MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Welcome.
Welcome to our December Council meeting and our final meeting of 2022.
I'm Mayor Liz Pattison and it's a pleasure to welcome members of the community
into the Chambers tonight.
Thank you for coming.
This meeting is also being live streamed, so a big welcome to those tuning in online
and of course welcome to my fellow Councillors, and we're lucky
to have Councillor Mike Bodsworth calling in from England,
so it's quite the Council meeting.
And Councillor Wellington, it's my understanding,
will be joining us shortly as well.
Live captioning will accompany the live stream
and the Council Chamber is fitted with a hearing loop which transmits
directly to hearing aids.
We hope that this assists those who may have hearing difficulties.
The Surf Coast Shire local government area spans the traditional lands
of the Wadawurrung people and the Gulidjan and Gadubanud people
of the Eastern Maar Nation.
I would like to acknowledge that here in Torquay at the main Council office
we are gathered on Wadawurrung country.
I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
The Wadawurrung people have nurtured and protected these lands and waterways
for thousands of generations and I am so grateful for the opportunity
to live and work in such a beautiful part of the world.
We also wish to acknowledge the traditional owners
of the lands on which each person is attending
and acknowledge any Aboriginal people who may be viewing the meeting tonight.
Earlier this month I had the honour of leading formalities
as 20 people became Australian citizens here in this Council Chamber.
It was a really fun evening and Damian helped me with that,
as did Councillor Allen, and it was great.
There were conferees from Spain, the UK, USA, Hungary, Colombia, India, France,
Canada, New Zealand, Thailand, Finland, Poland and Ireland, so a very vast array
of people undertaking their Australian citizenship ceremony,
which was a pleasure to be a part of.
Also, as part of the revamped grants program a total
of 31 community groups and schools shared in $43,687
in our grant ceremony, with numerous recipients celebrating here
just last week.
The grants create change in our community, many through volunteers who give so much
back to the community.
Members of the Winchelsea community also officially opened an avenue
of 60 lemon scented gum trees planted to honour the life and reign
of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
This wonderful project forms the first part of a much larger Council supported
community vision to create an arboretum, an extensive heritage tree trail
in Winchelsea.
And we also have to make mention of the wonderful afternoon tea that we had
as a result afterwards in the shire hall, which I and Councillor Schonfelder
and Councillor Wellington, we all took part in which was delicious,
so thank you very much.
And now to our agenda.
Let's get under way because we have a lot to get through.
So I'll just go a little bit through the process.
Council meetings operate according to our adopted Governance Rules
which include the following procedures.
During the meeting the mover of a motion or an amendment may speak
for a maximum of 5 minutes to open the debate
and then a further 2 minutes to make a closing statement.
Any other Councillor, including the seconder, may speak
to a motion for no more than 3 minutes.
I'll now recite the Pledge as a sign of our commitment.
"As Councillors we carry out our responsibilities with diligence
and integrity and make fair decisions of lasting value for the wellbeing
of our community and environment."
Now we'll continue on with our apologies.
We have two Councillors that are caught travelling and
will hopefully join online shortly.
So Councillor Barker and Councillor Gazzard may come
on in the next hour or so.
OFFICER: So Mayor, apologies for lateness.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: I guess we could, yes
- just letting everyone know the situation there.
Confirmation of minutes.
Can I have a mover and a seconder to confirm the minutes
of the Council meeting held on Tuesday, the 22nd of November?
CR ROSE HODGE: I'm happy to move, Madam Mayor.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Hodge and Councillor Allen.
Can we vote?
All those in favour and the motion is moved unanimously.
Leave of absence requests.
Are there any Councillors requesting a leave of absence?
No?
Declarations of conflicts of interest.
If a Councillor or an officer has a conflict of interest,
they must declare it now and do so again just prior
to the item being discussed.
The Councillor and/or officer will be requested to leave Chambers,
or for those online to be placed by the host in a virtual waiting room,
whilst the matter is being considered.
Once the matter is resolved, the Councillor and/or officer
will be returned to the meeting.
Are there any declarations of conflicts of interest in relation
to tonight's agenda?
ROBYN SEYMOUR: I'll be declaring an interest to the item relating
to the CEO Employment Matters Committee.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Thanks.
- are there any presentations from Councillors tonight.
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: Mayor, I would be delighted
to make a presentation and to announce at the Council meeting that I had the
great honour of attending the Growing Winchelsea
Photographic Competition and I was one of six judges and judging took place
over the year and each judge had to pick six photographs in different areas
and I must say it was very difficult trying to pick a winner and trying
to finalise the selection, but I can announce to the Council and
to the community tonight
- this has already been announced, but I'll reannounce it
- that Brett Martin was the winning photographer
with the photograph called Night Sculptures
and it has the eastern sculptures in Winchelsea
and it has the Milky Way featured in the photograph.
I am biassed, but I think it's the most attractive
sculpture in Victoria.
I'd go as far as to say that.
And in the junior category
- I would like to mention all the winners, but I won't, but I congratulate them
and we all congratulate them, of course, but the junior winner was Bella Leak and
she had some photograph of sheep and I think there was a lamb there
that was shorn as well and it reminds me of what my grandmother used to say.
She used to say there's nothing more innocent than
a lamb.
So once again I congratulate all involved and it was a fantastic event held
at the Winchelsea Hall.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Great.
Thank you, Councillor Schonfelder.
We have received no submissions and we'll now move on
to public question time.
Members of the public who wish to ask a question to Council are able
to submit their written questions in accordance
with Council's Governance Rules.
We have had four community members submit questions and we have a total of seven
to address tonight.
So the first question that we have is from Patrick Cahir and we'll read
out those questions.
So this is from Patrick Cahir in Torquay regarding road safety.
"I praise the Council for its road safety Drive to Zero campaign
and its commitment to improve road safety.
Unfortunately, Council passed a by-law in December 2021 that contradicts this
excellent campaign and allows very large caravans to park
on nature strips.
Council was aware of this contradiction to the Road Safety Act 2017 at the time
and also the fact that no other Council in Victoria has such a by-law.
Could you please explain why the Council introduced this by-law
6.6 that allows a very large caravan to park
on our nature strips that completely blocks vision to all road users?
"And the second question, because I think we'll answer those as one,
is"
I alerted the Council to this road safety issue
through a written submission and numerous emails to the Council
in 2021.
Indeed, the Victorian Ombudsman's Office also
emailed the Council with specific advice on the legal consequences of this by-law
in November 2021.
My question is why did the Council ignore this advice
and the obvious contradictions of road safety and recommend this by-law
6.6 to the elected Councillors? "And I'll pass those questions on
to our CEO.
ROBYN SEYMOUR: Thank you, Mayor Pattison.
Thank you, Patrick, for your interest and commitment to road safety.
That is really wonderful and we really appreciate that.
Council resolved at the 7th of December 2021 meeting
to adopt the Community Amenity Local Laws 2021 and committed
to undertaking a targeted review of parking on nature strips in 2022.
The public questions relating to this same matter have been asked
and responses provided at previous Council meetings on the 22nd
of March 2022, the 26th of April 2022 and the 24th of May 2022.
The local law adopted on the 7th of December 2021 was certified by lawyers
in accordance with the Local Government Act 2020.
This certification was attached to the public agenda where the local law
was presented for adoption, but tonight Council
is considering this matter under agenda item 4.4.
Thanks, Patrick.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
We'll now move on to the next question from Richard Lockie in Winchelsea.
We don't have Richard here with us, do we?
No.
"If the clay bricks characterise the building, why not reuse them
for the walls?
Add further earthen materials by lime rendering the exterior
for weather proofing and earthen plaster the interior.
A great community experience.
Building on the embodied energy banked
in the materials already rather than destroying that good will.
The major supporting posts are the issue.
With a large crane it would be possible to lift the roof off that's wood
in good condition and replacing the posts with proper hard wood posts that won't be
eaten with secondary equipment.
There would be people in town with this skill.
The re-earthing can also be achieved by locals with experience.
