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Paths renewed in Cowes and Cape Woolamai

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A number of path renewal projects are underway in Cape Woolamai and Cowes as part of Bass Coast Shire Council’s Open Space Pathway Renewal Program.

Almost 300 metres of pathways across three locations are being renewed or replaced to the approximate value of $54,100. The works are funded by Bass Coast Council and will be undertaken by a local contractor.

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, explained the value these small but appreciated projects add to the community.  

“These pathways are used by residents and visitors alike on a daily basis, whether it is as a daily commute or a leisurely walk,” Cr Rothfield said.

“The Open Space Pathway Renewal Program is designed to provide renewal or replacement works so that the community can continue to enjoy the pleasures and purpose of these pathways, in a safe and comfortable environment.”

The three pathway renewals include:

  • The crushed rock track within Sunnyside Park, Cape Woolamai is being improved to become a three metre wide path with a timber edge border.
  • The asphalt path in Cape Woolamai along Phillip Island Road is being replaced with a 2.5 metre wide fibre reinforced concrete path.
  • In Cowes, the concrete path along Robert Drive is being replaced with a 1.5 metre wide fibre reinforced concrete path.

For information on all of Council’s renewal projects, head to www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/projects


Road works South Dudley

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Road safety improvement works will be undertaken along South Dudley Road between Guide Park and Station Street, South Dudley, as part of the 2017/18 Black Spot Program.

The project is fully funded by the Federal Government and will cost $162,000.00.

Works are scheduled to commence Monday19 March 2017 and be completed within 4 weeks.

Project works will include:

· Widening of road by adding new shoulders around the bend of South Dudley Road

· New and upgrade of existing guard rail on the bend between the Rail Trail and Guide Park

· Minor vegetation clearing for guard rail

· Reinstatement of some linemarking and reflectors

· Installation of new signage/guide posts and final reinstatement works.

Vehicles and Rail Trail users should expect delays along on South Dudley Road during the construction period.

To get the latest updates visit our website www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/projects  or contact Council on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211.

Replacing the stairs at First Surf

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The access stairs at Cape Paterson’s first surf beach will be replaced this April as part of Bass Coast Shire Council’s Building and Open Space Renewal Program.

The $80,000 project is being funded by Bass Coast Shire Council, a state government Coastal Public Access and Risk grant, and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

The works are scheduled to commence after the upcoming school holidays, in mid April, and will take approximately five weeks to complete, weather permitting. During the construction, beachgoers can access First Surf Beach via the access ramp.

Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, explained that because the existing stairs will be demolished and new stairs will be constructed in their place, no vegetation removal will be required.

“The impact on the surrounding environment will be minimal, and the new stairs will ensure the public have a safer experience accessing this beautiful and much loved Cape Paterson beach,” Cr Rothfield said.

Signage will be placed on site to direct pedestrians toward alternative access at the ramp, and to inform visitors about the works.

Bass Coast youth called to advocate for community

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Bass Coast Shire Council is encouraging young people to apply to the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria’s Activator Program, which aims to build youth advocacy skills.

The Activator Program is for young people aged 18-25 from rural and regional Victoria, who are interested in building skills and networks to activate and influence change in their communities.

Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, says the Activator Program is great opportunity for young people to build advocacy skills and influence positive changes in the community.

“The Activator Program skills-up young people to learn effective ways to have a say and to address issues that affect them,” Cr Rothfield said.

“Advocacy is a major focus of the Bass Coast Shire Council Plan. Whether it’s improving health, education, employment or transport services, all our Advocacy priorities affect young people.”

Youth Affairs Council of Victoria will facilitate the Activator Program, as part of their commitment to rural and regional youth. The program will include four 3-day residentials where participants will work on their advocacy projects. Participants will also receive $1,000 to cover participation costs and up to $1,000 to seed-fund a project.

‘We think this program is great for Bass Coast young people who may be studying in Melbourne or who are living, working or studying in Bass Coast. Either way, the program will help young people pursue a passion for a project or an issue in our community.’

For more information go to https://www.yacvic.org.au/yacvic-rural/activators-program or contact Council’s Youth Planning and Policy Officer for application support – Annette.dodson@basscoast.vic.gov.au

Cape Paterson North back on the agenda

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Bass Coast Shire Council will consider commencing a Planning Scheme Amendment to allow residential development of approximately 53 hectares of land north of Cape Paterson at the upcoming Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday, 21 March.

This proposal was previously bought before Council in August 2016. Council received 73 written submissions to have the proposal stopped or deferred, and Council resolved to defer a decision until further community consultation had been undertaken.

