The beautifully restored Rhyll Hall was the venue for the Rhyll Artists Exhibition. The unrelenting negativity of reports on council deliberations and decisions is clouding the facts, writes Kay Setches.
By Kay Setches
March 26, 2016
AS A reasonably informed ratepayer of Bass Coast for 30 years and now full-time resident of Surf Beach, I am finding it is increasingly difficult to glean from local media exactly what Bass Coast Council is doing for the people who live on Phillip Island.
I do love spirited and informed debate about all issues – indeed, a democratic community requires this – but the almost unrelenting negativity of reports on council deliberations and decisions has clouded the facts.
I was stirred to attend the "What's Right With Council" Community Plus meeting in early March. The meeting was well chaired by Mary Whelan and I was impressed that a majority of four councillors, including Mayor Jordan Crugnale, attended to listen and participate, with Cr Phil Wright acting as moderator.
Understandably, some important issues raised by residents are ongoing and require further discussion and updates from councillors.
Finally at my request, discussion of the stated topic "What's right with council?" proceeded, with Cr Crugnale's Power Point presentation of factual information about the council’s work, facilities, and responsibilities, which I found surprisingly helpful and informative.
Her overall underpinning statement "The Economy is Conservation" referring to the Bass Coast's future, seemed to me insightful and encouraging.
Councillors at the March Community Plus forum were invited to respond to the previous month’s forum which raised plenty of lively discussion on “What’s wrong with the council”.
The beautifully restored Rhyll Hall was the venue for the Rhyll Artists Exhibition.
"The economy is conservation": the new Scenic Estate Conservation Reserve forms an important link in Phillip Island's system of wildlife corridors.
"My general experience has been that councillors diligently listen to residents and ratepayers, work hard to separate and address the legitimate competing interests surrounding issues, and then try to represent their communities as best they can."
I attended this Community Plus meeting to advise councillors of my experiences and resulting opinions of the council.
So here are some of the reasons I am pleased with the council:
My general experience has been that councillors diligently listen to residents and ratepayers, work hard to separate and address the legitimate competing interests surrounding issues, and then try to represent their communities as best they can. However, when decisions by important corporations such as councils are to be made, not everyone’s interest can be satisfied, nor perhaps should they.
Councillors asked the meeting "What can we do to more effectively advise the community of the council’s activities and programs?”
Meetings such as Community Plus are an excellent initiative.
Kay Setches was a Minister for Conservation, Forests and Land and Minister for Community Services in the Cain and Kirner Labor governments.
COMMENTS
April 15, 2016
I would like to join with Kay Setches and Linda Cuttriss and compliment the good deeds of the Bass Coast Council. But I cannot bring myself to be that magnanimous because the council is not a uniformly consistent performer on many fronts.
I applaud the staff with whom I come into contact on a regular basis. However, the executive team is pretty new to Bass and are still to demonstrate that they can be trusted to deliver on their promises.
I take heart rom the recent performance and words of Mark Brady at the community forums discussing long-term financial plans and rate capping. He told the audience at the Cowes meeting that he “got it” – meaning he was hearing the predominant and would shape his future actions upon those sentiments. I hope that he can maintain that position and that other members of the senior team will follow suit.
I have reason to be sceptical. For years the Bawden administration treated those of us who turned up at public meetings or made submissions on community matters with utter contempt. Hopefully we see an end to bad management decisions such as the ripping up of sealed streets. This sort of unnecessary stupidity angers large numbers of residents.
I hope the rate capping consultation may have set a new and commendable trend.
Of greater concern still is the lack of leadership by the councillors. I know they too inherited a broken system when they were elected. No planning strategy, no infrastructure strategy, no waste management strategy, no funding strategy, no policy on community consultation, and so the list goes on.
They have still not made much progress. Yes, they caved in to the farmers and lowered farm rates by more than $1 million but, they had no plan to replace the $1 million other than to ask the rest of us to pay more. They botched the relatively straightforward matter of dogs on beaches.
