However, after wide community protests, including a march on St Kilda Town Hall, Gross and then Albert Park District parliamentarian, John Thwaites MLA, backed down.

[citation needed] He backed the controversial failed redevelopment of the St Kilda Triangle site in 2008, which resulted in his defeat at that year's council elections after a fierce campaign.

On 26 January 2010, Gross was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia, "for service to local government, particularly through the Municipal Association of Victoria, as a contributor to environmental reform initiatives in the area of waste management, and to the community of Port Phillip.

[5] In February 2017, he proposed a successful motion requesting that the government change laws to allow pill testing of illegal drugs at entertainment venues in Port Phillip.

In the lead-up to the 2024 council elections, Gross won the local plebiscite for endorsement from the Australian Labor Party for Alma Ward.