Deadline for Phillip Island street scheme feedback is October 11

OPPONENTS of the $35 million Sunderland Bay and Surf Beach Road and Drainage Improvement Project have hit the panic button over the deadline for submissions, allegedly incorrect address and email details and exactly what their target number is to defeat the scheme.

In an urgent communique to everyone from senior Bass Coast Council staff and councillors to the Victorian Minister for Local Government the Honourable Melissa Horne, they asked for immediate responses to their concerns.

Chief among them has been seeking confirmation over the deadline date and time for responses.

But council has made this point crystal clear on its Engage Bass Coast website:

“If you would like to make a submission and/or lodge an objection, it must be received in writing by Council on or before 5pm on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. Submissions and/or objections must be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer at Bass Coast Shire Council, PO Box 118, Wonthaggi, Victoria, 3995. A submission and/or objection can also be emailed to sunderlandbayandsurfbeachupgrade@basscoast.vic.gov.au if this method is more convenient.”

So, that’s clear at least: October 11 by 5pm!

Spokesperson for the “say no” group, Susie Wickes, has written to council and others seeking urgent answers to the questions listed below.

“Could Council please respond to my questions and request for a meeting as a matter of urgency. This is the second time I have asked these questions and requested a meeting and as with all special charge schemes, at the objection lodgement stage time is imperative,” said Ms Wickes.

Ms Wickes also claimed that there is concern that Council is not following the legislative process.

Here are the questions to which the “no” group wants urgent answers:

• Q1 - The Public Notice of Intention was in The Age 29 August and The Sentinel Times and The Phillip Island Advertiser 30 August. Can Council confirm the deadline for the lodgement of Objections, is it 28 days from 29 August that being 25 September or 11 October as noted in all paperwork emailed and posted by registered mail to rate payers? If it is 11 October, I believe that this is not in line with legislation?
• Q2 – Has Council sought and received an extension to the Public Notice 28 days deadline?
• Q3 - The Public Notice states that all objections are to be received by mail to the CEO of Bass Coast Shire. Could Council explain why then in all the paperwork emailed and posted by registered mail does Council state that rate payers can email their lodgement of objection if it is more convenient? This does not comply with the notice?
• Q4 – It has been brought to Council’s attention that the return email provided in all the paperwork is incorrect (ratepayers were getting bounce backs). How is Council advising ratepayers that have received their paperwork by registered mail of this vital mistake?
• Q5 – Due the incorrect email details being sent to rate payers impacted by the proposed special charge scheme, how is Council compensating with the lodgement deadline of the lost days seven days due to this critical mistake? Time is of the essence in this process and ratepayers have been disadvantaged by up to one week by Councils vital mistake.
• Q6 – Can Council confirm the exact number of rate payers in the impacted area. The Council report noted 1041, the document sent to all ratepayers outlining cost estimates for each property adds up to 1021, the latest newsletter notes 1041, at the most recent Council meeting an officer and a Councillor said 1066. Could Council please advise for the record the exact number being impacted by this proposed scheme? (This is a numbers exercise requiring 51% objections to the scheme for it to be abandoned, so an agreed actual number is crucial).

“The community has grave concerns about Council’s lack of due diligence and apparent disregard for The Act and applicable legislation,” said Ms Wickes.

She seeks answers as “a matter of urgency” given the timeline for objections/support submissions to be received.