MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Welcome to our April council meeting.
>> It is a pleasure to
welcome members of our committee tonight.
This meeting is also being lived streamed.
welcome to those tuning in online and of course welcome
to my fellow councillors.
Live captioning will company the live stream and the counseling chamber.
And the chamber is fitted with a hearing loop for hearig aids.
We hope this assist those that have hearing
difficulties.
[LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT]
“The Surf Coast Shire local government area spans the
traditional lands of the Wadawurrung People and the
Gulidjan and Gadubanud Peoples of the Maar nation. The
main Council office here in Torquay is on Wadawurrung
Country.
We pay our respects to elders past, present, and emerging.
>> Deja vu.
>> We'll take a moment.
The Wadawurrung People have nurtured these lands for
thousands of generation.
I would like to acknowledge that it is greater to live,
work, and play here in such a beautiful part of the
world.
We wish to acknowledge any and in Gulidjan.
As you would know,
yesterday marked the 107th anniversary
of the Anzac landings in Gallipoli.
It was the first time in three years to attend and
matches across the country due to the COVID pandemic.
Councillors attended and paid their respects and recognizing the
bravery and it is an important port of the training
culture.
I want to thank the opportunity to acknowledge the
sacrifice is made by all Australians that served and
died in wars and conflict and peace keeping operations.
Speaking of men and women some of the people aware
recently created a beautiful new stone memorial wall to
acknowledge those from well Bell Ray that served our
country.
Now this weekend you can visit the know our names in
the memorial hall to learn the names that are included
on the memorial wall.
It is a wonderful way to spend hours and you can enjoy
an afternoon tea.
I encourage you to get along. The exhibition
is open from this Saturday until Monday 2nd May from 10am to 4pm
at the Anglesea Hall.
The Easter long weekend
was an important time for the community,
especially for tourism and hospitality traders.
With the school holidays and the return of Rip Curl Pro
to Bells Beach, information centres reported
accomodation was close to maximum capacity.
Businesses were trading strongly and
it is estimated to have generated around $8 million in economic activity over the period.
There were almost 5,000 people attending each day on
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
I was lucky to get down there in one of those days and
see great surfing by the women and thrilled to see
Australian Tyler to ring the bell.
We had magnificent weather. It is nice to see and
enjoying the surf and land and cafes. With the peak
season mostly behind us now is a wonderful time for
locals and visitors to slow down and take more time to
appreciate all that the Surf Coast has to offer.
One of the things that I know that we all appreciate is
our natural environment.
I'm sure that many of our members of our community are
pleased to hear the decision for the decision of the
Surf Coast and distinctive area. It is clear that
there is significant interest in the process. Many
people have advocated for many years for our green
spaces to be protected.
Council meetings operate with the following procedures.
During the meeting the mover of a motion or amendment
may speak for a maximum of five minutes and then a
third two minutes to make a closing statement.
Any other councillor can speak for a maximum of three
minutes.
If a councillor would like to ask a question or move a
motion please physically raise your hand and keep it
raised until I'm able to acknowledge you.
I would like to remind the community that as
councillors we are bound by the behaviour and
obligations. We are committed to our roles and
accountable to the community and aim to be respectful
and ethical to all we do.
With that in mind and I will now reside the pledge as a
side of our commitment.
As councillors we carry out our job with diligence and
make fair decisions for the wellbeing of our community
and environment.
Now, tonight's meeting we will be discussing many
issues and budget report for 22, 23. Our emission
target and roadmap and transfer land and much more.
So let's get started.
Firstly apologies.
We do have an apology from Gary Allen.
And apology from can I have a movement to accept the
apology.
Thank you and all those in favour please raise your
hand.
The motion is carried unanimously.
We have a council meeting of 22 of March 2022 as a
correct meeting.
Can I have a move confirm the meeting.
All those in favour.
Thank you.
The motion is carried.
Councils are there leave of absence request?
No?
Thank you.
I'm moving on to Item 1.7, which is conflicts of
interest.
If a councillor has a conflict of interest must do now
and the items being discussed at which time the council
will be removed from the meeting.
We have two questions in relation to local laws.
I will read out Susans first question.
The most popular size of a caravan is six meters long
and three meters in height.
The legal is 2.5 meters wide and 4.3 meters in height.
The council stated in an e-mail to me on the 1 of
February 2022 that council officers do not my question
is how can our elected councillors claim that any
caravan do not block vision and impact safety or
amenity when stored on the street in seven days.
I'm going to refer this for the acting general Mr.
Damian Waight.
>> DAMIAN WAIGHT: I thank you for your question.
Council officer are apply amenity and caravans parked.
We know this is a topic of interest to many. We are
doing more work on it.
This was the position council rates through the
resolution and adopting the law in 2021. This further
work is the strip policy that there aim to clarify more
data and help safety and amenity and balanced
beneficial outcomes.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you, Waight.
Two pass bylaw and this compacted gravel facilitated
storage for large vehicles for seven days.
The council has developed a policy by these previous
decisions. Given these previous decisions how can the
council now develop a strict policy to climate change
and statutory and mandatory legal obligations?
I will refer to Mr. Waight.
>> DAMIAN WAIGHT: We understand the climate change on
the world.
We will develop a policy that balances many issues
including the impact of strips.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you, Mr. Waight.
The first question is the to the March council meeting
was not answered. Why have they authorized the
storage and mitigation many climate change in the
government act 2020. Can you answer this question in
statutory and mandatory duties.
>> DAMIAN WAIGHT: Thanks for the question, Patrick.
We appreciate you raising these question with us.
As you are aware and previous answers it comes to the
time when we are developing council strip policy.
There is no answer for nature strip over current state
laws.
Council will take into account and looks to fulfill
statutory and mandatory duties.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Question two perfect Patrick.
There was two errors in the March meeting.
They claim they are consistent with neighbouring
council. This is not true. Storage of vehicles on
nature strip for seven days.
Two, council claims our range are provided to determine
if a vehicle is parked safely.
The legal use of discretion is very limited when the
most must is used in legislation.
Victorian law says you must not stop on the strip.
For the record can you correct the two factual errors
that you made at the council meeting.
>> DAMIAN WAIGHT: Thanks again, Patrick.
For clarification they are consistent with the approach
taken by the sector and neighbouring council.
This practice enforcing vehicles parking on nature
strips only is a topic being reviewed this year in the
policy development. It is an important topic.
I would like to conclude by saying thanks to Susan and
Patrick for raising the questions tonight.
We hope to answer previous correspondence and helps
give you confidence that we are in measurement of the
new policy.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you, Waight.
Next we have a question and I will read out the
question.
Over the last week I have been taking care of a
property.
I would like to express my concerns regarding the
safety of the intersection on the Worry road and to hit
you must give way to oncoming traffic.
Due to the curve you can't see the traffic arounded
bend.
As you are looking for oncoming traffic behind you does
counsel have any plans to improve the safety at this
intersection?
The two intersections should be rebuilt in the middle
of the curve to create a right angle approach.
Additionally turning lanes and speed limit reduction
could be considered.
This could also allow council to expand the joining
recreation reserve and amenities for a lighter day.
The council could work and apply for grants to aiding
improvements in this location.
Thank you for your question.
We greatly appreciate you sharing your concerns and we
also share those concerns.
I can let you know that we do have plans to make
improvements to the intersections that you highlighted.
The intersection of Berry road and Worry road is in the
plan to be rebuilt.
Ceiling of the road shoulders.
These are on the council priority list and awaiting
funding.
We do not currently have funding allocated.
We apply for grants when applicable.
One of the aspect funding criteria is that they are
based on accident data.
We do not have any data on this intersection. In
other words, no accidents have been reported or
captured in this intersection.
This makes it harder to secure TIC funding.
As we continue to work for best funding we have plants
to install and that is allocated in this financial
year.
Thank you again to all in the community who have
submitted questions and we urge you to continue to do
so at next month's council meeting.
Now on to Item 2. Petition and joint letters.
Item 2.1 is a petition from the Surf Coast Athletics
Facility.
We have Claire I invite you to give your petition.
>> Good evening and madam.
I am here to table out this petition.
Here on behalf of Surf Coast Athletics there are
signatures for the facility. We are seeking funding
for a study to be included in the current funded and
the needs of the youth particularly in our community
can be met.
The situation in our community now is that the nearest
track and field in the facility and that competition
has been in families to participate in athletics have
to travel and this is a barrier to participation and
need infrastructure to improve the program and meet the
needs of the future.
It will serve the facility and currently serving the
facility at the college.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: We do have a
recommendation in accordance with the councillors room
we receive a possession and then be received to the
General Manager and would require a report to be
presented by the July council meeting.
Do I have a mover.
Second.
Thank you. Would you like to speak.
>> I will say that is great to see representatives from
left here to give a petition.
My kids were a part of the sessions and they loved.
It is a great organisation Surf Coast.
It embodies a connected community.
You can have a coffee and chat while the kids run
around.
I'm glad that you brought the petition over.
Thank you for your time.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Did any other councillors
want to speak to the motion?
The motion is carried anonymously.
Thank you councillors, and thank you Claire and
everybody from the Surf Coast Athletic Community The
purpose of this report is for council to remove a
petition and joint letters in relation to volunteer.
Do I have a mover for this? Councillor and councillor.
>> My apologies for being a little late.
I would like to endorse this petition.
I this I we need to look at this carefully and talking
about the communities and the initiative of the people
in the community. It is all about what it is in my
view and developed a community effectively on a nature
strip and people can come and contribute and produce
and can pick produce and they're also contributing
other things for people in need.
That is a community hub.
There is an active Facebook page with people saying I'm
dropping off onions and spinach.
Regrettably we have a particular we have before I got
here there was another question about people from
caravans in our streets.
