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Geoff Ellis Q&A

11/8/2023

13 Comments

 
PictureGeoff Ellis is delighted to take on the role of Bass Coast councillor for a second time after the resignation of Cr Bruce Kent.
Bass Coast Post: When the Victorian Electoral Commission offered you the gig, was it a difficult decision?
 
Cr Geoff Ellis: Nope. Not at all.

Post: But you live in Harmers Haven. How come you’re a Western Port Ward councillor?
 
GE: I actually lived at Krowera at the time of the 2020 election and that’s in the Western Port Ward. I had all these Waterline connections from the first time I was a councillor, plus I publish the Waterline News so I identify with those communities. You don’t actually have to live in the ward you’re representing. In some ways it’s an advantage to live outside the ward because I don’t have a conflict of interest.

Post: When Cr Kent resigned he noted the increasing councillor workload made it difficult for anyone with a full-time job to undertake the role. (Kent steps down, August 7, 2023). Do you think the workload is excessive?
 
GE: Excessive? No, I'd describe it as relentless. The pressure is how to keep up. The council has a $100 million budget and you have to keep in front of the spending. Diligence and education are essential. You need to read heaps of complicated documents - agendas and attachments, officers’ reports, briefings, progress reports, budget and grant submissions … I can see why people with young families, people who need to work long hours and people with business commitments would find time management and work/life difficult to achieve.

​
Last time I kept track of my hours for one month and it equated to $8 an hour. I stopped counting. I ditched my part-time day job (writing for a dairy magazine) and concentrated on doing the best job I could. As a newbie in 2016 Cr Les Larke moved that NINE councillors should work for the same total amount that SEVEN had previously worked for. Later he suggested that councillors were worth a million dollars each in certain circumstances so I guess that's the pay range he might have anticipated. They tell me it's around $600 a week now which seems fair to me. As a previous deputy mayor I am glad to know that the extra duties that role entails are now recognised by extra money.
 
Post: Any pet projects you want to achieve in the remaining 15 months of this council term?
 
GE: The desal plant should be paying rates - that's a million out of our budget every year. The threat to the old Holden proving ground needs to be removed. Community houses (Bass and Corinella and across the Shire) need more funding and support as the number of homeless and hungry people rises. I want to help the residents and ratepayers associations across Bass Coast and the Small Towns Coastal Alliance to work with council to achieve the aspirations of residents. I want to reboot my relationships with foreshore management committees from Jam Jerrup to Dalyston and help farmers across Western Port Ward through support of Landcare programs, initiatives and innovations.
 
Post: What’s the best thing about being a councillor?

GE: Being able to talk to so many people and be invited to share their achievements, like the Coronet Bay Community Garden or the Coronet Bay and Corinella markets. So many people, so much effort volunteered for the common good. And, especially in Western Port Ward, the scenic driving through the valleys and along the coast to meet people on their home turf.
 
Post: What’s the worst?
 
GE: Hearing "This might be your ward but it's my island". The name of Island Ward is just plain wrong. Western Port Ward covers Newhaven, Cape Woolamai, Surf Beach, etc, to the edge of Smiths Beach. When the Victoria Electoral Commission reviews the internal shire boundaries in January 2024 I will encourage submissions to retain the three ward structure with adjustments for population growth and renaming of Island Ward to something accurate.
 
Post: Do you plan on doing anything differently this time round as a councillor?
 
GE: Employ strategies such as “compassion exercises" to increase empathy and understanding with people. Take a digital sabbath every week, work from home more, listen more, talk less, and no emails after 8pm. Zero tolerance for bullies and harassers. Call it out when it happens. Better diary management. Visit the beach.
13 Comments
Frank W Schooneveldt
12/8/2023 09:32:10 am

Congratulations Geoff on being returned to council.
I am of the view that Councillor allowances are way too low for the work they are expected to undertake and the responsibility they take. Consider $100k per annum for a councillor and double that for the mayor.
If we want to attract younger people to the council you need to pay a reasonable allowance to attract them.
Cheers

Reply
Cr Clare Le Serve
12/8/2023 01:18:54 pm

Congratulations Geoff, Welcome back to the Western Port Ward. Cr Rochelle Halstead and I look forward to working with you. Wishing Bruce Kent all the best and thank him for his commitment to the community over the years.

Reply
Ali
15/8/2023 10:13:49 pm

Congratulations Cr Ellis. I’m delighted for you. Westernport residents are well served by yourself, Clare Le Serve and Rochelle Hallstead.

Reply
Meryl & Hartley Tobin
19/8/2023 10:17:49 am

Thank you to outgoing councillor, Cr Bruce Kent for seven years of committed and valuable service to the Western Port Ward and Bass Coast Shire. Best wishes in a new chapter of your life, Bruce.

Thank you to incoming councillor, Cr Geoff Ellis for taking on the job of councillor again. We look forward to the renewed contribution from a proven and committed councillor to the ward and the shire. Welcome back, Geoff.

Reply
Gillian Armstrong
19/8/2023 11:51:13 am

Congratulations, Geoff ! So pleased to see you are back on Council again with your emphasis on listening, social housing, social justice and the environment. Yay.

Reply
Anne Heath Mennell
19/8/2023 02:27:18 pm

Congratulations and Welcome back, Geoff. Thank you for being willing to say "Yes", thereby saving the AEC thousands of dollars by not having a by-election and saving Clare and Rochelle from having to shoulder the load for months until an election was held. You know and care about Western Port ward and have experience as a Councillor so I'm sure you'll do your very best for the Waterline area.

Reply
Tim Herring
19/8/2023 02:42:37 pm

Welcome back Geoff. You did a great job the first time around and we expect you to do the same again - no pressure.
We will really miss Bruce Kent, who was great, but you are up to the task. We look forward to sharing our problems and our wins together.

Reply
CHRISTINE GRAYDEN
19/8/2023 03:38:55 pm

Love your response to the final question Geoff. Very wise, and I hope others take on board that it is so important to routinely spend time away from the digital white noise in our lives. Thanks to Bruce Kent. Seven years is a long haul on council while working full time in a job that's tough anyway. Best wishes to both of you.

Reply
David Kemp
19/8/2023 04:15:40 pm

Congratulations Geoff on your re-appointment. Your commitments and contributions to our community are beyond question.

Reply
Cr Geoff Ellis
19/8/2023 09:38:46 pm

Folks,

I am delighted and inspired by all your generous comments. Been a hectic two weeks and it was good that Council efficiency enabled me to take a seat in the chamber on Wednesday. Great to be part of Team Bass Coast and Team Western Port.
Salutations GjE

Reply
Daryl Hookk
21/8/2023 11:33:30 am

I have always been told that you can’t hold a good man down.Keep up the good work Geoff!

Reply
Deb Watson
21/8/2023 04:11:06 pm

Congratulations Geoff! Glad that your commitment to community and compassion will be once again applied to a broad landscape.

Reply
Jen Rutherford
31/8/2023 06:57:43 pm

Hi Geoff,

Wishing you a wonderful term/s as councillor and I hope you achieve all your goals which look fantastic.

I just wanted to share the Compassion Exercise you refer to here for the benefit of those interested:

youtube.com/watch?v=YF6MMCdUzII

Reply



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