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Let the bidding begin

1/7/2022

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By Catherine Watson
 
WHEN you note a cavalcade of senior politicians on the Bass Highway, you know we’re living in a very marginal electorate. And that’s good news for Bass Coast with the prospect of a political bidding war before the November state election.
 
With visits by the leaders of the Labor, Liberal and National parties in recent weeks, it’s clear that the seat of Bass is in the balance. 

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Mine expansion under EPA scrutiny

3/6/2022

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PictureBiochemist Dick Wettenhall is concerned that sand washing could
imperil Western Port’s Ramsar-listed wetlands.
​By Catherine Watson

DANDY Premix faces another hurdle in its massive sand mine expansion at Grantville with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to assess potential environmental risks to groundwater and waterways.

Last month Planning Minister Richard Wynne gave approval for the company to widen its current pit to 1.2kms and dig 20 metres below the water table subject to meeting certain conditions.

The company proposes to wash sand on site, with wastewaters and sludge to go into a 3500ML unlined dredge pond.


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Tessari enters race for Bass

2/6/2022

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PictureBrett Tessari, third from left, at the national Party conference with the National MP for South Gippsland, Danny O'Brien, MLC for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath and Victorian National Party Leader Peter Walsh.
By Catherine Watson
 
FORMER Bass Coast mayor Brett Tessari is a surprise entrant in the November state election after being selected as the National Party candidate for Bass.
 
The National Party has never contested the seat before and Bass is certainly not the party’s heartland, but they found it hard to pass up on the popular home-grown councillor and footy club president.
 
Mr Tessari spent two years as deputy mayor and three as mayor and has a considerable personal following. At the 2020 council election, he secured 6372 primary votes, almost half the ward total in a five-councillor contest.


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Cape boundary setback

20/5/2022

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PictureCape residents take their message to Town Hall.
By Catherine Watson
 
CAPE Paterson residents will fight on to retain Cape’s “village feel” despite failing to persuade the council to press for a reduction in the town boundary.
 
At this week’s council meeting, the council finalised its submission on a draft Bass Coast Statement of Planning Policy, produced as part of the Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL) project.


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'Resolve mining conflict first'

20/5/2022

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PictureSand Supplies mine, Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve
By Catherine Watson
 
BASS Coast Shire Council is calling on the State Government to fulfil its charter to protect the environment and biodiversity in the face of a surge in sand mining that threatens the shire’s last major forest.

In its submission on a draft Bass Coast Statement of Planning Policy (SPP), the council challenges the Government to put protection of biodiversity and threatened species first in the crucial 50-year plan for the shire.

The draft policy fails to acknowledge, let alone resolve, the inherent conflict between sand mining and the environment in the forest corridor between Lang Lang and Grantville, according to the council submission.


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Shock on mine expansion

7/5/2022

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PictureDandy Premix at Grantville
By Catherine Watson
 
Bass Coast Shire Council has expressed shock at the Planning Minister’s decision to approve a massive expansion of a Grantville sand mine despite more than 70 objections.
 
Richard Wynne’s approval this week permits Dandy Premix to clear 13 hectares of vegetation in a Western Port Woodlands biolink for a new pit and to massively expand its current pit, including digging below the water table.
 
As part of the planning permit conditions, the company will be permitted to increase truck movements from 120 to 240 a day; to operate for longer hours – until 2am on weekdays and 10pm on Saturdays despite residents living within 300 metres of the site. ​


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Seven line up against veteran MP

22/4/2022

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Picture
By Catherine Watson

INCUMBENT Liberal MP Russell Broadbent is facing seven challengers from across the political spectrum in next month’s federal election.​


Nominations for the seat were declared in Warragul at midday yesterday, and the ballot draw carried out immediately afterwards. 

Inverloch's Mat Morgan (Greens) scored the coveted top position on the ballot paper, with Mr Broadbent second and Phillip Island's Deb Leonard (Independent ​) third.

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Covid hits home

7/4/2022

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PictureMim Kershaw, with her daughter Emma and grandchildren Lily and Maxi, is urging the community to get vaccinated after personally enduring COVID-19.
BASS Coast Health board director Mim Kershaw knew all the statistics about COVID 19 – but she really didn’t understand the impact until she caught it herself.

She had heard about the policies, the numbers, the strategy and the toll it has taken on the BCH team who have been front and centre for more than two years.

 
She heard the BCH team talk about how COVID can affect normally healthy people, but only realised the full impact when she suffered the COVID disease herself. ​


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Brown Junior steps up

26/3/2022

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PictureAaron Brown. Photo: South Gippsland Shire Council
By Catherine Watson
 
LOCAL Liberal powerbroker Alan Brown’s dream of establishing a political dynasty came a step closer to reality this week when his son Aaron Brown was selected as the Liberal Party candidate for the Bass electorate in the November state election.
 
The last time Aaron sought pre-selection, in 2014, he was unexpectedly knocked off by Brian Paynter, a political outsider who went on to retain the seat for the Liberal Party.
 
