Jon Temby is a candidate for Western Port Ward. 1. Where do you live?
I live on a few acres in West Creek.
2. How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
I have lived here for a little over three years but have a lifetime of holidays and immediate family contact in Bass Coast.
3. What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in Bass Coast or another area?
I live on a few acres in West Creek.
2. How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
I have lived here for a little over three years but have a lifetime of holidays and immediate family contact in Bass Coast.
3. What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in Bass Coast or another area?
- Member Three Creeks Landcare
- Member Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group
- Associated with the Save the Western Port Woodlands group
- Past member, Phillip Island Conservation Society
- Past family member, Silverleaves Conservation Association
- CFA Deputy Group Communications Officer, 8 yrs, and 12 yrs fire-fighting experience.
- Member of Benalla Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee
- SES Road Accident Rescue Team Leader, 3 years
- Elected Community Representative for the management of Lake Mokoan -10 years
- President of Middle Indigo Primary School Council
- Member of the Preshil (P-12) school board, Australia’s oldest progressive school
- Chairman of the ADI Munitions (now Thales) Emergency Control Group -3 years
- Past President, Rotary Club of Flemington and Chair of its business operations
- Board Risk advisor to Sea Shepherd Australia
- ‘Presidents Excellence Award’, Lions Club of Benalla
- Red Cross First Aid Instructor – many years
4. What experience or attributes do you bring that will help you in the role of shire councillor?
I have very broad practical experience across government departments, private business and in leadership roles in numerous community based organisations as partly detailed above. In addition to my tertiary qualifications, I completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course several years ago and have experience on several boards.
I have also benefitted from several leadership courses including the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership program. I have been both a speaker and an MC at conferences, am a good listener and seek to find common ground. I value integrity, transparency and accountability and seek to achieve long term solutions that will benefit future generations. If elected, this background experience and attributes will serve me well as a Councillor on the Bass Coast Shire Council.
5. Have you stood for election before in local, state or federal government?
No I haven’t and am looking forward to the challenge.
6. Do you belong to a political party?
No I don't.
7. Are you directing preferences?
Yes. Down the card: Jon Temby 1, Rochelle Halstead 4, Glenda Minty 2, Brian O'Farrell 3, Nikole Schellekens 5, Jan Thompson 6.
8. Name up to five local issues that you consider most important and explain how you believe the council should tackle them.
Issue 1: Protecting our remnant natural bushland areas, in particular the Western Port Woodlands. The Woodlands are the only remaining example of its ecological type and includes populations of numerous endangered and threatened species. It is a small biodiversity hotspot that is under great threat from current sand mining operations. Alternative viable sand resources are available in areas with better transport access to Melbourne that don’t involve the removal of natural bushland. Rehabilitation cannot ever replace natural bushland and its complex biodiversity that has developed over millennia. Its protection is critically important and the council need to take stronger action to ensure it is not further damaged.
Issue 2: Increasing community connectedness, local transport options and access to health services in the smaller, mainly coastal townships of the Western Port Ward. I am concerned that residents and ratepayers in some of our smaller communities are unnecessarily isolated from the social interaction, services and resources available in our larger towns. I would like the council to investigate whether some form of local transport can be provided to enable easier movement between their homes and our larger centres.
Issue 3: Supporting a strong local economy, in particular building on sustainable ecotourism opportunities. According to recent Bass Coast Shire Council reports, the majority of residents, ratepayers and visitors who come here place the environment as the most important issue and asset we have. I agree, and if our economy reflects this interest more of us will want to protect our reasons for living here. Sustainable ecotourism businesses will seek to ensure that our environment remains healthy so that they can grow their business. Ecotourism can be a major employer of people with diverse tour guiding, scientific research, catering, accommodation, business management and other skills, knowledge and interests. It should help to motivate our children to develop expertise and see their positive future here rather than perhaps ‘anywhere but here’ (yes, I am a parent too). I see it as totally logical for the council to take a strong position to help achieve this outcome
Issue 4 Supporting the uptake of renewable energy. The shire’s climate action plan is a great start, it needs to be fully implemented and regularly reviewed to ensure that it remains valid and useful. When we understand the facts around global warming and climate change we can make rational decisions that will be better for the environment and cheaper for us in the longer term. These changes will reduce the potential for further global disasters. We need to counter disinformation, inform our constituents of the sustainable, cheaper and better options and seek to help the implementation of more environmentally friendly practices in our businesses and private lives.
Issue 5 Increasing public open space in urban areas, in particular in the rapidly developing Wonthaggi North area. Our physical and mental quality of life frequently hinges on easy access to safe, quiet open parkland spaces with interest areas and facilities to suit all age groups. These spaces are ideally within a short walking distance of our homes and need to be accessible to all. Spaces need to be available for off-lead dogs in areas where wildlife will not be disturbed and young children are safe. Vegetated areas should be focussed on native plants that attract our wildlife as well as providing colour, texture and shade.
9. Name the one thing you would most like to achieve if you are elected a Bass Coast Shire councillor.
That’s a very difficult question as there are a combination of related matters that I would be particularly proud to have helped bring to life.
I would love to have our younger generations even more engaged in helping to create a more environmentally friendly future for themselves and future generations. This objective is inextricably linked to having a healthy natural environment that begins with having the Western Port Woodlands fully protected, hopefully with the support of the sand mining companies. It includes having increased and sustainable educational, artistic, scientific and ecotourism activities based on our natural environment. It includes our farmers seeking improved productivity through the adoption of more environmentally friendly practices and using shelterbelts to double up as wildlife corridors and bio-links. It includes supportive collaboration with related organisations so that our environmental future is integrated across council boundaries and cultures. It includes all of us reducing our carbon footprint and enjoying a sustainable, vibrant, healthy and biodiverse natural environment that we have helped to achieve and protect together.