I say to Kay and others that they should continue in their efforts to applaud the good things the council does. I will do the same, but I will also continue to highlight the need for greater accountability as councillors and the senior executive proceed to redress the decades-long void of policies, strategies and governance which this shire has foisted on its staff, ratepayers and residents.
Ray McNamara, San Remo
April 1, 2016
What a refreshing change to read something positive about Bass Coast Council. The constant negativity has been wearing me down. There's so much emotion and so few reasoned arguments. From what I can see the councillors seem to work hard and do their best. Whenever I have dealings with council officers they are pleasant, responsive and helpful.
Of course, the council isn't perfect. It has to balance often conflicting community views, align with state government frameworks, work to specific funding criteria and meet quite high expectations with the smallest possible budget.
But, I do worry that all this negativity is divisive and unhealthy for our community. I worry that good people will balk from standing as councillors. I worry that a divided community is not attractive to State and Federal Government funding bodies that want to see the best bang for their buck. I am afraid that unless there's some negotiation, collaboration, even compromise, that we will all lose out.
Linda Cuttriss, Phillip Island
March 29, 2016
Whilst we enjoy the unilateral accolade comments for the present council from the former minister, the Hon Kay Setches, the retired Minister does highlight a important issue for the council to address in upcoming elections - whilst the Bass Coast Shire digs up sealed roads (yes 'dust suppressed' roads are sealed), many shire residents do not realise that if your sealed road is not maintained by VicRoads then there is a real possibility that in the next few years , your road will be dug up like the Esplanade in Surf Beach. Please remember to ask your candidate councillor what their position is on road maintenance?
Matt Gallagher, Smiths Beach
March 27, 2016
As a past Minister for Conservation, Forests and Land and Minister for Community Services in the Cain and Kirner Labor governments, maybe Kay Setches would like to investigate and comment on the council’s attempt, with their C140 amendment, to change the Gurdies Wildlife and Conservation area from Farming Zone to Rural Activity Zone and thus introduce tourists to the area at the expense of conservation and the native flora and fauna.
This is an excerpt from a recent letter from Chris Smith of The Victorian National Parks Association:
“The Rural Activity Zone as shown in Map 1 (The Gurdies area) is broad-bush in its application and thus includes existing native vegetation cover. The permissible uses with or without permits include feedlot operations, timber production and land subdivision, all of which could result in the clearance of remnant vegetation cover from seperate development applications under the planning scheme; effectively death by a thousand cuts.
“This cover is locally significant and should be part of any efforts to establish and maintain corridors to enhance the survival of regional native species: 17 mammal species, 130 bird species, 15 reptile species, and 339 native plants including more than 50 orchid species (as reported in the Sentinel Times 26 June 2012).
“The importance of this wildlife was recognised by the establishment of The Gurdies Conservation Reserve. It is now time the planning process provided clarity and certainty for wildlife beyond the boundaries of this reserve. This will require far more subtlety within planning scheme zones as opposed to the current broad-brush approach regarding the proposed Rural Activity Zone at The Gurdies.”
Maybe the council has got the conservation area right in Phillip Island but it is effectively trying to ruin our area by introducing a totally unnecessary change to the planning zone that up to 50 per cent of residents in the area are objecting to.
Rob Parsons
March 26, 2016
AS A reasonably informed ratepayer of Bass Coast for 30 years and now full-time resident of Surf Beach, I am finding it is increasingly difficult to glean from local media exactly what Bass Coast Council is doing for the people who live on Phillip Island.
I do love spirited and informed debate about all issues – indeed, a democratic community requires this – but the almost unrelenting negativity of reports on council deliberations and decisions has clouded the facts.
I was stirred to attend the "What's Right With Council" Community Plus meeting in early March. The meeting was well chaired by Mary Whelan and I was impressed that a majority of four councillors, including Mayor Jordan Crugnale, attended to listen and participate, with Cr Phil Wright acting as moderator.
Understandably, some important issues raised by residents are ongoing and require further discussion and updates from councillors.
