SouthCoastTaxiPHILLIP ISLAND & SAN REMO DVERTISESouthCoastTaxi AYour Community Voice! THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2020 R $1.40 Incl. GST Caravan park plans raise resident ire Cowes west residents have blasted a pro- posed $900,000 upgrade to a Cowes caravan park, saying it “adds insult to injury”. For several years surrounding residents have been promised an upgrade by managers of the Cowes Foreshore Tourist Park, which is on Crown land at 164 Church Street, with Bass Coast Shire as the landlords. The upgrade was set to alleviate an over- fl ow of parking problems, mostly in summer, where surrounding streets are log-jammed with visitor cars. The upgrade was also hoped to address con- cerns about noise, as well as encroachment on foreshore vegetation, with residents concerned “trees have strangely disappeared over a num- ber of years” and “foreshore has been claimed and developed by stealth”. However, the park tenants have lodged the much-anticipated planning permit for the site, adding 12 new ensuites, eight new studio units, four glamping buildings directly on the beach, but just 17 new car parks. There will also be a new swimming pool, jumping pillow, pool shed and fencing, which will all require the removal of 20 trees, includ- ing several signifi cant, healthy natives. Under a lease agreement signed in 2018, the former caravan park leasees , (who took over tenancy of the Church Street property in 1995) requested their lease be transferred to Across Australia Parks and Resorts, with no public tender process. They had secured a new 21-year lease in July 2015 with an initial annual rent of $255,000. According to the shire, the lease did not go out to tender because no submissions were re- ceived after the lease was publicly advertised in 2015. The lease requires the shire to pay to the ten- ant an annual works contribution to the value of 20 per cent of annual rent. Of this contribu- Queen’s tion 10 per cent can be used for maintenance and the remaining amount for capital works. “Insult” Resident Rhonda Barnett said given the ex- pansion of facilities in the upgrade, the num- ber of allocated car parks was a “joke”. “It now has more than 220 sites and the park- ing was already insuffi cient, with visitors al- honour ways bringing extra cars and friends’ cars. But this adds insult to injury,” said Rhonda, who will be lodging an objection to the plans. “I believe there’s now no parking for staff, I can’t see any disabled car parks, nor any for boats or jetskis. “I’m disappointed in this plan because it con- tinues to disrespect residents.” Nine objections have already been lodged for Kay! with the shire, highlighting concerns about insuffi cient parking, with one objector de- scribing each summer as “a nightmare for sur- rounding properties”. Along with other residents, the Barnett’s driveway is often blocked throughout the peak Surf Beach resident and former state politician Kay Setches was among the 933 Australians recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours. summer season by visitor cars and she ques- Ms Setches received an Order of Australia medal for signifi cant service to the people and Parliament of Victoria and to women in politics tioned whether the allocated 17 car park spac- (see story on page 8). es would even fi t that number of cars. Continued page 3 COWESBOAT COWES CARAVANRVSTORAGE SELF STORAGE NOW AVAILABLE – Solar power to each unit for 24 hr Video Surveillance LK00068AA battery charging. No extra cost. 52-54 Thompson Ave, Cowes 5952 5100 Call Mike Foenander 0408 547 677 or Rental Office 5952 6633 THETHE ADVERTISER, ADVERTISER, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, JUNE 10,11, 2020 - PAGE 1 THUR June 11 FRI June 12 SAT June 13 SUN June 14 MON June 15 TUE June 16 WED June 17 PHILLIP ISLAND Cloudy Partly cloudy Shower or two Showers easing Shower or two Partly cloudy Partly cloudy 7 DAY WEATHER FORECAST 8° 13° 8° 15° 8° 17° 10° 15° 10° 15° 10° 14° 10° 14° LK00146 An extra special thank you There was a special surprise in store for the First up, she created a Facebook page and staff at Cowes Primary School last week. asked parents to film their children saying The school community came together to cre- thank you to staff. ate a unique thank you, acknowledging the “I also said I was going to create a group gift time, effort and dedication the teachers and for the teachers and people could contribute if support staff had put into remote learning. they wanted to,” she explained. As well as a print by Inverloch artist Fiona Lorey was overwhelmed by the response – Kennedy, parents presented teachers with “people were so generous” – over $1700 was a special video