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Let the battle for Monash begin
May 4, 2019
Thank you Catherine for the useful information on the candidates and were and when we can vote. It is tempting to vote next week so we can switch off from all the noise.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
The Greens preference to the Liberals are you sure that is right?
Sunny
 
Quite right, Sunny. I was asleep at the wheel. Of course the Greens will preference the ALP ahead of the Liberal Party.
Catherine Watson, Editor
 
As a busy councillor, I am often confronted by the number of items in my virtual in-tray - there were 80 this morning - and when the Bass Coast Post in that pile I always skip to it first.   Keep up the good work, our community deserves independent journalism and analysis.
Your efforts are greatly respected.
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
I have nothing personally against Russell Broadbent, I'm sure he is a decent person. But as an older, white male myself I despair when I see yet another candidate who looks just like me. The Bass Coast is a diverse place, increasingly so in recent years, time for our MPs to reflect that.
James
 
From little things big things grow
May 4, 2019
Congratulations to all involved in this community solar project! It is putting theory into practice and is a practical response to an important issue of our time. And what a brilliant idea to use solar power to run a coal mine! As John Coulter commented: “The past and the future. Old energy, new energy. How good would that be?”
Let's hope other citizens, bureaucrats and politicians and anyone else with clout to make things happen take note.
Should any body, such as Bass Coast Shire Council, for instance, wish to invest in more such community ventures, I am sure there are retirees and others who would be prepared to invest in them if they were well-run. It is an excellent way to invest in our children's and grandchildren's futures.
Meryl Tobin
 
Hi Meryl. The Energy Innovation Co-op has spent several years, getting ready- developing the skills, background documentation and on-line capacity to organise and deliver just this kind of investment project. The idea is to find a suitable roof/ ground host (high day-time energy use, preferably seven days pw, short of capital to do the work themselves), organise up to 20 community investors to provide the capital, then pay a return to investors, give the venue clean power, then eventually turn the system over to the host. Check our website, maybe sign up to join or just for newsletter, and stay in touch ! https;//eico-op.org.au Susan
Susan Davies
 
What a beautiful irony - a disused coal mine being powered by solar energy.
Robert Kenyon
 
Thanks Catherine for writing up our event yesterday so quickly. It was important to the Co-op to mark and celebrate this occasion. And it thanks Meryl and Robert for noting the ideas appeal and the future opportunities. The EICo-op is also co-ordinating development of a Renewable Energy Roadmap for Bass Coast & South Gippsland Shire areas. This will be a strategic plan for a renewable future shaped by people of the region. Please come to workshops and fill out online survey if you can. As Meryl highlighted community investment & ownership of renewable energy is definitely part of the mix. See www.eico-op.org.au for more details.
Moragh McKay
 
A sign of the times as coal turns to renewables across the country. Great achievement by everyone involved. We also need to make sure the network infrastructure is in place to connect renewables to the grid no matter where they are located - local communities generating their own electricity and selling it to the grid keeps both power prices and carbon emissions down.
Andrew Shaw
 
Welch hits the right note
May 4, 2019
It was a wonderful weekend of musical learning, listening and singing. Exhausted but on a high for a day or two later. I still can't stop singing 'O Love' in my head and in my sleep!
The Bass Coast Chorale Committee are to be commended for a fantastic job of organizing such a big weekend. Congratulations to all involved.
Sandra Thorley
 
I learned so much. Such a fantastic weekend. Thankyou to all those behind the scenes and the delicious catering by the Anglican Church women.
Janet Luckett
 
A voice for the Valley
May 4, 2019
I had never heard of John Verhoeven until I received a flyer in the letterbox. his comment "Nothing Australia can do will affect global climate changes" is ludicrous. Who is this man? Why do we always wind up with this type of person running for political office... He disagrees with alternative energy??? wants to continue to use Coal... Australia needs to wake up and understand we are reaching a global crises and action needs to be immediate. To even suggest we can do nothing is obscene. I sincerely hope this man never ever gets a voice in the political arena...we have enough idiots there already.
Sue Carrigan
 
Secrets of the salon
May 4, 2019
Are you going to stand up against the AGL gas port in Western Port Bay? Will you support a raise in Newstart and Youth Allowance?
Sunny
 
​It’s party time in Ventnor
May 4, 2019
 
Great description of the wild ( life) party that ranges far and wide among our once favourite plants and stripped vines
Ian Samuel
 
A market with a heart
May 4, 2019
Corinella has needed something here for quite some time. We hope we can have the locals support.
Gwen Bowden
 
​Signs of the times
May 4, 2019
Hard to vote for someone who is not in the Bass Coast area and also is a supporter of coal fired power.
Sunny
 
Planning certainty essential 
April 18, 2019
 
Brett, good to hear some balance here. "I am for development but it has to be done in the context of what we love about Bass Coast Shire. 
"Phillip Island people have indicated they want to restrict growth on the island. We have to be careful with our small coastal hubs."
  The distinctive areas landscape strategic plan for Bass Coast will hopefully set clear parameters.   Developers understanding accurately what they can and can’t do before they get here is a win-win for everyone.
Nat

I agree with the previous contributer to the Bass Coast Post. Councillors with big ideas of increasing the boundries of the shire when existing developments are still not finished. All councillors from years back should hang their heads in shame for not biting the bullet and
going ahead with all the un-made roads througout the shire. This has not only allowed the cost to rise but it is also, a big burden on the home owners. 
Why i ask didn't the Shire use VCAT that's what they are there for. .
This does not alter the fact that this infrastructure has to be done sooner rather than later.
Pamela J Gill JP
 
The mayor and councillors represent the residents of Bass Coast, not property developers who don't even live here. Meanwhile in places like Jam Jerrup it has been almost 50 years and still no sealed roads or pavements let alone mains water or sewerage.
James
 
Brett I am also pro development that is done in a sustainable way and that protects the environment for everyone.
Infrastructure issues in the Bass Coast are a major issue and needs to be addressed in a long term plan.
We need to use the strength of the Shires Balance sheet to borrow funds and fix the dirt roads in Cape Paterson and other areas as a priority.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
Brett great work by all concerned the BCSC attitude does proud to walk on Country respectfully Caring & Protecting.
We rhe people need to take same responsible care in 2019.
Anthony Egan Bunurong Boon Wurrung Traditional Custodian Bass Coast.
 
The bald and the beautiful
April 18, 2019
 
I had the privilege of meeting Deb at the Bass Coast Shire's 2019 Citizen of the Year Award. 
After the Awards ceremony, we spoke together for about five minutes and she shared information with me about surviving Breast cancer. What a wonderful 'Warrior Woman' who contributed so much to the community.
Phyllis Papps
 
A well-written piece, Liane. You’ve caught the mood well.
Dad
 
I miss her smile
Craig
 
A stunning human
Tricia Hogan
 
May Day in Wonthaggi 
April 18, 2019
 
Thank you, Frank, for this inspiring story! 
  This passage particularly resonated with me: "Wonthaggi was an isolated place, with time and space around campfires and on the job to continue the discussion about how to do things better. In such a setting, mutual assistance was evolving as the basis of a civil society. From the beginning, this ethos became embedded in Wonthaggi’s cultural mindset." I think this feeling is still alive here - may it grow and develop! We need it more than ever in these complicated times. 
  And thanks to Catherine and Bass Coast Post for your role in keeping our community connected, and providing a place where we can continue the kinds of discussions those early miners had about making their community a better place.
Robyn Arianrhod
 
Thanks Without the union my family would not have the opportunities of education and a chance to have a say. My father grandfather and great grandfather sacrificed their lives working in Coalville Outtrim and Wonthaggi and were involved in the numerous strikes and campaigns so to give their families a better life and future to them I am grateful and I hold no secret I too are a unionist Now the struggle is to maintain conditions they were obtained withe the sacrifice of others.
Kerri Allen
 
Early success in shaping democracy, by Unions, in Australia, should be well known but to be informed that pivotal events happened right here should give us all hope that we can bring about change, especially with Climate Emergency.
Bernie McComb
 
