Media Releases
All the latest media releases from Council. If you have a media enquiry or would like a copy of a media release that is not available here, contact a member of the Communications Team by emailing
communications@basscoast.vic.gov.au or calling us on 1300 BCOAST (226 278).
16/5/2012 - The Kilcunda Bridge is open to the public again.
16/5/2012 - The inaugural Regional Victoria Living Expo was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 27 - 29 April, 2012.
14/5/2012 - The opportunity to comment on the draft Municipal Fire Management Plan will finish on 18 May.
11/5/2012 - The Kilcunda Trestle Bridge has been closed until further notice, due to fire damage.
10/5/2012 - Recent National Youth Week activities were a big success with young people celebrating different cultures in Bass Coast.
10/5/2012 - Bass Coast Shire Council is considering the draft Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) at its meeting on 16 May 2012.
9/5/2012 - Bass Coast Shire Council is holding a workshop for community groups and clubs focusing on governance, committees and leadership.
9/5/2012 - All kinds of animals ventured out with their owners for a day at the Bass Coast Pet Expo.
4/5/2012 - If you are interested in the proposed changes to Local Laws in Bass Coast, then mark Wednesday, 16 May in your calendar.
4/5/2012 - Step out, get on your bike, grab that scooter or skate board! It's the 13th Annual Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) on Friday, 18 May.
4/5/2012 - Extension granted for the development of a Materials Recycling Facility and Transfer Station at 116 Gap Road, Cowes.
4/5/2012 - Caravan Burlesque is coming to town with performances and a chance to be a part of the unique world of burlesque.
4/5/2012 - Bass Coast Shire Council raising awareness about proper disposal of fishing debris at our beaches and waterways.
4/5/2012 - On the first weekend in May, the judges from Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria (KABV) are out looking for Victoria’s cleanest beaches.
3/5/2012 - The first weekend in May, the judges from Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria (KABV) are out looking for Victoria’s cleanest beaches.
30/4/2012 - Bass Coast Shire Council’s new draft Local Law is now on Exhibition. Anyone with a concern about any aspect of the new Law can make a written submission to Council before 1 June 2012.
30/4/2012 - The Governor of Victoria, the Hon. Alex Chernov AC QC and Mrs Chernov enjoyed a 24 hour visit to Bass Coast.
27/4/2012 - Pets across Bass Coast are getting ready for the Bass Coast Pet Expo at the San Remo Foreshore on Saturday, 5 May.
27/4/2012 - Seven new citizens received a warm reception at the citizenship ceremony held at the Bass Coast Civic Centre last night.
26/4/2012- Council has lodged its objection to Leichhardt Resources Pty Ltd application for a mining exploration licence with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
20/4/2012 - This May in Gippsland will see a feast of over 100 arts events and activities as part of the forth Creative Gippsland Arts Festival.
19/4/2012 - The achievements of Bass Coast Shire Council’s Statutory Planning team were recognised at this week’s Council meeting.
18/4/2012 - Bass Coast will welcome the Governor of Victoria on 27 April as part of a four day regional tour.
13/4/2012 - Pet registrations for this year closed on 10 April, so if you missed this deadline you need to act now.
13/4/2012 - Bass Coast Shire Council has had a strong response to the new program of holiday home registration. To date, over 500 holiday homes have been registered.
13/4/2012 - Gippsland Olympian, Belinda Snell, is the special guest at a National Youth Week event organised by a group of local young people.
13/4/2012 - Cricket players are looking forward to the start of drainage and irrigation works on Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve No. 2 Oval.
12/4/2012 - The vision of a vibrant community space in the centre of Cowes moves one step closer when landscaping work begins in the Cowes Town Square on 26 April.
10/4/2012 - A group of young people have organised a cultural sports expo to celebrate National Youth Week 2012, and highlight the diverse community in Bass Coast.
5/4/2012 - On Tuesday 17 April, Phillip Island Nature Parks is hosting a ‘Living with Wildlife Workshop’.
5/4/2012 - Your local knowledge could help manage bushfire in Bass Coast and South Gippsland.
5/4/2012 - Bass Coast Shire Council held a special morning tea for ten staff who reached milestones of 10 to 30 years of local government service.
30/3/2012 - Residents of Cowes, Silverleaves and Wimbledon Heights will enjoy high speed broadband within three years, as part of the NBN rollout.
30/3/2012 - Is your new kitten or puppy registered with Council?
30/3/2012 - Bass Coast Shire Council’s new Home Carer recruits are about to start work.
29/3/2012 - Bass Coast Shire Council wants residents and businesses at Inverloch to be part of a study into how their climate-adapted community will look in 20 years.
