View from the Shuntoff: Mayor and MP at odds on who is responsible for protection
By Catherine Watson
BASS Coast Mayor Brett Tessari and Bass MP Jordan Crugnale have traded blows on who is responsible for protection of the Western Port Woodlands.
Simmering resentment became public when Ms Crugnale issued a statement on Friday afternoon urging the council to stop complaining and get on with the work needed for an Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO) over the woodlands.
The council responded with its own statement from Cr Tessari expressing disappointment that the local MP had attacked the council via the media rather than hold a constructive conversation.
BASS Coast Mayor Brett Tessari and Bass MP Jordan Crugnale have traded blows on who is responsible for protection of the Western Port Woodlands.
Simmering resentment became public when Ms Crugnale issued a statement on Friday afternoon urging the council to stop complaining and get on with the work needed for an Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO) over the woodlands.
The council responded with its own statement from Cr Tessari expressing disappointment that the local MP had attacked the council via the media rather than hold a constructive conversation.
| The Bass Coast Statement of Planning Policy, gazetted by the Planning Minister last October after a five-year consultation process, recognised the woodlands as an area of “outstanding environmental significance”. It also acknowledged community concerns about the impacts of sand quarrying in the woodlands, but did not actually solve that conflict. Instead it called for further work to identify the biodiversity values and conserve them. The council has asked the Planning Minister to apply an interim ESO over the woodlands while they complete the planning work required for permanent protection. They also asked for funding to do the work. Both requests have so far been rejected. “Council know that it is in their remit to do and resource this work themselves,” Ms Crugnale stated. “I absolutely agree the ESO needs to happen and have said this all along. “An interim ESO was raised numerous times with the Minister and her office and the advice and rationale why this was not possible at the time which I relayed to Council back in July 2025. “I have always said that we would support and assist council in the ESO process through departmental expertise and resources made available to them. |  Statement from Bass MP Jordan Crugnale  Statement from Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari |
“Council also well know there is no specific grant program or funding mechanism to cover the work they need to do.
“This Council is in the habit of always calling for more funding, in particular with projects in their responsibility area including this planning scheme amendment one." |
“Very rarely do they acknowledge the millions they have received over the eight years I have been in this role.
Cr Tessari responded that Ms Crugnale's statement contained inaccuracies.
“One thing we both agree on is that the Westernport Woodlands need to be protected. It seems that is where our agreement ends.
“While the Member for Bass tries to shift the responsibility for State planning overlays solely to Council, the Minister for Planning – a senior member of the same Government - has written to Council to acknowledge that protection of the Woodlands is a shared responsibility.
"Council tabled a draft ESO with the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes Advisory Committee – the State Government said no.
"We have redrafted this ESO so that it can be implemented immediately as an interim measure and attached it for the Minister’s urgent consideration.
“The Minister enjoys broad powers to affect change. We have witnessed this first-hand with the recent planning reforms and the application of interim controls over in Mornington Peninsula in response to the recent McCrae landslide.
“While Council is one of the planning authorities of the Bass Coast Planning Scheme, it does not enjoy anywhere near the same sweeping powers.
Cr Tessari responded that Ms Crugnale's statement contained inaccuracies.
“One thing we both agree on is that the Westernport Woodlands need to be protected. It seems that is where our agreement ends.
“While the Member for Bass tries to shift the responsibility for State planning overlays solely to Council, the Minister for Planning – a senior member of the same Government - has written to Council to acknowledge that protection of the Woodlands is a shared responsibility.
"Council tabled a draft ESO with the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes Advisory Committee – the State Government said no.
"We have redrafted this ESO so that it can be implemented immediately as an interim measure and attached it for the Minister’s urgent consideration.
“The Minister enjoys broad powers to affect change. We have witnessed this first-hand with the recent planning reforms and the application of interim controls over in Mornington Peninsula in response to the recent McCrae landslide.
“While Council is one of the planning authorities of the Bass Coast Planning Scheme, it does not enjoy anywhere near the same sweeping powers.
“Council has committed $500,000 in its Long-Term Financial Plan to protect the Westernport Woodlands. There is no financial commitment from the State to protect the woodlands, which are part of the internationally recognised Western Port Biosphere Reserve.” |
He also rejected Ms Crugnale’s claim that the council was always pestering the Government for money.
“Council makes no apologies for advocating strongly for appropriate State support.
“We have an aging pool in Wonthaggi, a partially funded local hospital, a coastline in crisis, buses that come once in a blue moon and the State has lost one of the region’s biggest economic drivers in the MotoGP.
“As Mayor of Bass Coast I’ll continue to ask for our fair share of State and Federal funding.”
Lang Lang bypass
Bass Coast Council is not the only council to raise Ms Crugnale’s ire. Last week she issued another statement criticising Cardinia Shire Council’s requests for state funding for a Lang Lang bypass to divert sand trucks around the township, which experiences up to 800 truck movements a day.
“It seems unbeknownst to them, that they purchased land within a proposed bypass
alignment (Stage 1) and have not done anything for years.
“They seem also unawares, having been asked numerous times, of where and how much they have received from quarry contributions over a long period of time and why they have not proceeded with Stage 1 which would divert trucks out of the main street immediately.
“So, whilst they are busy advocating for the whole Bypass, I implore them to get on with their Stage 1 and stop misleading the local community by calling on and blaming the state government.
“Council are there to serve, service and support the people of Lang Lang community.”
Ms Crugnale has been Labor MP for Bass since 2018. She is not seeking re-election at the state election in November.
“Council makes no apologies for advocating strongly for appropriate State support.
“We have an aging pool in Wonthaggi, a partially funded local hospital, a coastline in crisis, buses that come once in a blue moon and the State has lost one of the region’s biggest economic drivers in the MotoGP.
“As Mayor of Bass Coast I’ll continue to ask for our fair share of State and Federal funding.”
Lang Lang bypass
Bass Coast Council is not the only council to raise Ms Crugnale’s ire. Last week she issued another statement criticising Cardinia Shire Council’s requests for state funding for a Lang Lang bypass to divert sand trucks around the township, which experiences up to 800 truck movements a day.
“It seems unbeknownst to them, that they purchased land within a proposed bypass
alignment (Stage 1) and have not done anything for years.
“They seem also unawares, having been asked numerous times, of where and how much they have received from quarry contributions over a long period of time and why they have not proceeded with Stage 1 which would divert trucks out of the main street immediately.
“So, whilst they are busy advocating for the whole Bypass, I implore them to get on with their Stage 1 and stop misleading the local community by calling on and blaming the state government.
“Council are there to serve, service and support the people of Lang Lang community.”
Ms Crugnale has been Labor MP for Bass since 2018. She is not seeking re-election at the state election in November.