Local community groups have now been consulted, including the Cape Paterson Lifesaving Club, Wonthaggi CFA, Cape Paterson Residents and Ratepayers Association and Bass Coast Shire Councillors.

Manager Stategy and Growth, Jodi Kennedy, explained that the revised application seeks to rezone approximately half of the land indicated in the original application in August, whilst still applying a Development Plan Overly to the entire area.

“The area has been identified for growth within the settlement boundary for Cape Paterson,” Mrs Kennedy said.

“It is estimated that the area proposed to be rezoned could provide up to 480 new residential lots, as well as public open space and drainage reserves.”

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday, 21 March. Council will not be making a decision on the proposal, but whether to commence the process. The process includes exhibition and consultation on the proposed plans and will inform a future decision of Council regarding whether to support the proposal.

Don't paws to renew your pet registration!

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Losing your beloved pet can be an upsetting and stressful situation for the whole family. If your pet is registered and microchipped, however, your dog or cat has a much higher chance of being returned to you if it ends up in an animal shelter or vet clinic. Pet registrations this year are due on 10 April, with renewal notices currently arriving in mailboxes.

Under Victorian law, every cat and dog three months of age and over must be registered with their local council. Pets being registered for the first time must also be microchipped prior to registration.

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, said registering your pet is a key part of being a responsible owner.

“No family wants to experience the distress of losing a pet, having been in that situation many years ago – I wouldn’t wish it on anyone!” Cr Rothfield said.

“If your cat or dog does go missing, one of the best ways to ensure it can be returned to you is for your pet to be registered and wearing a Council identification tag, and it’s also important to make sure your contact details are kept up-to-date, including your current address and phone number.”

Last year, two new Orders in relation to the responsible ownership of cats in the Shire came into effect.

Council will not register a new cat unless the cat is desexed or is exempt under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, and cat owners are required to contain their cats to their property between sunset and sunrise, unless restrained and in the presence of their owner.

The aim of these Orders are to protect wildlife, reduce instances of cats causing a nuisance to neighbours, reducing unwanted litters of kittens and, ultimately, making all cats safer.

“Roaming cats, especially feral, have a significant impact on our environment,” Cr Rothfield said.

“On average, Council receives around 150 requests each year from people wanting to borrow one of Council’s free cat traps to deal with a nuisance cat on their property and responds to around 80 complaints in relation to cats at large, indicating that stray cats are somewhat of a nuisance.”

When it comes to feral cats, Council is working closely with Phillip Island Nature Parks and Parks Victoria who are active on the ground implementing feral cat reduction programs on French Island and Phillip Island.

For more information on pet registration and cat ownership please contact Council’s Local Laws Team at local.laws@basscoast.vic.gov.au, or call them on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211.

If you have a new pet, you can also chat to our Local Laws Team about what you need to do to register them.

Council’s Communication and Engagement Strategy reviewed

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A review of Bass Coast Shire Council’s Communications and Engagement Strategy 2015- 2018 was adopted at the March Ordinary Council Meeting. The Strategy provides the framework on the way Council communicates and engages with the community.The review considered the implementation of the Strategy’s objectives and identified that Council has addressed 100 per cent of the actions from the Strategy.

Strategy highlights include the successful use and uptake of social media and other digital medium and decreased reliance on consultants and contractors to deliver communication services. This has resulted in financial savings of approximately $100,000 per year and reflected positive trends in Community Satisfaction Survey results and increased engagement numbers.

Council has also been the recipient of local government awards, acknowledging outstanding community engagement in developing the Council Plan 2017-21.The review also identified other successful community engagement campaigns, such as the implementation of the new three-bin system, Youth Action Plan 2016-20, Phillip Island and San Remo Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 and Future Wonthaggi project.

The review also acknowledged opportunities to strengthen Councils’ communication and engagement by continuing targeted communication to suit audience needs. This includes digital, print and face-to-face communications, Facebook Q&A sessions and rotating meetings and briefings across the Shire.

Live Streaming of Council Meetings is being considered by Council separately to this review and will go before Council as a separate report in coming months.

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, was pleased to see Council’s commitment to improve community engagement has had positive results in the community and states it will continue to be a key focus.

“Council has made some significant improvements in how we plan and deliver the organisation’s communications and engagement with our community,” Cr Rothfield said.

“Many of us commenced our roles as Councillors wanting to see improvements in how Council engages with the community. The Council Plan consultation in 2017 was the start of this and we are proud to see it continuing and strengthening.

“We also know that things may not always go to plan, but we are committed to learning from our experiences and listening to our community. Our community gives us a lot of feedback and confidence that we are on the right track.”

The Strategy review highlighted the upskilling of Council’s staff to deliver community engagement, relying less on external consultants. The organisation has increased its focus on ‘closing the loop’ and sharing with the community what they have told us during and after an engagement. This has resulted in improving transparency with the community.