I think which I would rather see to be honest.
I would love to see an it is not impeding anybody and
providing a fantastic community service.
And you will see is setting the agenda in this regard.
The people who are doing this should be congratulated
and I'm hoping the council will receive this petition
with an open mind and look at it in that spirit.
Hopefully we can continue with an open community
guided.
Thank you.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you:
>> I would like to emphasize the petition consist of
141 signatures and accordance with the governance rule
and receive the petition and cancel and I think those
that have contacted the council about this matter and
look forward to having progress on the matter.
Thank you.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
>> I was moved by the correspondence received and the
letters and particular addressing the community vibe
and the honest and free stand and the nature strip
guide and addressing the isolation and particularly in
COVID provides fresh food without pesticide to
community members and fosters that sense of community
which we should really be supporting.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
>> I agree with the previous comments.
I was also really impressed and moved by the letters
and the sentiments in the letters and thank the
petitions and letter writers.
I'm sure we are all with the free stand and produce.
As a garden myself I love to share the love the similar
way.
I think we can receive this and give it a good thought
and come up with it in a good way.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: All those in favour?
The motion is carried anonymously.
Thank you, councillors.
Amendment C134 with the implementation of the
guidelines.
The report is to adopt amendment C134 and support and
submit the amendment of the municipal and land owned in
the health and education do I have a movement.
Do you want to speak to the motion?
>> Yes, please.
I want to say the amendment strengthened and provides
clear direction and how the can be strengthened and
enhanced.
The Winchelsea provide guidelines and enhance the river
and to create a more pedestrian friendly town which all
anticipated to have positive impacts on the Winchelsea
environment.
The build form in the guidelines will result in active
street and pedestrian friendly scale development.
The amendment aims to stimulate the tourist destination
and charm celebrating the setting on the river.
The amendment represented good planning practice and is
consistent with the Victorian planning with Victorian
planning generally speaking I would say with the
council plan that we developed fairly recently many
members of the community want a small town fill in the
various settlements that exist and including and it is
something that we're retaining.
I really welcome this >> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON:
Thank you.
>> Can I just ask a question before we proceed.
The audio I thought we were having transcription.
I think people in the gallery are having difficulty hearing.
Can you hear me?
I think people are not speaking to the microphone or
speaking softly.
Aren't we supposed to be having transcribing?
Why isn't up on the screen?
>> It is online?
>> Live captioning is on the website.
If you chose you could bring your computer and read.
Probably with a delay.
A 30 second delay.
Can I ask for the future if we can look for an option
to have live captioning and can I ask
also I could please ask my fellow
councillors to speak up.
I think I have three minutes rather than five.
Thank you very much.
Design guidelines and we are adopted in 2019. Quite a
while ago and take a long time for things to move
through the planning process. Winchelsea is a very
unique town scape. It is the most charming I believe
one of them and certainly a very charming town and I
believe one of the most charming towns.
It has a quite unique street scape and not just a
street scape. It is the buildings and the size of the
blocks and characters and sit backs of the road and a
whole lot of things that contribute and make it
beautiful.
Importanting these guidelines will allow them to be
commission one own land and Winchelsea and residential
land and basically forming the entry into town.
I think that is really important.
I've had concerns about developments in which are
impacting the entry into town.
I think the whole notion is not just about the Town
Centre but the whole approach from the town from either
the main ins and other sides as well.
There is a focus on the river.
The guidelines will be included as a background
document. They don't require additional planning
permits and will consider the design of any planning
proposals put forward.
They will apply to commission developments in the
commercial and residential areas and only in so far as
current need a planning permit.
One of the important things is via exhibition of these
guidelines the land on the corner of main street which
is owned by Israel health and important for the future
development. We are so fortunate to have that rural
health service. It is planning ahead and thinking
about the need for two story development to accommodate
the growth in the town.
I do a lot of work in rural services and many of them
are struggling and our health is doing beautifully.
It will expand and looking at 10,000 people in
Winchelsea. It is part of the exhibition process.
We removed the corner allotment of the street and main
street from the amendment which will allow future
development of the hospital.
And that is a really important amendment as a result of
the exhibition.
The consultation has been impaired by COVID but I think
generally it is quite thorough and submissions being
received and address.
All of them have been addressed from the MPA and
additional owners.
It highlighted the importance as a side of significance
from the aboriginal people along the river.
The submission of the water run is probably addressed
through other regulatory frameworks and the water we
even have the outcome of the submission but highlights
how important all of that area is to the Wadawurrung
People.
I think this supports this proposal and getting the
guidelines finally into the planning scheme.
I think they will help to retain that beautiful and
unique character of Winchelsea as a small rural town.
I hope that we can get a similar outcome for the not
too distance future.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks councillor.
Did any other councillors want to speak to the motion?
>> Just briefly to make the comments and also to add I
fully support the guidelines and think they are well
out and put together in the contributions from
stakeholders have been really strong.
I regret the highway and to sort of a long regret
really. It is there obviously.
The full lane highway that at some points is 70-meter
wide and running in the middle of that zone to me it is
by far the biggest threat to the streets.
I look forward to some day when the impact of that
highway are less than what they are today.
I go wonder given the scale of the highway whether
single story is in the long-term necessary.
I wonder where a two story could help the street be
dominated by that wide highway.
That is a moot point.
I support this guidelines.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Any other councillors?
>> I support these guidelines as well. It is a lovely
document and I enjoy having pictures to look at.
The very clear guidelines.
I like the emphasis on the commitment to keep the
friendly focus and the interface with the river.
I support this too.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks councillor.
Any other councillors?
Did you have any closing comments.
>> I would like to thank my fellow councillors.
I would like to express thanks to you in particular.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: I will put the motion to
a vote.
All those in favour.
The motion is carried anonymously.
The next is C140.
The Correctional Amendment.
To adopt this management 1 to 5 and afford the
amendment to the Victorian Administer For Planning.
>> Could I ask a question.
I just wanted to clause 4305 which has caused issues in
terms of interpretation.
I just wondered if that is a Surf Coast provision in
the planning scheme or a provision that is one of the
statewide provisions?
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: I will refer that to the
response.
>> This is one about how much are you blocking for
reserve for coverage of vegetation.
>> Thank you.
I will refer that to or place making and environment.
>> I'm afraid I don't have that level of detail
available for me at this point of time.
I will take a notice and provide that to councillors.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
And was it a move for the motion?
As per the recommendations?
Second? Councillor and would you like to speak to the
motion?
>> Yes. Adopt 140 with the changes and it is
important that we keep our documents and policies
updated routinely and maintaining them and making the
more accurate and changing the zoning and numbering
errors.
This is an important that we move.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
>> It takes time to work over the processes and the
community is interested and we're all working towards.
>> MAYOR, CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Did any other councillors
want to speak?
Count Heather Wellington.
>> CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: In relation to 4305 and the
schedule that talks about how much of your site should
be available for planning vegetation. We have an
amendment and somebody put forward a submission on
this.
I want to thank the submitters of this process.
4305 we're proposing new wording because the previous
wording was confusing.
I refer councillor to 174.
The new wording is that the least 60% should be
available for the planting of vegetation in brackets
area available for planting excludes the area of
swimming pools and tennis courts closed brackets.
That is obvious to the previous wording.
What I don't understand is that if I have a property on
the the block and I cover it with a driveway and a
swimming pool and a tennis court and I put the rest as
gravel do I have to have vegetation or not.
The current wording doesn't make it any clear to me.
Is it part of the state-wide provision? Presumably not,
as I guess we can't amend those. I presume it is a local provision.
And I don't understand it and I'm trained as lawyer.
So I just wonder if anyone else does
understand and can explain it to me.
That's my question.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
I will refer that to the CEO.
>> Sorry, CEO.
>> Thank you, Councillor Wellington.
It is hard to do to answer that question on the run
without having expert planners here who went through
that.
Obviously, within the Surf Coast vegetation is
something we want to encourage and facilitate in terms
of the wording and the detail of it and what that means
in terms of, I guess, part of what we would require and
then comply residents to actually adhere to.
We'd need to seek advice from our planners around that.
>> Or our lawyers.
Thank you.
Sorry.
Hasn't been moved yet, has it?
>> It was moved by counselor Gazzard and counselor
Pattison.
>> Sorry.
I was listening at the time.
I got distracted.
Can I speak?
I would like to point out to the section on the
heritage overlay which applies to the former Orchard
bakery.
Absolutely beautiful old building which is owned by
Hiseveral Health.
And people would know the shop was burnt down probably
12 months ago.
It was a terrible blow to the town.
And it's all driven by community donations and
volunteer work.
It's amazing.
And those volunteers were shattered and devastated.
The hospital now proposes to redevelop the op shop in
that beautiful bakery which I think is going to be
absolutely unique.
And is in the most prominent position of any shop
anywhere.
It's going to be fabulous.
The heritage overlay makes that a prohibited use.
Part of this amendment allows what we call I think opt
out or something.
We called it something funny.
It allows that overlay to be not applied to that area
so the op shop become s allowable use.
So I strongly support that.
What I don't get and I do think the issue is really
important.
I believe that none of this could tell you what that
means.
At least 60% of the site area should be available for
the planting of vegetation in brackets area available
for planting excludes the areas for PAFB he will,
swimming pools and tennis courts.
I don't want to approve something that says you can
cover your site with swimming pools and tennis courts
and gravel and not have vegetation.
My recommendation is we defer this and we get an
interpretation of that.
If there's wording we implemented, I don't know if
we've had legal advice on it.
I cannot understand it and I don't know if anyone else
around here can either.
I would like to move a deferral.
Took me a long time to go through this amendment and I
did that and I don't get that part of it.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Is there a seconder?
>> [Inaudible].
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Would you like to speak to that?
