Geoff 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.
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.
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.