News of Bass Coast

Artist's impression of the proposed Rhyll microbrewery, distillery and restaurant

By Catherine Watson

COUNCILLORS have approved a new microbrewery and distillery on the Rhyll foreshore featuring a 90-seat bar and restaurant, a brewery theatre and waterfront views.

The unanimous approval at today’s council meeting followed negotiations around noise mitigation, tree protection, improvements to the energy performance of the buildings, as well as water efficiency and the use of rainwater, stormwater, and recycled water.

Operating hours will be limited to 11am to 11pm daily with the maximum number of patrons set at 90. Live music is not permitted and takeaway liquor sales will not be permitted after 10pm.

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Warley apartments win plaudits

15/12/2022

The Warley apartments: "a high-quality architectural response which satisfies the vision for the site by virtue of its scale, quality, and compliance", according to the planning department.

By Catherine Watson

IT’S RARE that a major new development on a landmark site wins unanimous approval but on Wednesday Bass Coast councillors heartily approved a 91-apartment complex planned for the old Warley Hospital site.

Cr Ron Bauer described the $25 million project as an appropriate development for the site and a resolution for a painful chapter in Phillip Island’s history.

“It’s been a long time coming. With the new community hospital we can finally, and without a qualm, say goodbye and close a chapter on the Warley Hospital.”

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Crugnale is back

10/12/2022

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Bass MP Jordan Crugnale

By Catherine Watson

AFTER 13 days of counting, scrutineering, recounting and rechecking, Labor's Jordan Crugnale has retained the seat of Bass, just 202 votes ahead of Liberal Aaron Brown.

Her election meant Labor actually increased its 2018 'Danslide' win.

On Saturday morning, the Victorian Electoral Commission was yet to declare the result but Ms Crugnale expressed her relief and gratitude in a Facebook post at about 6pm on Friday after the final distribution of preferences.

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Questions remain over poll chaos

10/12/2022

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Voters waited two hours and more to vote at the Corinella Hall. Photo: Geoff Ellis

By Catherine Watson

WITH counting in the Bass election having finally concluded, questions remain over unprecedented chaos at local voting centres and a multitude of voting irregularities on election day.

The Post believes at least eight voting centres in the Bass electorate – Newhaven, Dalyston, Kilcunda, Corinella, Grantville, Bass, Bayles and Catani – ran out of ballot papers. Other voting centres, including Lang Lang, Tooradin and Corinella, were severely under-staffed with voters queuing for up to two hours to vote.

Voting centre staff hand wrote ballot papers, some voters waived their voting right and others simply gave up after several failed attempts to vote.

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Bass election update

6/12/2022

Jordan Crugnale, Labor

Aaron Brown, Liberal

By Catherine Watson

The result of the Bass election should be known on Thursday when a full distribution of preferences will take place.

With almost 90 per cent of votes counted, Labor’s Jordan Crugnale is maintaining a narrow lead over the Liberal Party's Aaron Brown.

As of Tuesday morning, Ms Crugnale has 20912 votes (50.25%), just 211 votes ahead of Mr Brown on 20,701 (49.75%). The gap has barely changed since election night.

The results are currently being rechecked.

Bass is one of only four electorates with a result still uncertain.

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Hospital ready for business

6/12/2022

WE'VE had the preview and on Friday the Wonthaggi Hospital Expansion opens for business with the new Emergency Department, Short Stay Unit, Radiology and Main Reception in place.

The entrance to Wonthaggi Hospital will shift to the new main hospital on Friday morning and the existing entrance will be closed.

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Crugnale holds on

27/11/2022

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Bass MP Jordan Crugnale

By Catherine Watson

LABOR’S Jordan Crugnale has a narrow lead in the battle to retain her position as MP for Bass.

A 2.03% swing to the Liberal Party in Bass – against the statewide trend – fell just short. As of Sunday morning, Ms Crugnale has 15,995 votes (50.36%), just 225 ahead of the Liberal Party’s Aaron Brown on 15,730 (49.64%).

With such a small margin, the result is provisional with votes to be rechecked and absent votes and some postal votes still to be counted. After a disastrous statewide result, the Liberal Party will be extra keen to secure a consolation prize by regaining the traditionally Liberal seat.

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Whelan re-elected

16/11/2022

Cr Michael Whelan

Cr Rochelle Halstead

By Catherine Watson

Michael Whelan has been re-elected as Bass Coast Mayor for 2022-23 and Cr Rochelle Halstead is the new deputy mayor.