Finally at my request, discussion of the stated topic "What's right with council?" proceeded, with Cr Crugnale's Power Point presentation of factual information about the council’s work, facilities, and responsibilities, which I found surprisingly helpful and informative.
Her overall underpinning statement "The Economy is Conservation" referring to the Bass Coast's future, seemed to me insightful and encouraging.
Councillors at the March Community Plus forum were invited to respond to the previous month’s forum which raised plenty of lively discussion on “What’s wrong with the council”.
The beautifully restored Rhyll Hall was the venue for the Rhyll Artists Exhibition.
"The economy is conservation": the new Scenic Estate Conservation Reserve forms an important link in Phillip Island's system of wildlife corridors.
"My general experience has been that councillors diligently listen to residents and ratepayers, work hard to separate and address the legitimate competing interests surrounding issues, and then try to represent their communities as best they can."
I attended this Community Plus meeting to advise councillors of my experiences and resulting opinions of the council.
So here are some of the reasons I am pleased with the council:
- The prompt response to my phone call regarding vandalism of a traffic sign at the front of my house (within 20 hours)
- Removal of the trial road seal and subsequently flood proofing and regrading of our road.
- The trial seal had deteriorated with huge potholes and storm water was leaching into the shore reserve. The council has not yet addressed the resulting dust issue.
- Addressing the current 7 per cent of remnant native vegetation on the island, working with farmers and landholders and Government authorities to connect up and increase remnant vegetation to 30 per cent over 20 years, leading to more effective and enduring wildlife corridors.
- The lovely restoration of the Rhyll Hall, and support for the Rhyll Artists Exhibition.
- The program of chasing up people who illegally dump rubbish and prosecuting where appropriate.
- Support for and resourcing of local advisory groups such as the community reference group for the Phillip Island Integrated Transport Study and implementing their recommendations, including the proposed three new traffic roundabouts in Phillip Island Road, and
- the trial of a free Island explorer bus service which concluded this week.
- Working with Phillip Island Nature Parks, Parks Victoria, and the local community to restore the degraded, flood-prone and unviable former residential subdivision known as "Chinamans Estate" to an environmental and valuable community resource. The renamed Scenic Estate Conservation Reserve on Phillip Island, part of the crucial Ramsar wetlands for migratory birds, is now further protected.
- Investigation and proposed introduction of a three-bin garbage service, which will reduce land fill and enable the responsible disposal of biological refuse from domestic animals, which is currently being placed in household garbage ending in landfill.
- Improved staff structure, which allows a more professional approach to the complexity of council responsibilities, and changes to allow formal discussions within and with the community on long-term priorities and decisions.
- The in-principle decision to grant land for the proposed cultural centre, Bass Coast Community Health Centre and transport hub.
- Councillors’ availability of to meet with local residents and ratepayers.
- The program of replacing the signature golden cypress trees in Cowes.
My general experience has been that councillors diligently listen to residents and ratepayers, work hard to separate and address the legitimate competing interests surrounding issues, and then try to represent their communities as best they can. However, when decisions by important corporations such as councils are to be made, not everyone’s interest can be satisfied, nor perhaps should they.
Councillors asked the meeting "What can we do to more effectively advise the community of the council’s activities and programs?”
Meetings such as Community Plus are an excellent initiative.
Kay Setches was a Minister for Conservation, Forests and Land and Minister for Community Services in the Cain and Kirner Labor governments.
COMMENTS
April 15, 2016
I would like to join with Kay Setches and Linda Cuttriss and compliment the good deeds of the Bass Coast Council. But I cannot bring myself to be that magnanimous because the council is not a uniformly consistent performer on many fronts.
I applaud the staff with whom I come into contact on a regular basis. However, the executive team is pretty new to Bass and are still to demonstrate that they can be trusted to deliver on their promises.
I take heart rom the recent performance and words of Mark Brady at the community forums discussing long-term financial plans and rate capping. He told the audience at the Cowes meeting that he “got it” – meaning he was hearing the predominant and would shape his future actions upon those sentiments. I hope that he can maintain that position and that other members of the senior team will follow suit.