Community Connection Sessions were introduced in 2017 to provide opportunities community groups and individuals to showcase projects and initiatives to Councillors.

The review also proposed some minor changes to the current Strategy mainly to account for Council’s updated role in the social media and online space.

Local Government Bill – Exposure Draft

The Victorian Government is currently in the process of introducing a Local Government Bill – Exposure Draft, which proposes to change the legislative requirements that councils must meet for community engagement. The proposed Bill currently recommends that councils will need to adopt a new Communication and Engagement Policy within six months of the Bill passing as legislation.

The review proposes that Council should develop a new Communication and Engagement Strategy and Community Engagement Policy during 2018/19 to reflect the new legislation requirements.

The report recommended that Council receive the review findings, use the current Strategy with some minor changes, and wait for the Local Government Bill – Exposure Draft 2018 to pass before a new Strategy is developed.

Cr Pamela Rothfield explained that the Bill proposes to change the legislative requirements that all councils must meet for community engagement.

“These changes may have a direct impact on our processes, and Council’s Communication and Engagement Strategy may require further review once passed.”

Cr Rothfield concluded, “It makes sense for us to hold off, and continue to use the existing strategy with some minor changes, until the Bill is passed later this year. Then we can begin a review of the Strategy in light of any legislative changes and consider a new Strategy later this year, or early next year.”

Council Updates Meeting Procedure Local Law

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Bass Coast Shire Council has reviewed its Meeting Procedure Local Law.

At its March Ordinary Meeting, Council resolved to place the draft Meeting Procedure Local Law on public exhibition for four weeks and seek submissions and feedback.

The Meeting Procedure Local Law is the main instrument for Council regarding the conduct of Meetings. It deals with the election of Mayor and meeting procedures for all Council Meetings and Committee Meetings.

Council’s current Meeting Procedure Local Law was adopted by Council in 2009. Since this time, there have been a number of amendments to the Local Government Act 1989 that have required a review of our existing Local Law.

This revised draft Meeting Procedure Local Law has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1989 and with reference to best practice guidance.

Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, explained that, although the topic of meeting procedures may be a dry subject to discuss, it is important that the community have an opportunity to review the proposed changes.

“The Meeting Procedure Local Law provides guidance on how Councillors, Officers and community members attending Council Meetings behave and interact at a Council Meeting,” Cr Rothfield said.

“This proposed Local Law has been reviewed in consultation with Councillors, Council staff and Council’s legal advisors to ensure it is up to date with relevant legislation and clarifies any areas that may have been difficult to interpret previously.

“I confess the subject matter is a little dry for most of us, but I encourage those in the community who have an interest in how Council Meetings are run to spend some time reviewing the changes and amendments proposed and provide us with any feedback before we consider the Local Law for adoption.”

A ‘Community Impact Statement’ listing the changes will accompany the Local Law for public consultation purposes and as part of the consultation process.

Council invites submissions from the community under Section 223 of the Act. Submissions must be received by 5.00pm on 24 April 2018 and be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Bass Coast Shire Council, PO Box 118, Wonthaggi VIC 3995. If a person indicates that they wish to be heard in support of their submission, they can appear in person before a meeting of the Council to be held on Wednesday, 2 May 2018 at 5.00pm in Wonthaggi.

Copies of the draft Meeting Procedure Local Law will be available from Council’s Customer Service Centres and from Friday 23 March 2018 on Council’s website www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/consultation

It is expected that the final Meeting Procedure Local Law will be presented to Council for adoption at its Ordinary Council Meeting in May 2018.


Upgrades to Dalyston and Cowes Recreation Reserves begin

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New change rooms for Dalyston Recreation Reserve

The wait is over. Local builders TS Constructions have commenced construction of the new home and away change rooms at Dalyston Recreation Reserve.

This project is valued at $733,060 and is Stage 1 of an overall social and change facility plan that has been funded through Bass Coast Shire Council’s 2017/18 Renewal Program 2017/2018. The change rooms will be located on the western side of the oval, as outlined in the updated Dalyston Recreation Reserve Master Plan, 2017.

The change rooms will feature a new warm up area for both home and away teams and include unisex features, providing female sporting teams such as the Bass Coast Breakers with adequate change facilities to utilise. The building will also include new umpire change rooms ensuring umpires enjoy a greater level of comfort when officiating at the Reserve.

Council has worked closely with the Dalyston Football Netball Club and the Dalyston Recreation Reserve Committee of Management to complete the design of the new change facility, which was led by DB Design in Wonthaggi.

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, was excited to see this project get off the ground.

