TIM SHANNON asks why Phillip Islanders would want to walk away from engaging with their region just as things are changing for the better.
WE HAD a council election not much more than a year ago. As a result, we have a new group of enthusiastic citizens who put up their hands to help us, and we have the experienced Phil Wright among them lending his knowledge and his passion for the Island.
Very recently, Paul Buckley was appointed our new council CEO and brings with him welcome experience in the difficult work of modern local government.
In my dealings with these folk while I was vice-president of the Cowes Community Committee, I experienced nothing but a willingness to listen and help. In particular, Andrew Phillips, Kimberley Brown, and Phil Wright, who represent the Island, deserve praise for their effort and generous contributions.
Why would anyone want to tear these people down before they have been given the opportunity to do what the community elected them to do? What is this Stand Alone fracas?
Stand Alone was spawned by the anger and frustration bred in the years after the amalgamation of the Bass Coast Shire Council in 1994. This period was characterised by a dysfunctional relationship between the council and the community of Phillip Island, and the Island and its townships have no doubt been damaged as result. Stand Alone has just cause for its grievances about this period.
However, with the new councillors, the retirement of the previous council CEO, and the approaching retirement of the state MP for Bass, things are changing for the better.
I am sure we are all united by wanting the best for our Island, and that we do not want the future to be a continuation of the recent past.
In the next 20 years and beyond, the Island and its community will face challenges quite different in scale and complexity from those we remember. The Island’s resources are limited by its size and its geography, and we will need skilful governance of these resources, particularly those of natural beauty, which are most treasured.
We already have some indication of what lies ahead: the continued population growth of Melbourne; demand for coastal living; increasing economic reliance on tourism; pressure on rural land; more traffic and congestion; the possibility of Western Port becoming a container port; risk-averse governments; competition between the arms of government for funds; stringent financial management processes; and the need to find jobs for our children and grandchildren.
If Phillip Island is to withstand the forces of the future, it will need the co-operation of its regional neighbours, it will need to determine the limit of its capacity to cope, it will need to agree what is good and what is bad, it will need to balance the conflicting demands for jobs and the preservation of its natural beauty.
It will also need leverage to attract government funding which will be interlinked with the priorities of the region, and it will need sufficient gravitas to attract the best possible people to direct, manage, and implement the necessary programs and policies. Standing Alone will not fulfil these needs for the future survival of our Island community.
Phillip Island is at a very important crossroads in its history. We should be grateful to Stand Alone for stimulating this essential discussion within our community, and for drawing council and government attention at this critical time.However, for the sake of the future of our beautiful Island, I would encourage the community to leave their anger behind, and so say NO to Stand Alone, but YES to reforming the way we work together.
Professor Tim Shannon, FRAIA, is a former vice-president of the Cowes Community Committee Incorporated and a non-resident ratepayer of Ventnor.
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COMMENTS
June 14, 2014I say bring it on - we never asked to be put with a broke shire in the first place - Wonthaggi Borough was in the black, Phillip Island Shire was in the red.
Rosemary Loughnan, from Port Hedland
June 13, 2014
The Phillip Island Stand Alone rally over the long weekend called on Council to support a municipal review. This could lead to a split up of the Bass Coast Shire into two shires, or a smaller shire around Phillip Island and the rest of our current Shire amalgamated with perhaps South Gippsland Shire. The Government has responded to my questions on whether they support de-amalgamation of Phillip Island, saying that they do not. This has also been communicated to the Stand Alone group, now known as PIPA (Phillip Island Progress Association).
Consequently, PIPA is now seeking Council’s support to bolster its ask to the State Government. In my view, Council shouldn’t feel pressured to rush a decision on the matter. It is unfair to expect a decision within weeks. We need to consider how a decision to support a review would be implemented, funded and what the potential risks and benefits are of such a decision.
Councillors are here to represent the Bass Coast community as a whole – not just a specific region or group of people. I believe that we can’t support a review until we have heard from the rest of the community. PIPA has also suggested that San Remo could be included in the de-amalgamation of Phillip Island. Do we just handball this to the State Government to decide without us having spoken to residents of San Remo? Likewise, we need to consider the implications for the rest of the Shire, rather than make a decision based on the views of one group in one area.
The Minister has said that any proposal in relation to Bass Coast Shire Council should be considered in terms of how it will strengthen and enhance local government in our region. We need to take time to agree on what is in the best long term interest of the entire community. If we could support a proposal, this would involve agreeing on the conditions, or terms of reference that we would want around such a process. The whole process could cost Council a very significant sum. There are a lot of unanswered questions!
