1. Where do you live?
Ventnor, Phillip Island
2. How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
Permanent residents for 14 years (shared family holiday house for 30 years prior)
3. What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in Bass Coast or another area?
4. What experience or attributes do you bring that will help you in the role of shire councillor?
I have a thorough understanding of the workings of government (having held an executive government-facing role with a large industry NGO).
Ventnor, Phillip Island
2. How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
Permanent residents for 14 years (shared family holiday house for 30 years prior)
3. What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in Bass Coast or another area?
- Founding member of Save Western Port Woodlands
- Landcare member
- Active with Ventnor Coast Action
- Phillip Island Conservation Society members
4. What experience or attributes do you bring that will help you in the role of shire councillor?
I have a thorough understanding of the workings of government (having held an executive government-facing role with a large industry NGO).
I have a thorough understanding of the challenges for small business in a tourism economy having spent ten years as owners and operators of the Phillip Island Winery.
I am deeply engaged in the environmental challenges facing Western Port, the pressures on remaining habitat and the rising complexities facing the region in balancing the visitor economy, the press of development, the needs and expectations of local residents, and the preservation of the unique character of the region.
I am an experienced researcher; I understand the necessity to be ‘across the argument’ when involved in making decisions that can impact the future of the region, the Island, and its residents.
I come from a farming background (three generations in East Gippsland) and recognise and understand the pressures of modern farming. In particular, I recognise its importance in defining the unique character of the Bass Coast region.
I have never been afraid to articulate an argument. If elected, I will provide forthright representation around matters of importance to the community.
My work in mental health and in addiction gives me special insights into the challenges faced by many in the community (some of whom are our most vulnerable residents).
5. Have you stood for election before in local, state or federal government?
No
6. Do you belong to a political party?
No
7. Are you directing preferences?
Yes, to David Rooks and Tracey Bell (though we have independent platforms, we share some common goals around the environment and community needs, as well as being permanent full-time residents).
8. Name up to five local issues that you consider most important and explain how you believe the council should tackle them.
Issue 1: New ovals and facilities for Phillip Island Football Netball club. The land is there, the club has been waiting on promised facilities for 40 years. They have waited long enough. It is ludicrous that this successful club (with such high participation rates) has just one oval for training and playing days for its men’s and women’s football teams, for its Seniors and Reserves, U18s, U16s, six junior teams, U18 and U16 women's teams, veteran's team and more than 100 Auskick participants. It has a staggering 592 participants, and one oval!!
It is not acceptable that this has stayed on a Council back-burner for so long when the community need is so clearly evident.
Issue 2: Coastal erosion impacting on Silverleaves (and elsewhere) must be a priority of Council. Council must keep DEECA and the State Government on the hook on this.
Silverleaves residents, whose properties are threatened, have every right to feel let down by Council dithering and by an inattentive Victorian Government and Department.
I have serious doubts as to the suitability of the consultants engaged, FSC Range, to investigate, report, and recommend solutions to the very complex forces at work driving the shoreline loss. The credentials of FSC Range indicate a stronger leaning to civil construction solutions than the kind of broad experience - the dynamics of shorelines, of wave action and of shoreline flows - required here. In its own words: “We specialise in the transport, tourism, recreation, international development, energy and community infrastructure sectors.”
Are Silverleaves residents confident that the future of their homes and community rest in the recommendations and oversight of a very young company doing its first major gig in coastal erosion solutions?
Issue 3: A general rates cap and a fairer deal and better support for our farmers. In particular, to recognise the unique rural character of Phillip Island and to protect our farm zones and farmers from inappropriate development. The half-baked Bass Coast Unlocking Rural Tourism Strategy (BURT), which threatens the unique character of the Island with ‘special use re-zoning’ of farm land for large scale tourism ventures, must be rejected and rescinded by this next Council. It will increase rates pressure on farmers and destroy the very thing that makes Phillip Island so special.
Issue 4: Environmental Protection for the Western Port Woodlands to address the disaster of sand mine expansions. This last coastal habitat cannot be sacrificed for sand for Melbourne.
Council has been too slow to act on rezoning this rare coastal habitat. Its own solicitors, in representing Council to the DAL, commented that Council should have begun the process of rezoning years earlier.
The Western Port Woodlands, the habitat it provides, and the rare and vulnerable species identified there, are worth much more to the Bass Coast region and community – and to the visitor economy (as yet unrealised) – than as a cheap resource to be plundered for Melbourne’s bridges, tunnels and car parks.
Issue 5: Designated ‘safe routes’ – clearly marked along identified roads – for road sharing for e-scooters, e-trikes and mobilty devices for elderly, school-age and community users. We can reduce reliance on cars in Cowes with safer routes for bicycle-use and alternative mobility devices. E-vehicles (e-bikes, e-trikes, e-scooters) up to 250W can be used on Victorian roads (with special conditions). We need designated safe routes signed and with line markings to make it happen. We can do something great here. AND, we need to ensure that we have safe pedestrian walkways in built-up areas (so that families, kids and pooches need not use busy road shoulders).