Sharing the contracts with local builders and engineers would make sense.
It would garnish greater support.
Embodied energy.
"And the second question:"
Did the Council acquire the mud hut when it took over the area?
How much did it pay?
How much is the contractor earning to build the steel shed?
What is the budget for the job?
Was it offered locally?
What happened to creativity in design? "And I'll pass those on to our CEO
to respond to.
ROBYN SEYMOUR: Thank you, Mayor Pattison.
Richard, thank you very much for your question and also for your ideas
and thoughts about a way forward in terms of the mud hut and I'd really like
to thank everyone from the Winchelsea community who
is here tonight in relation to the mud hut.
I think we've heard pretty clearly over the last couple
of weeks that there are concerns around the current scope of the mud hut
and how it relates to what we already have in place in Winchelsea.
Unfortunately, our condition audit notes that the brick wall failure
and deteriorating bricks may be unable to be reused, but I do like the kind
of thinking about what might be possible.
So the project is currently on hold.
We've got some work to do around the native bats and the solution
around the native bats in relation to the structure.
In relation to the contract, it was offered locally
and you may remember or recall that the contract was tendered twice,
and whilst engaging a local supplier is important,
unfortunately there were no local builders who responded to the tender.
The community assets previously managed by the Shire
of Winchelsea were transferred to Surf Coast Shire at no cost.
That was part of the process of amalgamation.
And the budget for this project is $185,000,
which includes the new structure, landscaping,
the Cultural Heritage Management Plan, project management
and also a project contingency.
But thank you, Richard, for your feedback and also your thoughts
about what might be possible.
We're keen to look at and work with community around what
is the next steps.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
And we'll move on to our next question from Jody Earl from Winchelsea and this
is also in relation to the mud hut.
"I would like to request that a town meeting could be
arranged to discuss the structure proposed to replace the Mud Hut.
In attendance in particular, Surf Coast Council representatives
who actually signed off on this.
This will give them the opportunity to tell the community how they came
to the structure that has been designed, who they had their discussions with
from the community, et cetera.
"I'll pass this one also to our CEO.
ROBYN SEYMOUR: Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you, Jody, again for your thoughts about a way forward
in terms of how we work on finding a solution in relation
to the mud hut.
We did do community consultation in 2020 and in 2022 which informed the current
design, but as we've heard loud and clearly from the community
in Winchelsea, there's more work that needs to be done in relation
to the mud hut and we really
- we have heard that and we do value your input and thank you
for raising your concerns and also your suggestions
about a way forward and we will be keen to work with community on what is possible
in relation to the mud hut.
To be clear, that probably is unlikely to be until sort of mid Jan once we
all get through Christmas and can ensure we sort of begin
to understand what is likely to be happening with bats
and what's possible, but yes, so late Jan we'll be keen to look
at how we work with community on progressing what
will be the new structure in Winchelsea.
But thank you for your thoughts.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
And our last question is from Jenny Mathison and Jenny,
did you want to ask it yourself.
JENNY MATHISON: Thank you, Madam Mayor and Councillors.
This is much appreciated that I can come down and talk.
You've probably answered a lot of the questions, but here we go.
My question 1, and I appreciate
- can I just say I appreciate all the front row of locals who've turned
up.
I'll go ahead now.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
JENNY MATHISON: What can we, the community of Winchelsea, do to work
with Council's already constructed design of what is referred to locally as a
"carport"
to make it more acceptable to replace the mud hut
with an enticing comfortable meeting place
There have been several opportunities for community consultation by the Shire,
but many residents feel the brief is not being adhered to, particularly
in reference to the most recent update of May 2022,
when feedback included the desire for "natural timber and sympathetic tones
to blend with the existing surroundings."
ROBYN SEYMOUR: Jenny, can I suggest you read both
and then I'll respond?
JENNY MATHISON: Can do, yes.
ROBYN SEYMOUR: Is that okay?
JENNY MATHISON: The second question: due to the current cost of over $150,000
- and I did know the price, but I put that in there anyway
- for the proposed steel framed construction and so the expense
that would be incurred to cancel the project,
would it be possible for a community interest group to work
with the Council later to erect, say, some low walls with wind protection,
maybe rammed earth or gabion basket to link with the toilet block?
This could possibly be at no further cost to the shire.
I add the possible, but could possibly be of no further cost to the shire.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thanks, Jenny, for your question and Robyn, our CEO,
would you like to respond.
ROBYN SEYMOUR: Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you, Jenny.
Thanks for coming in and thanks again to the Winchelsea community for coming in.
I think you talk about a couple of things that are actually really
important and are part of our Council priorities.
One is around enabling communities.
So we've got a number of projects where we've worked
with communities around supporting them in terms of delivering projects
like the Bob Pettitt bike park and also the performance base
in Deans Marsh and so we are keen to look for opportunities.
In relation to the mud hut, we need to work through what's possible now given
where we're at with the delivery of that project, but I do really
like your ideas and your thoughts.
I think there's work for us to do to kind of understand where we're at,
what the next steps are and what might be possible,
but we'll be keen to work through what that might look like
with community next year, early next year.
JENNY MATHISON: Thank you very much.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Thanks for your questions.
We're now moving on to petitions and we did not receive one
in 10 business days prior to this Council meeting,
but I believe Councillor Wellington has a petition to table.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks, Mayor Stapleton [sic], I do.
So I have a petition that was collected by Alison Dean,
who's a Winchelsea resident, and it's a petition about the mud hut
and again it's based on
- there were two petitions that were done, one was online, and it was realised
- it collected quite a lot of signatures, but it was realised that it didn't comply
with Council guidelines.
So a petition was then collected within about three hours last weekend just
up in the main street and it has more than 100 signatures on it
and it's expressing the community's concern about the mud hut and asking
for the project to be revisited, which is what I understand that the CEO
is saying and certainly my understanding of what Council is going to do.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: I'll just stop you there, Councillor Wellington,
because we'll just move on and then we can talk about it.
I just wanted to
- thank you for clarifying that you've got a petition and then we'll just move
through the process, if that's alright.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: That's fine.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: I'd like to move that petition be accepted.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: That's great, thank you.
And do I have a seconder for that?
Councillor Schonfelder, thank you.
And Councillor Wellington, would you like to speak?
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks very much.
Look, thank you to the Councillors for accepting the petition.
I think that there's clearly been a breakdown in the engagement process
and there's two issues really.
One is the fact that the engagement process hasn't hit the spot and there
is a question about why and that's not a question of blame,
it's a question of trying to learn from what's happened and, you know,
improve our processes so it doesn't happen again because it
is Council's responsibility to engage the community.
It's also the community responsibility to engage,
but we have a primary responsibility of ensuring people know the engagement
opportunity and people know, you know, what's proposed and it just does seem
to me that many, many people in the community were not
aware of the project.
And I know Council officers took steps to publicise it,
but it shows the difficulty of communicating in COVID times and
in times when people are very busy and very stressed
and newspapers aren't read as much these days
and websites aren't read by everybody.
We just need to find a way to do that.
So that's the first thing.
The second thing from my perspective is equally important,
probably more important, and that's the site for this replacement
to the mud hut, people who know Winchelsea will know that it's a very prominent
site at the eastern
- really the eastern entrance to the township or
to the shopping centre area, the commercial centre of the town,
near the swimming pool, next to the playground,
next to the amenities block.
It's an enormously busy and visible portion
of the Winchelsea street scape in the centre of town.
The mud hut was built with a great deal of love and commitment
by people in the community and it's been very much loved and used
over many years and it does need to be replaced
and people who follow Council will know that for most of the last term
of Council I was advocating at every possible opportunity
for something to be done about the mud hut to get rid of the construction fence
around it, which was put up for safety reasons, and to move forward
to get the mud hut replaced.
There was a process put in place and, as I said, it's clearly not hit the mark
and the key point for me is we can't build something at this place
in Winchelsea that people think looks like a carport when it's such a prominent
place and of such importance and such ongoing impact on the town.
So we clearly have to stop it and I'm very grateful of the CEO
and the senior executives' response to agree that that's not possible.
