Questions, questions

By Catherine Watson

A 120-PAGE council agenda with a 768-page attachment, four notices of motion, two petitions, 81 questions … no wonder councillors at yesterday’s meeting looked a little overwhelmed.

Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari had to take frequent refreshment breaks as he read out the questions in front of a large gallery in Berninneit. 

At the 30-minute mark, he had to seek his fellow councillors’ permission to extend question time, which eventually reached 45 minutes.  

Twenty-eight of the questions at least did not require a response from CEO Greg Box as they related to the McDonald’s application, which was to be decided on later in the meeting. The questions still had to be read. 

Another 22 related to the rise in the Short Stay Rental Registration Fee, and were answered with a single response by the council’s general manager of community and culture, Jodi Kennedy. The registration fee was also the subject of one of the petitions. 

Several of the other questions related to matters that were outside the council's jurisdiction. 

Spring Street calls

Two of the notices of motion were requests by councillors Mat Morgan and Rochelle Halstead for unpaid leave from councillor duties while they attend to other pressing duties.

Both are candidates in the Victorian election, Cr Halstead as the Liberal candidate for Lower House seat of Bass and Cr Morgan as the Greens’ lead candidate for the Upper House seat of Eastern Victoria.

Cr Halstead was an apology for yesterday’s meeting. In her absence, her notice of motion was read out by her fellow Western Port councillor Jan Thompson, who also sang her praises as a former mayor and deputy mayor of Bass Coast.  

Cr Morgan said that while he hoped not to see his fellow councillors in the same capacity after the election, he would happily slot back in if he failed in his election bid.

As Bass Coast’s youngest ever councillor, he also had some parting advice for his fellow councillors to try to seek out younger and alternative voices. 

“It's hardly ever the loudest voices in the room that need to be heard. It's the people who aren't even tuning into our Wednesday arvo meetings because they're at work or school, trying to pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads.

The prospect of having two current councillors in Parliament is enticing for the council and Cr Tessari wished them both well in the upcoming election.

“While I hope to never be working with you again as a councillor, I look forward to going up to Spring Street and seeing you as our MPs.”