial Cowes to Stony Point car ferry is waiting state government funding to see whether the Cowes jetty is an appropriate place to park a terminal.

#4 Animals, wildlife

Nothing gets residents more passionate than creatures, of the domestic and wild variety.
And animal admirers are not always on the same side of the fence.
Concerns about roadkill is seeing a push to reduce speed limits and increase spending and support for wildlife volunteers.
Dog owners are lobbying to protect existing off-leash beaches for their pooches, which conservationists say puts native animals at increased risk.

#5 Planning

It’s an oldie, but a goodie.
Whether they like it or not, councillors are required to wrap their grey matter around often complex planning permits from small to large developments, which often attract objections and opposition from nearby neighbours.
It is becoming an unfortunate trend for councillors to refuse a planning permit, in defence of the community, only for their decision to be overturned by VCAT.

#6 Covid-19 recovery

So far Bass Coast Shire’s support for businesses hit by the economic impact of Coronavirus totals $4 million.
But as we all know, recovery will be a marathon, not a sprint, and a suite of measures will be needed across a variety of sectors, none more so than tourism and hospitality.

#7 Transparency

Boring, but important, and a bugbear of ratepayers.
Ironically Cr Les Larke – now under investigation by the Victorian Local Government Inspectorate – has always called for councillor transparency.
From live streaming council meetings, to councillor expenses, it is critical that councillors remember their boss is the community and to practice open, honest governance.

#8 Town boundaries, town character

The state government is set to release the next stage of its Distinctive Area and Landscapes (DAL) project any moment, with residents sending a loud message that there has been too much development pressure on Phillip Island and San Remo, and growth should be managed.
While many support a continued freeze on town boundary expansion, others say it should go further, with controls to protect the area, including ensuring new housing designs fit town character, beautiful views be safeguarded, sprawl be avoided along the coast, while urban development close to high-value ecological areas should be restricted.

#9 Phillip Island focussed

Islanders are acutely attuned to anything deemed Wonthaggi-centric.
Since shire amalgamations in the mid-90s Cowes was seen to be the cash cow of the shire.
While our fortunes have turned with the recent batch of councillors, locals will nonetheless keep a watchful eye on the next batch.
This doesn’t just mean major projects, but also Cr Stephen Fullarton’s pet hate: keeping the island looking schmicko.
Cr Fullarton was a long time advocate of an island facelift: mowing grass, keeping roundabouts floral, hoisting event flags.
Rolling out over the next few years will be an island entrance makeover, following seven years of successful lobbying by a community group.

#10 Erosion, climate change

It’s one of the defining issues of our generation.
As a coastal area, Bass Coast is at risk from rising sea levels and storm surges, with council declaring a climate emergency last year.
In Cowes east alone, the million-dollar construction of a rock wall and groynes is set to start next year, an area hit hard by erosion.
The climate ripple effects will continue to emerge across the community and economy, requiring decisive action.
Watch this space.
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