“The existing change rooms at Dalyston Recreation Reserve have been in a poor condition for a considerable time now and we are excited to be able to provide the Dalyston community with a brand new facility,” Cr Rothfield said.

“Council continues to be committed to investing in our local sporting facilities and infrastructure, which we know, also provides many benefits to the broader community.”

It is anticipated the works will be completed prior to the completion of the 2018 football season. Planning is now underway with the Dalyston Football Netball Club and the Dalyston Recreation Reserve Committee of Management to fundraise and deliver the social room component of the project.

New netball change facility first step for new look Cowes Recreation Reserve

The imminent construction of the new home and visitor netball change facilities and visitor football and football umpire change facilities at Cowes Recreation Reserve are the first steps in a major overhaul for the Cowes Recreation Reserve.

The new change facility will be located between the netball courts and oval and provide the Phillip Island Football Netball Club with new accessible facilities for its members and visiting teams.

The $430,000 project has been funded through a significant cash and in-kind contribution by the Phillip Island Football Netball Club, Bendigo Community Bank Cowes and San Remo, Bass Coast Shire Council and Sport and Recreation Victoria through their Country Football and Netball Program.

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, was pleased to see another important community assest being supported by Council in partnership with the community.

“Council knows how important sporting clubs are to the social fabric of each community. Whether you are hosting teams from other towns in a sporting match or managing a local event, the quality of the facilities at the venue are really important,” Cr Rothfield said.

“The facilities become a real source of pride and for many locals are utilised all year round. We hope the new rooms reflect this for Cowes.”

It is anticipated the new facility will be completed and ready for use by August/September this year.

Council officers are currently in planning with representatives of the Phillip Island Football Netball Club regarding the design for the refurbishment of the existing football change rooms and the redevelopment of the netball courts.   

Bass Coast Skate Strategy 2018 – Adopted by Council

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Bass Coast Shire Council is looking forward to the roll out of several skate park projects across the municipality following the adoption of the Bass Coast Skate Strategy 2018 at its March Ordinary Council Meeting.

Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, explains the Strategy outlines plans to deliver a range of inclusive and safe skate spaces, suitable and exciting to a broad range of the community.

“People of all ages, abilities and gender, with varied recreational interests and pursuits will enjoy the new and upgraded skate facilities outlined in the Strategy. From skateboarders, to those on scooters, in-line/quad skating, BMX riders and more,” Cr Rothfield said.

“The Strategy has been developed following extensive community consultation and research, including input from a community-based steering group, three public workshops held across the Shire, and an online survey,” Cr Rothfield said.  

Development of the Strategy was led by CONVIC, leaders in skate facility planning, design and development.

“The Steering Group put in a tremendous effort in developing the Strategy – they have represented their communities well.”

The Strategy provides a long term vision for skate facilities in Bass Coast, with short, medium and long term actions.

“Council is now gearing up for many exciting projects across the Shire” Cr Rothfield added.

“Skate facility specialists will complete renewal works at both Inverloch and Wonthaggi Skate Parks in the coming months. This will include significant improvements to the surface and coping elements of these parks, meaning a smoother ride for all users.”

“Following these works, Council plans to design and construct with the community a new skate park in Cowes, replacing the existing park, along with installing permanent features at both Corinella and Grantville, reducing the reliance on our mobile skate ramp.”

Further, Council is committed to securing the site for a regional skate park in either San Remo or Newhaven and will be investigating design options and external funding to assist in funding this major facility for the Shire.

Phillip Island Transfer Station and Waste Services Update

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At Bass Coast Shire Council’s March Ordinary Meeting the decision was made to not award the Tender for the Design, Construction and Operation of Phillip Island Resource Recovery Centre (Transfer Station).

Council were presented with the results of the tender evaluation and it was recommended that Council not award a contract.

A panel, consisting of five Council officers and one external independent member, was formed for the purpose of the tender evaluation. The panel’s objective was to assess the submissions against the specification requirements and the selection criteria.

Council had engaged a Probity Advisor to provide advice during the procurement processes conducted for this tender and the Probity Advisor Report states the procurement project was conducted in a fair, impartial, transparent and ethical manner.

Ultimately, the panel concluded that the tender submitted by the tenderer will not provide Council with value for money.

Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, expressed her disappointment at the outcome, but was pleased that a rigorous tender process was followed which did not see Council exposed to any legal or financial risk.

“It was disappointing that the tender process did not provide us with the results we were after. I understand our resident’s frustrations regarding the issue of a full transfer station on Phillip Island. It has been an ongoing issue and one we have tried to solve since being elected,” Cr Rothfield said.