Any disagreements had clearly been sorted out in a back room as there was only one nomination for each position and both nominations were made by Cr Clare Le Serve.

Cr Les Larke mysteriously declared a conflict of interest in the mayoral election and did not take part, but reappeared for the election of the deputy mayor.

Cr Whelan welcomed his new deputy by promising there was plenty of work to do in the year ahead.

He also thanked Cr Letitia Laing for her work as deputy over the past year and wished her well in her legal studies.

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Open for business

8/11/2022

The community finally gets to see inside the Wonthaggi Hospital Expansion (WHE).

By Catherine Watson

OVER the past three years, we’ve watched a muddy building site transform into a landmark building that now dominates the Wonthaggi skyscape.

Despite Covid, despite lockdowns, despite shortages of materials and labour, the upgraded Wonthaggi Hospital is nearing completion.

The signs are up, the scaffolding is being removed and this Saturday the community has a chance to see inside the $115m expansion during a community open day.

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Lifestyle bounces back

20/10/2022

Lifestyle's proposed Cowes village, with a maximum of
256 units and five small parks.

By Catherine Watson

WHAT a difference two months make. At their August meeting, Bass Coast councillors voted 5-4 to refuse a permit for a 277-unit Lifestyle Residential Village in Cowes.

Cr Ron Bauer described it as an ambit application and he might have been right because Lifestyle quickly returned with a modified proposal.

At this week’s meeting councillors unanimously – and quickly – approved their application for a village incorporating no more than 256 units.

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Labor lags on woodland protection

11/10/2022

FOUR of the five confirmed parties fielding candidates in the Bass electorate have committed to significant action to protect the Western Port Woodlands if they form government in November or are in a position to negotiate.

The candidates presented their cases in front of 200-plus people in the Corinella Hall on Saturday in a forum organised by Save Western Port Woodlands (SWPW).

Aaron Brown (Liberal), Brett Tessari (National), Callum Bugbird (Greens) and Austin Cram (Animals Justice Party) presented varying commitments aimed at preserving the forest corridor between Lang Lang and Bass.

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Coalition would protect woodland: Brown

3/10/2022

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Shadow Planning Minister Ryan Smith, left, Liberal candidate Aaron Brown, with Ted Minty and Tim Herring (Save Western Port Woodlands).

By Catherine Watson

The Liberal candidate for Bass, Aaron Brown, says a Coalition State Government would update a regional sand mining strategy to protect the Western Port Woodlands.

Announcing the commitment today, he said it would address ongoing uncertainty around the extractive industry in the Bass electorate.

“I believe that future extraction licences should preference land already cleared of remnant native vegetation so that the existing uncertainty around this issue is addressed once and for all."

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Cowes eyesore or vibrant addition?

23/9/2022

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By Catherine Watson

BASS Coast Council has narrowly approved a four-storey hotel development despite fears expressed by some councillors that it will spoil vistas of the new cultural centre.

“We are spending a small fortune to build one of Australia’s showpiece buildings, only to have the vista encroached upon by an apartment block,” Cr Ron Bauer protested. “This is akin to the Sydney Opera House vista being ruined by the adjacent apartment block disdained by Sydneysiders as The Toaster.”

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‘5000 trucks a day’ forecast

22/9/2022

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By Catherine Watson

FREIGHT Victoria has identified the Bass Highway as the major freight route for sand, rock and gravel from projected vast new mines between Leongatha and Inverloch.

Extractive Industries of South Gippsland, Supply Chain Study identifies a 160km journey from Leongatha South via the Bass Highway as the preferred haulage route to Melbourne, with potentially devastating consequences for Inverloch, Wonthaggi, Dalyston, Kilcunda and Grantville.

The 2019 study concludes demand for extractive resources from South Gippsland will increase rapidly from below 4 million tonnes in 2015 to over 24 million tonnes by 2050.

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Inverloch hotel headed for VCAT

21/9/2022

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Artist's impression of the planned Lido development on the Inverloch foreshore, submitted with the application by the Forte Group

By Jonathan Upson

THE South Gippsland Conservation Society (SGCS) has appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to overturn approval of a four-storey hotel on the Inverloch foreshore.

The Lido serviced apartment building is proposed by the Forte Group on the site of the old boat sale yard next to the Glade and Inverloch Sound Shell. Bass Coast Shire Council approved the development in June despite 60 objections

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$290m extension for hospital

15/9/2022

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Artist's impression of the entrance to the new Wonthaggi hospital wing, due to open in early November.