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I don't think we've had a
submission.
We've listened to it.
We have changed the wording.
I'm not sure that we've improved it.
And I'm happy to take any officer's advice as to
whether they think that means 60% of the available land
area must be covered with vegetation regardless of how
many swimming pools, tennis courts or driveways you've
got.
Or whether it means 60% of the total land area
excluding the driveways, the tennis courts, the
swimming pools and the gravel need to be available for
vegetation.
I don't think that's clear.
I'm not trying to be difficult and I did only go into
the depths of this.
It takes a long time to read all these 400 pages in
great detail and I've done that.
Sorry to raise it.
I only picked it up this afternoon.
Sorry to raise it but it is an issue for me.
That's the reason I've made the deferral and given this
is an incidental amendments, I imagine that it won't
hurt it to be deferred for a month.
Maybe the governance office would have --
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Maybe this would be treated as
alternative motion?
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I don't know what the alternate
wording is.
>> I think counselor Wellington put forward a
procedural motion.
That would need to be debated.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: We'll continue as we were as in
counselor Wellington's spoken to the proposed deferral
and it was seconded by counselor Schonfelder.
Counselor Schonfelder will have an opportunity to speak
to it and any others.
In the event that the motion is supported, it will be
deferred.
In the event it's not, we'll refer back to the
substantive motion.
>> There will need to be a bit more clarity in relation
to deferred to the next meeting.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Deferred to the next meeting to
allow advice to come back on the best wording, best and
clear wording for that provision.
>> That's how I had interpreted the procedural motion
and I think that's a reasonable request to defer this
for one month.
That's all I wish to say.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thank you counselor Schonfelder.
Would any other counselors like to speak?
>> Would this have any implication on our Council
rules?
Any danger in deferring it?
What are the implications of deferring?
>> The implications are, really, that we won't be
progressing this change for at least a month.
It's a delay.
Is the key issue.
>> Can I ask a question?
Is that delay going to impact on them?
Is it going to impact on their time lines?
>> Not wanting to get involved in the debate but I know
this came up at a briefing and we discussed that
particular wording and the fact that officers had gone
back to the submitter to make sure that it was clear to
them.
And my understanding is the submitter did respond that
officers had gone back to the submitter to make sure
that it was clear to them and my understanding was the
submitter did respond to acknowledge the change
captured the fact that the area available for planting
does exclude driveways, gravel, decks, pools and
swimming courts.
>> Does that mean, if I have a block, you can cover it
with swimming pools, driveways and gravel and --
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: 60% of the site should be available
for plant and going vegetation and that area excludes
driveways, gravel and so on.
>> I don't know if I understand that or if I'm being dense.
I don't understand that.
I'm sorry, that's just confusing.
Do other counselors think that's clear?
If you all do, please feel free to support it.
Of course, you are.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Did you want to speak to the
deferral motion?
>> Personally, I find it clear enough.
As the mayor's just explained, to me, it's clear
enough.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Would it be something like 60%
of the block must be available regardless of how many
swimming apools, tennis courts and driveways and gravel
areas are?
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: That's my understanding.
I don't know if Mr. Pike wants to clarify?
>> Chris Pike: I'm reading this in how it's articulated
there and the same interpretation as you.
You cannot diminish the amount of planting on the site.
>> Regardless of what else is on it.
>> Substituting it with hard surfaces that reduce that
potential for vegetation to be planted.
>> Why don't we just say that?
Can we maybe see if we can find alternative?
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: We might just continue with the
motion at hand.
Did anyone else want to speak to the proposed deferral?
No?
So we'll put that motion to a vote.
All those in favour of deferring, please raise your
hand.
And all those against deferring.
In that case, we'll revert back to the original motion
which counselor Gazzard moved, counselor Pattison
seconded and counselor Wellington has spoken to and
raised the procedural motion.
So now I'll ask if any other counselors want to speak
to the original motion.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I'd like to move an amendment.
I need some help with this but I think it is something
like at least 60% of the site area should be available
for the planting of vegetation regardless of any areas
already taken up for driveways, gravel paving, decks,
swimming pools, et cetera.
Does that make sense?
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: To me, it doesn't make it any
clearer.
>> It does to me.
No offense.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I'm not taking offense.
I think this is quite important.
We're here about the environment and shouldn't be
allowing people to substitute.
And the submitter has pointed it out.
I know the submitter was happy or satisfied.
Maybe they gave up.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: In the interest of continuing, are
you proposing.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Push to alternative motion.
Did I move my amendment?
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: You didn't clarify what the
amendment was?
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: 60% of the plant area shall be
available regardless of any areas of --
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Is there a second?
Would you like to speak to the amendment then?
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Maybe we should ask whoever is
from the community how they read that.
This document should be understandable by the
community.
It's not understandable to me and I'm pretty
experienced in reading these documents.
I feel quite concerned about the potential impact
passing something that allows people just to hard
gravel their property as we've done with increased
runoff and decrease absorption and impact on the
environment that way.
I'm concerned about it.
I would like some sort of different wording.
I'm sure my amendment is not going to get up.
I won't waste anyone's time.
I would like the amendment to say you must have 60% of
your land regardless of what else you built on it.
You must have 60% available for vegetation.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
And counselor Schonfelder.
>> ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: I don't wish to speak.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Would anyone else like to speak to
the proposed amendment?
Counselor Gazzard.
>> KATE GAZZARD: I have to disagree.
I think the way it reads is slightly clearer than
saying regardless particularly that piece in brackets.
At least 60 3ERS should be available for planting for
vegetation.
And I think excludes the areas of driveways, gravel,
paving is a better reading than regardless of,
personally.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
And any other counselors?
Now put the amendment --
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I don't get to --
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Not on amendment.
I'll put it to a vote.
All those in favour.
And all those against?
So the proposed amendment is lost which means we'll
return to the original motion.
And counselor Gazzard, counselor Pattison and counselor
Wellington all spoken.
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: I find the wording the amended
wording in response to the submission is clear.
It's clear to me and hopefully it's clear to all others
who need to enforce it over the years.
And I certainly echo counselor Wellington's comments of
concern around hard surfaces replacing area available
for planting.
I do think that the wording covers that well from my
reading.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Can I ask another question?
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Had you finished?
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: I have.
Thanks.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Is it possible anyone would read
this as 60% of the site area excluding -- the exclusion
is from the 60%.
That's the way I could potentially read it.
That the exclusion is from the 60% rather than the
exclusion being -- 60% less shore.
That's the way that reads to me.
The area available for planting, the 60% excludes, it's
60% minus the roadways and your swimming pools.
Just want to make sure everyone's clear about what they
are passing.
That's the question.
Okay.
Leave it at that.
Might get a linguist to interpret it or a lawyer.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Did any other counselors want to
speak to the motion?
No?
And counselor Gazzard, any closing comments?
>> KATE GAZZARD: Thank you.
Now I'm not sure of the linguistics of it.
I suppose if we continue making these amendments, then
we can amend this document again.
It would be better to pass it tonight so it doesn't
delay further or delay anyone's plans and then we can
come back to it at another date.
As is an amendment today.
I would be happy to pass it as is and if we think
there's issues with the current wording, we'll reamend
it.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
I'll now put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour?
>> I'm voting against.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: All those in favour and against?
The motion is carried 6-1.
Thank you, counselors.
Moving on to item 5.1.
Which is the draft budget.
For public exhibition.
This report is recommending Council to endorse the
draft budget.
And we're excited to present this to the community
tonight.
We do have a recommendation before us.
Do I have a mover?
Counselor Pattison, thank you.
And seconder?
Counselor Hodge.
>> I couldn't find the draft budget on the publically
distributed Council agenda and I wondered why that was.
People in the gallery and people watching from home
haven't been able to see this draft budget tonight.
Is that cause we're hoping to give them a wonderful
surprise tomorrow?
We've never done that before.
Always put the papers up with the agenda and find it
odd we're debating agenda item without the attachment.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: I will refer that through our CEO.
It's a reasonable question and you are not the only one
whose asked it.
>> Given this is my first budget too, counselor
Wellington, it was a question that has been asked.
Once Council have considered it, then it will be
released and put ononline soon after the meeting.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Did you want to speak to the
motion?
>> LIZ PATTISON: Yes, I do.
Great we have this budget which soon the community will
be able to see hopefully if we all vote in favour of
releasing the budget for engagement.
It's the first budget that has been shaped by the 2021
Council plan and that plan was based on significant
community engagement and input from the community
panel.
So there's a strong theme of environmental leadership
in this budget.
And it's really exciting Council will be certified
carbon organisation by 2020.
Forward thinking and great environmental leadership
coming through in this budget.
And also significant investment of $34.5 million in
capital works programming for the 2023 financial year
including that is this 13.5 million for new projects
and 12.9 million for roads which is something that many
in our community care a lot about including upgrades,
maintenance, road safety and renewals.
I'm also proud there's $320,000 of on-going savings
generated from the business reform program in the 2023
budget.
This is a great program and we continue to find
efficiencies in savings through the program for over
the last seven years.
And the need to be efficient in our service delivery.
I really like the way this budget is set out.
I encourage you to have a look.
In 2.9 when you can see the document, hopefully, it
will demonstrate our Council spending based on the
Council plan theme.
We've linked the Council plan and the budget.
So you can see how this budget will deliver on our
Council plan.
And that's, I think, really important.
So that's great.
And also really interesting statistics, service
statistics.
As a community, we pay our rates.
Goes into budget and you see the outcomes.
Hours of kids going to kinder.
Number of attend answers at the libraries.
It's a great way of the community looking and seeing
all the services that the Council delivers.
And what does that mean in hours, in dollars, in tons
of rubbish?
It's all there on the service statistics table 2.10
when you get a chance to have a look at it.
