Bass Coast Shire Council elections 2024: Meet the candidates running for each ward
Nominations for the Bass Coast Shire Council elections opened on September 9 and there have been an influx of candidates for each ward. Find out who is running.
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The Bass Coast Shire Council elections have arrived, and there are many passionate candidates running for each ward, looking to tackle the region’s coastal and environmental issues.
Bass Coast Shire Council has three wards with three councillors in each.
The story will be updated with more candidates from all across Gippsland, so stay tuned to see their faces.
Have other questions about the election? We answer everything you need to know and more here.
Bunurong Ward
Meg Edwards
Meg Edwards was the first to nominate for the Bunurong Ward of Bass Coast council.
Ms Edwards is a mum, farmer and business manager.
She is aiming to push more community safety in the region, including advocating for the Inverloch police station to operate for longer hours due to the size of the town rapidly growing.
“If elected for council, I will advocate for more state resourcing,” Ms Edwards said in a Facebook post.
Mat Morgan
Mat Morgan, a Greens candidate, has six generations of family that have lived in the Bass Coast region.
In a statement, Mr Morgan said while he loved the area, there were some “serious issues” to address.
“We have high rates of homelessness and poverty — there were 812 calls to police made due to family violence last year,” Mr Morgan posted.
“Our community services are struggling, and we have an ageing population with an exodus of young people leaving the region because they have no one representing them at any level of government.”
Prudence Scholtes
Wonthaggi local and former teacher Prudence Scholtes says she’s already been involved in some significant changes in the region.
Ms Scholtes was an elected member of the “Save North East Wonthaggi Residents” committee that fought the state government and council to remove the environmental audit overlay (EAO) that was applied to more than 600 homes.
“I dedicated myself and my time to achieving the best possible outcome, quickly, for all so cruelly impacted by, not only the decisions made but the appalling communication with those affected,” she wrote in a statement.
“I stood up because I care — I care that people are treated respectfully and that their personal, financial and mental health are not disregarded on negatively impacted by local and state government decisions.
“I was encouraged by the community to stand for council because of the commitment I demonstrated to making a change in council policy and action.
“I respect the community’s trust in me and will attend to my duties as a council with equal vigour, commitment and passion.”
Brian Robinson
Brian Robinson is a committee member of the Inverloch Tourism Association and has been part of the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club’s fight to stop coastal erosion.
Mr Robinson said the erosion would have an “economic impact” on the seaside town.
“The surf beach is a major tourist attraction for Inverloch — there’s a great emotional connection with the beach to the community,” he said.
Mr Robinson is continuing to help the club with their petition — that received more than 2500 signatures in just days — which urges the state government to implement immediate engineering solutions to protect the club and Surf Beach.
Leticia Lang
Leticia Lang has lived in the Bass Coast Shire with her husband and three young children for the past five years.
Ms Lang, originally from Melbourne, completed a Law and Arts degree at La Trobe University before pursuing a career as a journalist.
She is running again for council’s Bunurong Ward, as there is always “unfinished business”.
“We need to keep the state accountable to the community of what they’ve promised us,” she posted on Facebook.
“It’s about strong, experienced leadership — I’m local, I’m raising my family here and I’m super keen.”
Ms Lang is also an ally of the local rainbow community and said everyone had a right to be their authentic selves without fear of recrimination or social exclusion.
Brett Tessari
Also running again for the Bunurong Ward is councillor Brett Tessari, a third generation local.
The father of three is an active community member and the former president of the Wonthaggi Power Football Netball Club and a member of the Wonthaggi Relay For Life Committee, presiding as Master of Ceremonies for the event for the past two years and a member of Wonthaggi’s Rotary Club.
Mr Tessari’s goals are to get people passionate again about where they live and reinstall community pride in the region.
Les Larke
Councillor Les Larke is also running for re-election.
He previously worked in accountancy and financial planning for 25 years.
His consulting experience spans a broad spectrum of companies and professions, as well as the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
Caitlyn Robertson
Inverloch woman Caitlyn Robertson is the vice president of the Inverloch School Council.
Ms Robertson moved down to the Bass Coast area during the Covid pandemic, but found it was the ideal place to settle, raise a family and to remain close to her family in Korumburra.
Eddie Halaijain
Eddie Halaijian is another candidate running for the Bunurong Ward of Bass Coast Shire Council.
Island Ward
John Trigt
John Trigt is running for the Island Ward of Bass Coast Shire Council.
On social media, Mr Trigt critiqued the 2024 Urban Roads and Drainage Improvement Policy, an issue that has divided Sunderland Bay and Surf Beach.
“This policy allows individual streets to select out of four road designs,” he said.
“The last section to start in 2040? This scheme does nothing to enhance the hamlet of Sunderland Bay and Surf Beach.
“I agree that work is required on the road and drainage system, but there is a better way to approach this.”
Mr Trigt added if he was elected for council, he would seek help with other councillors to re-examine the policy to get a better outcome for both areas.
Ron Bauer
Ron Bauer is a Bass Coast councillor also running for re-election.
Previously the president of Reason Australia (formerly the Australian Sex Party), Mr Bauer resigned from the political party to run as an independent for Bass in the 2018 Victorian state election.
Mr Bauer is also a member of the Cowes Yacht Club, the Phillip Island Dog Owners Association, the Phillip Island RSL and the Bass Coast Rate Payers Association.