Great article Frank, we tend to ignore the early Wonthaggi years where people from other continents lived in tents. They adapted, survived and flourished.
  Intriguing photos show how the people rallied around the word socialism - which is a now a word of insult. Our health systems, schools, roads, beaches, parks are all "free" - isn't that socialism.
  For 60 years of my life, I have felt that the ALP was challenging a Conservative party that was the “natural” incumbent. Even when in power, Labour were the permanent outsiders whose grip on power would always be temporary. 
  Free Market economics backed by social prestige – and the entitlement of the right to assume that they are always right, reinforced by media barons – has been a powerful force.
  The Vic state election and hopefully the upcoming federal election will help more people come out of the darkness and stand up for social values. The only way forward is for business and well-off families to pay taxes and council rates that deliver a better community, More TAFEs less jails, 
  There is an inevitable failure of societies where inequality increases unchecked. Are we mature
enough to reverse the trend and adopt "ëarly Wonnie values" ?
  Thanks Frank for a great insight and raising questions about what it is to be Australian.
Phil Wright
 
The shape of things to come
April 18, 2019
 
A lovely call-to-clay, Catherine. Working with clay puts you on a spectrum somewhere between the tactile artisan and the artist, who crafts reality from imagination. My first encounter with clay at a work bench was at school in New Zealand where my pinching and prodding produced, rather than the human bust I intended, a Homo habilis whose face had been pummelled by a woolly mammoth (me). But it was my very own muck-up, and years later when I learned my brother used it as a paperweight in his office, it was as though the Louvre had called with a request to display it.
John Gascoigne
 
Checking out
April 18, 2019
 
What a brilliant and thought-provoking article. I totally understand what Etusoko says and why she says it.
  Ultimately it IS the deeper connection we have with our special friends and NOT the superficial quick one-line or two-line message or emoji. 
  Let's hope we get back to the days when our TRUE friends wrote us a 'real' hand-written letter or sent us a card. (a well thought-out Email is acceptable, and of course phone calls and personal contact.) BUT I suppose I am 'whistling in the wind.'
Phyllis Papps
 
Thank you Phyllis for your comment. My experiment definitely changed my relationship with Facebook, and cultivated more mindful approach. You may say 'whistling in the wind', but I would like to believe we can change by creating critical mass.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
What a great experiment, Etsuko! Thank-you for sharing your experience, and for your thoughts on the nature of connectedness (and disconnectedness).
Robyn Arianrhod
 
I highly recommend this to anyone, even just for a month. I can assure you that you gain so much in this process. Thanks for your time reading my writing, and posting your comment.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
This just confirms to me that I did the right thing by resisting to open a facebook account. Once a friend asked "are you on facebook?" I said no if you want to see my face you know where I live. She never came to visit and even moved town, which I found out a couple of years later. So I don't hear about everything but does it really matter? Hasn't it become a way of promoting oneself or your business? I have a lot more questions but will save it for now.
Sunny
 
Over the years we tend to collect so-called Facebook friends who are more acquaintances rather than true friends. People come and go through our lives regardless of having social media accounts or not. To keep friendships alive, we all need to make an effort. Facebook certainly can be a practical medium to keep up to date with friends for some people, but as you can read from my article, I prefer face to face contacts. Thanks for taking time to read my writing, Sunny.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
Thank you so much for your great insights Etsuko and the very thoughtful replies to your wonderful article. One day we shall meet BUT not on Facebook or Twitter !!!
Phyllis Papps
 
Yes we shall. You can catch me every Saturday 7:45 am at the stump for parkrun unless I go to Koonawarra or Churchill Island, and Wed 7:15 pm & Fri 9:30 am at the YMCA for Bodybalance. Otherwise I'm often on my bike, riding around Inverloch to the library.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
Well said Etsuko, I have always found actual reality to be far more interesting than virtual reality. Social media is a shallow con job, and far more can be gained by a close study of your surroundings, some may call it zen, I would call it life in its simple glory 
.It is so easy to over think and analyse our reality. Pleased to have you joined the luddites!
Mark Robertson
 
Thank you for taking time to read my writing. 
  Twitter posts were initially limited to 140 letters (now doubled), and Instagram is only photos. Out of three, I found the noise of blowing one’s trumpet is the loudest on Facebook. I think it’s because the posts are often addressed to a broad audience, not an individual. Trying to get ‘hits and likes’ makes it a numbers game. I have grave concerns for the diminishing respect for written words in those social media. Not only are careless spelling mistakes widespread, but fundamental grammar is often not observed. Written language is becoming more like slang. I believe in the power of words, especially written words, therefore it's very sad to see proper care and thought not going into those posts or comments. 
  I’m not a luddite fully as I embrace modern technology for creative designs by the way. 
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
Round the bend
April 18, 2019
 
I agree that roundabouts will not solve much especially in San Remo, there are many shops empty and struggling due to no parking and the flow of traffic into and our of San Remo, it does need traffic lights that should operate at least on weekends and the busy seasons.
Sunny
 
I agree Bernie roundabouts are not a good answer if traffic coming from all four directions like the ones you mention as you travel on Thompson Rd and the flashing lights vicroads put up for peak times are ridiculous .
Having driven in most capital city's fit my work in national job I've seen roundabouts thstvwork well where they have full sets of traffic lights only working at peak times and test of day they work as normal roundabout so your not sitting st traffic lights with nobody coming which drives all motorists hate. 
It works well in some of busiest areas in Sydney and could work here. We owned property at Cape Woolamai from early 70's and it was impossible to get out at holiday time but even more dangerous at non peak times with traffic speeding over the slope at you with no vision of them coming. Why as traffic safety expert Mike Hammond said wasn't slope removed much cheaper than roundabouts and more effective ?
The issues in San Remo are far more complex and as VicRoads is finding out you try to fix one problem and it creates two more problems.
There really is no answer as there simply not enough room to find a solution that assists those trying to get through town as against those living there trying to access the shopping centre precinct.
The extension of town boundary's should never have happened unless Bass Coast Council and Vicroads agreed to proceed with the recommendations of the access strategy the council and state government appointed and paid for. Instead of that they basically never talk to each other.
Good reason again to ask why do we have 3 levels of government it certainly does nothing for the Australian people except cost billions of dollars. If you were in business and ran like the various governments you would go broke.
The incompetence of having several Victorian Government dept and ministers responsible in a small town like San Remo is farcical and the blame game between them never ending yet their all in the end responsible to the government and premier of the day.
Chris Day
 
I remember living in Cape Woolamai banked up for 1km trying to do right hand turn onto Phillip Island - it was murder. At least if I went to the supermarket in Newhaven - I could go via the roundabout back through the back streets of Newhaven instead of waiting near the bridge to do a right hand turn onto Phillip Island Road. Cape Woolamai and San Remo have hours of bumber to bumber traffic over the January and Easter period. A roundabout in either town is the best way to stop the traffic to allow entrance onto or off Phillip Island Road. Cowes, Inverloch and Wonthaggi seem to manage quite well with roundabouts
David Norton
 
My thoughts are, now that Newhaven College has gone from Newhaven it would make sense to remove that roundabout (no longer required for school buses) and for anyone that lives on the Island you would agree that once you are past this point the traffic flow picks up. The other two roundabouts make sense on the way in to Cowes, however leaving the Island there will be a problem as the 2.5km of four-lane divided highway will have to merge to a single lane bridge. See the problem, the thought went in to getting people on the Island but this plan may impact getting off. Just an observation folks.
Braxton
 
Thank you for this Bernie and in particular the point that we are supposed to give way to traffic already on the roundabout.Too often vehicles approach and glance to the right then keep going often at speed and vehicles waiting to enter are unable to do so without being hit. A policeman on duty at any roundabout would write a small fortune in tickets.
Ken Barnes
 
Tall tales and true of San Remo
April 18, 2019
 
What a terrific initiative, So many stories to tell, so many legends And an audience who'll love what they hear.
Best wishes for the launch.
Gill Heal

What's a tree worth?
April 5, 2019
 
Thanks so much for the words and photos. So many people are upset by what has happened. You have expressed my thoughts and the thoughts of so many others, so well.
Bronwyn Dahlstrom
 
Loved the photos and the video
Annette Wilkiinson
 
A similar thing at the Pound Creek Reserve.A giant messmate tree which has watched over Pound Creek ,sucked in carbon dioxide and emitted oxygen for us to breath ,plus our farm animals and pets.Also oxygen for our cars ,trucks,motor bikes,lawn mowers ,blowers etc.What did Thi tree do wrong?Yes it did drop a branch which smashed the TV antenna and damaged the Fire Station.For this it was severely pruned but that was not enough for sone people.Its now been cut off at ground level.
Daryl Hook
,
We were outraged when the Council cut down the trees in Thompson Ave to provide us with the "Town Square", shadeless open space that no-one uses with $50 grands worth of largely unused bells! But the people elected to represent us took no heed. They cut down the trees behind the Council buildings to provide a car park. Some one wrote a song about that, "cut down all the trees and put them in a tree museum and charged all the people a dollar and a half just to see them. 
  What leadership? Why are they so disconnected? Didn't they get the message when they cut down the trees at the front that we were cross. Now they have cut down the trees at the back and I for one am even crosser. How do we get the message over to people who live far away and never visit our part of Bass Coast?
  Why do we have to be constantly on guard to stop OUR council doing things that we find repulsive? Have you driven along Back Beach Road recently? The mangeling of the trees and bushes on the roadside with a slasher is just disgraceful! 
  This is the road that takes hundreds of thousands of international tourists to Victoria's number one Tourist Attractions - The Jewel in the Crown - that earns the State Government millions of $, a Nature Park? You have got to be on some other planet! 
Ruth
 