There's also a good explanation in the draft budget
around our Council's asset renewal strategy and funding
for that strategy.
It's a longer 20-year model.
The Council is taking a longer-term look how we renew
our assets.
We have aging assets in the shire.
We have progressive strategy of renewal and funding of
those.
That's part of our financial challenge and great
explanation how we're managing that.
Fit for purpose assets and replace them as we can.
There's some things that I was happy to see in the
budget increase to our grant's program by 35,000.
And I'm also excited to see funds allocated to the
construction of a bike track.
It's something that I know many community members and
young people in our community will be happy about.
Being able to safely ride to school which is great.
As I mentioned, there's a strong focus on protecting
our environment.
We talked about the carbon neutral by 2020 but also
it's important we reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
residual emissions from our landfill.
There's also money around addressing the wetland storm
water management areas in the drainage investigations.
Tree planting and towards environmental leadership
program.
Electric vehicle charging stations and solar and energy
efficiency in transition programs.
I've got 50 seconds left.
I'll roll off a few more exciting things.
A good focus on arts and culture which I'm proud of
with 88,000 investment to expanding arts and culture
services.
50,000 to arts programming over the next two years.
And 36,000 to the arts base.
So that all leads into our shire in general and the
arts in general.
That's another little plug for the Surf Coast cultural
centre.
I've rambled on a little.
I encourage you all to check out our draft budget.
And hopefully our other counselors will endorse it
tonight as well.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
And counselor Hodge.
>> ROSE HODGE: Thank you, chair.
I like the actual set up of the document.
With the new local government act of 2020 doing our
Council plan, we had to do a lot of community
consultation and extremely good Council plan.
Those 7 things are addressed in our actual budget.
The First Nations, arts, viable Council and robust
economy.
And this document shows how our budget now, all our
discussions on the budget link back to our major seven
themes the community want us to address.
I also like to draw on people's attention on page 33.
It is our services and even goes down to 60,000 calls
into our customer service with over 40,000 requests.
It goes down into that much detail.
All the services we do provide, it is a lot more with
libraries, events, early years, age, services.
And our maternal and health sector which is very
important even in these times.
I'd like to congratulate all the counselors involved in
this.
It was really good and our CEO's first budget.
But also to the community that fed into the Council
plan that led us to where we are today.
All the numbers are there as said and other counselors
will speak on this as well.
It really is a document that is easy to read.
And I hope the community look at it, respond back and
it's a document that will hold Surf Coast proud.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Would any other counselors like to speak to the motion?
Counselor Wellington.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks very much.
Just wanted to go back to the question of why the
budget wasn't circulated to the community.
I'm sorry to disagree with what's been done but I just
wonder whether it complies with the legislation in
terms of the openness in transparency part of Council
meetings we have agenda item and don't have the
attachment circulated with it.
I feel really concerned about that.
We've never done that to my recollection with any item
brought before this Council in the ten years or so that
I've been here.
And it's a marketing strategy rather than transparency
strategy.
I really find it inappropriate.
Most people in the community couldn't read a couple
hundred or a hundred packet.
For those who wanted to, if we're ever putting anything
out to the community, it's always out there with the
agenda papers and we have a debate about whether we
should approve it.
We don't debate them first and approve them and decide
to put them out to the community.
They all go out together.
So I'm concerned about that.
I don't like it as a precedent.
I just noticed in terms of a few points and there will
be a lot more points when the community consultation is
done.
We had found assets last year which consisted of
wetlands.
We found assets that we didn't know we had.
Strikes me the wetlands are one of the most significant
assets we have.
I'm glad we found some and wonder if there are others.
I know that [Inaudible] that's a significant wetland as
well.
Wonder on that's on the asset list.
That concept is odd to me.
But we need to find the assets that we have.
Cash deficit between 34 -- 23 and 24.
That's a big issue for us.
Very difficult to manage.
The renewal demand exceeds the allocation until that
period as well.
And the asset renewal is just unbelievable.
If people read this, they will see it's unsealed roads.
Most of which is in the Winchelsea ward.
So we've got a big problem and I haven't had a lot of
complaints about unsealed roads.
Whether Covid, people aren't travelling as much.
I would think we should be looking at the community
satisfaction survey which could always be import into
the budget.
And for every year I've been on Council community
satisfaction has been appalling.
And community satisfaction with planning has been
really low.
And there's not a lot of investment in additional
planning.
Not a great deal in this budget as well.
So I guess the drainage project dropped off the list.
I'm disapointed at that.
There's a safety issue there that will come on the agenda.
$700,000 on advocacy in the library and I presume the
library part is quite small and quite big.
They are an odd couple to put together and I'd like to
know what the advocacy element of it is.
The pool renewal project is highly significant to the
Winchelsea community.
And I'm very pleased to say that's featuring in the
budget.
Thanks.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Counselor Bodsworth.
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: Thanks, mayor.
A couple things that I particularly want to point out.
Firstly, I asked the same question is about the budget
report inclusion in the agenda and got the same answer.
The good news is that the recommendation includes
ensuring that access is available to the public via the
web site and copy at the office from the 27th of April
and the 24th of May.
There's roughly a month there for people to look at the
draft budget.
And it's certainly worth a careful look for obvious
reasons.
Also because as other counselors have said, there's a
lot of interesting information in there that helps
people understand Council finances and the way the
place runs.
I particularly want to mention the waste charges.
When people look at the waste charges, to also consider
some of the statistics from the first year of the
four-bin operation in the Shire.
72% of waste is diverted from landfill.
Organic waste from the green bins, food organics and
garden organics bins, organic waste recovered is up
46%.
46% increase in the amount of organic waste recovered
rather than going to landfill.
And 1600 tons of glass recovered and reused for other
purposes.
So some good information in there to help people
understand where those waste charges are contributing
and the difference the four-bin system has made.
Another couple things I'd like to highlight is the
draft allocation for an increase to the community grant
program following last year's review which I strongly
support.
Also to note this year we don't have a community budget
submissions process as we've had in the past.
I think it's potentially sad but off set by the
proposed increase to the community grants program and
it's a necessity based on our long-term financial plan.
We also have an allocation to the transition to help a
good transition of land through the coast and parks
authority as we'll discuss further in tonight's agenda.
And we have allocations for bike and skate park risk
assessments which is something that several counselors
have been interested in.
I'm glad we're progressing that with expert risk
assessment advice for those kind of facilities.
We also have a waste education and communication's
officer into the budget which is a fantastic
contribution towards waste management and resource
recovery.
One of the bad things to me is level of spending on
pathways over the next three years.
I'm sure and I hope we can do better.
We have to do better than that if we are to make our
own aspirations getting around our municipality without
relying on cars.
That's all I'd like to say thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Would any other counselors?
Counselor Gazzard.
>> KATE GAZZARD: Thank you.
I would like to thank gabby and the team for all the
work they've put into this budget and talk us through
many hours of budget briefings.
A lot of the numbers are foreign to me.
The way the budget set out is clear and well aligns
with our Council plan and priorities.
I like the emphasis around our commitment to First
Nations reconciliation, environmental leadership and
sustainable growth.
Something I'm still learning a lot about is the balance
between revenue particularly in a rate-capped
environment and not wanting to put people's rates up
but needing to provide a lot of community services in a
growing community that has increasing demands.
And particularly looking at things like maternal child
health services, sporting facilities, new projects like
the aquatic centre, arts and cultural facility and
balancing those with increasing asset renewal and the
financial challenges that we'll face in the next few
years.
So it has been disappointing not all of our on-going
projects that were put forward have been put into the budget.
There's a lot of limitations financially.
So something that I learned was how much we find for
just following on with our resource renewal.
The mixed recycling we get fined per contamination
percentage.
The waste education officer will reduce that and that
can be way of saving.
That's something the community can help with in
educating themselves and reducing --
complying by our food and organics mixed recycling and
our glass.
Overall, I think this is a good document and endorse
it.
And excited to see what happens next.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Would any other counselors like to speak to the motion?
Counselor Pattison, any closing comments?
>> LIZ PATTISON: Prior to that's correct I just had a
question to our GM of governance.
Was the budget paper attached at the last --
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: I'll refer it for you.
>> In terms of -- I have clarified when we've released
the budget before previous meetings.
My understanding is we have been a bit -- last year we
didn't include the budget with the Council meeting
papers nor did we do it in 2019 but did do it in 2020.
We've been inconsistent in fairness to counselor
Wellington's question.
We certainly didn't do it last year.
And the budget document is being uploaded as we speak
now so that people will be able to see it.
>> LIZ PATTISON: Thank you for clarifying.
As we've all spoken about the budget, sets path forward
around environmental leadership and many other
initiatives across the Shire.
There's really good information for community to
understand the services that are delivered and the way
our Council operates.
And just in the context of found assets and the like,
it was referring to our urban constructed wetlands.
Those particular constructed assets and our Council is
maturing and understanding how it manages storm water
and the like.
Less around losing assets and more around maturing the
way we understand storm water.
That's the money forward to better address the careff.
I encourage other counselors to endorse this
document -- this budget for the community's engagement.
I look forward to the hearing of submissions.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
I'll put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour?
And the motion is carried unanimously.
Thank you, counselors.
We will now move on to item 6.1.
Which is policy review for control of noise from
recreation reserves.
The policy intent is to protect neighbouring residents
leaving the residents from high level of noise.
The purpose is for Council to consider adopting the
proposed new policy control of noise from recreation
reserves.
Do I have a mover for the recommendation?
Counselor Gazzard, is that per the recommendation?
Any second?
Thank you, counselor Hodge.
Counselor Gazzard, would you like to speak?
>> KATE GAZZARD: Just briefly.
Thank you, chair.
This policy is regarding Council managed or owned land
only.
The policy that was originally implemented in 2011.