This time he defeated Bass Coast councillor and former police officer Bruce Kent in a pre-selection ballot of local party members.


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Bass Coast’s 50-year plan released

10/3/2022

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Picture
Read the draft policy and have your say
at Engagement Victoria. Submissions
​close on April 29.
By Catherine Watson
 
THE long-awaited draft Bass Coast Statement of Planning Policy has finally been released for consultation by the State Government as part of the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) project.
 
The policy was due to be released for the second stage of community consultation last July but was deferred several times without explanation.
 
The document includes a 50-year vision, objectives and strategies for guiding land use, management and development decisions to protect and enhance the significant attributes of the Bass Coast declared area.

​Bass Coast is one of only four shires in Victoria to have been declared a Distinctive Areas and Landscapes area.

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Independent spices up Monash election

11/2/2022

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Picture
Russell Broadbent (Liberal), Deb Leonard (Ind) Jessica O'Donnell (ALP) and Mat Morgan (Greens)

​By Catherine Watson
 
THE selection of a credible independent candidate has added an element of uncertainty to the federal election for voters in the very safe Liberal seat of Monash.
 
Voices for Monash, a citizen-led community group, has selected Deb Leonard, a Phillip Island small business owner and lawyer, as their candidate.
 
Ms Leonard will be looking to unsettle veteran Liberal MP Russell Broadbent who has held the seat for 23 of the past 32 years. Aged 71, Mr Broadbent surprised many when he announced he wanted another term despite never attaining high or even middling office.

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Arsonist strikes again

28/1/2022

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PictureFire crews quickly got the latest Tank Hill fire under control before it could do too much damage - unlike the 2015 fire.
By Catherine Watson

HAS the Wonthaggi firebug returned?
 
Residents of the south side of town are on high alert after four deliberately lit fires in the past fortnight.
 
They revived memories of the infamous arsonist or arsonists who terrorised the town back in 2015.
 
Bass Coast Crime Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for public assistance following the recent fires:


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100 local health staff out of action

17/1/2022

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PictureThe Emergency Department at Wonthaggi Hospital remains busy
BASS Coast Health has put the call out for retired healthcare workers to help cover growing staff shortages as Covid runs rampant through the community.
 
More than 100 staff are out of action after testing positive, having a family member with COVID or being a household contact. Some staff are working from home in isolation while they have COVID.
 
CEO Jan Child said the service was at a critical juncture and praised staff for their efforts to keep services operating. “Many staff are working 16 hour days, and others are testing and vaccinating hundreds of people each day with little time off to minimise the impact of COVID on our community.


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Action on housing front

18/11/2021

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By Catherine Watson
 
BASS Coast Shire Council will offer six unused road reserves to two community housing organisations to build social housing.
 
On Wednesday, councillors voted to offer three sites in Wonthaggi to Salvation Army Housing and two sites in Cowes and one in Wonthaggi to Community Housing Limited.
 
They will be offered under a 45-year lease and remain in council ownership. The surplus land is expected to accommodate up to 16 social houses which will be offered to local people on the Victorian Housing Register.
Picture
"We’ve been taking about affordable housing for so long in this council. Now there is an opportunity to do something."
                                        Cr Les Larke 

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Enjoy the view!

18/11/2021

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Picture
By Catherine Watson
 
AFTER years of warnings and empty threats, the council is finally about to get heavy with coastal residents who clear public land to improve their sea view. 
 
The council is responsible for managing more than 40 kilometres of Crown Land foreshore reserve. Up till now it has relied largely on “community education” with little impact.
 
On Wednesday councillors adopted a new policy with much stronger sanctions to deal with vegetation vandals, including an option to block stolen views with large signs displaying the facts,


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Full steam ahead on Cowes Cultural Centre

21/10/2021

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By Catherine Watson
 
AFTER a decade of debate, disappointment and broken dreams, work will start next month on the Cowes Cultural Centre.
 
Bass Coast Shire Council this week awarded a tender for the $27.2 million project to Melbourne firm McCorkell Constructions Pty Ltd. 

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Big step forward for Dinosaur Trail

21/10/2021

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Picture
Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari, palaeontologist Professor Patricia Vickers-Rich, Museums Victoria’s
Tom Rich and Dinosaur Dreaming co-ordinator Lesley Kool inspect the future Gondwana Garden.
BASS Coast Shire Council has paid $1.2 million for land at 300 Graham Street Wonthaggi to create an interactive sound and light ‘Gondwana Garden’ as part of the Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail 
 
Councillors voted unanimously at Wednesday’s council meeting to adopt a master plan for the dinosaur trail as part of a plan to boost post-pandemic tourism.

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Dog day afternoon for cats

21/10/2021

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PictureCartoon by Natasha Williams-Novak
By Catherine Watson
 
BASS Coast cats are on notice – their days of carousing, brawling and stalking innocent birds are drawing to a close.