Myself and my son went to the memorial organised by the lovely big hearted Camille Monet, I listened to the speakers and the singers. 
We were told we must be vigilant and watch that the council is doing the right thing..... perhaps if these peaceful giant trees were given the same asset value as a pipe in the ground. The council could watch itself. Bitterly disappointed with the entire incident.
Jeni Jobe
 
I cannot understand why Councillors did not step in to stop the destruction of these beautiful trees. The world just needs more trees and this is appalling. The latest group of Councillors came to office promising communication and consultation but issues arising in Western Port Ward and Island Ward recently clearly show that Councillors are tired and just not interested in what issues their communities think are important. Sad ….
Joy Button
 
'Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got til its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot" 
Joni Mitchell

Clearly the choice was between paradise or progress. 
Paradise is lost so Phillip Island needs to accept "progress" at full tilt, including a four lane divided highway all the way to Cowes Jetty and also all the way to the Penguin Parade. This will bring in masses more visitors who will need ever bigger car parks. 
But just think of all the jobs and growth...!
  Money will flow in an ever increasing torrent and never mind the stress of coping with the traffic and the crowds, either deal with it or leave....as I have done to a quiet rural location with no parking lots and no crowds, but lots of trees.
Doug Willmott
 
I'm thinking along these lines too Doug. 
Progress seems unstoppable - though I did help save those old eucalyptus trees along Linacre Road in Hampton a long time ago. 
What we can do now is plant as many trees as our properties allow - sensibly not dangerously - to compensate for those oldies that have been sacrificed. And also read current books like 'The Hidden Life of Trees' by Peter Wohlleben, which reports on scientific discoveries describing how trees communicate, support each other by sharing nutrients with those that are sick or struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers. 
And we must keep communicating our knowledge to those who have the power to decide the fate of these giant beings that have survived for centuries against incredible odds.
Sue Packham
 
 
The Wastie way
April 5, 2019
 
Thank you Catherine for a nice introduction to our new CEO and a warm welcome to Ali Wastie. Like all of us that are fortunate enough to live here, Ms Wastie will find that the Bass Coast Shire is a very very special place that is growing but this needs to happen at a sustainable pace and in way that preserves that ‘specialness’.
Good luck Ali.
Frank Schooneveldt.
 
With each new CEO there is the opportunity to review and refresh with new ideas and directions.
A pressing issue for Bass Coast, particularly Phillip Island and San Remo, is retaining the very essence of why many of our residents and tourists come here, accepting that population growth threatens both the environmental and social environment that is a critical part of our community.
There is an urgent need for council and the CEO to address this issue with definitive plans and legislation by State government to protect the rural and natural environment of Bass Coast by limiting future urbanization and destruction of our natural resources. .
Ian Samuel
.
Thanks for the interview Catherine and Ali. Interesting to hear what you have to say, Ali. I'm glad to know that you are concerned about plastic, but while we still allow any plastic bags, even those we pay 15 cents for, and allow excess packaging, there will be a problem. It would be fantastic if could become really plastic bag free.
Bron Dahlstrom
 
I am excited! Together with our open and progressive shire council I feel that our future is bright. Welcome Ali.
John Mutsaers
 
As I read this, I thought of Bob Hawke’s urgings for state governments to be replaced by councils enlarged in size and remit. Ali’s instincts for collegiality and co-operation fit with Hawke's nostrum. Her many fresh ideas include “joint procurements or contracts with a larger council”. Although the "super-councils" would require the expertise of an enlarged public service, that cost would pale beside the budget and taxes that prop up six state governments. Hawke always hit the nail on the head, as when he said in his 1979 Boyer lecture: “What we have today represents the meanderings of British explorers across the Australian continent more than 200 years ago.” Whenever the republican debate launches in earnest might be the time to bracket it with this even more pivotal idea.
John Gascoigne
 
A road to chaos
April 5, 2019
 
The pin has been pulled on development. Fishing paradise, nature environment island all has been dumped by allowing unrestrained development to occur. It's time for Council to really know where it wants to go.
The pin has been pulled on development. Fishing paradise, nature environment island all has been dumped by allowing unrestrained development to occur. It's time for Council to really know where it wants to go.
Joan Woods

Let’s stand by them
March 22, 2019
Wouldn't it be better if the children received an all around Education at School, first with a heavy emphasis on hard science practical reality and consequences; before being subjugated to various Belief systems/Religions by their Elders/Teachers?
Stefan
 
Stefan, please put your assumptions aside and listen to what the students are saying. Now more than ever is the time to hear and to act for their future.
Moragh Mackay
 
I agree with you Stefan. It seems to me that the grownups have decided no-one is listening to them anymore so they've brought in the emotional angle. Adults should be setting an example for young people instead of using them as fodder. My research also shows that this march was not organised by children. It was backed by School Strike 4 Climate Action and the primary backer is the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, a non-profit company registered as a charity with an all-adult board and 68 adult staff. Some of the protest signs were obviously provided by a professional organisation.
  School children are still learning and I worry for the future when I see them being coerced into action like this without the benefit of experience. We are continually seeing prophecies of "climate change" not eventuating or being changed to suit the results. Emissions and world population are the problem, not climate change. Let the kids stay in school and learn how to be well-rounded adults.
Pamela
 
Thanks Moragh I was so proud of these young people speaking up on their own behalf. I was there with Mary, my daughter Celia and grandson Thomas who is 10 weeks old. Thomas has more at stake than most of us and I know he will one day thank these young people for acting on his behalf.
Michael Whelan
 
Congratulations to all the kids who marched, and the ones who didn't but would have liked to. In the absence of organised protest from other sections of society it is great to see school children taking the initiative. Well done, and thanks for a great article.
Lorrie Read
 
The future looks a whole lot brighter with young people taking the lead.
Daryl Hook
 
We’ve got work to do
March 22, 2019
 
Well said, Michael. A country is defined by how it treats it's poor, sick, homeless, disenfranchised and strangers. I support wholeheartedly the council making this decision.
Jacqui Paulson
 
What these "rich" and the government don’t seem to realise is that if NewStart was given a decent boost there would be more items purchased creating demand, creating jobs and increasing profits. The best way to support the wealthy is to give the poor more money.
Adrian
 
Well written Michael, it always frustrates me that the unemployed are suffering the most, no matter how they got there they should not be punished like this. Housing is the number one issue. Once you become unemployed, who can afford to pay their mortgage or pay rent? If it is a welfare to tide them over until they get a job it is not working, they spend all their savings, have to sell possessions and end up in the biggest hole they cannot get out of.   There have never been enough jobs and more and more are going overseas. Many people are in the GIG community and live week by week, then there are those on contracts, missing out on superannuation and holiday leave. Chemist Warehouse employees want to work but are striking currently for better more permanent hours and wages. This is the example of what is happening in the workforce. Raising Newstart means people can feel better, eat better, have a roof over their head and then make more effort to find work while they spend the money back into the community. It helps everyone. No one on Newstart is hoarding their money.
Sunny
 
Thanks Michael and Catherine, great article. Good to hear that common sense prevailed and BCSC councillors voted unanimously to support the motion to raise Newstart. Thanks again, and for your ongoing support with this issue.
Julie
 
I was working in the building industry. Having work; then not having work. SELF EMPLOYED-2 dirty words that the government doesn't like when it comes to Newstart. Having very little work I applied to get an increase in my allowance. Not only did they take that small allowance away they took it away for 3 months. Nothing.(apologized later but no back payment.) Half my life savings went in that 3 months. Another time they paid me $30 a month! (because Newstart thought I was doing ok). That's 8 coffees. They don't take into consideration the costs in running a business, only what you earn. Then if you miss an appointment with Newstart you can wait as much as 2 hours on the phone to re connect with the system. Young people especially, people with children, single mums or dads are desperate for a better deal and better thinking from government. Things have gone very wrong in our society in the recent past. We need them corrected, and fast. Are you listening Prime Minister? 
Peter
 