29/3/2012 - Bass Coast Specialist School hosted the launch of Council's Disability Action Plan 2011-2015
26/3/2012 - There has been a massive response to the inaugural Tough Mudder event at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 31 March and 1 April.
26/3/2012 - Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Veronica Dowman, and the Hon Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Indigenous Health, officially opened the Wonthaggi Centennial Centre on Friday, 23 March 2012.
26/3/2012 - Bass Coast Shire Council wants local community groups to nominate community building and beautification projects for the 2012 Keep Australia Beautiful Awards.
23/3/2012 - The Country Fire Authority (CFA) ended the fire danger period for Bass Coast on 19 March 2012.
23/3/2012 - Applications for Bass Coast Shire Council’s Community Grant Program will open earlier this year.
23/3/2012 - As autumn approaches and we start to use the heater or open fire, it is worth checking your home fire safety.
22/03/2012 - Community members at the 21 March Council Meeting applauded Council’s commitment to oppose the expansion of coal seam gas in Bass Coast.
16/3/2012 - Objectors have 21 days to lodge a submission against Leichhardt Resources' application for a mining exploration licence in Bass Coast and South Gippsland.
14/3/2012 - A treehouse in an indigenous tree in Red Rocks Reserve at Phillip Island has been dismantled, after concerns were raised about public safety.
9/3/2012 - Bags of litter and dumped rubbish were removed by hard working volunteers from across Bass Coast on Clean Up Australia Day, Sunday, 4 March.
9/3/2012 - Grants are now available to help Gippsland business and community organisations be more accessible.
9/3/2012 - Bass Coast Shire Council has upgraded the drainage system at Inverloch’s main intersection to help improve longstanding drainage problems.
5/03/2012 - It was definitely a night to remember when Bass Coast hit the big screen at the premiere launch, A Night with our Stars.
2/3/2012 - You can help improve facilities at Pioneer Bay park by voting on a facebook page for the 'Paddock to Park' project to win funds
2/3/2012 - Council is holding community consultation as a part of master planning for two reserves in Bass Coast.
28/02/2012 - Leichhardt Resources Pty Ltd lodged an application for an exploration licence in Bass Coast with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) last week.
27/02/2012 - A proposal to build a three storey residential hotel in Rhyll is set for a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) mediation hearing this week
27/02/2012 - The Coronet Bay community came out to celebrate the official opening of the new temporary boat ramp on Saturday, 25 February
27/02/2012 - The 2012 Phillip Island Superbike World Championship attracted huge crowds who came to see the best of the best race on the circuit.
24/2/2012 - A record $30,000 was raised at the 2011 Bass Coast Mayoral Charity Ball held last October.
24/2/2012 - Around 200 people visited the NBN truck to ‘get up to speed’ on the latest about the National Broadband Network roll out.
17/2/2012 - A big crowd is expected for the 2012 Phillip Island Superbike World Championship, held 24-26 February.
17/2/2012 - A new Youth Plan will support agencies and young people to improve youth services in Bass Coast.
17/2/2102 - A special Award presentation at the 15 February Council meeting acknowledged Bass Coast Shire Council’s Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Data Systems team.
17/2/2012 - Cypress trees are being removed from Cape Woolamai Foreshore Reserve and will be replaced with indigenous plants.
17/2/2012 - The popular Bass Coast Pet Expo returns to San Remo on Saturday, 5 May 2012 and market stall registration is now open.
Over 100 community members turned out in San Remo to discuss traffic management changes needed to accommodate a new residential development in the area.
3/2/12 - An overhaul of offices in the Civic Centre at Wonthaggi is scheduled to start this financial year.
1/2/2012 - Council received a prestegious international award for developing a system that helps predict the extent of potential storm surges, flooding and sea level rise.
27/01/2012 - Ten Bass Coast residents had an extra reason to celebrate Australia Day this year, as they became Australian citizens.
Award ceremonies were held in Cowes and Wonthaggi as part of Australia Day celebrations across the Shire.
20/01/2012 - A decision by the Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, in September 2011 not to rezone Ventnor farming is once again in the spotlight.
16/1/2012 - The Sculpture “Shaft” was recently installed at the Wonthaggi Centennial Centre.
13/1/2012 - Holiday home owners are being urged to register their houses before 31 March, in line with changes to the Public Health and Wellbeing Act.
13/1/2012 - Residents and visitors are invited to celebrate Australia Day at locations across Bass Coast Shire on Thursday, 26 January.
12/1/2012 - Dog owners doing the right thing are getting more than a pat on the back.
12/01/2012 - Local residents have an opportunity to help Bass Coast to be fire ready all year round.
