Occupation: Small business owner (Tides restaurant in Tooradin).
Lives in: San Remo.
Why are you running for council?
I have many years’ experience working with and for all levels of government as a former mayor of Frankston City Council and in the Parliament of Victoria.
I am passionate about supporting and improving the lives of people in my community and can use that experience to make a positive contribution in the future direction of this beautiful place I now call home.
What are your top five issues?
1. Recovery – The ongoing recovery from COVID-19 will continue to be necessary, with council playing an important role through provision of community programs and support of small business.
2. Planning and development – Bass Coast will continue to grow as more people, particularly from metropolitan Melbourne, discover its attractions. This significant rise in population will need carefully managed planning to ensure facilities and services keep up with demand and an acceptable balance is found between protecting our environment and progressing our shire.
3. Cost shifting – In 2016, the Victorian government introduced a cap on rates for local government and this cap is decided by the minister annually. This protects the community from overzealous councils, but it also impacts on their ability to deliver the capital works that our community expects. The state government is also negotiating loan agreements with councils on facilities that historically have been fully funded by state and federal governments.
4. Back to basics – Talking to residents in my ward on a daily basis, I am hearing that what they want most from their local councils is a return to a focus on the basics: rubbish bin collections, tip passes, and in the waterline towns – drainage, roads and footpaths.
5. Economy – Seeking alternative industries away from tourism to offer stability for our local economy and provide greater employment options for local jobseekers.
What is the best and worst thing about Bass Coast?
Best: Our incredible environment, flora and fauna, birdlife and the appreciation our community holds for these treasures.
Worst: Almost our entire economy relies upon tourism, with COVID-19 showing us a weakness that we need to address. I would like Bass Coast to open itself up to other economic opportunities that will create employment and add some stability to our economy.
What do you do for fun?
Play with our Golden Retriever, fishing (especially snapper season), time with family and friends, and the arts.
Not only does Grantville want a supermarket it needs one. With people moving to the area, new estates opening up in Grantville and Corinella and tourists heading to Phillip Island and beyond Grantville is ideally situated to service them. Council needs to get behind the push for a supermarket helping developers get through the red tape and working with Vicroads to get the planning moving. If elected I hope you can put the time and effort into this project.
I would like someone who can advocate for children like my daughter with a 75 IQ and rare genetic condition who does not fit mainstream or special school according to the outdated criteria.
My daughter cannot write, is self harming daily, knows she is dufferent feels like an outcaste and is struggling to learn. She is probably at tge age of 3 mentally.
Although we have tapped into every possible resource in the area we seem to keep hitting brick walls.
If this continues we will be forced to move where she can access more.
Grantville wants a supermarket