Great article Michael and I fully agree. People are being punished for the lack of jobs in our area. According to VCOSS there are over 2700 people living in poverty in our shire. Our unemployment rate in Bass Coast is 6.5%.
  People on Newstart can't afford to travel and any increase in payments would obviously bring a boost to the local economy. 'Trickle up' economics would work and we also need to get away from the adversarial and punitive nature of compliance. 
  It's nearly a year since a woman passed away in one of our foreshore reserves after she had been cut off from Centrelink due to losing her medical certificates.
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
An oasis on a crowded planet
March 22, 2019
 
I agree with all of this article. The old mantra - 'Never stand between a developer and dollars'. They cannot see past their bottom line - only PROFIT matters to them.
Yvonne McRae
 
We have enough tourists already, the roads are clogged in summer, and Forrest Caves is a beautiful place that should be left as it is, the creation of a park there will be devastating. I hope VCAT makes the right decision and stops this development, we do not need more caravans on the road, traffic is already too slow and crowded. And how do the other caravan parks in the area feel about this proposal?
Sunny
 
Phil, I resonate well with the phrase ‘the tyranny of small decisions’ from my time with (the then) DCNR. Every small encroachment on valuable conservation resources may by itself not seem significant, but the cumulative effects of a number of such decisions can be disastrous over the longer term. The proposed development at Forest Caves is one of those proposals which just does not stack up environmentally. Let the proponents buy up existing caravan and camping parks, not establish new ones in fragile environments.
Walter Broussard
 
Well said Phil. A strategy should include a comprehensive review of the sensitive airspace above Cape Woolamai and the rest of Phillip Island which is overwhelmed with private operators cashing with helicopter and airplane scenic flights. These operations diminish the experience for everybody on the ground.
Doug
 
Mobile library to go, but not yet
March 22, 2019
 
Having read the story and its quotations, I'm confident there will be a library for the Waterline areas. Not necessarily IN those areas. What about a council-provided minibus service making weekly or twice-weekly trips from small-community centres to a permanent library? Whatever eventuates, the underlying, adhering principle must be that libraries are an essential service.
John Gascoigne
 
I agree, "Whatever eventuates, the underlying, adhering principle must be that libraries are an essential service." and also shows that the community of the Bass Coast is passionate about its library service and the council hopefully sees that the libraries are one of their most loved services.
David Wombat Lyons
 
And what about San Remo?? A high number of users are elderly and the kids who pop in after school are often not recorded as users. The elderly often do not use the internet. Having to travel 40 minute round trip to either Cowes or Wonthaggi is going to be costly. Will the council consider a free bus service for those who cannot travel by car or those who cannot afford the petrol costs? Also I have often heard new residents say they never knew about the mobile library, because when do they advertise it? More consultation should have been in place to see if it would get used more from new residents not just the existing users.
Sunny
 
As I relied on transport by a friend for the Council meeting on Wednesday, I found myself in Wonthaggi with two hours to spare. I decided to go to the Wonthaggi library to pass the time. As I have lived in Coronet Bay as a permanent resident for 12 years, I must say, and say with no malice intended, that I had forgotten what it was like to spend time in a public library. There were people in the library in their thirties reading newspapers, working on laptops and possibly studying. Senior citizens and younger people accessing the computers. As school ended there was an influx of school aged children who popped into the library chatting and gathering and also accessing the computers and games. In this time more people had entered the library to read or to browse the books. There was an occasion previously where I saw a young mother who I know, being taught chess by her young son. There were four librarians in attendance who also participated in varying conversations that were being held. There was also an elderly couple in the library and it was clearly obvious that the husband had dementia. His wife was reading the Phillip Island Advertiser to him and from overhead conversations it was clear that this couple lived in Wonthaggi, and visited the library two to three times per week. Sometime their treat was a taxi ride home but on Wednesday they were walking home. There were no massive borrowings going out the library in comparison to the supposedly low rate suggested by Councillors with the mobile library. My two hours in the library flew by and made me realise even more that the service that we have with the mobile library cannot be compared with a small room, some have called it a broom closet, which is being talked about at Corinella Community Centre.
  The challenges ahead for the Council and West Gippsland Library Corporation is to return goodwill to the Waterline residents and to recognise their need for a library service that residents in Wonthaggi, Inverloch and Cowes have the opportunity to enjoy five to six days per week. To actually involve the users in the Waterline would be a marvellous thing. In the time I spent in the library I felt in a safe and community environment and my two hours went far too quickly before I had to leave the library to hear the disturbing news that the mobile library had been lost.
Joy Button
 
What a lovely comment Joy, thank you for sharing how important libraries are and pointing out that statistics do not always tell the real stories. My son who is now a teenager remembers fondly of our time going to the mobile library and especially those years we did not have a car, it was something he treasured and was an early reader and still reads every day, yes from books not devices!
Sunny
 
Totally agree with your comments Sunny ….. the benefits, usage and value of a library service cannot be measured in throughput of books or by dollars. This is what we deal with when we have an accountant in a bureaucratic role rather than a curator or custodian in a professional library role. 
Joy Button
 
$$ signs and statistics can never portray the true value the Mobile Library has brought to The Waterline communities. A very disappointing indication that our Councillors have been swayed by such shallow figures when they should have been looking at the overall value the Mobile Library has brought to these townships over so many years.
Janne Morrison
 
Very sad day indeed. Our councillors are not in touch with the unique needs of communities in the waterline area. Growth has been incredible over the last 5 years yet infrastructure remains minimal to say the least. Services, especially in the isolated towns of Corinella & Coronet Bay are not even bare minimal with 100s of homes being built across both towns. Had there had been reputable community consultation from the get go and a commitment from the library, usage in these communities could have been increased. Poorly advertised service, no alternative times trialled and removal of the truck’s visit to the local school some time back was a destiny towards failure. Had the community been involved in a meaningful way I am sure half the funds at least could have easily been raised to replace the mobile library and extend visit times.
  Maybe we should seek to be adopted into Casey or Sth Gippsland shires. The only way this can move forward is to have the people designing the new service along with a plan for the CDCC be supported with their weathered and outdated facility?
Sharz
 
Thank you to the 2,453 people, most of whom live in the Waterline, who signed the petition to retain a mobile library service. Thank you to the Pioneer Bay, Grantville, Tenby Point and Coronet Bay ratepayers, residents, progress and business associations for writing letters of support to all the Councillors. Unfortunately, none of you got a mention at the Council table. Thank you to the many local businesses who also supported the retention of a mobile library service. 
  I’m sorry that 40% the Waterline community who cannot or do not have access to the internet, were ignored when being told their mobile library service was out of date. 
  I’m dismayed that not one Councillor was able to explain how “the” replacement service would be superior or even what “the” replacement service would involve. 
  I was disheartened to hear Councillors refer to flawed statistics and support vague concepts as acceptable. 
  I’m sorry that this whole issue was dealt with in secrecy and that the Councillors did not trust their community enough to talk to them first, before making such a monumental decision. 
  There is a profound sense of injustice permeating the Waterline towns at the moment. 
Veronica Dowman
 
 
The weed warriors
March 22, 2019
 
There needs to be a greater push for councils to control weeds on crown land and Vic roads on their land. I have customers paying me to spray for noxious weeds along the highway in front of their property because Vic roads isn’t doing it. All members of the community and all levels of government must be actively involved. The land around the transfer station in Wonthaggi is a disgrace.
Hans Steevens
 
The pleasure of puzzles
March 22, 2019
 
I love Suduko too, have been doing it for years, stick with it, it really gets challenging as it gets harder, I find the easy ones too easy now. It helps me to wind down at the end of the day, really takes your mind off everything.
Sunny
 
Thanks for the encouragement Sunny, I'm about to start on level 2!
Miriam Strickland
 
I've been buying the Woman's Day Super Puzzler for absolutely years. Once you get over the embarrassment of buying it, you enter a world of wonder! My favourites are Cypher Squares and Fills-ins. Being retired now, I spend a leisurely half-hour after breakfast doing puzzles. A habit I caught from my mother but I didn't persevere with the cryptic crosswords and still avoid them.
Pamela
 
‘This is Bass’
March 8, 2019
 
A wonderful inspiring speech. Well done Jordan!
Dr Marian Quigley
 
Brilliant.
Tim Shannon
 
Your speech made me cry, Jordan. I am so glad that you were elected. Well done.
Jacqui Paulson
 
