Our departing council CEO reflects on the good, the bad and the memorable in Bass Coast.
Ali Wastie: “CEOs come and go but what counts is people who love the area they live in.” Bass Coast Post: We knew you’d have to move on from Bass Coast but it came sooner than we expected.
Ali Wastie: I wasn’t looking to make a change. I’ve been incredibly happy at Bass Coast and there’s still a lot to do. I was approached by the recruitment company to apply for the position at Geelong when they went out a second time. I’ve got connections and family in Geelong.
It’s a fast-growing city and also a beautiful environment. Of course it's much bigger than Bass Coast but they’ve got many of the same challenges: coastal erosion, the impact of climate change, housing affordability. There are pockets of real wealth in Geelong but some real entrenched disadvantage that local government has a role in addressing.
Ali Wastie: I wasn’t looking to make a change. I’ve been incredibly happy at Bass Coast and there’s still a lot to do. I was approached by the recruitment company to apply for the position at Geelong when they went out a second time. I’ve got connections and family in Geelong.
It’s a fast-growing city and also a beautiful environment. Of course it's much bigger than Bass Coast but they’ve got many of the same challenges: coastal erosion, the impact of climate change, housing affordability. There are pockets of real wealth in Geelong but some real entrenched disadvantage that local government has a role in addressing.
Post: You’re going from a functional council to a troubled one. The Geelong Advertiser referred to you as a “diplomacy specialist” …
AW: I do have a Masters of Diplomacy and Trade. There’s a history at Geelong, there’s no denying that, but my experience to date with the council has been very positive. They’re there to represent their community. It’s always about relationships and partnering to get the best outcome for your community. People bring their own flavour to that. If you have the community at heart, and you’re advocating for them, I don’t think you’ll go too far wrong.
AW: I do have a Masters of Diplomacy and Trade. There’s a history at Geelong, there’s no denying that, but my experience to date with the council has been very positive. They’re there to represent their community. It’s always about relationships and partnering to get the best outcome for your community. People bring their own flavour to that. If you have the community at heart, and you’re advocating for them, I don’t think you’ll go too far wrong.
Post: What was the hardest thing to change at Bass Coast?
AW: Getting Bass Coast and our employees to realise we could be part of something bigger and to look outward a bit more. Of course Gippsland’s important but we could look across and over to other areas.
When I got there we co-created our values – what we wanted to celebrate and behaviour that we don’t tolerate – and we developed three principles of working:
I’m very proud of the way we led the narrative on gender equality with 16 weeks paid parental leave regardless of gender. We closed the superannuation gap by paying one year’s super on the birth of a child. And then shouting about that as loud as we could. So Worksafe came on board. Organisations right across Australia have now adopted what we did.
Post: You were very strong on workplace culture. Some ratepayers might say that’s a waste of time and money …
AW: At the end of the day, an engaged and productive workforce is where you get value for money.
Post: Will we also lose our senior leadership team now that you’re going?
AW: That’s not an issue. Everything the council has achieved, we have achieved together.
The depth we’ve got at Bass Coast is very strong. When we advertise for senior roles we are inundated with quality applicants. When I step aside, any of my GMs can quite happily and ably handle that role. I honestly believe I’m leaving that legacy.
Post: Any mistakes or regrets? Anything you wish you’d done differently?
AW: Spending too much time on a very small minority of people who don’t elevate the community and who take the oxygen out of the room.
Post: Any truth in the rumour that it was you who came up with the idea of demolishing the old Cowes Cultural Centre before the 2020 election so the incoming council couldn’t go back on the plans?
AW: When I came in I said if we’re going to have a lasting legacy for our community we need to start again. There’s nothing in this building that’s worth keeping and that was validated by the experts we got in. It was built 30 years ago, before sustainability was an issue. The new centre cost more to build because it incorporates passive-house design but the ongoing utility costs will be much lower and there will be low carbon emissions.
AW: Getting Bass Coast and our employees to realise we could be part of something bigger and to look outward a bit more. Of course Gippsland’s important but we could look across and over to other areas.
When I got there we co-created our values – what we wanted to celebrate and behaviour that we don’t tolerate – and we developed three principles of working:
- The customer was at the centre of our processes.
- We deliver on time and services that meet community’s aspirations. We’ve just delivered $50m of capital works. That’s huge for a council of our size.
- We are part of something bigger.
I’m very proud of the way we led the narrative on gender equality with 16 weeks paid parental leave regardless of gender. We closed the superannuation gap by paying one year’s super on the birth of a child. And then shouting about that as loud as we could. So Worksafe came on board. Organisations right across Australia have now adopted what we did.
Post: You were very strong on workplace culture. Some ratepayers might say that’s a waste of time and money …
AW: At the end of the day, an engaged and productive workforce is where you get value for money.
Post: Will we also lose our senior leadership team now that you’re going?
AW: That’s not an issue. Everything the council has achieved, we have achieved together.
The depth we’ve got at Bass Coast is very strong. When we advertise for senior roles we are inundated with quality applicants. When I step aside, any of my GMs can quite happily and ably handle that role. I honestly believe I’m leaving that legacy.
Post: Any mistakes or regrets? Anything you wish you’d done differently?
AW: Spending too much time on a very small minority of people who don’t elevate the community and who take the oxygen out of the room.
Post: Any truth in the rumour that it was you who came up with the idea of demolishing the old Cowes Cultural Centre before the 2020 election so the incoming council couldn’t go back on the plans?
AW: When I came in I said if we’re going to have a lasting legacy for our community we need to start again. There’s nothing in this building that’s worth keeping and that was validated by the experts we got in. It was built 30 years ago, before sustainability was an issue. The new centre cost more to build because it incorporates passive-house design but the ongoing utility costs will be much lower and there will be low carbon emissions.
The Cowes Cultural and Community Centre takes shape. Photo: McCorkell Constructions Post: Any unfinished business?
AW: The dinosaur trail planning is well under way, thanks to $500,000 from the State Government for the master plan. There are some wonderful things we’ll be able to take out to the community soon in terms of the Gondwana Garden in Wonthaggi, the light show, the Inverloch discovery centre, the public art installation in San Remo, the digital work we’ve done for the caves in Eagles Nest. I can’t wait for the community to have a look at what the creatives have come up with there. That’s going to be a fantastic, lasting project for Bass Coast. It’s going to really put us on the map in terms of another cultural experience.
I would have loved to see the Wonthaggi secondary school site progress. The council has done its due diligence and I hope we are able to get a good strong partnership with the State Government and community about the site.
The Wonthaggi Centre Activity Plan is going to be place making writ large with a strong focus on pedestrians. Any European city or town or village that does well is a walkable city and Wonthaggi lends itself so well to that. Not just Wonthaggi but Inverloch and Cowes. All the research shows that’s where we get vibrant economies.
I find the comments about parking from the Wonthaggi traders group quite frustrating. We have engaged ad nauseam with them. Maybe there’s an intermediate or temporary parking solution with the school site, whatever that might look like
Post: What will you miss about Bass Coast?
AW: There’s something really special here. The amount of volunteering is incredible. That’s the best thing. I’m inspired when I see groups like Save Western Port Woodlands. The passion and dedication that people have for making their place better and preserving it for future generations.
The council is interested in what we can do to improve women’s and girls’ participation. I’ve been around Wonthaggi Power Football Club. The community spirit in that club is massive.
That’s my experience – everywhere across Bass Coast, in our clubs, our theatres. There is so much talent and dedication – people who are willing to give up their own time for the community. CEOs come and go but what counts is people who love the area they live in.