So the project has been halted.
Possibly fortunately, and certainly importantly, a small colony
- I think it's called a colony, but at least a mix or something
of bats has been found in the mud hut and those bats need
to be identified fully by zoologists, but there is a view that they're an
important species and every native species is important.
So that needs to be done and a strategy needs to be made
to relocate them because the mud hut does need
to be demolished eventually.
But those bats need to be cared for and that is going to take time.
So even if we haven't had time to stop with the project and consider its design,
we've certainly got time, compulsory time, to deal with the bats
and that gives us time to deal with the project as well.
There's lots of really good ideas and I'm very confident that a solution
will be found that meets the needs of the community and recognises the need
for replacement and also recognises the investment already
made, but does not land our community with a mud hut replacement
that's really unacceptable, you know, and people really care about.
This is not a small issue in Winchelsea.
It's only really gathered momentum recently as people have become aware
of what's proposed and a lot of people didn't know what was proposed
even up until the weekend.
So I think it's a very good process to receive the petition,
refer the petition to the General Manager, Community Life and have a report
on the petition by the February 2023 Council meeting,
that's our recommendation.
In the meantime, towards the end of January when people are back
from leave, we will commence a process of further engagement with the community
and I will be happy to attend a public meeting personally
if that is one element that needs to be done
and we need to make sure that the whole community
really knows and understands and supports or, you know, is accepting
of what we're putting forward.
So whether that requires a public meeting, if it does I will attend
- I'll help convene it and attend it
- but there will be other mechanisms as well
and we'll make sure that this doesn't happen again.
So I thank Alison, Jenny Mathison, Naida Hutton, Richard,
all the people that have contributed.
Thank you so much for bringing it to us and I really look forward
to that ongoing process and a better solution
and hopefully one that can be implemented next year.
Thank you, Mayor Pattison.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: No worries.
Thank you, Councillor Wellington.
Would you like to speak.
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: Yes please, Mayor.
On a number of occasions I also advocated for the mud hut to be replaced like for
like and Alison Dean brought it to my attention and I thank her along
with the other members that Councillor Wellington thanked that
in my Councillor column dated 26 August 2021 in the Surf Coast Times I wrote that
the replacement structure will be the same size on the same site
with the same features meeting contemporary standards.
I note also that the petition has had hundreds of people sign it
and I acknowledge the community concerns pertaining to the mud hut
and I'm 48 years old and I can't remember exactly
when it was constructed, but I hold a lot of affection for the building
and I know that in the Winchelsea community it is held in very high regard.
It's actually a very beautiful building and I felt it was disappointing
during COVID it was closed, but I realise that it needed either
to be upgraded or replaced.
Design needs need to be addressed and I'm also looking forward to progress
to be made in the next new calendar year.
I think as far as a public meeting is concerned, the February meeting
of Growing Winchelsea could accommodate possibly this issue if the Council feel
as though there should be a public meeting and I'm more than happy
to also attend that meeting as well.
Thank you, Mayor.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Schonfelder.
Councillor Allen.
CR GARY ALLEN: Oh, thanks, Mayor.
I support the tabling of the petition and, in doing so, I thank the members
of the Winchelsea community who have actually come into the Chamber
and it really does give us a true sense of the depth of passion when people take
the time to come in and we get a true sense
of what the Winchelsea community feel.
Now, I know the officers will be in touch with the people who did respond
to the original petition because I think we mustn't forget them
and get back in touch with them because their feelings were quite
strong and so we need to reconnect with them.
And not to trivialise this, I'd just like to say
for the record there are four collective nouns for bats
- camp, cauldron, colony and cloud.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Allen,
and I love your English lessons or grammar lessons and the like.
Thank you very much.
For those of you that didn't know, Gary Allen is a past principal
and teacher, so he's very good at English.
CR GARY ALLEN: Don't hold that against me.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: We'll now put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
Now, there are no notices of motion for tonight's Council meeting,
so we'll move along to our reports of the Council meeting
and the first report that we have tonight is requesting Council receive the findings
of community engagement activities on the Aireys Inlet Affordable Housing
Project and commence an expression of interest process for the development
of social and affordable housing at 2 Fraser Drive, Aireys Inlet.
Do I have a mover?
Councillor Stapleton.
And Councillor Allen, thank you for seconding.
Would you like to speak, Councillor Stapleton?
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: I would.
Thank you for the opportunity to move this motion.
When I was elected to Council a couple of years ago, affordable housing was
an issue that I was greatly concerned about and I must say I was very pleased
to discover early on that most of my fellow Councillors also saw it
as a key priority.
The community also told us through our extensive People Place Future
consultation that we needed more affordable accommodation for people living
and working in the Surf Coast.
We know this is a broad issue facing many communities across the nation,
but Surf Coast Shire Council is committed to doing what we can within our means
to improve the situation locally.
Council declared a key worker accommodation crisis in May 2021 and
in January this year we adopted an Affordable Accommodation Action Plan
signalling our intention to facilitate the development of social
and affordable housing on suitable Council-owned land.
Some of the members of the community tonight would be aware
that one of those projects is already under way, Winanglo in Harding Street
in Winchelsea which Council passed earlier
Another suitable location was identified and there is an opportunity
to develop a housing project at 2 Fraser Drive in Aireys Inlet,
which is significant given that there are only a few suitable locations
across the shire.
The housing need in Aireys Inlet, as in other shire towns, is critical.
Our Council plan recognises that the lack of affordable accommodation
is having a social and economic impact on our communities.
Anecdotally we hear regularly about another local needing to relocate
because they no longer have access to a rental property or affordable housing
So the need is very real and it's immediate.
We need to accommodate people urgently.
But we also need to ensure that our communities remain
viable long into the future.
This means that housing is affordable so people can live here
and remain connected to their community, whether they be workers, school families,
CFA volunteers, healthcare practitioners, teachers or retirees.
Housing diversity will help ensure the fabric
of our communities remain strong.
As one participant said of the Fraser Drive proposal, they'd like
to see the development of a village within a village.
This is as much about what it looks like as who lives there and how it's integrated
into the local community.
There has been substantial community engagement over the past six months
to consider this project and a community advisory group
is in the process of being appointed to undertake a co-design process
with the chosen housing provider should the EOI, expression of interest,
process prove successful.
This group will provide important local experience
and insights as well as industry expertise to help guide the project.
Questions about who will live there and what it will look
like are obviously important issues to be resolved,
but essentially there has been strong, though provisional, support
from the community for a social and affordable housing development
at this site.
There will be challenges that need to be addressed, such as parking, traffic,
access to support services and public transport, what sort of density
will achieve the best outcomes, and the potential impact
on local neighbourhood character and amenity,
but overall this project presents such a significant opportunity to showcase
and set a new benchmark for how social and affordable housing can be delivered
to a high standard in regional locations with a focus on community,
environment and affordability.
It may only result in a small number of homes in comparison
to what's needed more broadly to address the housing problem, but this
is an opportunity for Surf Coast Shire Council
to demonstrate its commitment to providing greater access
to affordable accommodation and to help maintain the long-term viability
of our townships.
Getting the right housing provider is critical to the success of this project
and tonight we have been asked to endorse the expression
of interest process as per the proposed EOI objectives
and assessment provided to select the most suitable applicant.
The EOI process will kick off in January and run through until 8 February,
with recommendations to come back to Council at a future meeting.
This project may challenge our ideas of density, sustainability and character,
but we need to look for innovative solutions
to housing our community and this is one step in the right direction.
I'd like to pass on my thanks to all the officers who I know have worked
tirelessly on this project.
I know it's only early days, but I appreciate the effort and commitment
to helping resolve our housing challenges and I commend this report
and urge my fellow Councillors to support it too.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Stapleton.
That was a really good summary of what's going on with our housing needs.
Councillor Allen.
CR GARY ALLEN: Thanks, Mayor.