The environment protection laws have changed and now
the general environment duty is to eliminate or
minimise impacts to human health in the environment.
And deemed any source of noise can be deemed
unreasonable.
Reassuringly, since this policy came into place, the
noise complaints have really decreased.
So I think this serves to protect the community and
surrounding neighbours.
I think -- I endorse this.
I think this is something we should adopt.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
And counselor Hodge.
>> ROSE HODGE: Yes, I think this policy really sets it
out and crystal clear times and what is allowed and not
allowed.
Especially, to all the people that use our facilities
such as football clubs, cricket clubs that there is
constraints on the airways they practice.
If any noise is there.
It's a crystal clear one for not only the community
that live nearby of what is allowed and not allowed but
also for the clubs running these amenities that it's in
front of them and know what to do.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Would any other counselors like to speak?
Counselor Wellington.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks.
I have a particular interest in noise.
I'm a big believer in a proper balance of amenity
between people who want to emit noise and people who
want to live in residential amenity.
I get involved a lot.
People who come to me unhappy about noise.
I just have one question.
Does this cover reserves and facilities that are
managed by delegated communities of management?
It does?
On that basis, I'm not going to support this.
We haven't consulted with them.
Our next item is to look at the committee of management
membership and thank people for their contribution.
We have a transparency policy.
We appoint those volunteers.
They putty norm us effort into running these reserves
and we say we're going to import standards and
guidelines into effectively what they have to enforce
and implement.
We haven't even talked to them; is that correct?
>> There's a policy here.
This is just a renewal.
They've already got rules and regulations.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Sorry.
Is it correct we haven't talked to them about this?
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: I'll need to refer that question to
the CEO.
>> I'll refer it to our acting GM of community life.
>> Thank you.
That's my understanding, yes.
The changes have been informed to changes to regulation
and put into our policy without engagement process with
their community.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Okay.
So couple of issues.
One is I think we should never ever endorse a policy
like this without talking to the people who manage the
facilities it's going to apply to.
And I won't support it on that basis.
I'd very strongly support putting in policies that do
give people more clarity about what they can and can't
do.
I don't agree with counselor Hodge.
It doesn't say you can run music to your house content
all day as long as you stop at 10:00 at night because
there is still noise regulations around running music
all day.
If you create amenity issue with that.
It doesn't necessarily have to be about the level of
noise.
People would understand if you have a dripping tap if
you are trying to go to sleep, it's a quiet noise but a
noise that impairs your amenity.
The level of noise is not the issue.
It's the level of intrusiveness, nature of the noise,
all of those things.
I don't not support it but I'd like to know from some
of our facilities that are in quite remote locations,
we have communities in the rural area where there's no
one around.
I don't know what a policy that says you have to shut
up and leave the site by 11:00 on a Saturday night
would actually mean to them.
I don't know.
I think we should ask them out of courtesy and respect
as well as maybe we could learn something.
I'm not going to support it.
And I don't know.
Doesn't seem to be much point.
My view is we should defer this.
If any other counselor would like to move a deferral, I
will support it.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
And counselor Hodge, did you have a question as well?
>> ROSE HODGE: No, thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Counselor Bodsworth.
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: Only just to point out the previous
policy applied only to recreation reserves, one of the
changes with this revised policy is it applies to all
Council-owned and/or managed facilities which I think
is counselor Wellington's point and good improvement to
the policy.
I support the policy.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Would any other counselors like to speak to the motion?
Counselor Gazzard, did you want to make any closing
comments?
>> KATE GAZZARD: Thank you.
I think it's quite clear and keeping with the
requirements.
I'm happy to support it.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
We'll put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour?
The motion is carried 6-1.
We will move on to item 6.2 which is community
asset community changes.
The purpose is to make appointments.
We do have a recommendation before us.
Do I have been a mover?
Counselor Hodge and seconder, counselor Schonfelder.
Counselor Hodge, would you like to speak to the motion?
>> ROSE HODGE: Yes, thank you, chair.
It's straight forward.
The recommendations.
I'd like to thank people that have given their time
retiring from the committees.
Great to see the names I know quite well in the
community putting their hands up again to help out on
these committees.
I think Deans Marsh is going through change.
And we'll see fantastic outcomes on that with the whole
renovation and the way through good communication out
there.
Really good to see ex counselor reserve and people that
will be assets to the community whole and memorial
committee.
Also, as I said, to acknowledge and thank the departing
members that have, no doubt, done a great job.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
And counselor Schonfelder.
>> ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: I'd just like to thank, once
again, the members of the different committees for
their contribution and just to echo the sentiment
expressed from counselor Hodge.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
And would any other counselors like to speak?
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I would also like to thank them.
I know the enormous contribution people make.
Whether we ask the people who leave whether we do like
an exit survey which we would normally do.
I don't know whether we do that.
Do we ask them why they are leaving?
So we can learn from that?
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: I believe we do.
I'll refer that to the CEO.
>> I understand we do but I'll refer it to our acting
general manager.
>> Yes.
Thanks.
Yes, we do have those conversations.
It's not a formal process but we are aware.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks very much.
If there are things to be learned from that, we do.
I do feel it's onerous job these people save enormous
amount of money.
And honestly, I would say nothing about us without us
on their behalf.
We shouldn't be making rules about their facilities
without talking to them.
I'm really disappointed at that.
And I hope it doesn't happen again.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Would any other counselors like to speak to the motion?
Counselor Bodsworth.
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: Just to say that I also really
admire the dedication that people bring to the
committees of management and where would we be without
them?
We just wouldn't be able to offer the services to all
of our communities that we can.
Nowhere near.
And I do agree with the principle that counselor
Wellington is talking to which is the nothing about us
without us principle.
And I agree with that.
I think that's something we should bring next time.
All in all, fantastic contribution by the departing
members, the new members and all of the members of
community asset committees throughout the Shire.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Any other counselors?
Counselor Hodge, any closing comments?
>> ROSE HODGE: Very quickly.
No doubt with the new committee members, they'll be
going over the policies around decision making.
I'm sure the officers will put the policies to them
that they know what's happening around them.
Again, thank you to those people that have worked on it
and the people putting their hands up for the community
people.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
And put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour?
The motion's carried unanimously.
Thank you, counselors.
Moving on to item 7.1.
Emissions reduction targets and road map.
Requesting Council to adopt a target of zero corporate
greenhouse gas emissions by the 30th of June, 2030.
We do have a recommendation.
Do I have a mover?
Counselor Gazzard, thank you.
And seconder?
Counselor Schonfelder.
Thank you.
Counselor Gazzard, would you like to speak?
>> KATE GAZZARD: Yes, I would.
I'm excited by this item.
Shows our dedication and leadership in this area in
response to the climate emergency.
And I think we all well know now with the IPCC reports
that going carbon neutral by 2030 is essential to
reduce global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Anything above that will have catastrophic outcomes for
the entire world.
As we're seeing with the floods, bushfires, we're in
the climate emergency, climate crisis.
And I don't think there's any denying that is what's
happening.
I'm really proud of our organisation for this
commitment.
I think our corporate emission reduction to zero by
2030 is admirable.
The challenge is the landfill which is 75% of our
emissions.
So that remains an on-going problem and something that
we will keep trying to solve and reduce emissions from
this.
And one of the priorities is diverting organic waste
from landfill we're doing a really good job at doing.
All the actions that we're taking are really important
and hopefully we'll inspire other Councils to do the
same.
What else was I going to say?
Thank you to the officers for all the work they've done
on this.
I think the road map is set out nice and clearly.
And will really help over the next ten years.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Counselor Schonfelder?
>> ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: Thank you, mayor.
I'd like to add that our organisation is setting
exemplary example.
It's interesting the different sectors in the community
and the economy are following suit.
And I know that there's a saying about reducing not
only our carbon footprint but our carbon hoof print as
well.
Other sectors are also taking reasonable and very
necessary steps towards reducing carbon emissions.
And I'd just like to also say that it's important to
think globally and to act locally.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Would any other counselors like to speak to the motion?
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I have a question about how much
of our energy is now -- how much of our reduction is
relating to purchased renewable energy as compared with
initiatives that we have implemented ourselves that
actually reduce our own footprint?
Does that make sense?
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: I'll refer that to the CEO.
>> Perhaps I'll start with general comments and then I
might hand to our general manager.
All of our energy that we use now is renewable.
Whether we generate it through our own solar systems or
whether we purchase electricity, it is all renewable
energy that we're using.
So that's really important.
We've got some clear road maps in terms of our
reductions of our existing footprint around our
vehicles and some of our other key areas of emissions.
And so it is a mixture.
In terms of the specific data to that and the
breakdown, are you able to help with that, Mr. Pike?
>> Perhaps by way of addition, important distinction to
make here is a difference between net zero and zero.
So net zero is achieved by offsetting your emissions by
purchasing.
And then the balance of this plan would be on 2022 is
about reducing Council easy missions regardless whether
they are off set by purchases or not.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thank you.
I just wondered, perhaps in the future, would be
helpful to me to have a breakdown of how much of our
zero is initiatives we implemented generated
electricity through solar or reduced paper production
or whatever versus how much we just kind of buying that
other people are doing the hard work in a sense, if
that makes sense.
>> We've got a lot of that data and we do report on
quite a lot of that.
We can absolutely demonstrate that in future reports
that will bring us part of our climate change
initiatives.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I think the community would be
interested in that.
I'm interested in it, obviously.
And the other question I had was we had a drop from
2021 to 2022.
Significant drop.
I wondered how much if any of that was due to Covid and
reduced travel and reduced buildings being used and
electricity consumption.
Just an observation is to whether we're going to have
an impact as Covid would be living with Covid and
opening up facilities again.
Doesn't matter if it's answered now unless there's a
clear answer to it.
