Rally rage

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Rally rage

 

PRESIDENT of the newly formed Bass Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association, Kevin Griffin, said Sunday’s 300-strong public rally at Inverloch achieved everything he hoped it would.

Mr Griffin told The Star “we’ve put forward the candidates we think are best placed to represent us into the future.”

Those at the rally, who came from all parts of the shire, shared some of the issues they have been battling with the Bass Coast Shire for the past four years.

Volunteer at the Inverloch Opportunity Shop, Barbara Bickley joined the public outcry over the shire’s decision to close the Inverloch transfer station.

Mrs Bickley said, “The closure of the transfer station will impact enormously on the shop with the dumping of unwanted goods.”

She said Inverloch is a large town and a transfer station is warranted.

Former Woorayl Shire Engineer Keith Godridge said the location of the current transfer station is ideal.

“The need for the transfer station has only become stronger and stronger as time has passed,” Mr Godridge said.

A petition was circulated to be presented to the shire following the election calling for the decision to close the transfer station to be rescinded and for the re-establishment of the Phillip Island transfer station.

Kevin Griffin said the decision to close the transfer station is the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Despite what the shire claims Mr Griffin said there has been little public consultation and it is clear that the overwhelming majority of people who attended consultation sessions during August were in favour of the transfer station staying open.

Michael Thomas from Pioneer Bay said, “I am sick and tired of the dust, damage to my property and my health from the mess the council has made of Kallay Drive.”

This is the road which was temporarily sealed for seven years before it was controversially turned back into a gravel road by the shire.

“Unless the incoming council re-establishes the seal, the intention is to take the matter to the Minister for Local Government and the State Ombudsman in association with the Bass Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association,” Mr Thomas said.

Inverloch resident Ross Smith told the public rally that the annual state government survey of local governments placed Bass Coast shire as the worst performing of all 72 Victorian local governments. He said there is incredible waste, incompetence and millions of ratepayer dollars are squandered on hired consultants for work that could be done in-house.

“Rename the shire Teflon Coast, because nothing sticks,” Mr Griffin said.

He said Bass Coast Shire comes off badly when compared to the income and expenditure of Baw Baw Shire and the Surf Coast Shire and has not controlled expenditure and has pushed up rates year after year, higher than CPI increases.

Not everyone who attended the rally was as supportive of the motives.

Candidate for Bunurong, Peter Dalmau was among the crowd and said that the protestors were “well meaning amateurs.”

He said planning is an integral role of council work and from his observations candidates standing for council were giving lip service to things they know nothing about.

Mr Dalmau said, “We need councillors with nitty gritty, down to earth, grass roots experience which fits them for the role.”

Three angry men: from left, president of the Bass Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association, Kevin Griffin, and guest speakers Rhyll resident John Swarbrick and Pioneer Bay’s Michael Thomas at the first public activity of the newly formed association.

Three angry men: from left, president of the Bass Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association, Kevin Griffin, and guest speakers Rhyll resident John Swarbrick and Pioneer Bay’s Michael Thomas at the first public activity of the newly formed association.

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Posted by on Oct 4 2016. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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