“What I can’t fault is the process. We have gone out to the market, not once but twice to find an appropriate tenderer to express an interest in the design and operation of a transfer station. The tender review recommendations made it clear to us that the offer received was not suitable, especially based on the proposed costs, supporting documentation and in comparison to other Gippsland Councils.

“We have a duty of care and obligation to manage our finances responsibly. Waste management is a core function and service of the organisation and our waste contracts have to reflect the best value for our community.”

Currently, Council operates a public waste facility on Phillip Island at the Cowes Recycling Bank in Dunsmore Road. This facility is open seven days per week and accepts general and green waste, recycling, as well as oil, batteries, scrap-metal, whitegoods and cardboard.

Although the facility meets most of the demand from the local community, it cannot accept major waste items such as large furniture, construction and demolition waste and loads larger than a tandem trailer size.

Following this decision, the next steps for Council will be to investigate other options for a transfer station on Phillip Island and prepare a Council Report for April 2018.

Recycling Processing

Many Victorian councils and the waste collection industry have been affected by China’s decision to stop the import of low quality mixed recyclable materials. Although China has not banned the importation of all recycled plastic and paper, they now require a higher quality, cleaner version of the material.

This decision and the changed market conditions will affect councils and the recycling industry right across Australia.

Four weeks ago, the State Government announced it would provide a $13 million Recycling Services Temporary Relief Funding package for councils and industry to respond to these shifts in the global recycling markets and assist in supporting councils with the ongoing kerbside collection of household recyclable materials.

Council welcomes the State Government’s assistance funding arrangement and as part of the process has submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) to access the funding available. At this stage, Council understands that the funding will be capped at approximately $55-$60 per tonne of recyclable kerbside material that is collected.

Council’s submission is based on predicated tonnes of kerbside recyclable material collected for processing with the funding assistance available to Council for costs incurred from 1 March 2018 to 30 June 2018.

Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield has been encouraged by the announcement, which will help cover some of the costs for the increased fee for processing recyclable materials.

“I am pleased there has been a response on the matter and thank the State Government for listening to our calls for help. We are eagerly awaiting all the details, but at the moment Council and our contractor Wonthaggi Recyclers will now work with our processor Visy to put in place an agreement until 30 June 2018, and then look at a longer term arrangement after this.

“As much as the funding is welcome, it does not meet the entire costs required for this financial year. Therefore, Council will need to find the remaining shortfall, within the current Budget. Council will consider future costs as part of the 2018/19 Budget process,” Cr Rothfield said.

The annual garbage charge is set through the Budget process and aims to recover the full costs of delivering waste management services across the municipality.

The change in the recycling processing industry provides an opportunity for State Government and the industry to explore innovative options to recycle materials. It also presents opportunity to better understand and reconsider the amount of packaging material required for consumer goods.

Council is continuing to work with Wonthaggi Recyclers to ensure kerbside collection services are uninterrupted while the industry finds short and long term solutions to a major change in recycling processing. Council is also working with the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Gippsland Waste and Resource Recovery Group to access the State Government’s Sustainability Fund to undertake research and development so as to find improvements to waste processing, and alternate waste technologies.

Cr Rothfield also encouraged residents to not change their recycling behaviour in response to what has happened.

“Residents should continue to sort their waste and think about the products they are purchasing to close the loop with recycling. Bass Coast residents have really improved their recycling behaviours over the last few years and it is critical that we maintain this into the future,” Cr Rothfield said.

Kerbside Three-Bin System

Waste management has definitely been a topic of interest across the community over the last few months. Of major interest was the implementation of the kerbside three-bin system introduced in September 2017.

The system has been working really well since it started with some fantastic results with respect to diversion of organic waste from landfill. Over the summer period from 1 December to 28 February, a total of 5,245 tonnes of material was collected from the kerbside bins across Bass Coast. To give that amount some context, it is around 175 Humpback whales.

However, over summer, the new system was met with mixed reviews from the community. Contributing factors were the change in collection frequency of the red landfill bin and moving the Christmas Day collection in some areas, making it three days earlier.

“I know there are some local members of our community along with visitors who were not satisfied with the system’s performance over the summer period and in particular the week of Christmas to New Year. We have taken on board the community’s feedback”, Cr Rothfield said.

Council has received a lot of the feedback during the implementation and the summer period and will consider the best way to manage waste during the peak-season visitation and improve local and non-permanent resident education on the system.

During the preparation of the Council Budget, Council will be considering the options to address some of the waste issues experienced in some of our communities.

Overall, residents used the system well with issues mainly identified in coastal townships where there were a high influx of holiday home owners and visitors not as familiar with the system.

Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield acknowledged that the summer period was a challenge.