A LABOR Government will spend up to $290 million to complete the second and third stages of redevelopment at Wonthaggi Hospital.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews made a surprise visit to the hospital this morning to make the announcement in the new Wonthaggi Hospital Expansion, which is due to open in early November.

The second stage will add two new 32-bed wards, a medical ward and a sub-acute ward, in a new three-four storey building with an outpatient and day therapy area (including a new dialysis centre) on the bottom and first floors.

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Harmers dustup

8/9/2022

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The Harmers swamp

By Catherine Watson

BACK in 2018, former ACTU president and current Labor federal MP Ged Kearney
was being hailed by the Weekend Australian, no less, as “swamp saviour Ged” for buying a swampy bit of land in Harmers Haven.

The 1.3 hectare block at 60-76 Viminaria Road, adjoining the Yallock-Bullock Marine and Coastal Park, has been the subject of numerous subdivision attempts dating back more than 50 years.

The Planning Appeals Board (forerunner of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) rejected a 13-lot subdivision in 1986, citing the environmental significance of the swamp paperbark heathland which makes up the bulk of the block.

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Apartment building hits the spot

19/8/2022

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Proposed development, 150 Thompson Avenue. Architect's drawing.

“THIS is the right building in the right place,” Cr David Rooks said as councillors unanimously approved a three-storey mixed commercial and residential development at 150 Thompson Avenue, Cowes.

The site currently houses a small surf shop and former retro shop and shed. They will be demolished and replaced by ground floor retail space and 22 apartments over two levels (15 two-bedroom and seven one-bedroom) and a rooftop garden for tenants.

The officers’ report noted the redevelopment of an existing commercial site within Cowes was encouraged by planning policies, in particular directing apartment style development within the main commercial precinct.

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What’s special about your neighbourhood?

18/8/2022

BASS Coast is one of Victoria’s fastest growing regional municipalities, with the shire forecast to have a population of close to 48,140 by 2036.

Mayor Michael Whelan said the predicted population growth presents a challenge for the council with 10,000 additional dwellings required.

“Not only will we need to adequately plan for it but we also need to ensure that appropriate planning policies and controls are in place to protect the valued attributes within our townships, where a new development is proposed.”

Now the council wants to know what we value about our neighbourhood to help inform its new Housing Strategy.

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Council no to Lifestyle village

18/8/2022

Typical Lifestylers ... Lifestyle
Communities website

By Catherine Watson

YOU’VE seen the ads: mature couples with perfect white teeth and tastefully silver hair spend their days in expensive leisure wear, playing tennis, paddling in the sea and toasting each other with glasses of very good wine.

This, apparently, is life in a Lifestyle community. Not a retirement village, according to Lifestyle. “Our communities are designed for active, fun-loving over 50s living.”

It’s been an incredibly popular residential and business model. There are 21 villages around Victoria, including two on the Mornington Peninsula.

Lifestyle Cowes at 299-325 Church Street was to have have been number 22 …until Bass Coast councillors this week put a spanner in the works and voted 5-4 this week to knock the application back.

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Council talks tough on mining

17/8/2022

The Holcim mine at Grantville

By Catherine Watson

BASS Coast Council is calling on the State Government to start consulting the council and community on the future of sand mining in the shire.

Councillors have warned of the impact on residents of thousands of sand truck movements a day within the shire if the industry continues to expand into designated Extractive Industry Interest Areas.

There is currently no opportunity for the council or community to have a say on what areas can be mined and growing frustration that the State Government and ministers will not engage with the council on the issue.

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Warm welcome awaits refugee family

20/7/2022

By Catherine Watson

RIGHT now a Syrian family on the other side of the world is probably searching for information about a small town called Wonthaggi, somewhere in Victoria, Australia, their future home.

Bass Coast has been chosen as one of the first seven communities in Australia to host a refugee family under the Federal Government’s new Community Sponsorship Scheme.

The family of husband, wife and four children aged three to nine is currently living in Iraq, having fled Syria during the recent civil war.

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Libs splash $42m on island pool

20/7/2022

By Catherine Watson

The Liberal Party has taken a punt with today’s announcement of $42 million for an aquatic centre on Phillip Island if the Coalition wins government at the November state election.

The Bass Coast Shire Council advocacy list has a Phillip Island aquatic centre at the top – but in concert with a new Bass Coast aquatic centre in Wonthaggi. The council is seeking $79.3 million in state and federal funding to deliver both.

Instead the Liberal Party has announced more than half that amount for one pool and zero for the other.

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Reconciliation walk bridges the divide

16/7/2022