I was fortunate to attend one of the meetings,
the consultation meetings, at the Aireys Inlet market
and I got the sense that there was strong community support for the proposal
and the feeling was that it should be a quality design consistent
with community expectations and neighbourhood character
- namely, the heritage and the local environment values are
respected.
The retention of the community garden was really quite
important to most of the people I spoke to and that the design be innovative
to address parking and traffic issues, and also the protection of the rights
of the existing four tenants who are at 2 Fraser Drive.
The findings from this consultation period have
informed the expression of interest process and by voting
for this motion, we are endorsing the expression
of interest objectives and assessment criteria.
This project is a key initiative to help address the significant social
and affordable housing shortfall in the shire.
It is also a small but important step to respond
to the key worker accommodation crisis declaration that we made last year
and a step in providing, as in Winchelsea, affordable housing for long-term
residents who wish to live in Aireys Inlet but need to downsize.
The development of a village with shared responsibility
for the residents is an environment that respects
the character of Aireys Inlet and is exciting.
For ageing residents the complex is ideally located close to shops,
community facilities and public transport.
If this motion is accepted, we will then start on a six-week process
to identify an appropriate agency that will co-design the development
in partnership with the community and the Council.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Councillor Stapleton, would you like to make any closing statement?
Councillor Wellington, would you like to speak.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: I would.
Thank you very much.
Look, I'm certainly supportive of the concept of Council partnering
in accommodation options.
I mean, I'm very supported of the Winanglo proposal,
the Winanglo development at Winchelsea, driven by a community,
a local very embedded supportive organisation,
hugely supportive organisation within our community.
I'm also
- I grew up in public housing, so I understand the need
from personal experience.
I grew up in public housing in Chigwell in Tasmania and Broadmeadows
in Melbourne and so I do understand that.
There's a lot of questions that I feel
- I haven't heard directly from the Aireys Inlet community,
but I can certainly feel the questions that I would ask
if I were a community member and I'm willing to support this to go
to the next stage, but the critical thing will be not just what the design is,
but who the provider is.
I'm aware of issues in both our shire and in another municipality, at least one,
where housing for people with special needs has
caused enormous difficulties, not the quality of the housing
but the management of the facility and the support and systems provided
to residents has caused enormous difficulties for people living
in close proximity and all of that, you know, and the rationale
for this needs to be really very clearly articulated as well.
Is it for key workers, is it for people with disabilities, is it
for people with aged care background?
Key workers often are required particularly over the summer period,
so that kind of housing is not going to fit this I wouldn't imagine.
We're not going to be providing short-term temporary housing.
So the rationale needs to be very clearly articulated and very logical and cohesive
for the community to understand and the credentials of the provider.
And one of the questions, if I could just stop the clock
and ask a question, who's going to see
- the expression of interest document is critical.
What are we asking people to respond to?
And the people who assess that will be critical, not
- and from my perspective, the composition and the content of that process
is really critical.
So the question is how is the expression of interest actually being drafted and who
will see that and who will be on the committee that will assess it?
Will we have community reps on that committee,
Councillors or preferably Councillors and people from the community of interest,
which is the non-Council
- well, Aireys Inlet community.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thanks for your questions, Councillor Wellington.
I'll pass that on to our CEO.
ROBYN SEYMOUR: Thank you, Mayor Pattison.
Councillor Wellington, there will be a range of people
on that committee, but we have an Acting General Manager
of Place Making and Environment who may be able to provide more insight
into who exactly that will be and how that will be managed.
OFFICER: Thank you, Robyn, Ms Seymour.
I don't know that I do know who's on that, but I can say for the EOI process that
that will be a legal document prepared legally for us before it goes out.
That's under preparation right now.
In terms of who assesses that, I'm not clear as to who's
on that committee, but we could certainly get back to you
and provide that information.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thank you.
So telling me it's a legal document probably doesn't instill that much
confidence, despite being a lawyer myself.
But I think
- my view is that the expression of interest document is
- because that sets a pathway where we select a provider and my view would be
that that document is as important as the final contract
because it narrows us down to dealing with one provider.
I'm kind of concerned, having just gone through the Winchelsea mud hut issue,
that Council will endorse in principle this expression of interest
and then effectively lose control of it and I think that the expression
of interest should come to council and be open to the community.
The document itself should be available so that people can see what it covers
and who we're looking for, what type of provider and what type
of arrangement we're looking for.
And, you know, I presume we're going to ask for proponents
to put financial options forward, but my last point is I'm really
- I'm concerned, as I said, some members of the community about $3 million
of broadly owned community asset potentially being handed over.
It's different
- this is different from the Winchelsea one.
It's a much more valuable piece of land.
Yes.
So I'm concerned about that.
So I guess I would like to see
- would like to have seen and would still like to see
- what's this expression of interest looking for and what level
of control would the community have over that process as well as
over putting together its desires about what the building should look
like or how it should fit with the environment.
That's very different.
That's like saying we want a mud hut with natural features that fits
with the local environment and then having the community say,
"That's not what we meant",
you know?
So they're my thoughts.
I am concerned about endorsing this at the moment.
I'd like to hear from other Councillors, particularly Councillor Bodsworth,
I guess, as one of the Aireys Inlet Councillors.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Wellington.
We've gone over time.
Our CEO just wanted to make one point that may help
to cover some of your concerns.
ROBYN SEYMOUR: Councillor Wellington, one of the intentions with this
is once we have an appointed provider, and it's in this Council report,
is really ensuring that the community is involved in the design
of what that building and facility will look like.
So that's the reference panel that Councillor Stapleton was referring
to, which is made up of I think at this point 11 or 12 community members
- anyway, a reasonable number of community members
- who can help guide the development of this project
and ensure that it meets some of those things that you are
absolutely referring to.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thank you.
Can I just
- the point I'm making is that that panel should be appointed
at the expression of interest process period,
not once the provider is selected.
ROBYN SEYMOUR: It's under way now, Councillor Wellington.
We're working through finalising that reference group
right at the moment.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: So that reference group will get to see the draft
of the expression of interest and assist with the process
of selecting the appropriate provider?
ROBYN SEYMOUR: I'd have to confirm that, Councillor Wellington.
I don't have that level of detail with me tonight.
I'd have to check that.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: I don't know
- sorry.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: I think we don't
- it's not really a time for back and forth discussion.
I appreciate your detailed questions, Councillor Wellington,
and I think you've had an opportunity to speak.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Well, can I move an amendment, Mayor Stapleton
- sorry, Mayor Pattison?
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: What's the amendment that you'd like?
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: The amendment would be that the community reference group
is convened prior to the expression of interest being released
and that it's involved in both finalising the expression
of interest and selecting the preferred applicant.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: I'll just have to seek whether our mover and seconder,
Councillor Stapleton and Councillor Allen, are you in support of that amendment.
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Not at the moment.
My understanding is that the expression of interest process
- well, I guess there's a couple of things I'd just like to say.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Sorry, if we just stick to the process,
are you in support?
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: No.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: No.
So do I have a seconder for Councillor Wellington's amendment?
No?
So that amendment is lapsed.
Would any other Councillor like to speak to the motion at hand?
Councillor Bodsworth.
CR MIKE BODSWORTH: Thanks, Mayor Pattison.
I appreciate Councillor Wellington's questions and comments
and I do support those.
I think transparency and the ongoing sort of unbroken involvement of the community
in this is essential.
From my reading of the report
- and I have been a bit detached from it just recently because
of travelling, but prior to that I was heavily involved
and really appreciated the opportunity to be involved
- I'm comfortable based on what I know from those previous community-based
sessions and also from this report that there
will be an unbroken kind of continuous opportunity
for the community to stay involved and my understanding
of the recommendations is that this is essentially like sort
of a forward position forward of the starting point where
we're re-establishing a new base from which we move forward
into the next phase of the project and that that next phase of the project
will include that opportunity for transparency and community engagement
and sort of empowerment.
So I'm comfortable with this the way it's written and I'd
like to also thank the members of the community who've provided such
excellent input and I think we're really lucky
to have those people and also to have the potential providers that
we know of that have been mentioned already plus
our expertise and building expertise that has provided input to this as well.
