Bass Coast Shire Council

16/08/2026

💬 "This week the Deputy Mayor and I travelled to Canberra to represent Bass Coast and advocate directly for the priorities that matter most to our community.
..These meetings provided an opportunity to put Bass Coast’s priorities directly in front of Australian Government decision-makers and to make the case for investment in our growing region.

We thanked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, and our local Member for Monash Mary Aldred for the coordinated cross-government response to Avian Influenza. It’s an incredible example of bipartisan, cross-government support. While we are yet to see the full impacts of this disease, all agencies have worked collaboratively to prepare for and respond to this issue."

Read more in this week's Mayors Message 👇
www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/about-council/news-listing/mayors-message-17-august-2026

15/08/2026

⏰💰 Time’s almost up!

Need a funding boost of up to $2,000? Our Quick Response Grants close Friday 28 August with outcomes mid-September.

And don’t forget — Community Grants 2026 Round 2 closes Friday 21 August!

💡 Got an idea but not sure where to start? Reach out to our Grants Officer to talk it through:

📞 0435 205 816
📧 [email protected]

Learn more 👉 www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/communitygrants

14/08/2026

🏛️ Mayor Cr Brett Tessari and Deputy Mayor Cr Ron Bauer were in Canberra this week, meeting with nine Ministers and Shadow Ministers to advocate for our region.

Across a busy day at Parliament House, the team raised some of the key opportunities and challenges facing Bass Coast, including:

🐧 Support for the H5 bird flu response and protecting Phillip Island’s little penguins
🏍️ The economic impact of losing major events such as the MotoGP and Superbike Championships
🏊 Funding opportunities for a pool in Wonthaggi
🌊 Coastal erosion challenges across Bass Coast
🏟️ Future investment in the Phillip Island Sporting Precinct

So why does Council head to Canberra?

Advocacy helps make sure Bass Coast’s priorities are heard by the people making decisions about funding, policy and investment. By taking our community’s needs directly to decision-makers, we can continue building support for the projects, infrastructure and investment our region needs.

13/08/2026

Do you have questions about the recent detections of bird flu on the island?

We know people care deeply about our wildlife on Bass Coast. Agriculture Victoria will be available to chat to the community tomorrow at Berninneit, Cowes.

Remember, If you encounter sick or dead birds or wildlife, do not touch them. Avoid direct contact. Record what you see. Report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 or online via the link below

Early reports help wildlife and animal health experts monitor disease activity and determine where action may be needed.

Find out more: agriculture.vic.gov.au/birdflu

📍 Community pop-up on Phillip Island

Do you have questions about the recent detections of bird flu on the island?

Drop in and chat with us:

📅 Friday 14 August
📍 Berninneit, 91-97 Thompson Avenue, Cowes
🕚 11 am to 1.30 pm

In the meantime, you can help by continuing to:

🚫 AVOID contact with sick or dead wild birds or wildlife and their environment.
📝 RECORD what you see, including:
Location
Species
Number of animals affected

📞 REPORT online or by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Bass Coast Shire Council Phillip Island Nature Parks Victorian Department of Health

10/08/2026

🚗🚲🚶 We’re developing a new Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan to help make our roads safer for everyone — and we want to hear from you.

Whether you walk, ride, drive or travel around Bass Coast in other ways, your local knowledge and experiences can help us understand the road safety issues that matter most and identify practical actions to address them.

💬 Have your say
Complete our online survey or drop a pin on the interactive map to tell us about road safety issues, experiences and ideas across Bass Coast.

You can also join us at one of two community workshops with Safe System Solutions Pty Ltd. Both workshops will cover the same content, so simply choose the session that suits you best:

📅 Thursday, 13 August | 12:00pm – 2:00pm
📍 Berninneit, 91–97 Thompson Avenue, Cowes

📅 Monday, 24 August | 5:30pm – 7:30pm
📍 Wonthaggi Town Hall, Baillieu Street, Wonthaggi

The project has been funded through the Transport Accident Commission's (TAC) Local Government Grant Program and responds to road safety concerns raised by the community during consultation on Council's Integrated Transport Strategy.

Have your say & learn more 👉 engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au/RSSAP

10/08/2026

💬 "I had the privilege of taking part in the HMAS Cape Woolamai Freedom of Entry Parade, commemorating 125 years since the establishment of Australia's Commonwealth Naval Forces, the forerunner to today's Royal Australian Navy.

It was fantastic to see the sun shining, Thompson Avenue lined with people… Watching them reminded me how important it is to take pride in what we do.

It also carried through to the Bass Coast Jobs and Careers Expo at the Wonthaggi Town Hall on Thursday, where hundreds of job seekers, students and career changers connected with employers and training organisations from across the region.

I'd like to acknowledge the passing of Noel 'Butch' West, a man I knew over many years, including as captain of our 1985 premiership cricket team. Many locals will know the oval named in his honour at the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve. He was a great local character, and my thoughts are with his family and friends."

Read more in this week's Mayors Message 👇
www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/about-council/news-listing/mayors-message-10-august-2026

07/08/2026

Come watch the HMAS Cape Woolamai Freedom of Entry! Happening live at Berninneit, Cowes

06/08/2026

Come on down to a special Freedom of Entry Parade in Cowes tomorrow as the Ship's Company of HMAS Cape Woolamai marches through Cowes commemorating 125 years since the establishment of Australia's Commonwealth Naval Forces, the forerunner to today's Royal Australian Navy.

04/08/2026

✨ Phase 4 is underway and Thompson Avenue is OPEN!

Have you seen that grass yet?! 😍 The new civic green is already looking incredible and it's got us dreaming of summer days in Cowes.

Now's the perfect time to head into Cowes, support local businesses and check out the transformation for yourself.

Business in Bass Coast

engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au/thompson-ave-nth-and-esplanade

03/08/2026

💬 "I attended a World Drowning Prevention Day event at the Gurudwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar (SGND) in Officer... Many will remember the devastating summer of 2023-24 when six lives were lost to drowning in Bass Coast, including four members of one family.
..The event brought together community leaders, councils, government agencies and multicultural communities, many of whom have turned their grief and concern into action. At the heart of that work is the ‘Safely Engaging with Water’ program, developed by SGND, which provides swimming lessons and water safety education for multicultural communities.

What started as a response to tragedy is now delivering real results. People who may never have had the opportunity to learn to swim are gaining the skills and confidence to stay safe around the water, and that's something worth celebrating.

Read more in this week's Mayor's Message 👇
www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/about-council/news-listing/mayors-message-03-august-2026