9. Name the one thing you would most like to achieve if you are elected a Bass Coast Shire councillor.
If elected, in representing the Island Ward, the achievement that matters most is the test of ACCOUNTABILTY – “What did you do, what did you achieve?” The community has every right to expect results from its Councillors and every right to expect them to have the determination and horsepower to deliver on their expectations, to get results, to provide forthright representation on the things that matter to them.
I am deeply engaged in the environmental challenges facing Western Port, the pressures on remaining habitat and the rising complexities facing the region in balancing the visitor economy, the press of development, the needs and expectations of local residents, and the preservation of the unique character of the region.
I am an experienced researcher; I understand the necessity to be ‘across the argument’ when involved in making decisions that can impact the future of the region, the Island, and its residents.
I come from a farming background (three generations in East Gippsland) and recognise and understand the pressures of modern farming. In particular, I recognise its importance in defining the unique character of the Bass Coast region.
I have never been afraid to articulate an argument. If elected, I will provide forthright representation around matters of importance to the community.
My work in mental health and in addiction gives me special insights into the challenges faced by many in the community (some of whom are our most vulnerable residents).
5. Have you stood for election before in local, state or federal government?
No
6. Do you belong to a political party?
No
7. Are you directing preferences?
Yes, to David Rooks and Tracey Bell (though we have independent platforms, we share some common goals around the environment and community needs, as well as being permanent full-time residents).
8. Name up to five local issues that you consider most important and explain how you believe the council should tackle them.
Issue 1: New ovals and facilities for Phillip Island Football Netball club. The land is there, the club has been waiting on promised facilities for 40 years. They have waited long enough. It is ludicrous that this successful club (with such high participation rates) has just one oval for training and playing days for its men’s and women’s football teams, for its Seniors and Reserves, U18s, U16s, six junior teams, U18 and U16 women's teams, veteran's team and more than 100 Auskick participants. It has a staggering 592 participants, and one oval!!
It is not acceptable that this has stayed on a Council back-burner for so long when the community need is so clearly evident.
Issue 2: Coastal erosion impacting on Silverleaves (and elsewhere) must be a priority of Council. Council must keep DEECA and the State Government on the hook on this.
Silverleaves residents, whose properties are threatened, have every right to feel let down by Council dithering and by an inattentive Victorian Government and Department.
I have serious doubts as to the suitability of the consultants engaged, FSC Range, to investigate, report, and recommend solutions to the very complex forces at work driving the shoreline loss. The credentials of FSC Range indicate a stronger leaning to civil construction solutions than the kind of broad experience - the dynamics of shorelines, of wave action and of shoreline flows - required here. In its own words: “We specialise in the transport, tourism, recreation, international development, energy and community infrastructure sectors.”
Are Silverleaves residents confident that the future of their homes and community rest in the recommendations and oversight of a very young company doing its first major gig in coastal erosion solutions?
Issue 3: A general rates cap and a fairer deal and better support for our farmers. In particular, to recognise the unique rural character of Phillip Island and to protect our farm zones and farmers from inappropriate development. The half-baked Bass Coast Unlocking Rural Tourism Strategy (BURT), which threatens the unique character of the Island with ‘special use re-zoning’ of farm land for large scale tourism ventures, must be rejected and rescinded by this next Council. It will increase rates pressure on farmers and destroy the very thing that makes Phillip Island so special.
Issue 4: Environmental Protection for the Western Port Woodlands to address the disaster of sand mine expansions. This last coastal habitat cannot be sacrificed for sand for Melbourne.
Council has been too slow to act on rezoning this rare coastal habitat. Its own solicitors, in representing Council to the DAL, commented that Council should have begun the process of rezoning years earlier.
The Western Port Woodlands, the habitat it provides, and the rare and vulnerable species identified there, are worth much more to the Bass Coast region and community – and to the visitor economy (as yet unrealised) – than as a cheap resource to be plundered for Melbourne’s bridges, tunnels and car parks.
Issue 5: Designated ‘safe routes’ – clearly marked along identified roads – for road sharing for e-scooters, e-trikes and mobilty devices for elderly, school-age and community users. We can reduce reliance on cars in Cowes with safer routes for bicycle-use and alternative mobility devices. E-vehicles (e-bikes, e-trikes, e-scooters) up to 250W can be used on Victorian roads (with special conditions). We need designated safe routes signed and with line markings to make it happen. We can do something great here. AND, we need to ensure that we have safe pedestrian walkways in built-up areas (so that families, kids and pooches need not use busy road shoulders).
9. Name the one thing you would most like to achieve if you are elected a Bass Coast Shire councillor.
If elected, in representing the Island Ward, the achievement that matters most is the test of ACCOUNTABILTY – “What did you do, what did you achieve?” The community has every right to expect results from its Councillors and every right to expect them to have the determination and horsepower to deliver on their expectations, to get results, to provide forthright representation on the things that matter to them.