Jordan,
a fantastic and very inspiring speech where you acknowledged your heritage and the heritage of Australia. It was a glorious, well-deserved win: for you, your family, all your faithful and hard-working supporters AND the entire community of the Bass Electorate. 
  We all look forward to a wonderful future- irrespective of age, gender, sex, race, nationality, politics, religion, education, financial situation, etc.
Phyllis Papps
 
A wonderful speech Jordan. Congratulations.
Joy Herring
 
An inspiring speech Jordan. You'll be very good for Bass.
Greg Johnson
 
A new Labor woman MP for Bass! Jordan you have stated clearly where you have come from and what values have informed your long journey through life and your varied experiences in many lands and situations. We are very fortunate to have an MP that has over so many years, faced and worked successfully in so many challenging roles. The ALP Government can only benefit from such diversity and learned knowledge. Jordan this speech only strengthens our high expectations of your time as the MP for Bass. Thank you Jordan. 
Kay Setches
 
Impressive inaugural speech Jordan. I look forward to you representing me and redressing the inequalities at Bass through years of inaction by your predecessors.
Lou Pecora
 
What a wonderful speech! Interesting, sincere and 
positive. Well done congratulations!
Carolyn Goldberg
 
Well done and a very moving speech, Jordan.
Clare Le Serve
 
"Adversity and hope, gratefulness and compassion, family and community." 
What wonderful values Jordan from your own life to start the journey representing and advocating for the people of Bass. I know you'll make us proud.
Mary Whelan
 
Congratulation Jordan, this is truly an inspiring speech. It comes from the heart and offers such hope for all. Thank you for your support of our community.
Pamela Rothfield
 
Well done on being part of the Labor Machine Land Colonizers JC., Labor does not acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Labor has a disgraceful record on Environment cultural Heritage protection, Look at the ongoing fight to save sacred trees along the Western Highway in yictoria Labor are killing the trees on Djabwurrung country no chance of Treaty with this racist colonizer state now " Core values of fairness, inclusion and opportunity & Social justice ALP, hypocrites
Lex
 
 
It’s funny about the fire
March 8, 2019
 
It's funny how the media has failed to mention the influence of climate change. Drought plus heatwaves equals more frequent, larger bushfires!
Peter Gardner
 
Glad you stayed safe Allison,where too many properties were lost.I would love to know what can be done to reduce the fuel load that contributes to these raging fires? We can't control lightning strikes,but surely more can be done to reduce the fuel load?
Michelle
 
It’s also funny how many people complain about the smoke, impact on native fauna etc. when fuel-reduction/ecological burns are conducted Michelle. The authorities are damned if they do and damned if they don’t!
  Carrying out ‘controlled burns’ is also very risky business... particularly in areas that have homes scattered throughout!
Brett
 
Sadly our old growth rain forests have been logged, there is now nothing to stop wildfires.
As for the fuel load, small animals need the grass for shelter and food.
Jan Fleming
 
How do old growth forests ‘stop’ wildfires Jan? The Aussie Bush has evolved to burn and Mountain Ash, Blackwood etc that dominate these ‘rainforests’ you speak of rely on fire to regenerate.
Brett
 
Beautiful words, and how true. We also have grandchildren in our care and packing what they could to move out. The little 5 year old packed his teddys and Snacks, can't leave with our cereal, and chips. 😂🤣😂
James Lugosi
 
We lost our house to the fire and I somehow think it's funny how it really irks me that the media can't get the name of our place right. It's Yinnar South.
Elke
 
Sorry for your loss Elke, and the error, which was mine. It's been rectified now.
Catherine Watson, Editor
 
​Dogs versus birds no contest
March 8, 2019
 
The PICS suggestion is just an ambit claim with a raft of dreamy wishes. Why don't t they come out and ask the Shire to phase out all future dog and cat ownership on the Island and make it into a true wildlife sanctuary. We know this will NEVER happen. It is currently a very restricted environment for dog owners and there is a real need for at least another 2 beach areas for such use.
Liz Glynn
 
What a great article Jeff - written on behalf of the Phillip Island Conservation Society and the Bass community in general.
  What I think we need to work out is how to find a delicate balance between the dreams and passions of the environmentalists and conservationists, versus the sometimes very selfish and irresponsible dog/cat owners, versus the needs of our very best dog/cat friends.
  I am, and always have been, a very responsible dog owner since we moved here to Phillip Island in 2001 and even before.
  Dogs on leashes at all times. YES.
  Cats inside (especially at night and always with a bell collar). YES, because they are killers of our wonderful bird and wildlife.
  Let's try to find the right balance AND always make sure that the millions of visitors and holiday home owners are aware of how to protect and respect our environment. That is the reason why they come here.
Phyllis Papps
 
Dogs do need to run, but they are happy to run anywhere. It's the owners who want to walk on the beach, but that's where dogs often harass wildlife and annoy beach-goers. More inland areas should be chosen for off-lead dogs, and beach regulations should be enforced.
Jenny Skewes
 
I am not a pet owner but I love dogs. I do not like their poo. I do not like that they are killing wildlife. I am sick of the neighbour's cat killing birds in my backyard. I am sick of picking up dog poo left in bags on the beach and in the bushes. I once spoke to someone who was reading the dog restriction sign at San Remo and looking a bit confused, and they told me they found it on an app that it was a dog beach. I always see dogs on beaches without leashes, everyone ignores the restrictions. I never see rangers EVER. No point in having laws if they are not policed. More signage is needed, more information to locals and tourists, more control. Once they get that done then give them a couple of beaches and off leash areas somewhere else. And hurry up with the laws to keep all cats inside or in cat runs, they kill the most including feral cats.
Sunny
 
​Study hub a game changer
March 8, 2019
 
I certainly hope the university hub is opened. It will be life changing for some people.
Jacqui Paulson
 
Reminiscences of The Gurdies
March 8, 2019
 
Always find reminiscences like this very moving. A snap-shot of an earlier generation, dealing with life's challenges, observing the district and their neighbors - scenes which will never return. Thanks.
Greg Johnson
 
Interesting to note how Father coped with a 'savage' fire by placing his daughter out in the open on a ploughed patch. They bred 'em tough in those days!
Anne Heath Mennell
 
Buckley signs off
February 22, 2019
 
Firstly let me say that I understand Mr Buckley wanting to protect his legacy.
That said, I have never questioned the form and content of Bass Coast Shire Council’s financial statements, however I have reservations about its financial sustainability and that is a key function, role and responsibility of Council and its Councillors.
In December 2018, the Victorian Auditor General reported that Council was at higher risk in three areas, namely:
- Adjusted Underlying Result – medium risk
[This measures Council’s ability to generate surpluses from its ordinary activities]
- Renewal gap – medium risk
[This measures the rate of spending on existing assets]
- Capital replacement – high risk
[This measures the level of spending on new and renewed assets]
The Adjusted Underlying Result is arguably the most important indicator, as it determines whether Council will be financially sustainable and able to maintain services on an ongoing basis. The indisputable fact is that Council will incur accumulated underlying operating deficits over the 7 financial years to 30/6/19 in excess of $20m.
It is akin to any business or family household incurring $20m of expenses in excess of its business and/or PAYE income.
Further, Council, in my opinion, uses an outmoded book entry accounting technique known as ‘Reserve Accounting’. The Victorian Auditor General has stated in writing “…At the outset I must say that I concur with the proposition of Local Government Victoria that the creation and reporting of non-statutory reserves in general purpose financial statements is generally to be discouraged. Many would argue that such ‘reserve accounting’ is an anachronism; …”
As a result, Council’s financial statements for the year ending 30 June 2018 were amended to include the following statement:
“…The existence of the reserves does not mean that Council has the cash funds available to allocate to the reserves purpose…”. In my view there is approximately a $10m shortfall in Council’s cash to fund such reserves. 
In my judgement, as a consequence of the accumulated operating deficits of $20m over recent years and a shortfall of $10m set aside to meet non statutory reserves, Council will need to generate and utilise future operating surpluses and borrow substantially to fund its capital expenditure program and to address the renewal gap and capital replacement risks.
This, in my opinion, is the ‘big picture’ financial legacy and challenges inherited by our new CEO.
Cr Les Larke
 