13/1/2012 - At the end of the 2012 holiday season, several major projects in Cowes will resume in full swing as part of providing necessary infrastructure to support growth in the township and on Phillip Island.
12/1/2012 - Early indications are that Council’s annual Enjoy it, don’t spoil it summer safety campaign is having a positive impact this summer.
12/1/2012 - Bass Coast Shire Council has called for tighter controls on the sale and importation of fireworks due to concerns over illegal fireworks this New Year’s Eve.
12/1/2012 - With the recent bout of hot weather, Bass Coast Shire Council is keen to remind community members of the top four tips for coping with the heat.
27/12/2011 - Council has been waiting to install the new Coronet Bay boat ramp which has not arrived.
6/1/2012 - Council has arranged to purchase a 16 hectare block of land on the edge of Cowes to allocate to future recreational use.
28/12/2011 - The annual Kustom Nationals event will once again be coming to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 January where they will be bigger and better than last year.
28/12/2011 - Bass Coast Shire Council invites visitors to enjoy the festive season and is taking a low key approach to New Year’s Eve with no entertainment or fireworks provided in Cowes.
16/12/2011 - Are you looking for an arts or cultural experience this holiday but don’t know where to start?
2/12/2011 - The much anticipated Wonthaggi Centennial Centre is ready for visitors. You are invited to a community open day on Thursday 15 December from 10.00am to 12.00pm, ahead of the official opening of the Centre early next year.
14/11/2011 - Bass Coast Shire Council is hoping the community will again give generously to the Christmas Giving Trees and help disadvantaged families.
Four new citizens received a warm reception at the citizenship ceremony held at the Bass Coast Civic Centre last night.
This year’s Mayoral Charity Ball was an overwhelming success with the Wonthaggi Town Hall filled to capacity.
7/10/2011 - Big crowds and heavy traffic are expected across Bass Coast from 14-16 October, as visitors flock to the Iveco Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
29/9/2011 - The Gippsland Women in Local Government Dinner was held at Traralgon on 5 September.
22/9/2011 - A representative of Keep Australia Beautiful presented certificates to the Inverloch Community Planning Group and Bass Coast Shire Council at the Inverloch Community Hub last week.
2/9/2011 - Inverloch is one of six finalists in the Tidy Town 2011 Sustainable Communities Award.
2/9/2011 - V8 Supercars will be roaring onto Phillip Island from 16 to 18 September for the L&H500 kicking off the V8 Supercars 'Season of Endurance'.
26/8/2011 - Discussion is set to continue on farm rates. The Bass Coast Farmers Rate Action Group, which represents local farmers, confirmed in a letter to Bass Coast Shire Council that it would like to take up the offer to further discuss farm rates and other farming related matters in Bass Coast.
19/08/2011 - The Stony Point to Cowes car ferry project was one of a number of local issues discussed at a meeting between Bass Coast Shire Council and Ryan Smith, the Minister for the Environment, earlier this month.
18/08/11 - Bass Coast Shire Council has secured an option on a parcel of land on the outskirts of Cowes.
11/08/2011 - Four Year 10 students from Wonthaggi Secondary College are gaining valuable experience at Bass Coast Shire Council.
04/08/2011 - The latest edition of Bass Coast Shire Council’s community newsletter, Coastell, will be delivered to houses and businesses across the Shire from 8 August.
03/08/2011 - Tree loving volunteers were out to lend a hand at the Kilcunda tree planting day on Saturday, 30 July.
02/08/2011 - Upgrade to the Anderson Road boat ramp in Cowes is underway.
02/08/2011 - The new exeloo in Chapel Street, Cowes will be open for use by mid August.
29/07/2011 - Training sessions this week in Wonthaggi will ensure Bass Coast is well prepared to deal with an emergency.
20/07/2011 - Reviewed youth and disability action plans provide new ways forward for Council.
27/07/2011 - The recreation needs of Bass Coast were under the microscope at the July Council meeting.
22/07/2011 - Eleven residents from Cape Woolamai, Cowes, Wonthaggi and Inverloch became Australian citizens at the Bass Coast Shire Council Citizenship Ceremony held on 20 July 2011.
14/7/2011 Melissa Hayes is Bass Coast Shire Council’s new Media Communications Officer, taking over from Rachel Millar who is on maternity leave.
27/6/2011 - There is only one week to go to apply to be part of the Asia Pacific Youth Conference held for the first time in Australia, right here in Bass Coast.
23/6/2011 - Properties across Bass Coast have been battered by strong winds and heavy rain over the past three days.
21/6/2011 - Over 30 people attended a Seniors’ Forum on arthritis hosted by Bass Coast Shire Council in Newhaven recently.