from the children and a gift raised and more than 120 video clips were made. voucher so they could treat themselves. The clips were compiled into a 13-minute Local mum Lorey Sheers was the brains be- long thank-you, while Lorey used Facebook hind the operation, rallying parents to get in- polls to decide on the best thank you present. volved, make videos of their kids and donating The top results were a Fiona Kennedy print for a gift. and a gift voucher so the entire team could She said she wanted to make sure the staff were treat themselves to a lunch or dinner. recognised for their efforts during online learning “Our only condition was the money had to be and realised how much they were appreciated. spent on them,” Lorey said. “They did a tremendous job ensuring stu- Principal Rod McKenzie said the staff were dent welfare was top priority and really caring overwhelmed with the gesture. about the students and families all while they “The staff absolutely loved the video and it lived through it too,” she explained. was great to see so many families involved. We will use the funds for a staff celebration which will take place once restrictions ease so we Bass Coast COVID-19 update* can all be together,” he said. “The lovely print will be framed and placed in the staffroom as reminder of our wonderful 4 school community.” Local residents For the teachers, the extra recognition was 2078 tested positive heart-warming, thoughtful and unexpected. “It brought a tear to my eye,” admitted teach- Lorey Sheers presenting the Fiona Kennedy print to Principal Rod McKenzie and Assistant Princi- tests done locally er Kylie Carlson. pal Sarah Tyrell, part of a thank you to staff at Cowes Primary School from the school community. 4 “I thought it was really special. It is not often Non-residents we get such lovely recognition for the work welfare, that we were all okay. That made a dif- other parents. tested positive that we do!” ference – because a lot of people did struggle. “Lorey did an amazing job gathering all the Fellow teacher Bree Rutherford said it was “I’m amazed they pulled remote learning to- videos and donations from parents. This was her *From BCH Assessment clinics only. nice to be recognised, “but the real heroes gether in such a short time,” she continued. initiative and she drove the whole campaign. were the kids”, while Chris Andrews said the “It’s not part of their degree. They all had to “School Council would like to acknowledge “incredibly thoughtful gesture” helped him re- learn as they went and they did it so well.” the amazing efforts of students, parents and alise how much their hard work was valued. The school community might have been teachers over this unique period. The teach- scattered during the Coronavirus shutdown, ers and staff at Cowes Primary have managed True community spirit but Lorey feels now it’s stronger than ever. to keep the kids engaged and created some- During online learning, despite being physi- And the response to her thank you effort is thing special with the Friday videos being a cally separated, the school community had to testament to that. highlight. pull together. “I realised how strong our school commu- “We are very lucky to have such an amazing “We were all in it together. It was hard on nity was. Instantly I had people wanting to be school within our community,” he said. students, parents and teachers,” Lorey said. a part of it.” Teacher Jess Carroll agreed: “It was a great “I never once felt that I should be doing more School Council President, Brendan Cash- reflection on how our school community has as a parent. Staff were always checking on our man applauded the efforts of Lorey and the strengthened during remote learning.” PHILLIP ISLAND & SAN REMO ADVERTISER Police report a quiet weekend The long weekend got off to a slow start with CONTACT US: traffic on Phillip Island Road banked up to Sil- verwater Resort on Friday afternoon, after a Classifi eds: [email protected] two-vehicle collision at Surf Beach. Editorial: [email protected] A car and truck collided near Pine Avenue at Surf Beach. Police said no one was seriously in- Advertising: [email protected] jured, however traffic was diverted for several Sport: [email protected] hours while ambulance and emergency ser- vices attended and cleared the scene, causing Suite 2, 60 Chapel Street, Cowes, 3922. delays for motorists coming onto the island. Senior Sergeant Andrew O’Brien said while Phone (03) 5952 3201 there were large numbers of visitors across the Fax (03) 5952 3024 weekend, there were no major incidents and people were “very well behaved”. Drink driving offences up State highway patrol units were active in Publication No.