Thank you Catherine for your interview. Thank you Paul for your leadership over the past five years and good luck with your future. 
I have studied the Bass Coast finances and can report to the people of Bass Coast that the finances are in good shape. I agree that we need to spend a lot more on infrastructure. With record low interest rates it’s a good time to borrow money. Councillor Les Larke has misled the people of the Bass Coast over the state of the Bass Coast finances and inexplicably continues to do so. It’s time he moves on.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
Paul and Catherine, this interview was a treat to read. An audio would be great too if it's available.
  Marginal seat, more permanent residents, good ATAR scores and competent local government, and decent debates on council all good for the Bass coast.
  And if I may suggest .... Indulge me (and other cyclists) with a bike path from Wonthaggi to Inverloch (through the fields not on the road). And protect the old boys home on Phillip Island from that negligent owner.
Edward Buckingham
 
If Aquasure could be persuaded to pay their rates, estimated to be approx. $12 million per. year, Bass coast shire could easily afford to establish some tertiary education facilities. Watershed members met with Paul soon after he took on the CEO role, and he promised to get back to us " in a couple of weeks". Five years later we are still waiting for a ...... Perhaps the new CEO could raise the issue again with the new member for Bass. Brumby/ Holding university has a certain ring to it.
Mark Robertson
 
Many thanks to Catherine and Paul for a wonderful and insightful interview. Bass Coast is a stunning place to live and has an exciting future ahead guided by people of vision, planning and leadership. Best wishes to Paul.
Ursula Theinert
 
I would like to post my congratulations to those responsible for the interview with the retiring Bass Coast CEO Mr. Paul Buckley.
  This is no doubt the best scripted interview that I have seen for some time. However I am not sure how Mr. Buckley allowed the question on communication to be delivered as it was.
His answer clearly indicated that the council deliberately targeted people in the age group of 18 - 34 and by inference did their best to ignore those over 35. This is also evidenced by the deliberate and cynical refusal of council to include this demographic in their decision making processes over the past three years at least
Trevor Brown
 
Beware: four lane highway ahead
February 22, 2019
 
Another try for sanity
The proposed project in Newhaven, Phillip Island, with 4 lane divided highway and 3 large, dual lane roundabouts makes less sense than ever.
  The budget is $40Million a big swag, much needed for more deserving purposes. The length of the road, containing the 3 roundabouts, is just 2.5km. 
  The first half is 60km/h with the second half at 80km/h. If the full length was 80km/h, transit time could be as fast as 2 minutes. You can rarely travel at full speed because of a wide range of distracted, visiting drivers cruising slowly, so, at average 60km/h, transit time is 3 mins. Visiting Melbourne, it’s amazing how many roads now have reduced speed limits, surprisingly many 40km/h, permanently. But none on Phillip Island. 
  If the 2.5km was reduced to 40km/h, transit time would then be 4 minutes. Would this put anybody out? In terms of cars per hour, if we want more visitors, optimum appears to be 60km/h. Any faster and we leave bigger gaps between cars, so cars per hour is the same, perhaps less.
  If the whole thing was 40km/h permanently, there’s no danger of serious injury or fatal accident. At 40km/h, traffic flows smoothly, vehicles give way to one another. So there would be no need for divided highway or big dual lane roundabouts or waste of $40Million, some of which could be spent on improving existing road surfaces. 
  The big project might be justifiable if divided highway allowed petrol heads to race all the way to the track. For just 2.5km, in middle of small period township, removing mature trees, more of them, making life difficult for pedestrians and cyclists, difficulty crossing and parking, for residents and businesses on both sides of the highway, how can this project make any sense? 
  Would anything like this get more than split second attention, before being laughed out of town, if proposal was for highway through a place like Maldon?
  Is any difference possible, with four lanes v 2 lanes, into such short, dead end road, with not enough car parks, when so many drive so slowly?
Bernie McComb
 
We are going to kill what makes visitors want to come here and community members want to live here: the natural attributes of this unique island. If we wanted it to be the Gold Coast - we would live there! Please let’s band together and make Vicroads listen. Cr Whelan: what’s the next step to ensure we are heard?
Nat
 
I totally agree with you Nat. The San Remo and Phillip Island area will be changed forever and not the reason why we decided to become permanent residents here just on 20 years ago. Pave paradise and …
Sandra Thorley
 
Jane Jobe
I agree too, Nat. VicRoads has a narrow mission re managing the arterial road network and road safety, so it's enormously frustrating, but not surprising, that it doesn't see the bigger picture. If we want to be heard about protecting the natural attributes that make this island attractive and drive our visitor economy, we need to talk to our state and federal representatives.
Jane Jobe
 
Hi Nat. Next steps? Council adopted the Phillip Island Integrated Transport Study in 2014 that sets out transport priorities and approach. Since then a Community reference Group has worked on these issues mainly focussing on the critical safety issues presented in the likes of the Woolamai intersection. Vic Roads has been an excellent partner on getting those issues addressed. It is how the growth issues are handled that is important as the next stage and that is where the risk of the loss of character of the Island gets caught up. The Council Visitor Economy Strategy specifically discusses the value and appeal of the Island's open spaces. The proposal in question directly attacks this notion by seeking to put the road about 50 meters into farmland at Surf Beach. Council must insist that out strategies are properly considered in the plans for the future, my comments the other night were to reinforce this. The PIITS CRG meets tomorrow at 7.oopm at Newhaven meeting room - you would be welcome to attend.
Michael Whelan
 
I am a resident of another off island small coastal town.
Don't let the engineers get a hold of this, but as an Island Population that's facilities often rely on the cash injection from holiday populations to finance the rest of the year be careful what you wish for.
  And then of course there's the bridge, the narrow San Remo approach and the roundabout at Boys Home road. Four lanes on the island are a bit useless with those as they are. At easter and Xmas etc traffic backs up to Grantville.
Jeff Cole
 
There are 365 days in a year and on how many of these does serious congestion occur? Even without the other very good reasons, the scale and cost of this project would be disproportionate.
Julie Thomas
 
Nat has spoken for all of us. VicRoads imprints its preference, bestowing on our community an eyesore -- what most visitors have wanted to leave behind them.
John Gascoigne
 
Totally agree with all of the above
Vicki
 
 
As a regular monthly visitor to the island it would be good to have 2 lanes each way all the way from grantville to Cowes. Getting onto the island at peak times is tough and with young kids a very tough drive if it ends up taking 3 hours from Melbourne. Phillip island tourist toad needs to be 2 lanes, I don’t get the issue here, although the one issue Vic roads hasn’t addressed is the one lane through San remo and the bridge. It’s not just Christmas that visitors come, it’s most weekends throughout the year
PI regular
 
A 4 lane highway going into a 2 lane bridge....
How does that improve the traffic flow?
A 4 lane highway needs a 4 lane bridge and 4 lanes through San Remo.
And only two lanes into Cowes!
Where is the Island traffic management plan.
Trevor White
 
I am a local of 14 years, I drive everyday into Cowes from San Remo and i fully agree with you Trevor! (I used to live in Cowes) It doesn’t make sense! 
A 2 lane bridge going into a 4 lane onto the island? 
Then coming off the island from a 4 lane road to a 2 lane bridge and road will get backed up unless 4 lanes are added from Bass HWY straight into Cowes and over the bridge. I feel that this hasn’t been thought of thoroughly and properly. If anything we need the roads re-fixed! Ha ha!! Could another bridge be built? Have one that goes onto the island and one that goes off? Just a thought!
IslandLocal
 
What sense does it make to spend millions on 4 lane bridge when road to San Remo is 2 lane all the way to and from Bass? Does traffic on Island ever travel as fast as 80 kmh, even on a quiet day? How much difference can it make to get cars to Cowes faster when the only plan to park them is a whole 200 spaces at Transit Hub? How much incompetence does it take for construction of something as simple as a car park to take until Christmas?
Bernie
 
The islands roads only go to and from the bridge "fact" at times congestion is a problem for road users. Fire truck Ambulances Police and other emergency services are greatly impacted. With the growth in population and the suburban sprawl getting closer the traffic from Fridays to Sunday is growing. “The council has adopted three different plans that express the community’s desire for alternatives to private car use on the island. These include improved public transport, works to encourage active transport (cycling and walking), a reduction in inappropriate speed limits to protect people and wildlife, and limits on visitor numbers at busy periods.”
Public transport bike riding will not solve the problem. The utopian view of an idyllic life has past, embrace change for without change the island would still be a wilderness (with no residents) Why did Coles, Woolworth and Aldis come to the island? Because they was a need. Tourists that stay on the island don't come to the island on a bus, or a bike it inconvenient. They bring their children their belongings their caravans. Stop dreaming, face the fact, live in the real world. The roads are needed, they are coming and that’s that.
Steve Denise
 