So I think we're in a great position moving forward and I support this.
Thanks.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Bodsworth.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Can I just ask another question, Mayor Pattison,
please?
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: One last question, Councillor Wellington.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: I just want to be clear that
- Councillor Bodsworth is suggesting that there
will be an unbroken chain of community involvement,
but my understanding is that the recommendation that
we have could break that chain in that the expression of interest
and the selection of a preferred provider may well be done
without community involvement and the community would only come back in
at the time when the preferred provider is selected, so you've narrowed
down to one provider and one effectively
- MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Could you clarify
- is the question whether
- could you just clarify your question, please?
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: So the question is does this recommendation allow
that chain to be broken because I'm struggling
to understand why Councillor Bodsworth didn't second my motion if
he wants an unbroken chain because it doesn't guarantee it
at the moment.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: I'll just pass your question on to our CEO.
Thank you, Councillor Wellington.
ROBYN SEYMOUR: Councillor Wellington, I'm not in a position to be able
to answer that question tonight.
I don't know if our Acting GM Place Making and Environment is.
OFFICER: No, apologies, Ms Seymour.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Okay, thank you.
We'll now move
- CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Mayor Stapleton, can I
- I don't think there is a limit
- MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Sorry, it's Mayor Pattison,
Councillor Wellington.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Sorry.
I don't think there is a limit to Councillors asking questions
in our Governance Rules.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: There is, actually, Councillor Wellington, if the item
- CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: I think it's about two consecutive questions
without others being given the opportunity , isn't it?
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Oh, there's a number of things.
If a Councillor is seeking to bring officers into the discussion
of the meeting, that's a reason not to continue with the questions.
There's a number of things.
I don't think a Council meeting is a time to go through the specifics of that,
but we have allowed many questions.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: So I'd like to ask another question of you, actually
- whether you bring officers in is another issue.
I'm not seeking to directly engage officers.
I've been asking my questions of you and it's up to you as to who
- and I think I'm permitted to do that under the Governance Rules.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Could I just seek clarification?
We'll just pause for a moment, if that's alright.
Thank you for that short pause.
Look, there are a number of items, as I just clarified with our governance,
with respect to questions and not drawing officers
into the discussion and items that are discussed in the report
or at other points, but in the interests of moving the meeting forward,
Councillor Wellington, you're welcome to have one more succinct question
- CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON:-
- and then I'd like to put it to the vote.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: I'd like to ask if officers see any detriment at all
about including an amendment to the recommendation that says that
the ward Councillors and at least one member
of the community are engaged right throughout the expression
of interest process, including reviewing the actual expression
of interest document to ensure it covers the interests that
the community is seeking to achieve.
So I would like to know whether anyone can see any detriment or
any inconsistency with policy by doing that.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: So just to clarify, you're seeking officers' response
in relation to that question.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: I'm asking the question through you, Mayor Stapleton,
and I don't mind who tells me, if someone can clarify for me
whether there's any detriment.
It's up to you whether you answer it yourself or ask
another Councillor to answer it or ask an officer to answer it.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: I think we've already had the amendment that lapsed in relation
to this matter, but I can
- CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: No, it's a question, not an amendment.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: CEO, would you like to respond to the question?
ROBYN SEYMOUR: Thank you, Councillor Wellington.
If that is a desire of Council, then we can look
to see how that can be accommodated and we can potentially look
to see how we can manage that through the process,
if that's a decision of Council.
OFFICER: Through you, Mayor, I'd also add that the EOI assessment
will come to Council, so there'll be an assessment undertaken
by officers and it will be coming to Council for consideration.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Could I
- MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Sorry, we've got a question.
Sorry, Councillor Wellington, I've got a question
from Councillor Stapleton.
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Could I make my closing comments?
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: That would be great, thanks.
Let's move forward.
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: So as Councillors would have read
in the agenda that we received, there is expression
of interest assessment criteria which outlines
at least six or seven themes that will be an important aspect
of the expression of interest process, the objectives of each of those themes,
the requirements and how they'll be assessed.
I think it's also really important to note that approving this expression
of interest process doesn't lock Council into any outcomes.
If a successful applicant isn't received and one that's deemed suitable
through the community co-design process, I don't believe we have any
obligation to proceed.
There are a number of points that have been outlined
in the timeline where Council will be checking in with the process
and approving the next stage of the process.
I'm really comfortable that the community feedback that was received as part
of the designing workshop that Councillor Bodsworth and I both attended focused
a lot actually on the importance of getting the expression
of interest right.
I believe that the response from officers at that designing workshop endorsed
the need to get the expression of interest process right
and I think there is a shared understanding
between the community and Council of the importance of the expression
of interest document which I understand a draft version is currently with lawyers
for review and I'm confident that that will come back covering
all the things that have been outlined in our agenda report as far
as the assessment criteria goes.
So I would like to encourage Councillors to support this agenda item tonight
and take that important first step in the process
of actually seeking a suitable housing provider so that we can get the process
started.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
All those in favour.
All those opposed?
Thank you.
And the item is passed.
We now move on to our Youth Strategy 2022-2025.
Do I have a mover for this?
Thank you for those in the audience that attended tonight.
We appreciate you coming along.
Bye.
Councillor Allen.
And do I have a seconder?
Councillor Schonfelder.
CR GARY ALLEN: As per the recommendation, Mayor.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Allen.
CR GARY ALLEN: I move to adopt the Surf Coast
Shire Youth Strategy 2022-2025.
Councillors, this strategy has been developed
from the voice of the young people in the shire expressed
mainly through the recent youth census.
We have been extensively briefed on the strategy.
We approved the strategy to be released for community consultation
and some minor changes have been made as a result of that process.
There has been strong community support for the six focus areas which were
generated from consultation and for the priorities developed in each
of these areas.
Given our limited resources, I am very pleased that we are focusing
on the prevention rather than the treatment of youth health
and welfare issues, the building upon existing networks and partnerships,
and upon our role as an advocate in this space.
I'm particularly pleased that the strategy recognises the role that we can play
in supporting young people aged 5 to 12.
Although we do not have a direct responsibility,
we will support primary schools and other agencies in their work
in this vital age group, vital in terms of youth development.
There has fittingly been a strong focus upon the need for shire practices,
programs and events to be inclusive.
Within our capacity, we do work hard to support the needs of young people
in these programs and events.
For example, the recent schoolies week in Lorne was a credit
to the young people who attended.
Our youth development team were wonderful in their planning for and support
of the schoolies during the week and congratulations must go
to Jack Pearson and his team.
Of the six focus areas in the strategy, young people have given us the feedback
that youth mental health and the care for our environment are the most important
and I'm confident that these two issues will in the future receive priority
attention from our youth development team.
Councillors, the most important influence upon our youth is the family.
Young people are best supported by a loving family prepared
to take the ultimate responsibility for their child's wellbeing
and development.
However, it is gratifying to endorse this strategy as a limited
but focused way that we as a shire can assist families and
in particular young people.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Allen.
Councillor Schonfelder.
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: I would like to reserve my right to speak,
but I'll just make one comment just following on
from what Councillor Allen said about family.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Point of order, Mayor Stapleton
- Mayor Pattison.
I don't think you can both reserve your right to speak and speak.
SPEAKER: You can't.
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: Well, I'd just like to briefly speak, if I may.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Sure.
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: And that is that Mother Teresa said if you want
to change the world, go home and love your family.
Thank you, Mayor.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Schonfelder.
Would any other Councillor wish to speak?
Councillor Hodge?
CR ROSE HODGE: Thank you, Mayor Pattison
- yes, just very quickly.
I really like one of the major paragraphs in this and it's the celebrating diversity
and inclusion and Surf Coast will really work hard to foster a safe
and welcoming environment to everyone and we work hard to address the needs of
all young people so they thrive, and of course that also includes people
and kids including the LGBTQI+ community, people with a disability
and culturally and linguistically
- I can't even say the word, linguistically
- diverse people.
