Darrell Silva is standing in the Island Ward for the Bass Coast Shire Council election.
1. Where do you live?
Cowes, Phillip Island
2. How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
I have been visiting Phillip Island for 25 years and have had a house in Cowes since 2013. In 2019 my wife and I decided to make the sea change and spend our time in Cowes. I still have an apartment in Melbourne.
3. What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in Bass Coast or another area?
I am an active sailing member of the Cowes Yacht Club, and member of the Phillip Island RSL. I play cards with the Euchre Club at the RSL and play golf with the RSL Golf Team of a Friday afternoon.
Cowes, Phillip Island
2. How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
I have been visiting Phillip Island for 25 years and have had a house in Cowes since 2013. In 2019 my wife and I decided to make the sea change and spend our time in Cowes. I still have an apartment in Melbourne.
3. What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in Bass Coast or another area?
I am an active sailing member of the Cowes Yacht Club, and member of the Phillip Island RSL. I play cards with the Euchre Club at the RSL and play golf with the RSL Golf Team of a Friday afternoon.
4. What experience or attributes do you bring that will help you in the role of shire councillor?
I have been successful in international consulting and project collaboration, with a background in Science and a Master of Applied Finance. My experience in finance and negotiating with government officials and corporations will be a valuable asset for ratepayers and Council and will enable me to work effectively with Council officers, Councillors and lobby government.
I believe in commonsense, consultative decision making to benefit our Island using facts and data.
5. Have you stood for election before in local, state or federal government?
Yes. 2020 Council election for Island Ward.
6. Do you belong to a political party?
No, I don’t believe party politics has a place at Council. I believe party politics at the local level contributes to cost shifting from Government, creating additional financial burden on ratepayers. Decisions for ratepayers should be based on facts and data, not ideology.
7. Are you directing preferences?
Yes. I will preference Ronnie Bauer.
8. Name up to five local issues that you consider most important and explain how you believe the council should tackle them.
Issue 1: The development of the Aquatic Centre and Sports precinct in Cowes. For too long this has been an issue on Phillip Island despite local advocacy over decades. The priorities of previous councils have not aligned with the wishes of the local ratepayers. It is now time to adjust council priorities for Phillip Island from streetscape to sporting facilities.
Immediate and purposeful progress would come from rezoning the acquired land using some of the allocated funds diverted from other projects e.g. Tracks and Trails. The rezoning and re-prioritising of funds would allow for submissions to State/Federal governments for contributions from regional and youth development schemes.
Issue 2: Erosion of the northern shoreline.
The replenishment of sand along the beachfront is inadequate and not a strategy. The State Government via the Dept. Energy, Environment and Climate Action must be a part of the solution and so Council’s role would be to engage and lobby the Department to act.
Issue 3: Cowes car parking. The waiving of car parking spaces for multi-storied buildings will lead to congestion and frustration for residents and visitors alike. Council needs to cease the waiving of car parking with Cowes development and solutions sought. Options include multi level parking at the transit centre, addressing capacity requirements for the cultural centre and soon to be completed “Day Hospital”.
The issue needs to separated from any transport planning as the issue was created separately. Council needs to develop a specific Car Parking strategy.
Issue 4: Overflowing landfill (red bin) waste: The land fill (red) bin needs to be picked up every week from Christmas to Australia day. More frequent pick up does not create more waste. The increased household numbers over that period naturally creates more waste.
With the removal of the green bin as proposed by the State government, this issue will only get bigger. The compostable waste will end up in the red bin. This decomposing waste must be picked up weekly. Council needs to address the issue within the next waste contract period
Issue 5: Transparency and Communication around decision making. This is a key recommendation from the Bass Coast survey 2024. Council seems to prefer social media and website communication, ignoring those that unable or unwilling to use those methods.
Communication and transparency can be enhanced via newsletters/bulletins with quarterly rate notices, and providing arguments for/against decisions made, where appropriate.
Public questions should also remain a part of the Council meetings with answers directly addressing the question and not being a “generic” answer.
9. Name the one thing you would most like to achieve if you are elected a Bass Coast Shire councillor.
Significant progress on the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre and Sports Complex
I have been successful in international consulting and project collaboration, with a background in Science and a Master of Applied Finance. My experience in finance and negotiating with government officials and corporations will be a valuable asset for ratepayers and Council and will enable me to work effectively with Council officers, Councillors and lobby government.
I believe in commonsense, consultative decision making to benefit our Island using facts and data.
5. Have you stood for election before in local, state or federal government?
Yes. 2020 Council election for Island Ward.
6. Do you belong to a political party?
No, I don’t believe party politics has a place at Council. I believe party politics at the local level contributes to cost shifting from Government, creating additional financial burden on ratepayers. Decisions for ratepayers should be based on facts and data, not ideology.
7. Are you directing preferences?
Yes. I will preference Ronnie Bauer.
8. Name up to five local issues that you consider most important and explain how you believe the council should tackle them.
Issue 1: The development of the Aquatic Centre and Sports precinct in Cowes. For too long this has been an issue on Phillip Island despite local advocacy over decades. The priorities of previous councils have not aligned with the wishes of the local ratepayers. It is now time to adjust council priorities for Phillip Island from streetscape to sporting facilities.
Immediate and purposeful progress would come from rezoning the acquired land using some of the allocated funds diverted from other projects e.g. Tracks and Trails. The rezoning and re-prioritising of funds would allow for submissions to State/Federal governments for contributions from regional and youth development schemes.
Issue 2: Erosion of the northern shoreline.
The replenishment of sand along the beachfront is inadequate and not a strategy. The State Government via the Dept. Energy, Environment and Climate Action must be a part of the solution and so Council’s role would be to engage and lobby the Department to act.
Issue 3: Cowes car parking. The waiving of car parking spaces for multi-storied buildings will lead to congestion and frustration for residents and visitors alike. Council needs to cease the waiving of car parking with Cowes development and solutions sought. Options include multi level parking at the transit centre, addressing capacity requirements for the cultural centre and soon to be completed “Day Hospital”.
The issue needs to separated from any transport planning as the issue was created separately. Council needs to develop a specific Car Parking strategy.
Issue 4: Overflowing landfill (red bin) waste: The land fill (red) bin needs to be picked up every week from Christmas to Australia day. More frequent pick up does not create more waste. The increased household numbers over that period naturally creates more waste.
With the removal of the green bin as proposed by the State government, this issue will only get bigger. The compostable waste will end up in the red bin. This decomposing waste must be picked up weekly. Council needs to address the issue within the next waste contract period
Issue 5: Transparency and Communication around decision making. This is a key recommendation from the Bass Coast survey 2024. Council seems to prefer social media and website communication, ignoring those that unable or unwilling to use those methods.
Communication and transparency can be enhanced via newsletters/bulletins with quarterly rate notices, and providing arguments for/against decisions made, where appropriate.
Public questions should also remain a part of the Council meetings with answers directly addressing the question and not being a “generic” answer.
9. Name the one thing you would most like to achieve if you are elected a Bass Coast Shire councillor.
Significant progress on the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre and Sports Complex