THE unsuccessful bid by Cr David Rooks, in July last year, to remove public question time from monthly council meetings, as allegedly “the most inefficient way to put questions to council” has again proved to be misguided.
At last Wednesdays’ council meeting, 26 high-quality, relevant questions came forward from the public for council’s consideration, some from the usual suspects Cr Rooks referred to at the time but most from a variety of local residents.
The first question asked council to detail activities for IDAHOBIT Day May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, in the absence of a prior statement by the council.
Others queried whether the Cowes Cultural Centre would be delayed by imported German windows, one wanted to know how many parking fines were issued in Cowes in the past year to February 1, 2023, when a promised upgrade to a community park at Cape Woolamai would go ahead and another wanted to know what was happening with the transfer station on Gap Road, Phillip Island.
Former independent candidate for Monash, Deb Leonard, a Cape Woolamai resident, wanted to know when the community priority project for the upgrading of Cape Woolamai Park will go ahead.
The renewal works have been included in the 2023-24 budget but don’t hold your breath for a skate park. The Bass Coast Skate Strategy Review is looking at a local skate park at Newhaven and sub-regional skate parks at Cowes and Wonthaggi.
All questions raised contemporary issues which prompted informative answers from the council.
It took some time to get through the community questions but with the whole meeting over in 1:07 hours, it was not an unreasonable delay.
Here are a few examples of the questions and answers:
Although the Bass Coast Mayor Cr Michael Whelan said the council would no longer be answering questions about the Sunderland Bay-Surf Beach Special Charge Scheme, it did take this question from scheme activist, Susie Wicks.
- Question 4: The next one is from Suzie Wicks, special charges schemes. Over the past 15 years how many special charge schemes has council sought external funding for, and of these applications for external funding support, how many have been successful and in what locations across the shire?
- Answer 4: Council has conducted nine special charge schemes in the past 15 years and seeks external funding opportunities on all potential scheme areas. Three of these special charge schemes’ projects received external funding. The project areas were Pioneer Bay, Tenby Point and White Road Wonthaggi.
- Question 6: From Louise Lyle: Council car parking: What is the council value apportioned for an on-street car parking space and for an off-street car parking space in Cowes, San Remo, Wonthaggi and Inverloch CBDs?
- Answer 6: Where car parking is waived by council, a financial contribution is not requested.
- Question 9: Kerry Parkin - Cowes cultural community centre windows. Would counsel please advise when the very special ai-seal windows and doors being made in Germany for the Cowes cultural and community centre will be delivered to the site of the new build?
- Answer 9: McCorkell Constructions are responsible for coordinating the supply, delivery and installation of every element of the build. They will continue to work with suppliers to ensure items are delivered in line with project timeframes.
And how many parking infringement notices have neem issued in Cowes for the 12 months to February 2023?
According to the shire CEO Ali Wastie, there were 1522 parking tickets issued in Cowes between January 27, 2022, and February 8, 2023 and if you take the fine ‘being parked for longer than Indicated’ at soul-destroying $92, that’s over $140,000 into the council’s coffers.