If the Minister decides that a review of the municipal boundaries should go ahead, people would expect a vote on the idea – another expensive process. Sunbury residents are in a de-amalgamation process that has been in hiatus for nearly four years. They had a vote but it was not compulsory, presumably only those with an interest voting.
The primary objective of a Council is to endeavour to achieve the best outcomes for the local community having regard to the long term and cumulative effects of decisions. This could be the most significant decision yet made by a Bass Coast Shire Council.
Neil Rankine, Bass Coast Mayor
June 14, 2014
A few comments regarding the public meeting held on Sunday:
1. It was good that the Stand Alone people acknowledged the possibility that if Phillip Island pulled out of Bass Coast Shire it could make that shire uneconomical and unviable. I don't believe any state government would allow that to occur, which is why a municipal review is a good idea.
2. Bass Coast Mayor, Neil Rankine, mentioned the number of poor sub-divisions that were created when Phillip Island was a stand-alone council. I am worried by the possible lack of checks and balances that might exist if a stand-alone council is created. If a gung-ho, pro-development state government comes in, there would be little possibility of preventing something like the Cadogan Farm fiasco from re-occurring.
3. While the meeting acknowledged that the current situation was created by the Kennett Liberal Government, what wasn't acknowledged was that the previous Cain Labor Government had attempted to get municipal reform through a process of consultation and that the Kennett-led Liberal opposition had blocked the reforms in the Upper House before imposing their own reforms without any consultation.
4. The former MP for Flinders, Peter Reith, mentioned his roots to the area, and that he was a former mayor of Phillip Island, as was his grandfather. He didn't mention that he led the Liberal Party’s “no case” that scuttled a 1988 referendum that would have recognised local government in the Australian Constitution and prevented the changes that Kennett imposed. Or that as the federal MP for the area at the time, he sat mute while these changes were implemented without any consultation. If you are making a stand, you should always check who is standing with you.
5. Finally, it is clear from the guy who came from Mansfield that if Phillip Islanders want change they can't vote for the Liberal or National party. They must put these people last in the upcoming state election otherwise this whole process is people simply venting on a Sunday morning.
Stephen Paul, Ventnor
June 19, 2014
Perhaps all the farmers could secede from from the shire also as they have been getting a "raw " deal over many many years from the council. The island aren't the only group of ratepayers thinking that they're paying too much for what they receive!! Andy Thomas
Very recently, Paul Buckley was appointed our new council CEO and brings with him welcome experience in the difficult work of modern local government.
In my dealings with these folk while I was vice-president of the Cowes Community Committee, I experienced nothing but a willingness to listen and help. In particular, Andrew Phillips, Kimberley Brown, and Phil Wright, who represent the Island, deserve praise for their effort and generous contributions.
Why would anyone want to tear these people down before they have been given the opportunity to do what the community elected them to do? What is this Stand Alone fracas?
Stand Alone was spawned by the anger and frustration bred in the years after the amalgamation of the Bass Coast Shire Council in 1994. This period was characterised by a dysfunctional relationship between the council and the community of Phillip Island, and the Island and its townships have no doubt been damaged as result. Stand Alone has just cause for its grievances about this period.
However, with the new councillors, the retirement of the previous council CEO, and the approaching retirement of the state MP for Bass, things are changing for the better.
I am sure we are all united by wanting the best for our Island, and that we do not want the future to be a continuation of the recent past.
In the next 20 years and beyond, the Island and its community will face challenges quite different in scale and complexity from those we remember. The Island’s resources are limited by its size and its geography, and we will need skilful governance of these resources, particularly those of natural beauty, which are most treasured.
We already have some indication of what lies ahead: the continued population growth of Melbourne; demand for coastal living; increasing economic reliance on tourism; pressure on rural land; more traffic and congestion; the possibility of Western Port becoming a container port; risk-averse governments; competition between the arms of government for funds; stringent financial management processes; and the need to find jobs for our children and grandchildren.
If Phillip Island is to withstand the forces of the future, it will need the co-operation of its regional neighbours, it will need to determine the limit of its capacity to cope, it will need to agree what is good and what is bad, it will need to balance the conflicting demands for jobs and the preservation of its natural beauty.
It will also need leverage to attract government funding which will be interlinked with the priorities of the region, and it will need sufficient gravitas to attract the best possible people to direct, manage, and implement the necessary programs and policies. Standing Alone will not fulfil these needs for the future survival of our Island community.