So it's so important that these youth know that they're coming in the shire,
it is a safe environment.
We must make sure that they feel welcome and celebrate diversity and inclusion
and we all know how important it is to feel welcome,
as Councillor Allen said, in the family but also in your community and we've got
to make sure that our Council is responsible and responds
to any needs that these youth have.
So I commend the officers as well on this report.
It's big, but I think that major paragraph of celebrating diversity and inclusion
is just so important to our community.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Hodge.
Councillor Allen, would you like
- oh, sorry, Councillor Gazzard.
CR KATE GAZZARD: Thank you, Mayor Pattison, and apologies
for being so late to the meeting, everyone.
I just echo Councillor Allen and Councillor Hodge's sentiments.
I think the youth census holds some really valuable information about the 5,000
youth in our shire and I like the letter from the principal
of Surf Coast Secondary saying the youth are not just the future
but they're what matters right now and as a Council we should be supporting them
in any way that we can.
I think we were already seeing escalating mental health issues,
certainly in the health sector, where mental health services were
under a lot of pressure even before COVID and now lockdowns
and the effect that that's had on our young people is very concerning,
so we need a preventative approach wherever possible.
The statistics are really interesting, some sort of concerning
and some reassuring.
I guess things like the amount of screen time that kids have these days,
but then again the amount of screen time that we
all have has really gone up and social media use also has a
huge impact on the mental health.
But also living in the Surf Coast, they have access to the beach and one
of their top activities is being outside in nature and sport, so fostering that
is really important for not only physical health
but mental health.
So I really endorse this strategy and commend everyone involved.
Thanks.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Gazzard.
Councillor Bodsworth.
CR MIKE BODSWORTH: Thanks, Mayor Pattison.
I just want to highlight the importance of place making aspects which are
referenced in the strategy, particularly safe streets and the ability
for young people who obviously are at the age where they're able to drive
to be able to choose their mode of transport and know that they'll get
to where they want to go safely and with minimum stress,
and I think that that's one of the biggest challenges that we have
and I know that there's a lot of agreement in the council
on the importance of place making and pathways and safe streets
and also it's important in line with the safe system approach
of road safety where young people are able to make the kind of mistakes that they
will inevitably make and not pay with injury and death on the roads
and pathways.
So just creating that safe space and for people to interact and
to reach each other
- we see how important hanging out together is, how important recreational activities
are, and the fundamental part of that is to be able to get
to each other independently and safely.
Public transport is obviously another big challenge that we can play
an advocacy role in.
So I think that those things are well covered in here, but I certainly want
to see those extend beyond this strategy and the place making and pathways kind of
- I hope that we can hit those really hard in our remaining time on the council.
Thanks.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Bodsworth.
Councillor Wellington.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks very much.
I'm happy to support the strategy.
My key comment I guess would be there's a huge amount in it.
There's a lot of, if you like, players in this space.
There's schools and there's the public health system
and there's community and there's not for profit providers and all that sort
of thing and we need to stick to our role.
So most of the actions are kind of working with people or partnerships and things,
but I wouldn't like to think that
- I mean, I think we're going to do some direct training,
one of the actions is we're going to train people in mental health
and emergency support and all that sort of stuff, mental health support.
I just wonder
- personally I would say it's not our role, there's a whole school system
and mental health system out there, and although everyone is stretched,
so are we.
So, you know, I don't think that we should be spending
ratepayers' money on things that are outside our role.
I see our role as providing good facilities
for youth sport and youth art and youth transport and, you know,
a lot of those issues relate to people of all ages,
but certainly the young people need them and delivering some services direct,
but they should be quite limited, and supporting community engagement.
I mean, we've got a youth group in Winchelsea,
it's entirely community driven and it was developed
by people in the community and they've done a fantastic job.
You know, to me that's the ideal sort of outcome where you get people
from the general youth community or the LGBTQI community if there's a need
for special services for that group of young people or people from, you know,
the communities of interest, the sporting community.
I don't think I saw in here anything about athletics and I know that's sort
of a gap which would have been nice to have had it recognised
and perhaps I've missed it.
But anyway, I support the strategy but again, that's an ongoing concern
about us getting very enthusiastic about delivering services
to some groups in the community and delivering them when they're
outside our scope.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Councillor Allen, do you have any closing statements.
CR GARY ALLEN: No thanks, Mayor.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: I put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
Our next item is item 4.3 and it's seeking Council's approval
to submit an expression of interest for three pedestrian upgrade projects
which meet the Department of Transport pedestrian investment
program funding criteria.
Do I have
- CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Mayor Stapleton [sic], I just remembered I was supposed
to put in an apology for Councillor Barker,
who's running very late.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: We've done that already, but thank you,
Councillor Wellington.
We did that earlier on in the meeting.
So do I have a mover for the pedestrian
investment program opportunity, 4.1?
Thank you, Councillor Hodge.
Is that as per the recommendation?
CR ROSE HODGE: As per the recommendation.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Yes.
And do I have a seconder?
Councillor Stapleton.
Councillor Hodge, would you like to speak.
CR ROSE HODGE: Yes.
I think it was a very good report, but the background of the report
is that the safe systems pedestrian investment program from the Department
of Transport is giving $23 million across the entire state for shires
to put forward with certain criteria projects that they'd
like to see done and criteria is listed here.
They've got to be between $250,000 to $1 million.
Now, when you look at the actual three that are being recommended, they're very
- foot traffic very high in all those areas and they're the Fischer Street pedestrian
link, the Surf World to Torquay town centre
and the Anglesea west pedestrian connection and that's got a missing link
of that footpath, so that would be absolutely terrific
to have.
They're well walked areas, but also we do have money
in our budget towards footpaths, but we'd have to add another $116,000
to it to make sure that these three can be looked at.
But in the long run, if we are successful, the savings would be probably nearly
a million dollars, if not more.
So I commend the officers for putting these three forward
because they're three very well needed footpaths and as I said, foot traffic
on it is huge.
So I hope every Councillor can accept this and put it forward and look forward
to those missing links in those areas and also we'd also endorse the safer
cycling strategy on this one as well, so it's sort of a double success hopefully
if these three are accepted.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Hodge.
Councillor Stapleton.
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Yes, I'll just quickly add that it's rare
to get this sort of funding opportunity for pathways,
so I think it's certainly an opportunity that we should take
to secure some external funding for pedestrian improvements
across some key Surf Coast Shire infrastructure and as mentioned
by Councillor Hodge, it is in line with the principles of our Council plan
and key deliverables that already exist within our pathway
and safer cycling strategies.
It's primarily externally funded from the Department of Transport and
for a small commitment from council of $116,000 there's potential there
for three terrific projects that will improve pedestrian safety
and links in some high-priority areas.
So yes, I commend the opportunity and hope that fellow Councillors endorse
it.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Would any other Councillors wish to speak?
Councillor Allen.
CR GARY ALLEN: Oh, thanks, Mayor.
Look, I just want to thank the officers for their work
in crafting these proposals because, I mean, if we don't
- if we're not successful, these projects are going to have
to be funded from future Council budgets, so it's really been quite opportune
to take advantage of these grant opportunities.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Councillor Hodge, would you like to make any closing?
CR ROSE HODGE: The only thing is that there's three very good maps
in the report as well.
Some is quite lengthy, some of the footpaths,
so let's hope that there's success for the three of them
and it would be a real added bonus to the shire and also,
as Councillor Allen pointed out, future savings.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
And I put it to the vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
Our next report is requesting Council's endorsement
of the progress of the targeted review of the Community Amenity Local Law 2021
as per Council's resolution on the 7th of December 2021.
Do I have a mover?
Thank you, Councillor Stapleton.
Is it as per the recommendation?
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: It is, thank you, Councillor Pattison
- MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: It is.
And do I have a seconder?
CR LIBBY STAPLETON:-
- Mayor Pattison.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Councillor Allen.
Did I call you Mayor?
Sorry.
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: No, I called you "Councillor".
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Oh, thank you.
And Councillor Stapleton, would you like to speak?
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: I would, thank you.