Until his election in council, he was a committee member of Island Voice and was “integral” to restructuring the organisation to become the “pre-eminent voice” for Phillip Island to council.
David Rooks
Also running in Bass Coast’s Island Ward is councillor David Rooks, who has a “20-year-strong connection” with the Phillip Island community.
Mr Rooks, who has 14 years of community service as president of the Phillip Island Kindergarten, Scouts, Tennis Club and Landcare, has also worked human resources tourism and teaching jobs.
He has been described as “consultative”, likes to develop relationships with both individuals and groups and his passion for council was the environment and their “myriad of wonderful community assets”.
TRACEY BELL
Tracey Bell is another candidate running for Bass Coast Shire Council’s Island Ward.
Ms Bell is a mum to her son Gabriel and an employee at Bass Coast Health Outpatient Administration.
She was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 and friend Jo Hutchinson created a GoFundMe page to support her in raising funds to receive treatment, which raised more than $10,000 at the time.
Tim O’Brien
Tim O’Brien is a musician and a “Save Western Port Woodlands” activist, a Facebook group that is dedicated to “preserving Bass Coast coastal forests”.
He is also running for the Island Ward.
Darrell Silva
Darrell Silva’s vision for Phillip Island is to create sustainable, commercial, social and natural environment by listening directly to ratepayers, according to a Facebook statement.
“I will be advocating for promotional campaigns beyond the major tourist attractions,” Mr Silva said.
“I will also lobby for council plans and programs to address the evolving social needs of Phillip Island’s changing demographic, especially younger families moving to the island as well as the already diverse group of Phillip Island residents.”
Mr Silva added he would “emphasise” the maintenance of the natural environment, including both flora and fauna and would support green energy initiatives, ensuring their commercial viability.
Marnie Chadwick
Marnie Chadwick is another candidate running for the Island Ward of Bass Coast Shire Council.
In April 2015, Ms Chadwick addressed her concerns on the number of suicides, especially in the youth, and the effects it left to loved ones.
Ms Chadwick pushed for suicide support groups in order to prevent the suicide rate to increase, which was put into a council meeting agenda.
“There are also issues that need to be addresses at a national level including the mental health system, before people succeed in committing the act,” Ms Chadwick’s submission said.
She asked in her submission whether there were any local support groups for people to go to following a suicide.
“If not, would council consider supporting such a group starting on the Island?,” she wrote.
“Place to hold these events. Grant money to help get it up and running and continue it.”
Western Port Ward
Janice Thompson
Janice Thompson is a candidate running for the Western Port Ward of Bass Coast Shire Council.
Glenda Minty
Gippsland woman Glenda Minty is the branch secretary of CWA Wonthaggi Owl Women.
The organisation meets at 7pm on the third Thursday each month at the Wonthaggi RSL on Graham St.
Jon Temby
Environmentalist Jon Temby is another member and advocate of the “Save Western Port Woodlands” Facebook group.
Mr Temby shared to his Facebook page that he wants to hear from residents of the Western Port Ward on their issues for council’s attention.
He said he had a long history with Phillip Island but now lived in West Creek.
One of Mr Temby’s concerns was the lack of public open spaces and facilities for families in Wonthaggi North.
Nikole Schellekens
Nikole Schellekens is a mum, farmer and social worker with 20 years of experience.
Ms Schellekens said she was “dedicated” to the Bass Coast community, in a social media statement.
She said she aimed to enhance services, engage the community and support the land and waterways and believed tourism and infrastructure go “hand-in-hand” in shaping the future of the region.
“Bass Coast is renowned for its stunning coastline, natural beauty and vibrant local culture, making it a sought-after destination,” Ms Schellekens said.
“However — we need to ensure that our infrastructure can support this growth in a sustainable way that benefits both locals and visitors alike.
“If elected, I will push for improvements in community facilities, public transport, tracks and trails accessibility and better road infrastructure.
“This will not only support tourism but also enhance the quality of life for residents by providing safe, accessible and modern infrastructure.”
Ms Schellekens also completed the Master of Mental Health Nursing at La Trobe University.
Rochelle Halstead
Small business owner Rochelle Halstead is the deputy mayor of Bass Coast Shire Council, seeking re-election.
Ms Halstead took to her Facebook page to say working in local government allowed people to work with “well-intentioned”, “passionate” and “committed” members of the community.
“And all who wish to truly make a difference,” she wrote.
“You learn to appreciate the differing views and work together to better the beautiful place in which we live.”
Ms Halstead also advocated to save the Newhaven Jetty, that closed "indefinitely" at the end of April due to structural failures that posed a safety hazard to the community.
“I’ve had a lot of contact from community about the closure — it is a piece of infrastructure that’s been enjoyed for a long time by the local community — particularly families that want to take their young children fishing,” Ms Halstead said.
She said although people were advised they could fish at the San Remo Jetty instead, she described it as a “commercial operation” and was concerned for childrens’ safety.
“It concerns me for the tourist side of it that it (the Newhaven Jetty) provides quite an iconic view of the San Remo Bridge — it’s just a great little spot and I think it’s a real shame that it’s been allowed to deteriorate to the point where it’s been closed ‘indefinitely’,” Ms Halstead added.
She called on Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos to restore and retain the “locally valued” jetty.
Brian O’Farrell
Brian O’Farrell is also running for the Bass Coast Shire Council’s Western Port Ward.
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