1. Where do you live?
Cowes, Phillip Island
2. How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
I have had my holiday house in Cowes since 1981. In 2013 my wife and I decided to make the sea change. I still have a home in Melbourne.
3. What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in Bass Coast or another area?
I am a member of the Cowes Yacht Club, Phillip Island Jazz, and attend in an observer status at Island Voice meetings. I have just been inducted into Rotary. Outside of the Shire, I am the vice president of the Jewellers Association of Australia, Australia’s head delegate to the world Jewellery Congress (CIBJO), I have held the positions of President, Chairman constitutional officer of the Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA). I am an honorary Life member of the GAA. I also was Victorian president of the Australian Sex Party (ASXP) (2016-18) and was instrumental in having the name changed to Reason in 2017. I have been independent since 2018.
Cowes, Phillip Island
2. How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
I have had my holiday house in Cowes since 1981. In 2013 my wife and I decided to make the sea change. I still have a home in Melbourne.
3. What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in Bass Coast or another area?
I am a member of the Cowes Yacht Club, Phillip Island Jazz, and attend in an observer status at Island Voice meetings. I have just been inducted into Rotary. Outside of the Shire, I am the vice president of the Jewellers Association of Australia, Australia’s head delegate to the world Jewellery Congress (CIBJO), I have held the positions of President, Chairman constitutional officer of the Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA). I am an honorary Life member of the GAA. I also was Victorian president of the Australian Sex Party (ASXP) (2016-18) and was instrumental in having the name changed to Reason in 2017. I have been independent since 2018.
4. What experience or attributes do you bring that will help you in the role of shire councillor?
For the last 48 years I have been in small business. I run one of Melbourne’s oldest jewellery firms (Klepner’s est 1889.) I hold a post graduate diploma in Business administration. I ran for the seat of Bass in 2018, I have a vast experience in negotiating positive outcomes through my International and national committees. I have been a councillor for 4 years. I have an understanding of 1) what councillors’ responsibilities are and 2) how the “machine” that is Bass Coast Council operates. 3) the limitations of the position of Councillor. I understand the 4 year and 10 year long term plans of the Shire.
5. Have you stood for election before in local, state or federal government?
Yes. 2018 State election for the seat of Bass. I did this to raise my profile to get elected to Bass Coast Council in 2020. I was elected in 2020.
6. Do you belong to a political party?
No, but for the community’s clarity, I was the State president of the ASXP/Reason 2016-18. I have been independent since 2018.
7. Are you directing preferences?
Yes
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 Sports precinct in Cowes. As they say a healthy mind in a healthy body. Take 200K from the 1mil tracks and trails and rezone the site now. Lobby state and federal Governments for development of the football ground basketball courts and infrastructure via mental health and youth grants. Change advocating from the Cowes Street scape to the sports precinct. Continue to push for the aquatic swim centre in Cowes but it need to be a 50 metre competition pool.
Issue 2: Meaningful erosion measures for the northern beaches on Millow/Phillip Island. The State government cannot be allowed to wash its hands from this issue. DEECA must listen to the community. Procrastination or Retreat is not an option. We must use the chamber as much as possible to force the government to act. Renourishment of the sand is only as good as the next storm.
Issue 3: The land fill (red) bin needs to be picked up every week Christmas to Australia day. The nonsense argument that a more frequent pick will create more waste defies all logic. This issue will become even more pressing as the State government makes composting optional. Where are all the food scraps going to end up? Not the yellow (recycle) bin but the red bin. This decomposing waste must be picked up weekly. I will reintroduce the motion to pick up the red bin in summer in the next term
Issue 4 freeze the waste levy. The way it’s rising our less fortunate residents simply can’t afford it.
Issue 5: Rates, roads and rubbish are our core responsibilities. As such 1 free hard rubbish collection is a right of our rate payers. Call council make an appointment and have it picked up. Not like some councils where you put it in the street for the “vultures” to rummage through the junk.
9. Name the one thing you would most like to achieve if you are elected a Bass Coast Shire councillor.
SEE THE MILLOW AQUATIC RECREATIONAL CENTRE BUILT!!!!
For the last 48 years I have been in small business. I run one of Melbourne’s oldest jewellery firms (Klepner’s est 1889.) I hold a post graduate diploma in Business administration. I ran for the seat of Bass in 2018, I have a vast experience in negotiating positive outcomes through my International and national committees. I have been a councillor for 4 years. I have an understanding of 1) what councillors’ responsibilities are and 2) how the “machine” that is Bass Coast Council operates. 3) the limitations of the position of Councillor. I understand the 4 year and 10 year long term plans of the Shire.
5. Have you stood for election before in local, state or federal government?
Yes. 2018 State election for the seat of Bass. I did this to raise my profile to get elected to Bass Coast Council in 2020. I was elected in 2020.
6. Do you belong to a political party?
No, but for the community’s clarity, I was the State president of the ASXP/Reason 2016-18. I have been independent since 2018.
7. Are you directing preferences?
Yes
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 Sports precinct in Cowes. As they say a healthy mind in a healthy body. Take 200K from the 1mil tracks and trails and rezone the site now. Lobby state and federal Governments for development of the football ground basketball courts and infrastructure via mental health and youth grants. Change advocating from the Cowes Street scape to the sports precinct. Continue to push for the aquatic swim centre in Cowes but it need to be a 50 metre competition pool.
Issue 2: Meaningful erosion measures for the northern beaches on Millow/Phillip Island. The State government cannot be allowed to wash its hands from this issue. DEECA must listen to the community. Procrastination or Retreat is not an option. We must use the chamber as much as possible to force the government to act. Renourishment of the sand is only as good as the next storm.
Issue 3: The land fill (red) bin needs to be picked up every week Christmas to Australia day. The nonsense argument that a more frequent pick will create more waste defies all logic. This issue will become even more pressing as the State government makes composting optional. Where are all the food scraps going to end up? Not the yellow (recycle) bin but the red bin. This decomposing waste must be picked up weekly. I will reintroduce the motion to pick up the red bin in summer in the next term
Issue 4 freeze the waste levy. The way it’s rising our less fortunate residents simply can’t afford it.
Issue 5: Rates, roads and rubbish are our core responsibilities. As such 1 free hard rubbish collection is a right of our rate payers. Call council make an appointment and have it picked up. Not like some councils where you put it in the street for the “vultures” to rummage through the junk.
9. Name the one thing you would most like to achieve if you are elected a Bass Coast Shire councillor.
SEE THE MILLOW AQUATIC RECREATIONAL CENTRE BUILT!!!!