Not a ‘shame’ but certainly disappointing

HONESTLY who cares?

So far, just over 300 people have watched the Youtube recording of the Bass Coast Shire Council meeting from last Wednesday, September, 20.

And unusually, there were 8-10 members of the public in attendance to see it live.

That’s out of more than 31,000 residents of the shire in the over-25 age group.

So, statistically speaking, interest is negligible.

And there was some pretty meaty stuff on the agenda too from the reopening of the old Tabro Meats abattoir at Lance Creek by Queensland-based operator Kilcoy Global Foods Australia, to the development of a new $85 million, seven-storey hotel on the old Isle of Wight site in central Cowes, the adoption of the Phillip Island Recreation Reserve Master Plan and the council vote on whether or not it should advocate for a ‘Yes’ vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum.

Surprisingly enough, however, there were no submissions at question time about the controversial Sunderland Bay Surf Beach SCS nearing the pointy end of its existence.

So, the Mayor Cr Michael Whelan was taking himself and the council processes a little too seriously last week when he had a member of the community removed from the meeting for saying “shame, shame”.

Really? Is that such an afront to democracy?

Councils around the country have become a bit trigger happy with community members turning up at council meetings lately, and like Bass Coast, have employed a security officer, in case of what? Violence?

The reality is Bass Coast has no such record of antisocial behaviour at council meetings. Maybe the occasional “hear, hear” or even a round of applause when a popular motion is passed, but nothing more than that.

Perhaps the kids who turned up to hear about the future of the Newhaven skate park a while ago might have shuffled their feet a bit but really?

You know what, council watcher John Trigt shouldn’t have said “shame, shame” and he should have left immediately when asked to do so, but it was hardly a hanging offence or an action that required police to be drawn away from much, more important matters, especially given their scarce numbers.

It was an extremely minor issue that might have been better handled with some good humour or an olive branch by the mayor, and it may even have robbed the placard-carrying supporters of the ‘Yes’ vote the chance of some quiet applause when council voted to join them in advocating for the ‘Yes’ vote.

Come on Cr Whelan we’re better than that!