Basic services before big ‘sexy’ projects

DRIVING down the South Gippsland Highway over the weekend, it was alarming to see what a terrible state the road is in, especially from Lang Lang onwards, going towards Melbourne.

Even in a big, old 4WD some of the unavoidable potholes left the wheel rims and car shuddering, while other motorists were seen driving around the worst of the damage.

As the main arterial road into South Gippsland and Bass Coast, it’s an absolute disgrace but unlike projects such as the Suburban Rail Loop, rail level crossings and offshore wind turbines, you can’t make a media event out of funding for road maintenance.

During the week, there was also a report released by the Victorian Auditor General’s Office identifying the neglect of our “coastal protection assets”. They found that 65% of the coastal breakwaters, groynes, retaining walls, revetments, seawalls, wharfs and other structures are in fair, poor or very poor condition.

Some could not be given a condition score because they were buried.

We’ve seen this problem play out on the main Cowes beach where the groynes and seawalls have been allowed to fall into disrepair (before a successful community campaign).

It’s all down to a lack of maintenance, lack of DELWP manpower, funding and expertise and a failure on the part of the government to consult with and direct their coastal management committees, of which the Bass Coast Shire is one.

What it indicates is the State Government is neglecting the basics of asset maintenance, stealing money from road maintenance, land and coastal management, even services to agriculture, to pay for its big sexy projects, while basic services such as the health system and the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) with its ‘000’ crisis, go to the wall.

If as seems likely, Daniel Andrews wins the next State Election, it’s time for a reset on funding priorities, making sure that all the basics of health care, education, public transport, asset management and the rest are taken care of first, instead of running government based on social media feedback.

And that goes for the Bass Coast Shire Council too. While there may be some merit in getting local business leaders together to talk about the future for Bass Coast, the fact that the council would think organising a candidates’ forum is a priority means they’ve either got everything else well in hand, or they’ve taken their eye of the ball.

Surely, a basic requirement such as having your Wonthaggi and Cowes service centres open for proper business hours, at least 9am-5pm (not 10am-3.30pm), is something you’d need to get sorted first.