The Redistribution of Bass, maybe some movement on issues...

Certainly were I live Phillip Island there seems to be two main issues.

• The lack of a 24 hour medical facility
• A secondary college

I've the following letter to both federal and state members of parliament::

 

Dear Mr .....

I'm writing to you to voice my concern with the growth of Phillip Island and the lack of infrastructure to accommodate it. A 24 hour medical facility and a secondary school are the most obvious.

The need for a secondary school. At present we have one daughter at Cowes primary who is in prep, she is one of five classes for that age for this School. There are also prep classes in Newhaven and San Remo. It would appear to me that there is more than enough pupils for a secondary School, possibly more than Wonthaggi.

Secondly a hospital. This was brought to my attention in the local Phillip Island Advertiser this week, with a group letter to the editor by prominent locals to the island. Pointing out the inadequacies and inequality of the health provision in the island. I was shocked to see how many much smaller communities have there own hospitals.

I believe that that this will become a real state election issue for residents on the island. At present pointing at Wonthaggi is a cop out. A one road to Wonthaggi which takes up to 45 minutes for some residents on the island is not the answer.

At this stage Mr Greg Hunt our federal representative, got back to me within an hour! He was encouraging to the causes with suggestions on how to get things going.

Yet Mr Ken Smith, no reply...

On his Summer Community Update 2012, lot of photos of Ken... None addressing the most important issues on the island.

I noticed on Anthony Greens blog that Bass electorate is due for an urgent redistribution . 27.5% over quota. Buy goodness I hope Ken starts addresses local issues, retires or gets booted out. I thought the time when the liberal party assumed a "born to rule" mentality was over. Thank goodness Greg Hunt kicks this trend, Im not so sure about Ken Smith though...

 

Ken Smith, No coal seam exploration

Ken Smith it seems is a man of contradictions. I was sure he would be clapping his hands with glee at more development in his Bass electorate with the announcement of more coal and seam exploration. But he said no!; Strange considering::

• -He is a climate change 'Agnostic'
  
• -Supported the building and re-zoning development in Ventnor against community and council wishes.
  
• There is coal in the Bass electorate. Wonthaggi was built on it.
  

My conclusion: some alarm bell maybe ringing for him, he has had a bit of bad publicity locally lately.

(Ken is also said 'no' to a hospital in Phillip Island, a population 10-12 thousands during winter 70 thousand during peak tourist times.)

 

 

Re-zoning, Mily Cyrus and infrastructure....

Phillip island was surprisingly in the international news with Milly Cyrus tweeting her sadness at the liberal planning minister Mathew Guy pushing through re-zoning without community or council consultation. Some of the concerns that I noted from the community and council were that services were already stretched and that there are already multiple new housing estates in production.

It interests me that commercially business know that Phillip Island is a growing area. Dimmy's has opened a shop, Safeway is opening, Target is opening. Yet local, state and federal governments don't seem to see this.

Public infustruture is a real problem. Phillip island is growing faster than the rest of the region yet looses out consistantly to other towns get the projects.

Phillip Island has no public swiming pool: Wonthaggi has a pool and looks like getting a new heated one!
Phillip Island: medical services are horrid; no bulk billing clinics, no 24 hour medical service, no hospital: Wonthaggi has all of these.

Population

Wonthaggi 6529 people in 2006
Phillip Island 7071 people in 2001
 

Yep something is wrong, and I think that it will bite the Liberal party on the bum. So watch out Ken Smith or who ever replaces you when you retire!

Victorian Election 2010 , Bass

I'm in the seat of Bass, I think the main issue is health. Considering it has the largest population in the electorate it is strange their is no adequate hospital or 24hr medial coverage.  It would be the largest town in the state without a proper medial coverage.
(Phillip Island has a polutaltion 7000,  in 2001, Wanthaggi has a hospital 6500 in 2001, Koorumbura a population 4500 has a hospital. In summer the population can be 50000 with all the tourists).
The only other issues is a swimming pool for kids to at least learn to swim and also a secondary college which is been talked about in Anderson.
Otherwise for me their is no other aspects that are a strong concern.

I suspect that the labour party has conceded the seat already so wont be making any promises in the area. Yet Metropolitan creep is occurring in Pakenham which might alter the results.

Here are some of my thoughts on the candidates and some information from the ABC's website::

:: Liberals Ken Smith

Aged 65, Smith worked for two decades as a self-employed plumbing contractor, and later served as Executive Officer of the Master Plumbers Association. Smith also served on Hastings Shire Council 1982-88. He was elected MLC for South Eastern province in 1988, and re-elected in 1996. At the 2002 election, he chose to contest the lower house seat of Bass, winning the seat for the Liberal Party from former Independent MP Susan Davies. A former Government then Opposition whip in the Legislative Council, Smith served on the Liberal Party frontbench from 2002 to 2008, but was not included on the formation of a new Coalition Shadow Ministry.

Some thoughts::


Ken appears to be a hard worker. His sign-age is all over the place. He is often advising to be meet down the main street or other important community gathering. Has replyed to my letters regarding the health care on the island, and appears to realise this is a real community concern.
Have meet him at Churchill island when he set up his tent. But he seemed to be talking more to tourists concerned about not allowing their dogs off the lead when at the beach. (So what I'm sick of avoiding dog shit all over the beach, keep them well and truly on the lead I say)
Aged 65, I'd be thinking about my trip around Australia rather than my whining electorate.

Also interesting Smith put up a private members bill on Euthanasia.

n 2008 Smith put forward a Private Member's Bill that would allow euthanasia in Victoria. The bill was similar to the Dying With Dignity Act in Oregon in the United States, and generated considerable controversy. The bill was defeated in the Victorian Legislative Council. ^[1]
 
I would have expected this legislation from the Greens!

Greens :: Neil Rankin

Rankine has lived in Wonthaggi for 25 years and has spent much of his career in science education and running a small engineering firm. These days he is a stay at home parent while his wife works as a local GP.

Some thoughts::


Has been at a few things around the traps. The aboriginal flag raising for one, which I was at. Signs have been around. Seems to be putting in a good effort.


Labor :: Gerry Longergan

Lonergan was born and bred in Korumburra and first joined the Labor Party in 1996 to support a colleague. He is a retired teacher, lives in Inverloch, and has been President of the Labor Party's Wonthaggi-Bass branch for ten years. This is his first election.

Haven't seen him or his sign-age. At least we have a local as opposed to the candidate from the Federal election.