Agree that a 4 lane solution across the Island is not desirable for many reasons and it won't solve the problem of congestion at the bridge.
The bridge is 2 lanes and the road on the San Remo side is 2 lanes. There is a school crossing at Newhaven and twice a day there is a 40k speed limit. One simple solution would be to extend the 40k area from the bridge to the Newhaven roundabout at all times.
The safety of wildlife, pedestrians and cyclists should be priorities in planning traffic solutions. (I've never seen signs anywhere but at Cowes telling me as a pedestrian to give way to cars!)
We also agree that reliable public transport, must be considered as a solution to road congestion.
Mary-Lu and Eric Burt
 
I recall that a vehicular ferry was going to provide a miraculous panacea to the island access problem. Is our council still throwing our rates revenue at this folly? Without a serious upgrade to the bridge I feel that the multi-lane VicRoads improvements will simply prove to be a very expensive carpark.
Mark Robertson
 
Gosh next there will be a proposal for a regional standard skate park with a four tower lighting set up for night time use for our precious little green foreshore space opposite the supermarket in San Remo. Ooops! it has already been proposed much to the chagrin of soooo many locals who only found out about it after the grant of $650,000 was granted to the Skate Park lobby just before the last Federal Election. The Bass Coast Council have a great deal to answer for due to the lack of Community Consultation and are now trying to make it look like they are listening to ' the people!' Not good enough!
Sandra Thorley
 
In 30 years you will wish it were so. The roads are bumpy and noisy too and a smooth quiet ride is what is needed. Most wildlife jump at the bumping along of a car on uneven roads and minimum a new quite modestly widened path is needed. 60 is a pain in the arse and 40 will just frustrate many locals as we have not got sensible speed limits. It’s about a balance and preparing for the future regardless of local stigma.
Bobthebuilder
 
Not happy Jan about this 4 lane road in the middle of the island, the skinniest part as well and an area that is a haven for wildlife particularly our beautiful shearwaters. What hope will they have when they fledge at end of April? It's bad enough now that cars do not abide by the 60 km/h limit, particularly the food transport trucks, the tourist buses and impatient weekend warriors who arrive to the Island with their Melbourne road rage.
I agree the road condition needs to be improved. It does NOT NEED TO BE A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. Why isn't the blue line implemented on busy weekends? What's the problem with this? Proof is in the pudding, it works!!!!
It's about time VicRoads listens to the local community instead of ploughing ahead regardless.
Maxine
 
About time. Finally will help with the ridiculous congestion of traffic over the holiday season and when big events are on. 100% all for this. From San Remo with a second bridge to Cowes should have been converted to 4 lanes years ago and seen off the stupid blue line scheme. Bring this on as soon as possible.....
Jesse
 
Will Vic Roads ever move into The Twenty first century spend some money to get rid of the Roundabout at Lang Lang along South Gippsland Hwy & build an overpass ....
Alf
 
The triangle revisited
February 22, 2019
 
Tim, thank you for the opportunity to be more appreciative of the spaces we move through and the meanings we endow them with.
Gill Heal
 
What a joy to read another of your erudite yet playful pieces again Tim. 
I will appreciate that space between 3 points at Cowes Jetty all the more for you having walked me through it.
Linda Cuttriss
 
Thanks for your comments Tim. My personal Jettty Triangle has always included the significant Baron Von Mueller Moreton Bay Fig on the edge of the Esplanade in front of the Isle of Wight and the wonderful Band Rotunda, built by locals in 1935. For me the Rotunda tells of the community spirit that prevailed on an Island that had no connection at the time,with the mainland. People gathered at this place to be informed and entertained. The Jetty Shed, built in 1870 to store produce bound for Melbourne completes my triangle with the Cenotaph prominently and proudly in its centre.
Anne Davie
 
First steps for $19.6m coastal park and walk
February 22, 2019
 
Exciting news. We have a beautiful coastline and what better way to appreciate it. I've walked the Great Ocean walk from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell. It will be wonderful if we can have one locally that embraces our spectacular coast too!
Cathie
 
I don’t want this walking track at all. The farmland comes almost to the cliffs leaving only a narrow wildlife corridor. Just the building of it will be totally disruptive to the animals let alone too many feet and too much rubbish. I have seen that many out of area visitors do not do the right thing. Dogs off leash is a certainty and impossible to police. Our nature is more important.
Janet Luckett
 
Rubbish along this Coastline is going to be a Big Issue. Anyone who sees rubbish dumping should take details like vehicle registrations, description of persons involved, and the time, date and place and report it immediately to Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or the Environment Protection Authority on 1300 372 842
Alf
 
Riding a wave of goodwill
February 22, 2019
 
Etsuko, thank you once again for a most enjoyable and incredible reading .
I was reading your story in my warm lounge, sitting on my very comfortable reclining chair with my laptop , then somehow I felt being transported all the way to Inverloch on that black ski and icy cold day.
  You are truly a very inspiring person and a wonderful writer. Thank you.
Josephine bueno
 
Thank you, Josephine. Your words mean a lot to me as a writer. Yet I'm a mere conduit in delivering the story, and if I can take my readers to the world of my writing, then my mission accomplished. Both you and I believe in the power of written words.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
Wonderful words Etsuko. You have captured the commitment of our local community to ensure that everyone enjoyed this very special event. The smiles on DSA participants’ faces kept us all warm, on a such an unseasonable cold day, and keen to join in again and again!
Kath
 
Thank you for your kind words, Kath. You are right. When we witness others joy, our hearts are always warm. I particularly loved your expression 'commitment of our local community'. It was truly an amazing effort by all involved. Everyone's smile says everything. Thank you for taking time to read my writing.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
Thank you for sharing. Inspiring community and story. You carried me along with your emotions. What a ride!
Pip
 
In my mind's eye, I can clearly picture you in the water, helping others with your big heart, if you were with us, Pip. Thank you for taking time to read my story. Much appreciated.
Etsuko Yasunaga
 
My first bushfire
February 8, 2019
 
Anne Heath-Mennell encapsulates what many of us experienced and felt over the four days of the Grantville Fire emergency as did Geoff Ellis with his photography. Thanks, Anne and Geoff. Without the quick response of authorities and firefighters to the emergency, there could have been a very different outcome. At Saturday's Emergency meeting at the Grantville Transaction Centre, locals gathered together and expressed their great appreciation of what was being done to save their area from the devastation so tragically experienced by Black Saturday victims almost exactly 10 years previously. We owe our firefighters both in the air and on the ground and the authorities behind them an immense thank you. We would not have come out relatively unscathed without them.
Meryl Tobin
 
Meryl, I totally agree re the immense thank you to our firefighters and the hundreds of people who all did whatever they could to support the people who put their bodies between us and the inferno. 
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
​​Time and tide
February 8, 2019
 
Coasts have been eroding for millions of years man just needs to learn as he has in the past to adjust and not try and fight Mother Nature!
Stefan
 
In high school a sage Geography teacher taught us that every thing above see level was eroding and everything below was being pushed back up on the edge of the tectonic plates - a multi- million year plus cycle.
Geoff Ellis
 
Climate change is real and the consequences are real.
The time to act is now and not to leave it to future generations. The beaches belong to the people so it is necessary that all people contribute to the cost of maintaining them. The Federal Government could introduce a special levy that is distributed to local governments to maintain the beaches etc.
In the meanwhile we could introduce parking fees at the beaches with all money raised to be used to maintain the beaches. Budgets at all levels of government must factor in climate change action. 
The time to act is now.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
Well said Frank and I totally agree though I'd suggest that the crisis extends into the hills where landslips, biosecurity hazards, drought, floods and all the other challenges for farmers need to be addressed. 

As well as the social and physical impacts of this emerging crisis, the long term financial consequences for all levels of government, particularly local need to be planned for now. 