To me, it looks like that drop is due to purchasing
renewable energy.
>> A lot is to do with our solar.
A lot more panels on our routes.
It's fair to say that Covid would have had an impact.
We would have had less people accessing our facilities.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thank you.
And I think, again, that would be great.
In terms of a couple things wanted to say.
A huge problem with the landfill.
I do wonder what investment and effort we can do in
that.
Just the whole process of energy and recycling and
diminishing use of plastic and waste.
So active and so very successful.
If we look at our landfill at our total, it's not
showing the reduction we're going to need.
And so I think I really commend the reduction in terms
of non-landfill emissions.
Obviously, we need to do what we can.
It's a small proportion of the overall footprint.
How much focus have we got and what else can be done in
terms of landfill?
There's a very significant predicted drop in 2026-27
which is about the capping of the landfill.
But then total starts to go up again.
Haven't quite worked all that out yet.
We need more information.
Wonder how much of that will be for the aquatic centre.
Significant Burt of gas use and any alternatives we
might be looking at in that regard.
That's all I want to say about that.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Would any other counselors like to speak?
Counselor Bodsworth.
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: Thank you, mayor.
Couple things I'd like to point out.
Mostly, these targets are accommodated within existing
budgets and programs.
Another one is I guess there's been conjecture in this
Council in the past about Council's role in mitigating
climate change.
The great thing that I've observed before I became a
counselor and since was the Council having made those
commitments to sticking to them.
And the thing I like so much about this road map is it
puts the made on the bones of that commitment and shows
how to get there, how faired income the Council is
arriving at those points in the future.
Where we want to be.
And that's what pleases me the most about this.
And one advantage of that is it puts us in a great
position of funding opportunities pointed out in the
report.
It's a strong point.
And we've already succeeded in really excited
externally funded emissions reduction project.
I'm sure that will continue.
With regard to the Anglesea landfill, I've been
involved quite a bit since being the counselor rep.
It's all about legacy emissions which is waste that's
there now that's been encapsulated.
So the emissions are carbon dioxide.
But less potent one.
I know we're capturing all we can at the moment.
The team is looking for options to capture more.
And also the emission quantities that are expressed in
the report models quantities rather than actual
quantities.
Possible there's a difference there between the models
and the actual.
And also the gas versus electric heating.
Would be a real aberration in light of the report and
road map if we can't find alternative to gas heating.
Would be a real shame and all of us would regret that.
Really congratulate the officers who have put work in
this.
We're sticking to what we've said we'll do.
And so I think it's something we can all be really
proud of.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Would any other counselors like to speak to the motion?
Counselor Gazzard, any closing comments?
>> KATE GAZZARD: Thank you.
Thanks to the other counselors for the comments.
Hope you'll support this.
I think the landfill legacy will continue for more than
20 years.
Hopefully, new technologies in that time.
At the very least, we've diverted all our organic
material from landfill which is a lot more than other
Councils have done.
I agree with the is consideration for the powering of
the aquatic centre.
We would not in good conscience be able to approve gas
fuelling of the centre.
That's for a different meeting and different decision.
I'm proud of this and what our Council's done.
Our current trajectory would have a reduction in 45% of
emissions by 2030.
Much more ambitious and I think it's what's necessary
in this climate crisis.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
I'll now put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour?
The motion is carried unanimously.
Thank you.
And on to item 7.2.
Which is the transfer of Council managed land to the
great ocean road coast and parks authority.
And we have a recommendation.
Counselor Bodsworth.
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: Per the recommendation, mayor.
I've got a great interest of this working for the coast
committee for ten years.
So I have personal experience of Victorian committees.
And I support the process that's led to the creation of
the authority.
I wish them really well with extremely challenging and
dazzling array of tasks they have in front much them.
Huge number of parcels.
931 coastal reserve parcels to be transferred to the
authority.
Including 55 or so of those in the Shire.
Absolutely enormous recruitment challenge they have at
the moment.
And getting their heads around all the new parcels and
the responsibilities.
From what I've seen, they are doing fantastic job and
positioning themselves and increasing capacity, getting
the right skill sets on board to fulfill those
functions really well.
However, for communities, that's a huge change.
And where it's administrative and really what this
report is about is a land admin activity.
On the receiving end of all that is local communities.
And there is a lot of trepidation about what it's all
going to mean about communities.
I sympathise with that.
It's a huge change for people.
In some cases, facilities like sporting clubs or
community buildings that will get a new landlord.
I believe the authority will be a great landlord.
And the positioning is setting themselves up really
well for that.
But I guess I'm really mindful of the need for them to
really fill that responsibility they are bringing in a
new phase of major change in our community's lives.
One thing that I puzzle over is the demons bluff
permanent beach closure.
It's about the only closure of completely unmodified
natural environment that I can think of.
Which I find quite an extraordinary thing to do.
Notwithstanding the fact the risk is high.
There's no denying that's severe risk.
To permanently close natural area for access.
If you take the alpine area, I could go up there and go
bush walking in my under pants in the middle of winter
and nobody would say anything.
Nobody would prevent me from doing that.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: I'm not sure that's true.
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: I'm not saying I would but I could.
I would get donged on the head by a branch off the tree
any time at all.
It's extraordinary to me this unmodified natural
environment is being closed.
So I can't agree with that one.
They are positioning themselves well.
Happy we're investing money to help this process in
case certain things aren't going so well.
And help communities adapt to the big change.
All in all, big supporter of what's happening and big
supporter of our investing and making sure this goes
well.
It's likely in the future we'll be making savings on
assets and areas we won't be looking after any more.
Investment in making sure all goes smoothly and the
communities are looked after.
Thanks.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Counselor Wellington.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks.
I support this, obviously.
The notion of a politic.
Complex task of transferring land from one authority to
another.
We have parcels that we discover we didn't know we had.
We had one down on the pier but presumably we're
transferring known parcels of land here.
It's a huge job.
No one wants to lose track of land along the way.
That is a potential with the number of parcels of land.
Hopefully it will be a good project.
Been imposed by government.
Put on an officer to support it.
Hopefully in the future, there will be some level of
pay back.
So that's good.
I support it.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Any other counselors?
Counselor Gazzard.
>> KATE GAZZARD: Thank you.
I support this as well.
I think originally I had trepidation with the formation
and the change in land management.
But if it's done well and once all the transition has
been made, it will really be protective for the coast.
I've been impressed having met with the CEO and members
how dedicated they are and keeping the community in
mind as well as environmental protection.
If that's consistent along the coast, the management in
the long-term will be improved just looking at our own
Shire.
The difference between coastal towns.
If there's one authority managing the whole, in the
long-term, that actually is a really good thing.
It will be tricky in the transition and teething
issues.
But the simple and least complex parcels will have a
good idea how the process will go.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Any other counselors?
Counselor Bodsworth, any closing comments?
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: No thanks.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Motion to a vote.
All those in favour?
The motion is carried unanimously.
Moving on to item 7.3.
The Bells Beach committee term extension.
Surf and recreation coastal marine management plan.
This item is requesting Council to extend the term of
the Bells Beach committee.
And there is a full recommendation listed in the
agenda.
Do I have a mover for this recommendation?
Counselor Bodsworth.
And seconded by counselor Pattison.
Thank you.
Would you like to speak to the motion?
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: Mayor, I support the recommendation
that's in the report and the justification for that
that's also set out in the report.
We have a coastal and marine management plan to 2025.
Specifies we have a committee feeding information back
to us to help manage the reserve.
There was a public expression of interest process in
2018 to appoint committee members.
As we talked about, the coast and parks authority
taking over parcels of land from Council.
And one of those is the Bells reserve.
It's really important that those members are there to
help the authority takeover management of Bells in the
most seamless way possible.
I think Bells is dear to our hearts here.
I'll be sad to see Council step back as manager and the
authority takeover.
This committee remains to be seen whether the authority
continues to run a committee.
The committee have been fantastic advocates for the
reserve and the breadth of experience they bring is
great.
And thank them for putting their hands back up for a
new term until the future with the authority becomes
clearer.
Also would like to thank Graham Stockton in helping the
Bells environment.
And that's all I'd like to say about it.
I recommend that we allow those committee members to
extend their term.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Counselor Pattison >> LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
I endorse the extent to assisting a smooth transition.
There is further work to do with respects of the
coastal marine management plan and around the events
policy.
I know at the time of the development of the CMMP, this
was appropriate arrangement.
As population has grown and evolved, it does seem to be
unfair and exclusive to some clubs within our region.
We do need to relook at that.
It's complicated given the transition is it in 2023.
I don't think the current arrangement is fair.
And so I do wonder whether there can be further work to
address that to ensure it's resolved going forward.
And whether there's an opportunity to reappoint
additional member in Lou of the resignation that more
broadly represents.
The committee was set up in 2018 and more players and
more interested people in the community that might want
to be part of that.
These are all things that we can consider over the
coming time frame.
Thanks.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Counselor Wellington.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I support the appointment of
this committee and I think some of the issues raised
are quite important.
I do find the terminology rather odd.
Of course the chair must be impartial.
You can't have a chair who is partial.
They'll destroy the committee.
I think we should have an independent chair which is
what you'd have in a government setting.
And six community members.
And come to the committee with those interests on the
table.
What we're looking for is an independent chair who has
the ability to be impartial.
When they are chairing, maybe they have to be
impartial.
So I hope we have this as independent chair and six
nominees that have interest and knowledge.
And they are not independent.
Need to act in the interest as a reserve as a whole.
The equity to access of reserve is really important.
Needs to be addressed hopefully before the transfer
rather than after.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Would any other counselors like to speak?
Counselor Gazzard.
>> KATE GAZZARD: Thank you.
I support this as well.