Councillors this week voted to adopt the 
Domestic Animal Management Plan which mandates a 24/7 cat lockdown from July 1, 2023.
 
Local cats were placed under a night time curfew in 2016, with the idea that it would eventually expand to become a 24/7 grounding. The time has arrived.​


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No jab, no job for council staff

5/10/2021

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Picture
BASS Coast Shire Council has classified its entire workforce of 400 staff as ‘essential’ and mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for every employee. 

The move is believed to be a first for a local council in Victoria.

Staff can take time out of their work day to get their vaccination. Those who don’t get vaccinated without a valid reason by the deadline will be asked to take annual leave and then leave without pay and will not be permitted to work until they are vaccinated.


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Landmark council deal for parents

10/9/2021

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PictureExpectant mother and council support worker Kelly Male Kelly Male (pictured with her daughter Ilithyia), welcomed the new parental leave scheme, including superannuation top ups.
WONTHAGGI’S miners had a long and proud history of driving many improvements in conditions and wages for workers throughout Australia.
 
Now the Bass Coast Shire Council has created its own piece of labour history with a landmark parental leave scheme designed to address gender-based inequalities.
 
In a series of firsts for the local government sector, the council has removed the difference between primary and secondary carers, meaning mothers, fathers and same sex partners are now entitled to the same paid parental leave.

​The council has also set a new industry standard for its 400 employees by increasing paid parental leave from 14 weeks to 16 weeks for both parents. Superannuation contributions will also now be made for everyone on unpaid parental leave for a full year.


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Butt out: Waterline residents to council

10/9/2021

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PicturePioneer Bay's famous Australia Day event attracts
hundreds of people every year.
By Catherine Watson
 
TWO Waterline communities are calling foul after Bass Coast Shire Council took over the duties of their local committees.
 
In Coronet Bay, the community assets committee resigned en masse after the council intervened to resolve tensions over a sharp increase in charges for using the Coronet Bay community hall.
 
In Pioneer Bay, members of the community assets committee (formerly the reserve committee) have been told their committee will be wound up as it is no longer necessary.


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Ferry plan refloated

9/9/2021

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PictureA 2018 proposal to site a car ferry terminal at Mussel Rocks was quickly dropped and the Cowes jetty is back under consideration.
By Catherine Watson
 
A CAR ferry linking Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula is back on the agenda with the State Government committing $200,000 towards a feasibility study to determine whether the Cowes Jetty is a suitable docking point.
 
Bass Coast Shire Council will commission the study which will assess implications for the Cowes Jetty Triangle and a detailed traffic and parking impact assessment.
 
Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari said the community would be invited to provide feedback on the project, which has created ripples in the Phillip Island community since it was first floated many years ago.


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Test track back on the market

27/8/2021

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PictureThe old Holden Proving Ground contains some of the
best forest in the region.
By Catherine Watson
 
A BASS Coast group campaigning for the protection of the region’s last significant forest sees the proposed resale of the Holden Proving Grounds as an opportunity and a threat.
 
Save Western Port Woodlands spokesman Tim O’Brien said the group was stunned by news that Vietnamese car company VinFast had put the testing ground up for sale less than a year after purchasing it for a sum reported at $36.3 million.
 
Established by Holden in 1957, the 877-hectare site is mostly remnant coastal forest, now rare in West Gippsland, and is zoned for farming. In recent years, Holden worked with Bass Coast Landcare to manage and monitor the forest.


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On the trail of the dinosaurs

12/8/2021

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Picture
Bass Coast reimagined: when polar dinosaurs roamed this coast.
By Catherine Watson
 
“HERO” dinosaurs, a Gondwana garden, virtual reality fossil hunts, light shows and sculptures are part of the vision for the proposed Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail.
 
A draft master plan released for community comment last week proposes that four dinosaurs and a huge polar amphibian will be used to differentiate six crucial sites at San Remo, Kilcunda, Wonthaggi, Eagles Nest, The Caves and Inverloch. Each stop on the trail would have a different theme and character, exemplified by its own dinosaur.

The plan was developed for the council by Melbourne consultants Hassell, in partnership with Parks Victoria, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, the Bunurong Land Council, the Science and Research Expertise Committee and local tourism bodies and community organisations.

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Hands off Inverloch!

29/7/2021

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PictureThe council submission proposes to swap Inverloch for
Lang Lang East, Catani, Bayles, Cora Lynn and Nar Nar Goon
BASS Coast Council will argue that Inverloch should remain in the Bass electorate, along with the rest of Bass Coast shire.
 
The Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) proposed last month that Inverloch should be transferred from the seat of Bass to Gippsland South, effectively dividing the shire into two state electorates.
 
The EBC is required to review electoral boundaries every two elections to ensure the number of electors within each district and region remains approximately the same over time.

Bass is currently more than 42 per cent over quota – the most populous electorate in Victoria – while Gippsland South is well below quota. 


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