So the current Community Amenity Local Law was adopted by Council
in December last year following extensive community engagement
and a hearing of submissions, but given there were mixed views
on some issues, like burning off, nature strips and tiny houses,
Council made a commitment at that time to undertake a targeted review
of these topics during 2022 and to come back to Council
with a future recommendation which we're now considering tonight.
There are clearly a few aspects to this motion and I appreciate that
we do have limited time, so I'll just touch on some
of the points that I consider most pertinent.
Firstly, I support the recommendation not to change the local law provisions
relating to burning off or to key worker accommodation.
With regard to burning off, currently residents are only able to burn
off on Wednesdays and Saturdays between the hours of 10am and 3pm,
so it is quite restricted, and there are also restrictions relating
to fire danger periods, types of materials that can be burned, the size
of the fire, health and safety considerations, and so on.
Permits are not required for fire pits, barbecues, constructed fireplaces
and braziers.
We know that 63% of residents who were surveyed support
keeping the local law as it is and that the EPA data based
on testing done in Torquay and Lorne indicates that our air quality
is good.
Over the past year we've only received four
complaints relating to smoke and odour and these were attended to
by Council or the EPA and CFA where appropriate.
We also know that Council's green waste program is preventing 19,000 kilograms
of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere
and that the Surf Coast Shire's top contributors
to emissions are actually electricity, transportation and gas.
So to me it makes more sense to focus our time and energy
into reducing these and to educate our community about what
they can do to reduce smoke impacts.
We could also offer incentives to community to reduce burning off
through initiatives such as green waste vouchers.
I also know that there has been some concerns raised about wood fire heaters
and that these have been identified as a source of concern with regard
to impacts on air quality from black carbon soot and it
is understood that worldwide there is a call for national leadership
to phase these out.
However, tonight it's important to note that wood fired heaters themselves
are out of scope for our local law review as they are governed by the EPA
under the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Act.
However, again Council could undertake some
community education and awareness campaigns
to help minimise their use and impact.
So given that most residents who completed the 2021 survey are on the whole happy
with the status quo regarding burning off, noting that there were 580 respondents
to this survey, which is a good amount, and that the EPA has assured us
that air quality tests are good, it does make sense
to retain this provision as it stands in the local law.
With regard to key worker accommodation, I trust that Councillor Allen might speak
more on this given his significant advocacy on this issue,
so I'll keep my comments here short, but again, I'm supportive
of the recommendation to retain the local law to allow campers
to remain on properties for up to 120 days in any year provided certain conditions
are met.
And as per our earlier item on the agenda, the need
for affordable accommodation in the shire is critical and I think that any measures
we can take to enable key workers to live here, particularly
over the busy summer months, is essential.
Still on the subject of accommodation, we also have a tiny house trial included
in the recommendation before us which I very much welcome.
Tiny homes on wheels do not currently appear
in the local law and their temporary use falls somewhere
between planning and camping, the latter of which is covered in the local law but
is inadequate for the needs of tiny house users and the opportunities
they offer our community in terms of living more sustainably as well
as providing more affordable accommodation
So after extensive work by our officers, and thank you to
all the officers who have worked on this project,
an amended draft local law is being developed based on external
and internal consultation, benchmarking with other councils, and a review of state
and federal legislation.
This is a complex issue with a variety of views
and officers are therefore recommending to us that we undertake a trial
for two years to provide the opportunity to seek more community feedback
and assess the impacts of tiny homes on council resources.
So the proposed local law will be based on successful tiny house laws already
being used by other Councils, which is really important because I think that
will increase our chances of success here on the Surf Coast.
The intention is for Council to form a project team early in the new
year to establish the process and framework required to progress
to the next stage.
I see I'm out of time, so I will finish up there.
Thank you, Mayor Pattison.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Stapleton.
Councillor Allen.
CR GARY ALLEN: Thanks, chair.
Look, the purpose of the motion is to endorse the progress
of the targeted review of the Community Amenity Local Law.
The recommendation notes that there will be changes in two areas, no change
to the permissible days for burning off, recognising that the results
of air quality tests are good, and also that there will be no change
to the key worker accommodation measures approved last year and I am grateful that
the officers will promote these changes prior
to the peak tourist season.
Related to the key worker accommodation solutions is the availability
of tiny homes on wheels.
Progress towards a two-year trial of tiny homes on wheels will enable us
to navigate the minefield of state and federal regulations in this matter and
will give proper time for informed community feedback.
Now, we will also be able to assess what other Councils
are doing nationwide.
This will not be the panacea for the issue, but I firmly believe that
tiny homes will help provide a temporary remedy
and that they will be part of the long-term solution.
Given the latest report on the medical problems caused by vaping,
it is very good to see the proposed change to clause 4.10.
That includes e-cigarettes as part of the smoke-free areas declared
by the shire.
And finally, I note that a separate report on the nature strip policy
is being developed to be presented to a Council meeting early in 2023.
This will cover the vexed issue of the gravelling of nature strips,
which I personally regard as unsuitable for a number of reasons,
and the parking of vehicles, caravans and trailers on nature strips, which
under the Victorian road safety rules is not permitted unless exemptions apply,
and I trust that the report will give some clarity as
to what these exemptions may be.
I admit I express a narrow focus here in the matter of parking.
In some Lorne streets over summer it really is difficult
and cause related pedestrian safety problems.
So I'm hoping that these issues will come out in that report.
Thank you, Mayor.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Allen.
Do I have any other Councillors who would like to speak?
Councillor Wellington.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks very much.
The first thing I want to say is I think it's a real shame that,
you know, we get three minutes to talk about four really significant local law
issues, that each Councillor gets three minutes
other than the mover, so that's a real shame and it's that sort
of bundling of recommendations that has been
criticised by the Ombudsman in the past and I think that's fair enough
that it should be criticised because these are all important issues.
In terms of burning off, I have to say quite frankly I am completely
astonished that this Council, which has declared a climate emergency,
is about to pass a local law that says burning off
is okay in our residential areas because our air quality is clean as
if we live in a bubble where our air doesn't mix with the air of the rest
of the globe and contribute to climate warming.
I can't believe this.
We've got green wasting which are picked up in urban areas every week,
we've got green waste vouchers that we already provide for people to go
to the tip.
We've got a climate emergency.
We've got something that we can do in terms of, you know,
signalling our commitment to not having green waste burning,
particularly in residential areas and rural residential areas because
of the amenity impact.
How on earth can the Councillors around this table justify, which I'm sure
they will do, and Councillor Stapleton already has,
the continuation of the green waste burning in our shire?
I do not accept it.
I think it's appalling that we're relying on the clean air
of our own little high socioeconomic bubble to say well, that local law
is alright, we shouldn't change it.
So I really object to that.
Key worker accommodation is a critical issue I agree,
but the notion of putting a tent in your front yard for family to visit
for four months presumably over summer in any residential area is ridiculous
and the only reason it hasn't caused a problem
is I think people probably don't know it's there.
Once they know it's there, it will happen and you don't need to seek a permit
under the current local law, you do not.
So it implies in the report you need to seek a permit, but you don't.
So anybody under this local law can pitch the tent
and have a family member staying there for four months of the year and
- sorry, four weeks, 28 days, provided that they've got
proper sanitation (inaudible), so they can share that with the household
and you can have that in urban areas and you'll create a massive difficulty if
and when it happens.
So I really object to that.
In terms of the nature strip policy, I think we're going to run
into difficulties with wording if we try to say that the current law doesn't apply
to parking on nature strips.
It needs to be worded very carefully to make sure there's not a double negative
and people think oh, well, that prohibition doesn't apply,
therefore I can do it.
So we need to say in the local law that the state legislation
- I'll move for an extension of time, please, Mayor Stapleton.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: It's Mayor Pattison and yes, you can have three minutes.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Oh, sorry, Mayor Pattison.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: That's fine.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: I'm looking for a seconder for an extension of time.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: I don't think I need a seconder.
I can just grant you three minutes.
It's obviously an important issue.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Yes.