I would actually like to see Bells become a nature
reserve rather than a recreational reserve.
And signifying importance as cultural and beautiful
natural place rather than just focusing on significance
to the surfing community.
But they've done a really good job and continue to do
the transition.
And I'm sad to see the resignation of Stockton.
Thank you for his service.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Any other counselors like to speak
to this motion?
Any closing comments?
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: Just in relation to the comments
about nature reserve designation.
I have a belief that Bells deserves to be listed on the
national heritage register rather than the state
register.
Only appears as a part of the listing.
Personally, I believe Bells deserves listing on the
national heritage register.
And because I'm a member of the committee we're talking
about here, I have mentioned that desire to the
committee and asked them to consider it.
Also asked the Aboriginal corporation to consider it
and the reps to consider that as well.
And our tenure isn't continuing much over a year from
now, not something we can impose on a future manager.
I do hope they take that idea forward and give it
consideration.
If it doesn't turn out that way, then so be it.
That's my personal hope that Bells can be listed on the
register of national heritage.
Thanks for your comments.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
All those in favour?
Raise your hands.
The motion is carried unanimously.
Thank you.
Item 7.4.
This is effective signage and regulation of all signage
on land designed or managed by Council.
Requesting Council to adopt the policy.
Do I have a mover for the recommendation?
Counselor Schonfelder.
Seconder?
Counselor Gazzard.
Thank you.
Counselor Schonfelder, would you like to speak to the
motion?
>> ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: Yes, please.
I formally move the idea as it is presented.
And I'd like to note that the signage on Council manage
land policy defines the principles for effective
signage and the authority which allows regulation of
all signage on land owned or managed by Council.
The policy references procedures and guidelines to
provide further guidelines on particular types of
signs.
The process of approval and relevant considerations for
each type of signage.
The absence of counselor Allen who has quite a keen
interest in signs and signage.
And highlight the fact this policy is related to
Council land and not to roadside signage.
That's a separate situation.
Both the policy and management procedure due for
periodic review.
Key changes include updated to a new Council policy
template, local government inserted.
A new line is proposed to be included in the policy
statement which priority will be given to signage for a
name precinct or to indicate a location with a number
of facilities and services where the precinct is not
named.
Signage or generic terms such as shops will be used.
Individual facilities, services or businesses located
within the precinct will not be signed from the road.
Small finding signage may be used to support clear
direction.
In relation to this issue, a question that came to my
mind whether there would be Aboriginal language use.
And municipality has many areas with Aboriginal names.
The answer to that question is yes.
I support having Aboriginal names also used where
possible.
And I know from travel oversees, there are places that
have indigenous names as well as English names.
And even French names in Canada.
I really welcome this.
Thank you, mayor.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
>> KATE GAZZARD: I think he's covered it.
In counselor Allen's absence, I think what he would say
is the least signs the better.
It is important that the signs are grouped together and
kept to a minimum number and concise where possible.
Keeping in consideration safety issues and making them
easy to read for accessibility.
We did discuss in future this policy could include the
scope of using our own language and words on signs.
And counselor Bodsworth brought up the consideration of
signage material and resource recovery and how we can
sustainably use the signs and replace them.
So that's just something to consider in future as well.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Any other counselors like to speak?
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Another question please.
Does this apply to Council community of management
facilities such as the Easton reserve or controlled by
this policy?
Have we consulted with them?
>> I'll refer that question to our GM of place making
environment.
>> It does include those facilities and no, we have not
undertaken consultation on this.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Can I ask what it means for
industrial estates?
I know in a number of -- in Torquay, there's a sign
that --
and it says in here somewhere it won't do that.
In Winchelsea, there's been discussion about trying to
get a sign that highlights.
Is that included in this policy?
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: I'll refer that to the CEO.
>> And refer that to the GM of place making
environment.
>> If that is on Council-owned or managed land, yes,
this is the policy that would apply to that.
How it would apply to the example, I won't be able to
answer that specifically.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thank you.
Council managed land would include [Inaudible].
>> It would.
Within townships, yes.
Outside of the township boundary.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I'm sorry.
I'm not going to support it on the same base I.
Nothing about us without us.
We shouldn't be doing this without talking to the
clubs, and all of the clubs that manage those
facilities and have competing demands about signage.
To me, it's a matter of courtesy and respect.
And I am concerned about the scope of it.
Talks about -- says the regulation of all signs.
There's a -- should be on Council lined or controlled
land.
That also relates to leased land and licensed land and
signage outside.
No longer leased or licensed.
Wonder whether the scope's been well thought through.
And if we would have gone to the groups and said what
do you think about these policy, they might have raised
them.
Inconsistency.
We talk about engagement and community and we've got a
Council plan that I'm sure talks about that.
And implementle policies --
implement the policies without talking about it.
I respect the need to have a signage policy.
It doesn't take a lot to shoot it around to people and
say what do you think?
And maybe we'll learn something.
So I won't support it tonight.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Any other counselors like to speak
to the motion?
No?
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: Look, I don't think I can support it
either, actually, in the form that it's in.
I do agree with the reason counselor Wellington's
brought up for the second time tonight.
But also I think I haven't really looked through it
before reviewing the agenda.
I did find a lot of things I was interested in and
interested in having input on including a couple things
counselor Gazzard brought up with regard to
sustainability materials and things like that.
The scope issue is an important one.
I feel like it's underdone.
Could benefit from circulation as a draft.
To committees of management and other Stakeholders.
And I personally would appreciate some more time to go
through it.
I don't think I can support its adoption either.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Any other counselors like to speak to the motion?
No?
Counselor Schonfelder, any closing comments?
>> ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: I'd just like to say I'm taking
this from a pragmatic point of view from the Council.
When it comes to consulting, where do you draw the
line?
Weary elected to govern.
And I think need to look at this from a pragmatic point
of view.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
We'll now put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour raise your hands.
And all those against?
The motion is carried 5-2.
Thank you, counselors.
And moving on to item...
>> We have a break.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: I was hoping to push through.
That's a reasonable request.
It is 8:00.
Welcome back to the community and thank you for your
patience and I'll just ask for a mover and a seconder
to resume standing orders.
Thank you.
So we are up to item 8.1 which are the project budget
adjustments and cash reserve transfers for April.
I keep doing that.
Just going back to resuming standing orders.
All those in favour?
And the motion is carried unanimously.
Thank you.
I was getting ahead of myself and jumping straight in.
So this report contains the proposed adjustments and
cash reserve transfers recommended for Council
approval.
Do I have a mover for the recommendation?
Counselor Schonfelder and seconded by counselor
Gazzard.
Thank you.
And counselor Schonfelder, did you want to speak?
>> ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: Move the motion as read.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
And counselor Gazzard?
>> KATE GAZZARD: No thanks.
Any other counselors like to speak?
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I would like to move amendment
we shift the $75,000 we've saved in fleet programs that
we put it into our environment program and use it for
the purposes of accelerating transition to electric
vehicles.
We should be working on the light fleet now.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: So I would have to take that as an
alternate motion.
Given any changes -- given we've just passed the draft
budget.
Any changes to transfers would have a material
significant outcome on the budget that we've just
passed.
Would you like to foreshadow alternate motion.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I won't bother.
But $75,000 in almost $100 million budge set unlikely
to be material.
We haven't passed the budget.
So doesn't matter.
I'll put the idea out there if anyone else wants to
support it and get $75,000 and accelerate our
transition to electric vehicles which are becoming
common place.
We could close the gap quite a bit with that.
That's my suggestion.
I do have one other.
The $60,000 there and I've got a question as to how
much of it will go on communications.
I can't find it.
I won't worry about that.
That's it.
Sorry, the review of the storm water arrangements for
the wetlands.
Additional $60,000 for delivering a great project
objectives and adequate communications.
How much is going on communications and how much is
going on actually doing things for the wetlands out of
that $60,000?
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: I'd need to refer that question to
the CEO.
>> I'll refer it on to our GM of place making
environment.
>> Thanks for the question.
I believe it's around 15,000 is an increase to the
budget specifically for communications.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Right.
Okay.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: The clock was paused.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: A couple things I would like to
say.
I would very much like us to do something about our
light fleet.
We have increasingly electric vehicles driving around.
They are becoming very affordable.
Virtually no maintenance.
And if we've saved money, we should reinvest it in the
light fleet.
Would make a difference to our approach to the
environment.
In terms of the wetlands, I've seen a lot of
communications.
Really positive amount of work we're doing and thankful
that's on the agenda.
I've never heard of the wetlands or the massive problem
or significance of it until the Sans people approached
us.
I find that concerning.
I'm pleased it's on the agenda.
I don't like the idea that we need to tell the
community what we're doing and open about the
challenges and needs to be Frank and feelers to the
community.
And not spin we've dug up a lot of weeds.
It's a good thing but it's a Mazz I have challenge down
there.
If we're going to spend money on communications, I'd
like to see us be so honest about what the challenge is
and what we need to fix it and how much of it we've
addressed which is sort of a drop in the ocean.
That's massive asset for us and massive liability.
And we're going to need help to address that.
If we put out positive spin --
not spin but, you know, communication, market, whatever
it is to the community.
That's great we've done all that.
We have to be really honest and transparent to the
community about the problem as well as what we're doing
to fix it.
That's my view.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Any other counselors like it speak to this motion?
Counselor Bodsworth.
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: One item I'd like to highlight.
Contribution from Megan McCalpin towards the outdoor
performance space landscaping.
Phil was a cyclist, volunteer with Surf Coast mountain
bike club and a great community contributor killed on a
training ride last year.
One of the big hills down there.
Tragically killed when a gust of wind blew the group he
was riding with into the path of an on-coming vehicle.
I think it's lovely to see that contribution in memory
of Phil.
Thanks.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
And counselor Schonfelder, any closing comments?