“I know Council has introduced a system of managing waste across the Shire that is not only cost effective and efficient, but importantly provides a benefit to our environment. The results over the summer period have shown that only 21per cent of waste was sent to landfill, meaning 79 per cent of kerbside waste material collected was recycled; 30 per cent being recycling and 49 per cent organics. The Organics bins contamination rate was only 0.85%, only slightly higher than our average contamination rate of 0.8% since the system commenced.

“If we did nothing, our landfill sites would be filling up faster, therefore requiring new landfill cells to be constructed sooner, which in the long term are a much greater cost to Council’s finances and will have a negative environmental outcome,” Cr Rothfield said.

“We really appreciate the community’s support in ’being a good sort’ and reducing our waste to landfill. Thank you, and keep up the great work!”

Plenty of projects produced in Woni Proud

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The Wonthaggi community has identified a number of exciting projects as part of Bass Coast Shire Council’s Woni Proud project.

The Wonthaggi Activity Centre project, Woni Proud, has been funded by Council and the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) to recognise and reinforce Wonthaggi’s status as the Regional Centre of Bass Coast.

The first series of workshops were held at the Old Post Office in Wonthaggi on Thursday, 15 March 2018. These workshops were extremely well attended, with participants developing project ideas that will enhance the look and feel of Wonthaggi.

A day-time session was attended by 42 Wonthaggi Secondary College VCAL students, and a night-time session was attended by 22 community members, including several members from the business community.

Project ideas ranged from pop up events with food trucks, a youth film festival, public street performances, festivals, billy cart race, and closing off the main street to trial a temporary mall.

Bass Coast Shire Deputy Mayor, Cr Brett Tessari, grew up in Wonthaggi and is particularly pleased with the workshop outcomes so far.

“A number of projects have been identified by the community, with young people ready to take charge of some of those projects,” Cr Tessari said.

President of the Wonthaggi Business and Tourism Association, Dee Connell, is ready to work with the community on some exciting projects.

“The business community has jumped on board with this project and is looking forward to working with young people and other community members to develop projects to revitalise Wonthaggi,” said Dee.

A ‘pop up’ consultation on McBride Avenue and at the Wonthaggi Plaza provided further feedback on the suggested projects to revitalise Wonthaggi.

Cr Tessari explained that there has been a positive response from the community who are keen to see the projects developed and delivered on in the next few months.

“The second round of Woni Proud workshops will be held on the 5 April 2018. At these workshops we’ll jump from the ideas stage to the practicalities. Project budgets will be addressed and action plans confirmed,” said Cr Tessari.

“Woni Proud is about developing practical, on-the-ground projects that will enhance Wonthaggi.”

Community members are invited to come along to the second Woni Proud workshops to help develop projects to improve the town.

The next Woni Proud workshop will take place on Thursday, 5 April at the Old Wonthaggi Post Office, 74 McBride Ave. Wonthaggi, 5.30pm – 8.30pm.

A light supper will be served. Please RSVP by Tuesday, 3 April by emailing strategicplanningadmin@basscoast.vic.gov.au.

If you’re unable to attend a workshop but still want to be involved, please contact Council’s Strategic Planning Team on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or 03 5671 2211.

Sealed road pavement works Coghlan Road Cowes

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Sealed road pavement works are being undertaken along Coghlan Road, Cowes, as part of Councils 2017/18 Capital Works Program.

The works will start from the Cowes Rhyll Road roundabout to Boardwalk Boulevard roundabout, Cowes.

The pavement works funded by Bass Coast Shire Council come to a total cost of $112,000. These works are being completed in partnership with South Gippsland Quarries who are currently undertaking a number of other works along Coglan Road.

The total scope of works include: Verge and drainage clearing, drainage pipe and pit works including kerb and channel and road widening on the west side of Coghlan Road, and pavement renewal and sealing.

Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Pamela Rothfield, explains the works play an important part in maintaining a safe urban road network.

“With the subdivision project occurring along Coghlan Road, it is important that the appropriate infrastructure is developed,” Cr Rothfield said.

Works have commenced, with an anticipated completion date by mid-May 2018.

There will be changes in traffic movements that include a lane closure controlled by traffic controllers and a worksite speed restriction of 40 km/hr.

Outside of normal working hours the road will be returned to two lane traffic at appropriate speed restrictions.

Drivers are urged to be patient and obey all traffic control measures onsite.

To get the latest updates visit our website www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/projects or contact Council on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211.

Mobile cat desexing coming to Phillip Island

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Bass Coast Shire Council in partnership with The Lost Dogs’ Home is running a cat desexing event in Cowes from Tuesday 17 to Thursday 19 April. Bass Coast residents will be able to get their cats desexed, microchipped and registered with Council for $75.00 – that’s more than a 50 per cent saving. Phillip Island residents will receive an additional discount through funding provided by Phillip Island Nature Parks.