I have reason to be sceptical. For years the Bawden administration treated those of us who turned up at public meetings or made submissions on community matters with utter contempt. Hopefully we see an end to bad management decisions such as the ripping up of sealed streets. This sort of unnecessary stupidity angers large numbers of residents.
I hope the rate capping consultation may have set a new and commendable trend.
Of greater concern still is the lack of leadership by the councillors. I know they too inherited a broken system when they were elected. No planning strategy, no infrastructure strategy, no waste management strategy, no funding strategy, no policy on community consultation, and so the list goes on.
They have still not made much progress. Yes, they caved in to the farmers and lowered farm rates by more than $1 million but, they had no plan to replace the $1 million other than to ask the rest of us to pay more. They botched the relatively straightforward matter of dogs on beaches.
I say to Kay and others that they should continue in their efforts to applaud the good things the council does. I will do the same, but I will also continue to highlight the need for greater accountability as councillors and the senior executive proceed to redress the decades-long void of policies, strategies and governance which this shire has foisted on its staff, ratepayers and residents.
Ray McNamara, San Remo
April 1, 2016
What a refreshing change to read something positive about Bass Coast Council. The constant negativity has been wearing me down. There's so much emotion and so few reasoned arguments. From what I can see the councillors seem to work hard and do their best. Whenever I have dealings with council officers they are pleasant, responsive and helpful.
Of course, the council isn't perfect. It has to balance often conflicting community views, align with state government frameworks, work to specific funding criteria and meet quite high expectations with the smallest possible budget.
But, I do worry that all this negativity is divisive and unhealthy for our community. I worry that good people will balk from standing as councillors. I worry that a divided community is not attractive to State and Federal Government funding bodies that want to see the best bang for their buck. I am afraid that unless there's some negotiation, collaboration, even compromise, that we will all lose out.
Linda Cuttriss, Phillip Island
March 29, 2016
Whilst we enjoy the unilateral accolade comments for the present council from the former minister, the Hon Kay Setches, the retired Minister does highlight a important issue for the council to address in upcoming elections - whilst the Bass Coast Shire digs up sealed roads (yes 'dust suppressed' roads are sealed), many shire residents do not realise that if your sealed road is not maintained by VicRoads then there is a real possibility that in the next few years , your road will be dug up like the Esplanade in Surf Beach. Please remember to ask your candidate councillor what their position is on road maintenance?
Matt Gallagher, Smiths Beach
March 27, 2016
As a past Minister for Conservation, Forests and Land and Minister for Community Services in the Cain and Kirner Labor governments, maybe Kay Setches would like to investigate and comment on the council’s attempt, with their C140 amendment, to change the Gurdies Wildlife and Conservation area from Farming Zone to Rural Activity Zone and thus introduce tourists to the area at the expense of conservation and the native flora and fauna.
This is an excerpt from a recent letter from Chris Smith of The Victorian National Parks Association:
“The Rural Activity Zone as shown in Map 1 (The Gurdies area) is broad-bush in its application and thus includes existing native vegetation cover. The permissible uses with or without permits include feedlot operations, timber production and land subdivision, all of which could result in the clearance of remnant vegetation cover from seperate development applications under the planning scheme; effectively death by a thousand cuts.
“This cover is locally significant and should be part of any efforts to establish and maintain corridors to enhance the survival of regional native species: 17 mammal species, 130 bird species, 15 reptile species, and 339 native plants including more than 50 orchid species (as reported in the Sentinel Times 26 June 2012).
“The importance of this wildlife was recognised by the establishment of The Gurdies Conservation Reserve. It is now time the planning process provided clarity and certainty for wildlife beyond the boundaries of this reserve. This will require far more subtlety within planning scheme zones as opposed to the current broad-brush approach regarding the proposed Rural Activity Zone at The Gurdies.”
Maybe the council has got the conservation area right in Phillip Island but it is effectively trying to ruin our area by introducing a totally unnecessary change to the planning zone that up to 50 per cent of residents in the area are objecting to.
Rob Parsons