IT STARTED with a simple request at last month’s Bass Coast Council for councillors to meet with the public for an informal coffee and a chat after each council meeting.
Council agreed and this month during the historic first Bass Coast Council meeting at Berninneit in Cowes councillors paused to have a cuppa with members of the public gallery.
The informal break came after an emotion-charged debate over what was claimed by Island Ward councillors to be inadequate funding for the Phillip Island Recreation Reserve in this month’s draft council budget.
Cr Mat Morgan said the budget was not perfect and nor could it be, as federal and state governments were hiding under the table and cost shifting to local governments.
Island Ward councillor Cr O’Brien said he was disappointed and almost outraged that only $250,000 could be found for the Phillip Island Recreation Reserve.
“I won’t be told that we can only manage $250,000 worth of work on the recreation reserve,” said Cr O’Brien.
“It’s preposterous, we must find more money for that project.
“We know this community has been waiting for 40 years and the best we can come up with after 40 years is $250,000 and a driveway.
“We can’t spend $250,000 and then stop with our hands in our pockets.
“Let’s get this underway with some real money.”
Another Island Ward councillor Cr Ron Bauer said the budget had been crafted along a four year plan set by the last council, but this had been a problem as he believed there would be a different direction for the next four years.
“We should get back to basics, the four R’s rates, roads, rubbish and recreation,” said Cr Bauer.
Cr Bauer said he believed a new four- and 10-year plan should be adopted first so that council officers can be authorised to craft a budget for projects the current council wanted to achieve.
“The best example of this is the Cowes Recreation Reserve which has shot up the wish list from a 28-year hope to the most important priority for us Islanders.
“We are effectively frozen into a paltry $250,000 for the next year when the allocation should be at least $1 million,” said Cr Bauer.
“This report will most probably be adopted but I wish to put on notice that I intend to move a motion that we hold a mini-budget as soon as the four- and 10-year plans are adopted so that we can move forward on the new four-year plan in this current year and not lose a whole year.”
Bass Coast Shire is promising a three per cent cap on council rates next financial year if it gets ratepayer support for a budget deficit of $1.56 million.
The draft 2025-26 budget forecasts a total operating income of $113.4 million and total operating expenditure of $115 million resulting in a budgeted operating deficit of $1.56 million and an underlying deficit of $10 million.
The draft Budget contains a $3 million reduction in net borrowings with further reductions totalling $3.3 million over the following three years.
Net debt is predicted to fall from 37.1 per cent to 23.6 per cent of rate revenue over four years.
Council plans to draw down its savings by reducing term investments from $35 million to $15 million to pay for intergenerational capital works and repayment of loans.
Council’s future financial position however is predicted to remain sound with a cumulative four-year operating surplus of $5.6 million.
A sharp increase in asset valuations for roads, pathways and open space assets with a corresponding significant increase in depreciation charges is blamed for the forecast underlying deficit of $10 million.
Council said it has been impacted by a significant slowdown in the property market which had reduced growth in its rates base and income, as well as planning and development related fees and charges.
Rates and charges continue to provide the lion’s share of council revenue coming in at $81.5 million followed by grants and subsidies at $19.3 million, fees and charges $9.8 million, interest on investments $1.7 million and transfers from reserves $8.5 million.
Proposed major capital works provided for in the draft budget include the Cowes Streetscape Master Plan funded by $3 million in external grants, waste management infrastructure $6.3 million, the Bass Coast Climate Change Action Plan $400,000, Wonthaggi to Inverloch Bike Path $3.5 million, Cowes to Ventnor trail design $220,000, renewal of rural roads including the Grantville-Glen Alvie road at $2 million, urban roads renewal $2.2 million, stormwater drainage $1.2 million, Wonthaggi netball pavilion $1.9 million and Bass Recreation Reserve netball pavilion $2 million.
Bass Coast Council will continue to advocate for State and Federal government financial support for the delivery of major intergenerational capital projects such as art, cultural and heritage services at the Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre and Berninneit costing $2.5 million, play space renewal and upgrades across the shire $340,000, renewal of the Inverloch community hub $1 million, Old Wonthaggi Post Office $1.1 million, Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre building $900,000 and renewal of Powlett River pedestrian bridge.
Additional major initiatives provided for in the draft budget include the adoption and commencement of a Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-29, a review of council’s Road Management Plan, $250,000 for the preparation of a functional layout for the Phillip Island Recreation Reserve, implementation of a public art strategy, and detailed design work for the Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Wonthaggi.
One of the fastest growing areas in regional Victoria population growth is forecast to continue to be an important driver of economic growth and demand for housing in Bass Coast with an estimated additional 10,000 homes needed over the next 15 years to accommodate an expanding population.
Based on the principle of linking housing supply with good access to jobs, services and infrastructure Wonthaggi will continue to be the major focus for growth in Bass Coast Shire while allowing for some infill development at Inverloch, Cowes, San Remo and Grantville.
Additional spending provided for in the draft budget includes $50,000 for dog parks, $50,000 for public art and artworks, and $350,000 for the redevelopment of the old Wonthaggi Secondary College site.
The draft budget was adopted by council with Cr Bauer and Cr O’Brien voting against it.
A 28 day feedback period has been allowed from Thursday, April 17 until Wednesday, May 14, 2025, with three community engagement sessions.
The dates and times for the proposed community engagement sessions are Cowes: Wednesday, April 23, midday to 1pm, Inverloch: Tuesday, April 29, 10 am to midday, and Corinella: Thursday, May 8, 2pm to 4pm.
The relevant budget and fees and charges documents are available on Bass Coast Council’s Engage Bass Coast website at engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au.