Jam Jerrup is a great example of how a hundreds of thousands spent today could save the millions related to road closure, power line relocation and the threats to houses, farms and people,
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
Frank have a look at this article reference below - a rehash of a good idea killed off by Abott. But instead of the money going to individuals it went to the community to look after those in energy cost stress and to take community initiatives to combat climate change and adapt 
https://insidestory.org.au/cashing-in-on-carbon-reduction/
Michael Whelan
 
Thank you Michael for the information.
I am a great believer in the law of singularity.
What is the simple thing that we can do to start to fix the problems. Perhaps by increasing taxes or introducing parking fees. I have always liked the Kiss principal.
Frank W Schooneveldt
 
Geoff, AGL is not the existential threat but a representative of the behaviour that has led us to one. The existential threat is represented by the totality of global warming, it rests in our inability to cooperate globally and right through to community level. It is fuelled by materialism and we are distracted by fear, evilly manipulated by self-interested politicians – Tony Abbot and Scott Morrison come to mind. It manifests in industry with coal reserves and plays out in the jobs versus the environment argument. 
Adaptation measures that you mention will be important but until we tackle the burgeoning threat by reducing our emissions across the board and undertaking serious draw down of
carbon we are destined for failure.
Michael Whelan
 
I totally agree that global emission reductions are imperative and essential and also suggest a fresh look at the definition of progress on a planet with finite resources. I have often heard the strains of Joni Mitchel's Big Yellow Taxi echoing from your side of the chamber and it's it tragic poignancy is ever more resonant.
Geoff Ellis
 
And here's me thinking I'd be one of the first to comment on this!. Good morning to "those that have gone before me", especially Geoff** and Micheal.
  As many have said, at local level its the AGL's and container port porposals are/were the immediate threat, but it's global warming that will eventually destroy the low lying parts of Western Port shorefront. Malcolm Drive Grantville will cease to exist inside ten years and the ones who will complain the loudest are every chance to be the ones who pulled out the mangrove seedlings.
  So do what you can at BCSC local level, but ultimately its up to the Feds and State Govts for the ultimate solution and that's to stop burning coal for starters.
  I do hope to see this occur in my lifetime but as I'm past my "3 score and 10" maybe that's hoping too much!!!
Kevin Chambers
 
Kev C ! The Gurdies isn't the same without you! 
I well remember your "Erosion Tour of Grantville" and that tree toppling into the water as the sand washed away from it's roots. 2016 and that was a real eye-opener for me..... Have to catch up in March, eh?
Geoff Ellis
 
UP FOR DEBATE
Every time I hear people speak of climate change I ask myself the questions was it climate change that covered the land mass between Tasmania and Victoria? Was it climate change that made all the ocean disappear around the Bacchus Marsh region? The floods in Townsville, how do they know it is the worst flood that city has ever seen? What is climate change? Is it a realty or is it governed by greed. People who saw an opportunity to fool the people and make billions of dollars from it? How do we know what happened 500 or 1000 years ago when we didn’t have the industry we have now? Perhaps someone out there knows the answers.
Margaret Murray
 
I'm guessing you don't know much about nuclear fusion, black holes, genetics or how the Moon was formed but it doesn't mean scientific theories about these things are up for debate.
James
 
Spot on James - I can't explain how an electric light works - I just know when it's on, or off.
The reality for Jam Jerrup is that there is 14m between the high tide mark and the road and then another few metres to their front fences. Part of that foreshore is washing at 2m per year. It's an equation, not theory.
Cr Geoff Ellis
 
50 years of exits and entrances
February 8, 2019
 
Our first performance after we had arrived in Bass Coast, was 2011, Cabaret. We were astounded at the quality for every aspect of the performance. We assumed that various professionals - performers, singers, directors and the like - had been contracted from Melbourne and were even more impressed to learn that all were locals. as new arrivals - 'refugees' from Melbourne - we had assumed we would be travelling back to Melbourne regularly, for various cultural activities and events. Not so!
  Gill, you have done a wonderful job of capturing the journey of te WTG. We look forward with relish to the launch and subsequent 'festival'.
Maddy Harford
 
The first show we saw was Singing in the Rain …. loved it and go every show now. Really looking forward to reading the book you have written Gill as I know it will be absolutely filled with so many memories as only you can deliver. 
Joy Button
 
Pitching in
February 8, 2019
 
How proud I am Mark, your eulogy was first class. Mum
Barbara Robertson
 
Quite some times and quite a family. Best, Neil
Neil Rankine
 
Thanks, Mark, for this beautiful tribute to your father. What a rich life Bill lived, as did his good friend and mentor, Jim Glover. Both men taught at Wonthaggi High School. Neither was rich or famous. But they nailed the good life: family, community, meaningful work, comrades, creativity. 
  Their wider commitment to the community enriched their lives. In an age of discontent where most people have retreated to home and family, perhaps we should look to Bill and Jim for a model of how to live a contented life.
Catherine Watson
 
It was touching, though not surprising to see so many former students I recognised at Bill's send off. Conversations I overheard while waiting for the service to begin suggested there were also more than one from before my time. Some had travelled considerable distances. What many of us had in common was our receipt of one on one tuition in leather craft aside from general woodwork and pottery classes. Bill was respected. Not all teachers were. Fond memories of encounters with Bill in subsequent years, whether in the street, or over a coffee and cigarette in Veeland while waiting for the car that Mark was working on. A smile to remember.
John Coldebella
 
The forgotten people
February 8, 2019
 
Can't you let it go for another year Marg? 
  Realistically there were maybe 40,000 protesters at the #ChangeTheDate marches across Australia. Which means only about 5% of Indigenous and 0.1% of no Indigenous people felt sufficiently strongly to turn up and protest. 
  And why would they? The majority recognise that in modern Australia, regardless of its history, they have the opportunity to live their lives as they wish and embrace those aspects of their ancient heritage they choose to. A choice their ancestors never had. 
  The date Jan 26th is not celebrated for its origins but a convenient end of summer school holidays. If they changed the date to say Jan 30th I wouldn't really care that much. But this year the organisers of the march made clear it was about abolishing Australia Day altogether regardless of the date. So good on you if you marched and support that. 
  Australia is not perfect but has so many good things going for it can we not have one day to celebrate that and feel good about ourselves? And the doomsayers stay indoors and maybe pick a particularly cold, wet winters day to get out and protest with their miserablist friends.
James
 
Marg Lynn presents Noel Pearson's logical case for changing the date for Australia Day. Empathetic people sensitive to others are likely to see this as acceptable. Maybe those who can't could do as others have suggested and consider the scenario if Australia had lost WWII. Should the Japanese or some other victor have 'occupied/settled' our land and treated us the way 'European settlers' treated and some still treat Australia's First People, would we have rejoiced and happily joined in celebrating an Australia Day if the day chosen was the day Japan won the war and they or another victor took possession of our land? Congratulations on your wise and well-written article, Marg and thank you for sharing it.
Meryl Tobin
 
Most of us of a certain age will have known someone who 'made a meal out of a bereavement or some other significant loss,, to the point that even their friends began to stop feeling sorry for them.
  There comes a point where someone ought to tell them, but no-one does, because the person has so much invested in their grief & pain, suggesting that they start to move on will only cause them further grief & anger.
  So in the end, even their friends get tired of it & they move on.
  The 'Sorry Story' in the end is a disempowering narrative for indigenous people, but it keeps a whole tribe of non indigenous (and nearly non indigenous people) in the stipend rich business of administering suffering & the status quo.
  As capitalism rolled itself out it radically disrupted 'business-as-usual' everywhere it went, & forced everyone it touched to radically adapt. Most people did with varying success. It wasn't easy for anyone, including the bulk ofothe ruralf peasantry who lost their land during the enclosure movement in Britalin during the 1780s.
  But it wasn't just a disaster. New opportunities appeared as well & there would not be a country in the world that offers the opportunities to any hard working, focused & enterprising person that Australia does. That is why it is a rather popular place to migrate to, especially from places that put Aboriginal sufferings into some kind of perspective.
  At some point aboriginal communities are going to have to admit to themselves that the Sorry Story has made a real mess of their journey into the modern world and there is no alternative but to embrace it the best way they can by including themselves in....& letting their traumatic past go.
  If they continue to fail in this, the only beneficiaries will be their white (or just off white) liberal, humanitarian 'benefactors' who not only thrive & prosper on the compassion & empathy train, but get all the jobs in running it.
Christopher Eastman-Nagle
 
I apologize in advance to the editor for posting this comment - I know the Post has a policy of not facilitating personal abuse but .......
  Anyway According to a site I just found in a sad little corner of the web, there is a whole industry based on "The preparation of ideological lifeboats to meet the contingency of the emergence of post-modern times; storm proof, self righting, compassed, determined and secular; a practical guide for when all else fails, which is what one expects from a protracted history of living wildly beyond the available means and relentlessly moving from unsustainability to postremocide......
  I'd suggest the parrot in that cage needs to clean its mirror.
Geoff Ellis

The Campbells of Kernot 
February 8, 2019
I first met Sheila and Bruce in 2016 when I was researching the Kernot Church and they are the embodiment of community spirit and neighbourly good will. They are role models for the rest of us. 
Cr Geoff Ellis
 ​Time and tideThe bald and the beautiful