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Before we get to that, is my
motion we contribute $75,000 to moving the light
vehicle fleet to electric, I'd like to foreshadow that
as a motion.
If this motion is rejected, the next motion is we
approve it all and reallocate that $75,000 to moving
towards electric light vehicles of fleet.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Counselor Schonfelder, any closing comments?
>> ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: I respect your ruling but I had
no objection to amendment to this.
However, I feel that looking forward, we can make
achievements in relation to having electric vehicle
fleets and I welcome further discussion on that and for
the progress on that.
Thank you.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Can I suggest if he doesn't
object, we should ask the seconder whether they accept
it and that would be the amended motion.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: I've already ruled it was alternate
motion.
I'm happy to ask counselor Gazzard if she accepted
that.
>> KATE GAZZARD: Can I ask what the implications of
this would be?
>> It's a good question, counselor Gazzard.
I think as part of the work that we've been doing
around our fleet and future fleet, we are currently
moving to hybrid vehicles and the view is we would move
to electric vehicles in the future as the economics get
to be better.
At the moment it's still quite expensive.
We think that when we get to the next turn over of our
fleet which you will have seen in the report earlier,
we talk about moving to electric vehicles in 2026 or
2027, I think.
And so that is our planned position in the earlier
report.
We can look at what that might mean in starting to
invest in electric vehicles now and how that works in
terms of ensuring we can charge those vehicles and used
in fleet.
We haven't looked at them in the short-term.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: The report we passed earlier
tonight does include -- transferring our fleet to
become electric.
>> That's right.
At the moment, it's a time line for that.
That 2026-27, is that right?
>> Yes.
Subject to review, that's the plan.
We're in cycle with hybrid vehicles and the next cycle
in four year's time CHLTtime.
And the charging stations.
Just the other point I would add is the source of
funding is the asset renewal reserve here.
Any reduction in draw down from that reserve makes
funds available for other projects that need to be
funded from the reserve.
And counselors will note in the draft budget the
backlog of asset renewal projects predominantly in the
road renewal space.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Counselor Gazzard.
>> KATE GAZZARD: Can I ask another question?
What might that $75,000 be otherwise going towards
then?
>> So as part of that, going back into our reserve, it
would then be -- we would look to allocate that as part
of our maintenance and renewal program.
>> KATE GAZZARD: Okay.
I think it's a really good suggestion, counselor
Wellington.
I don't know how much $75,000 might only buy one
electric vehicle depending which models we look at.
I don't feel comfortable changing the document at this
stage given that we've just put our draft budget out.
So I don't accept the amendment.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Okay.
We'll move the -- we have an foreshadowed motion.
We'll vote on the original motion in the event it's
lost, then counselor Wellington will have an
opportunity to move that.
All those in favour of the motion that was moved for
the project budget adjustments in cash reserve
transfers?
All those against?
The motion is carried 6-1.
Thank you, counselors.
On to item 8.2 which is the quarterly finance report
for March.
We have a recommendation as attached for March 2022.
Do we have a mover for that?
Counselor Bodsworth.
That's per the recommendation.
And a seconder?
Counselor Schonfelder.
Thank you.
And counselor Bodsworth, would you like to speak to the
motion?
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: No.
Thanks, mayor.
>> ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: I'll reserve my right.
Thank you, mayor.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Any other counselors?
All those in favour?
And the motion is carried unanimously.
Thank you.
8.3 is instrument of appointment and authorisation
planning and environment act.
Do I have a mover?
Counselor Hodge, thank you.
And seconder, counselor Gazzard.
And counselor Hodge, did you want to speak?
>> ROSE HODGE: Stipulates what new staff on that list.
So I support the recommendations as is.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Counselor Gazzard.
>> KATE GAZZARD: Just to say we're sad to see Brendon
Walsh go.
Thank him for all the work he's done.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Any other counselors?
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: Sad to see him go.
Great new talent coming in like Rebecca.
And a whole bunch of others.
So sad to see some go.
Great to see others arrive.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Any other counselors?
And put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour?
The motion is carried unanimously.
Thank you, counselors.
Item 8.4 is counselor appointment to the audit and risk
committee.
The purpose of this report is for Council to appoint a
counselor to the audit and risk committee while
counselor Barker is on a leave of absence.
>> KATE GAZZARD: I'd like to nominate counselor
Bodsworth to be appointed to the committee.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Is there a second?
Counselor Schonfelder.
Thank you.
Counselor Gazzard, did you want to speak to that?
>> KATE GAZZARD: I think counselor Bodsworth will do a
great job on the one meeting.
High hopes for you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you.
Counselor Schonfelder.
>> ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: The sentiments expressed from
counselor Gazzard.
Thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Any other counselors like to speak
to the motion?
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I would just like to say that I
know counselor Bodsworth will find it interesting.
It is a committee open to any counselor to attend.
And it's a really good committee and the people want to
do a great deal of hard work.
You learn quite a lot about a lot of the risks and
processes that happen in the organisation.
It will be good to have counselor Bodsworth there.
Might be for a long time.
Who knows.
Wait and see what the election brings.
Encourage others to take part as well.
It's a useful use of your time.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
And counselor Bodsworth.
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: Just to say thanks for your support.
Hopefully, I'll do a good job in the meeting.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: All those in favour please raise
your hands?
The motion's carried unanimously.
Thank you.
8.3 is counselor expenses.
And the purpose is to note this report.
Do I have a mover for the recommendation?
Counselor Schonfelder.
And a seconder?
Counselor Bodsworth.
Thank you.
Did you want to speak to the motion counselor
Schonfelder?
>> ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: No, thank you.
>> MIKE BODSWORTH: No.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Would anyone else like to speak?
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I want to ask a question on page
449.
There's a list of Council meetings scheduled by
resolution.
Does that include the Council meetings or is that
separate?
12 briefings for every three meetings or is it 9 and 3?
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: My understanding based on the
asterisks, it's Council briefings.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: So that doesn't include -- it's
12 briefings for every three meetings.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: I'm happy to refer it through the
CEO just to get clarification.
>> I'll refer this to our GM of strategy and
effectiveness.
My understanding is that it also includes things like
hearing of submissions and other meetings as well.
But I will refer it.
Perhaps given it is Rebecca's first night tonight.
Given he's been acting in the role for the last three
months.
>> My understanding is it includes those meetings as
well as meetings like recently the Council met with
community group areas in inlet or Anglesea.
And because the Council met with them, it's considered,
as I understand it, meetings held under the auspices of
Council.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: I can see there's a shake of the
head over there.
>> If the meeting's arranged by the Shire, that's under
Council.
If it's a community group, [Inaudible].
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Can I clarify about hearings of
submissions?
My understanding is they are scheduled by resolution
now; is that correct?
>> That's correct.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: So is it correct there's 12
briefings for every three meetings of Council?
There has been.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: I think that would be correct.
We have a briefing every Tuesday.
So there's four briefings a month.
And there's one Council meeting per month. So, yes.
>> HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thank you.
Just wanted to make a comment.
Obviously, I don't come to briefings and everyone
around this table knows the reasons for that.
One of them is kind of displayed by the table really.
Just the incredible time commitment in meetings.
Not just for counselors but for officers.
If you look at the records of those meetings and the
number of officers that attend, it doesn't give the
time officers come and go.
Presume there's not 20 officers sat there anything for
the meeting.
Presume they are coming and going.
It's a very big commitment on organisational time.
My experience I think I've said previously was they had
one briefing per meeting.
And that was adequate.
Counselors didn't partake in the development of
briefing papers which is what happens here.
I think it's been acknowledged about the budget.
The problem with that if they partake, they become
invested in it.
Then they are not necessarily looking at it with the
objective eyes of the governance body which is an
important role for this body.
One is the time commitment.
One is the scheduling of these meetings.
Scheduled to preclude people who work.
So unfortunately, anyone looking at this, we're looking
ahead to two and-a-half.
And if anyone looked at that and said oh, my goodness,
if I have to go to 15 meetings a month all in working
time, most people would say I can't do that if I've got
a full-time job and can't do it or if I'm the community person.
15 meets a month.
Good grief.
No other body anywhere that meets to that extent.
To my perspective, there's a problem here.
And another reason I don't go.
But not always the most conducive meetings to attend.
My view as well if you can get your information in
other ways, why would you subject yourself to that.
That's my third reason.
Perhaps things have changed.
Who knows?
I haven't been for a long time.
Just want to make those points.
I think there's an over reliance on meetings.
I prefer to use the time dealing with the community.
The community appreciates that.
Anyone who watches these meetings would understand if
you don't go to briefings, you can still be really
informed about the items coming up for consideration.
I hope I've displayed that tonight and other nights.
And I believe I'm well informed.
Interesting to see the numbers.
There's things behind it that need to be really thought
through in my view.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Thanks.
Any other counselors like to speak to this motion?
Counselor Schonfelder, any closing comments?
>> ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: No, thank you.
>> LIBBY STAPLETON: Motion to a vote.
All those in favour?
The motion is carried unanimously.
Thank you.
We have 8.6 which is conflict of interest records.
So mover and seconder for the recommendation to note
the conflict of interest records.
Counselor Schonfelder, thank you.
And counselor Gazzard.
All those in favour, raise your hands.
The motion is carried unanimously.
And no items of urgent business, I'd like to let the
community know we do have one confidential item to
consider tonight.
The draft budget is now online and can be downloaded
for the community to review and please get your
feedback to us.
We'd love to hear your thoughts.
We'll now say good night to everyone in the gallery.
Thank you, Jill.
And to those watching from home, we thank you for
joining us this evening.
And can I please have counselors move and second motion
to move into confidential?
Counselor Schonfelder and counselor Gazzard.
All those in favour? Thank you.