Phillip Island residents have the chance to participate in a special community event aimed at reconnecting with the natural world, highlighting the importance of community and harnessing our power to make a difference to the environment.
21/6/2011 - Bass Coast Shire Council has decided there will be no fireworks and entertainment in Cowes this New Year’s Eve after the success of last year’s trial.
Bass Coast residents have the chance to participate in a special community event aimed at reconnecting with the natural world, highlighting the importance of community and harnessing our power to make a difference to the environment.
6/5/2011 - Bass Coast Shire Council is completing road works on the road into the Wonthaggi Transfer station in Cameron Street, Wonthaggi.
4/5/2011 - Three Golden Cypress Trees in Thompson Avenue, Cowes, will be removed and replaced next month.
4/5/2011 - Over 200 community members have responded to the Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre feasibility study released earlier this month.
1/4/2011 - A taxi rank fence will be installed outside 70 Chapel Street, Cowes in response to concerns raised by taxi drivers and the community about behaviour at the rank.
1/4/2011 - Bass Coast Shire Council contractors have started road works in Bayview Avenue, Park Lane and Marine Road, Tenby Point as part of a special charge scheme in the area.
17/3/2011 - The Wonthaggi Aquatic and Leisure Centre (WALC) feasibility study has been released to the community for comment this week.
22/2/2011 - Bass Coast Shire Council and the Bass Coast Landcare Network are continuing to work together on an extensive rabbit control program on Council-managed Foreshore Reserves.
22/2/2011 - New signage has been installed at the Grantville Jetty and Deep Creek car parks explaining how important mangroves are to our shoreline and marine life in the area.
14/4/2011 - Works will start next week on the construction of the $1.5 million Wonthaggi Centennial Centre at Fincher Street Reserve, Wonthaggi.
4/2/2011 - Bass Coast Shire Council has pledged $25,000 to support Victorian flood-affected communities with the recovery process.
2/2/2011 - Bass Coast residents are invited to attend a public meeting to review this year’s Summer Safety program and to gather feedback on the ‘no entertainment’ approach to last year’s New Year’s Eve.
2/2/2011 - Kilcunda is the sixth Bass Coast community to have completed their draft community action plan and released it for comment.
28/1/2011 - Damage to desalination haulage roads is still creating considerable concern for many Bass Coast residents and visitors.
27/1/2011 - The $1.3m Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Clubhouse has been officially opened to the Bass Coast community.
27/1/2011 - Award ceremonies were held in Cowes and Wonthaggi as part of Australia Day celebrations across the Shire.
24/1/2011 - Bass Coast Shire Council this week approved amendment C93 which incorporates the coastal strategy and growth for 10 coastal communities in the Shire.
24/1/2011 - The community of Bass is the fifth Bass Coast community to have completed their draft community action plan and released it for comment.
24/1/2011 - NBN Co, the organisation created to oversee the implementation of the Federal Government’s National Broadband Network, has just released information about which towns in Victoria will be receiving broadband services.
24/1/2011 - Three Golden Cypress Trees in Thompson Avenue, Cowes, will be removed and replaced.
24/1/2011 - A new playground has been installed at the Kernot Hall and Reserve thanks to a partnership project between Bass Coast Shire Council and the Kernot Hall and Reserve Committee.
24/1/2011 - Bass Coast residents are encouraged to do their bit for Clean Up Australia Day by registering a site to help clean up our parks, beaches, bush land, waterways, streets and schools.
21/1/2011 - The Phillip Island Nature Parks and the Bass Coast Shire Council have signed a new
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
11/1/2011 - Members of the public wishing to make enquiries about friends/relatives who may be impacted by floods currently affecting Queensland, should dial the Queensland Police - Flood and Information Line operating 24/7 on 1300 993 191
1/1/11 - A section of a new oil and gas platform will arrive in Westernport Bay in January, before being towed into Bass Strait.
9/12/2010 - Bass Coast residents again have twice as many opportunities to recycle this Christmas.
3/12/2010 - Young leaders from Bass Valley and Phillip Island schools have been congratulated at a formal presentation ceremony hosted by Bass Coast Shire Council.
Walktober is in its fifth year, and local group South Coast Active Communities are encouraging all in Bass Coast & South Gippsland to get active and step out into our great outdoors. Five walks are scheduled across the region on Wednesday 27 October.
23/4/2010 - Drivers and Residents are asked to be careful during the migration of Phillip Island's Short-tailed Shearwaters. The birds face many hazards as they start their 16,000 kilometre journey to the Aleutian Islands.
19/4/2010 - Traffic is now flowing with the completion of works at Wonthaggi’s Graham Street/South Dudley Road intersection and West Area Road and Webb Road.