Phillip Island is at a very important crossroads in its history. We should be grateful to Stand Alone for stimulating this essential discussion within our community, and for drawing council and government attention at this critical time.However, for the sake of the future of our beautiful Island, I would encourage the community to leave their anger behind, and so say NO to Stand Alone, but YES to reforming the way we work together.
Professor Tim Shannon, FRAIA, is a former vice-president of the Cowes Community Committee Incorporated and a non-resident ratepayer of Ventnor.
************
COMMENTS
June 14, 2014I say bring it on - we never asked to be put with a broke shire in the first place - Wonthaggi Borough was in the black, Phillip Island Shire was in the red.
Rosemary Loughnan, from Port Hedland
June 13, 2014
The Phillip Island Stand Alone rally over the long weekend called on Council to support a municipal review. This could lead to a split up of the Bass Coast Shire into two shires, or a smaller shire around Phillip Island and the rest of our current Shire amalgamated with perhaps South Gippsland Shire. The Government has responded to my questions on whether they support de-amalgamation of Phillip Island, saying that they do not. This has also been communicated to the Stand Alone group, now known as PIPA (Phillip Island Progress Association).
Consequently, PIPA is now seeking Council’s support to bolster its ask to the State Government. In my view, Council shouldn’t feel pressured to rush a decision on the matter. It is unfair to expect a decision within weeks. We need to consider how a decision to support a review would be implemented, funded and what the potential risks and benefits are of such a decision.
Councillors are here to represent the Bass Coast community as a whole – not just a specific region or group of people. I believe that we can’t support a review until we have heard from the rest of the community. PIPA has also suggested that San Remo could be included in the de-amalgamation of Phillip Island. Do we just handball this to the State Government to decide without us having spoken to residents of San Remo? Likewise, we need to consider the implications for the rest of the Shire, rather than make a decision based on the views of one group in one area.
The Minister has said that any proposal in relation to Bass Coast Shire Council should be considered in terms of how it will strengthen and enhance local government in our region. We need to take time to agree on what is in the best long term interest of the entire community. If we could support a proposal, this would involve agreeing on the conditions, or terms of reference that we would want around such a process. The whole process could cost Council a very significant sum. There are a lot of unanswered questions!
If the Minister decides that a review of the municipal boundaries should go ahead, people would expect a vote on the idea – another expensive process. Sunbury residents are in a de-amalgamation process that has been in hiatus for nearly four years. They had a vote but it was not compulsory, presumably only those with an interest voting.
The primary objective of a Council is to endeavour to achieve the best outcomes for the local community having regard to the long term and cumulative effects of decisions. This could be the most significant decision yet made by a Bass Coast Shire Council.
Neil Rankine, Bass Coast Mayor
June 14, 2014
A few comments regarding the public meeting held on Sunday:
1. It was good that the Stand Alone people acknowledged the possibility that if Phillip Island pulled out of Bass Coast Shire it could make that shire uneconomical and unviable. I don't believe any state government would allow that to occur, which is why a municipal review is a good idea.
2. Bass Coast Mayor, Neil Rankine, mentioned the number of poor sub-divisions that were created when Phillip Island was a stand-alone council. I am worried by the possible lack of checks and balances that might exist if a stand-alone council is created. If a gung-ho, pro-development state government comes in, there would be little possibility of preventing something like the Cadogan Farm fiasco from re-occurring.
3. While the meeting acknowledged that the current situation was created by the Kennett Liberal Government, what wasn't acknowledged was that the previous Cain Labor Government had attempted to get municipal reform through a process of consultation and that the Kennett-led Liberal opposition had blocked the reforms in the Upper House before imposing their own reforms without any consultation.
4. The former MP for Flinders, Peter Reith, mentioned his roots to the area, and that he was a former mayor of Phillip Island, as was his grandfather. He didn't mention that he led the Liberal Party’s “no case” that scuttled a 1988 referendum that would have recognised local government in the Australian Constitution and prevented the changes that Kennett imposed. Or that as the federal MP for the area at the time, he sat mute while these changes were implemented without any consultation. If you are making a stand, you should always check who is standing with you.
5. Finally, it is clear from the guy who came from Mansfield that if Phillip Islanders want change they can't vote for the Liberal or National party. They must put these people last in the upcoming state election otherwise this whole process is people simply venting on a Sunday morning.
Stephen Paul, Ventnor
June 19, 2014
Perhaps all the farmers could secede from from the shire also as they have been getting a "raw " deal over many many years from the council. The island aren't the only group of ratepayers thinking that they're paying too much for what they receive!! Andy Thomas