THE Bass Coast Shire Council’s draft Long-Term Financial Plan 2025-35 (LTFP) mentions the word ‘housing’ once in the 48-page document presently out for public feedback until September 9, 2025.

To be fair, that doesn’t mean the council is doing nothing to facilitate the growth of housing in the local area.

Under the heading of “Growth in the Municipality” in the LTFP, the council notes that Bass Coast will continue to attract a steady stream of new residents due to our coastal location and affordable housing availability, with the Wonthaggi North-East Precinct a key initiative of council designed to accommodate a fair slab of new housing demand.

While developers are expected to provide much of the infrastructure within their estates, a significant investment will be needed from council to provide additional drainage works, roads and footpaths, some paid for by developer contributions, but with $2.5 million in the LTFP to fund the gap.

There’s also the growing need for sports facilities and other works and services associated with housing growth.

Other residential estates, including a new area being opened up in Dalyston, are also coming through.

But, in line with remarks by the Federal Housing Minister Clare O’Neil, that “it’s too hard to build a home in this country” coming out of last week’s productivity summit in Canberra, what is the shire doing to fast-track the housing and development approvals process in this shire?

Two questions about housing put to council during community question time at last week’s council meeting provided the ideal opportunity for council to offer a meaningful update on any real progress they are making to alleviate the housing crisis locally.

But the opportunity was lost.

Two other questions, one about the progress being made on infrastructure in the Wonthaggi NE precinct and another about the Old Wonthaggi Secondary College site, may also have prompted remarks about housing.

In answer to Terry Burke’s thoughtful question, asking for an update on the 10-point Action Plan included in the Bass Coast Affordable Housing Strategy, council said seven of the actions are “complete or currently being implemented, with the remaining actions on track for delivery”.

Which seven? What has the shire done directly to promote the development of housing in Bass Coast? And what about the $25 million allocated by the Victorian Government to support social and affordable housing projects in the shire as part of its ‘Big Housing Build’ strategy? How is that going?

It’s time the shire got serious about responding to the housing crisis and they could start by providing Mr Burke and the general community with a more comprehensive update on the implementation of their housing strategy and what they are doing to fast-track building and development applications locally.

As Minister O’Neil said: “We want builders on site building houses, not filling in forms to get their approval.”

Thank goodness the community still gets the chance to put their questions to council in a public forum, thereby highlighting what matters most to them… and to all of us!