This low–cost, desexing service aims to reduce the number of unwanted and unowned cats in Bass Coast.

Ben Pocock, General Manager of Shelter and Outreach Services at The Lost Dogs’ Home explained the benefits of their mobile service.

“Desexing not only prevents unwanted litters of kittens, it also helps cats live healthier and safer lives,” Mr Pocock said.

“Through our mobile desexing program, The Lost Dogs’ Home makes a positive difference to the lives of cats and kittens in communities across Victoria. Almost 2,000 cats and kittens have been desexed so far.”

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, explained that the cost of desexing their beloved cat is prohibitive for some families.

“The cost of desexing surgery is out of reach for so many families that it is just not a priority, but this doesn’t mean they don’t care for their cats. I encourage all cat owners to take advantage of this opportunity as it is being provided at cost price,” Cr Rothfield said.  

“Council is committed to increasing the number of desexed cats in Bass Coast and to reduce the number of unwanted cats surrendered. One way of doing this is to support members of our community to have access to affordable responsible pet ownership practices such as desexing.

“As well as the surgery this discounted rate also includes microchipping and Council registration for your feline friend to ensure that if they ever go missing you can be contacted and reunited with them as soon as possible and avoid the stress of a missing family member.”

Many cats are bred by accident and some of these cats end up running wild, becoming feral and killing native wildlife. Cat overpopulation is challenging for our natural environment and also for the rescue groups and Council who manage these unwanted cats.

Avoiding unwanted litters of kittens is not the only benefit of having your cat desexed. Desexed cats may be less likely to roam, yowl at night or spray strong smelling urine. It can also prevent them from getting certain types of cancer.

Bookings are essential for this event.  You can book online at www.trybooking.com/361539 or by contacting Sarah Symons at The Lost Dogs’ Home on (03) 9321 8764 or events@dogshome.com.

Building projects all go - Cape Paterson, Dalyston and Wonthaggi

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Bass Coast Shire Council will undertake several building improvement works across the municipality, as part of its Building and Open Space Renewal Program.

Works will commence in early April (excluding Dalyston Hall) and are due for completion by early May 2018.

Projects include the:

Cape Paterson Bay Rotunda – $2,700.00

Dalyston Recreation Reserve Toilet Block - $13,400.00

McMahons Reserve Toilet Block, Wonthaggi – $13,300.00

Portable “F” located within the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve - $8,800.00

Dalyston Hall – $80,000.00. The works involve the renewal of the floor. Project works will commence 28th April after April 2018 dance and will be completed in June in time welcome back dancers on Sunday 24th June.

Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield says these projects complement similar projects recently completed across the Shire.

‘Council is committed to providing effective building facilities, reserves and other public infrastructure within the municipality,’ said Cr Rothfield.

‘Improving recreation facilities is integral to supporting the health and wellbeing of the community,’ she said.

‘We appreciate that these works may present an inconvenience and ask for your patience during this time.’

To get the latest updates visit www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/projects or contact Council on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211.


Road safety improvement works Wonthaggi

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Road safety improvement works are being undertaken at the intersection of Baillieu Street East and McKenzie Street in Wonthaggi as part of Councils 2017/18 Capital Works Program.

The works are anticipated to start Tuesday 3 April 2018 and will take up to 5 weeks.

The works are happening over the school holiday period to minimise disruption to school buses and general road users in the area.

The works are funded by Bass Coast Shire Council and will cost $200,000.

Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield explains the project will improve the intersection safety.

‘The works will control the traffic speed at this intersection and support a dedicated right turn lane from McKenzie Street into Baillieu Street East,’ says Cr Rothfield.

‘The linemarking and pavement works that are taking place as part of this project will better define the intersection, making it a lot safer,’ she said.

The works will involve:

· Pavement widening and renewal works within the intersection of McKenzie Street and Baillieu Street.

· Minor drainage and kerb and channel works along the south corner of Baillieu Street East and McKenzie Street (residential) side and east side of McKenzie Street.

· Modify the existing concrete median island on Baillieu Street East to improve traffic flow and accommodate turning lane.

· Installation of appropriate signage and line marking at intersections.

Full road closure and detours will be in place throughout the day during school holidays. Other temporary traffic diversions will be in place throughout the remaining duration of works.

Drivers are advised to expect some delays or seek alternative route. Drivers are also urged to be patient and obey all traffic control measures onsite.

To get the latest updates visit our website www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/projects or contact Council on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211.

Wetlands Rehabilitation Seagrove Estate

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Bass Coast Shire Council will begin wetland and raingarden rehabilitation works at Seagrove Estate Cowes, early this month.

This project aims to protect the natural eco systems of the estate.

The wetland and raingardens in stages one through to three will be rehabilitated at a cost to Council at an estimated $200,000.00.

These works are due for completion by late June 2018, weather permitting.

The rehabilitation works will include:

• Removal of sediment from wetland ponds.

• Revegetation of wetland areas.

• Removal of sediment from raingardens.

• Re-establishment of raingardens.

• Re-vegetation of raingardens.

We appreciate that these works may present an inconvenience to all users within this section of Seagrove Estate. Residents can be kept up to date with the project by visiting Council website www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/projects or contacting Council on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211.

Blue Green Algal Bloom at Ayr Creek lagoon

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Recent sampling by the Environment Protection Agency Victoria (EPA) has shown that the Ayr Creek lagoon in Inverloch contains a Blue Green Algal bloom at a level where it can affect the natural ecosystem and potentially impact on human health.

Direct contact with blue-green algae can cause allergic reactions such as skin rashes or itchiness; sore eyes ears and nose or if swallowed gastroenteritis, nausea or vomiting.

Pet owners should prevent pets from drinking or having direct contact with contaminated water.

Blue-Green Algal blooms are a natural part of most aquatic environments and are found in streams, lakes, estuaries and the sea. This significant bloom has formed despite recent rain and high tides.

Visitors and residents to the area can still enjoy other recreational activities such as beach walking and sightseeing around the lagoon area without concern.

New signage is being erected in the area around the lagoon, with warnings to not swim in the water, or ingest it.

Bass Coast Shire Council together with the EPA and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) have been monitoring water conditions in the lagoon over the last two seasons.

Council has notified DELWP and the Regional Coordinator regarding this event.

Contact Council’s Sustainable Environment Team on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211 if you have any concerns.

Woni Proud project to lift town pride and profile

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Fifteen community members attended the second Woni Proud workshop last week, focusing on two place-making projects within the Wonthaggi Township. The workshop took place at the Old Post Office, Wonthaggi.

Woni Proud, part of the Wonthaggi Activity Centre Plan development, has been funded by Bass Coast Shire Council and the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) to recognise and reinforce Wonthaggi’s status as the Regional Centre of Bass Coast.

Bass Coast Shire Council Deputy Mayor, Cr Brett Tessari is a proud Wonthaggi man.

‘Wonthaggi is the regional centre of Bass Coast, but we don’t always recognise and celebrate this,’ says Cr Tessari.

‘The project aims to build the pride and profile of Wonthaggi and the people living, working and visiting here,’ he states.

The April 5th workshop focussed on identifying project details, community resources and materials required for implementing the projects.

Participants were given a project budget of up to $10,000 per project and provided with support, resources and information from Council staff to assist in project development.

‘Council staff were on-hand at the workshop to assist participants with planning and permitting requirements, media and communications and other technical support they may need.’

Projects include:

1. Developing a town square vision for Apex Park

2. Developing a plan for a pop-up mall in the town centre, showcasing local talent.

Wonthaggi Secondary College Year 11 VCAL students are also participating in Woni Proud. Their projects will form part of their school curriculum. Students will be given a project budget of $10,000 for 1-2 projects, to be selected.

If you have been unable to attend a workshop but would still like to be involved, please contact Council’s Strategic Planning Team on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or 03 5671 2211.

National Youth Week free events in Wonthaggi

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Bass Coast young people have been busy planning a day of free activities on the last day of National Youth Week (NYW), Saturday 22nd April. The events will be held at the Wonthaggi YMCA and Wonthaggi Skate Park.

National Youth Week (NYW) runs for just over two weeks from Saturday 4th April. NYW

celebrates and recognises the contribution to community of young people. Bass Coast Shire Council supports the event annually and works in partnership with other organisations to make it a fun and positive celebration.

Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield says Council is proud to support and celebrate National Youth Week.

‘Wonthaggi Secondary College students have been instrumental in getting this day up and running. It will be a fun day for young people and their families,’ she said.

The event will include a free skate and scooter competition, a free pop up cinema, free body and face painting, free photo booth.

Bass Coast Shire Council, Wonthaggi YMCA, Anglicare and Bass Coast Adult Education Centre are supporting and funding the event.

The Skate and Scooter Competition starts at 11.30am and everyone under 25 years old is welcome to participate.

The pop up cinema will feature the movie Jamanji and commences at 6:30pm.

For more information, contact Council’s Acting Youth Planning and Policy Officer, Annette Dodson, by emailing community.development@basscoast.vic.gov.au or calling 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211.

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