The camping in nature strips, as I said
- sorry, the parking on nature strips, the wording of it will need
to be very clear.
It needs a note in the local law to say parking
is prohibited in the state legislation, parking on nature strips, and it
is therefore prohibited in the Surf Coast Shire.
So if we attempt to sort of say you need to move your car every five days or seven
days and you can't park in public places but this doesn't apply
to nature strips (inaudible) people knowing, so we have to be very careful
with that wording to make sure that people know what they're
allowed to do.
I support the smoke-free areas to include e-cigarettes, obviously,
and I will observe with great interest a trial on tiny homes.
I think that that's got the potential to impact significantly in rural areas
and we need to be very careful we don't end up
with little caravan parks popping up everywhere.
So I'll watch that very carefully.
But my biggest concern is burning off.
It is completely inconsistent with our climate policy,
our climate emergency, and it is
- and the nature strip policy I'm concerned will get the wording wrong
and people's front yards I'm deeply concerned about.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Any other Councillors wish to speak?
Councillor Bodsworth.
CR MIKE BODSWORTH: Thanks, Mayor Pattison.
Just in regard to the CO2 emissions that Councillor Wellington just covered
in regard to the particulates that result from burning off and the health risks
that they pose, and I think that that's really important,
obviously those are part of a bigger picture which includes wood
fires and outdoor fire pits and pizza ovens and that kind of thing.
But in regard to the CO2 emissions, the report does note that burning
will be considered carbon neutral because the CO2 that
is released when the wood is burned is CO2 that was sequestered
by the trees in the first place.
So with regard to that contradicting our
greenhouse climate policies, I don't think that's a fair point
as noted in the report.
However, that leaves aside the health risks
of the particulates and I think that's an extremely
important issue.
My observation is that because of our green waste service
and the tip vouchers, green waste tip vouchers, there is no
- there's very little need for people to burn off anymore, in my opinion,
in township areas and I think that we could move towards
stopping burning off, but not at this stage.
I support not doing that at this stage.
Anyway, thanks for the opportunity to speak
and I support this recommendation.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Can I ask a question, Mayor Pattison?
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Yes.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: My question is whether the current burning
off local law applies only to wood or whether it
- I mean, my understanding is that people throw all sorts
of things on their burn-offs.
I just wondered if there's any limitation and if it only applies to wood.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: I'll pass that on to our CEO.
ROBYN SEYMOUR: My understanding, and I can check with our General Manager
of Community Life, but it's not just wood, it's green waste and other materials.
But there are limits around what sorts of materials can be burned and how
they can be burnt, Councillor Wellington.
But it isn't just
- it includes leaf litter and other similar materials.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Councillor Stapleton, would you like to have any closing comments?
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Oh, I'll just say a couple of quick things,
thanks Councillor Pattison.
I didn't finish off my comments on the tiny house trial, so I'd just like
to reiterate that I see this as a great opportunity
to support more diverse housing needs in our community and I look forward
to seeing more details about the terms of the proposed trial
and hopefully many subsequent applications from people wanting to live in tiny houses
in appropriate places on the Surf Coast in coming years.
Reviewing the local law has not been a simple task and I appreciate
all the work that officers have undertaken and
all the input that community has provided today.
However, there is still a significant process ahead of us
to complete the new Community Amenity Local Law, with a draft local law to come
to Council early next year pending adoption
of the nature strip policy and guidelines, which needs to be completed and adopted
by Council before it can be incorporated into the local law.
There will be an exhibition period of three weeks for community
to consider the proposed local law in the new year as well
as a hearing of submissions, if needed, before the final version is developed
and certified by a lawyer as required in the Local Government Act.
We are hoping to see a final version for adoption in April 2023, assuming
all these steps proceed as planned.
So I urge my fellow Councillors to support this motion tonight.
I know there are mixed views, but there will be further opportunities
for community to engage and provide their feedback as well.
Supporting the motion tonight will enable officers to get on
with finalising this important work and getting it out to community
for that further input.
So thank you for the opportunity.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Stapleton.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
We now move on to our next report, which is for providing Council
with the December 2022 quarterly Community Project Development Program update.
I would just like to note that the attachments were missing
from the agenda due to an upload issue, but have since been added to the website
as an addendum.
Do I have a mover of a motion?
Councillor Stapleton.
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Sorry, Councillor Hodge.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Councillor Hodge will move it.
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: I second it.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: And is that as per
- CR ROSE HODGE: Yes, as per the recommendation.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
CR ROSE HODGE: I won't take too long on talking on this
because the recommendations actually cover very well what's expected.
A basketball pad proposal at Spring Valley Park
- this has been a terrific area for young people to congregate and
to have the ability to play basketball there is another reason
for children and youth to visit there.
The Jan Juc is being referred to our community project development
and this is to enable kindergarten children
to ride their bikes, be able to secure them
and parents maybe would ride with them, as you have done, Mayor,
with your children.
So I think that's terrific too.
Noting that the referral of the Draft Great Ocean Road Service Road
Landscape Plan Proposal and the design, and also notes that the Deans Marsh street
scape proposal to be provided to Council and the new report will come to that
within March 23.
So there's two or three really good projects there that we can look at now
and also continue to look at the work that I think officer Nicky
Angus does and keeps us up with all the programs and this is all put in
by the community and I think these four projects,
two to be the feasibility and the noting and hopefully next year it
will be terrific assets included into our infrastructure.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Hodge.
Councillor Stapleton?
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Yes, Councillor Hodge has covered off
on the specific projects.
I'll just make some comments about the program because I think it's
an awesome program.
It achieves one of our very important goals
to enable community and it also supports our Council plan
strategy to foster an environment where people with clever
and creative ideas can make a difference in our community.
I know that many people in our community do have clever
and creative ideas about projects that could enhance our
local environment and improve community life,
so we do encourage you to submit these to Council for consideration
to ensure that projects seeking Council's support or funding are appropriately
assessed, scoped and prioritised.
You can register your project ideas via the community project development portal
on the website and a panel meets monthly to review each submitted proposal
to determine whether it should progress to the community project proposal master
list for further investigation.
It's important to note that endorsing any project
as feasible does not tie Council to any funding commitments.
It's an indication that the project has support to proceed
after Council officers have worked with community to appropriately scope
and cost it.
I think this is an important consideration and something that community
needs to be aware of when they're bringing their ideas
to Council that they may be deemed to be feasible, but it's not a commitment
that the project will go ahead and there are other factors such
as funding that will determine that possibility.
It's interesting to note that we received 16 proposals
over the past quarter, but only one at this stage has been recommended to go
through to the next stage which is the investigation Councillor Hodge
mentioned for the Jan Juc preschool bike shelter
shed.
So encourage community to think about what other clever
and innovative ideas they'd like to bring to Council and participate in the program.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Stapleton.
Would any other Councillors
- Councillor Allen?
CR GARY ALLEN: Thanks, Mayor.
Look, I reluctantly will have to vote against this motion.
All worthy projects, all worthy projects, I don't dispute that for a moment.
But we have a situation where I think we're building expectations
and we don't deliver.
In Lorne the facade of the Lorne Historical Society
in two phases was included in this program.
Now, phase 1 has been delivered for which the Lorne community raised
$50,000 in cash and kind.
Phase 2 the Lorne community has also raised $50,000 in cash and kind,
a total commitment of $100,000 and phase 2 is not progressing.
Now, I understand there's difficulty in acquiring a builder.
I understand there have been cost blowouts
The Lorne community went back to the proposal and they adjusted it
to make alterations to the proposal, saving a further $20,000 with engineer
- sorry, architectural support.
The panels for stage 2 have been built.
They're sitting in the men's shed and we're not proceeding
to complete a project.
Why are we proceeding with further projects when we can't even
complete one that has been approved and has been started?
So I'm afraid I would have to vote against the motion,
even though these projects are all worthy projects.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
And do we have any closing statements, Councillor Hodge?
No.
We'll move the motion to a vote.
All those in favour.
All those opposed.
The motion is carried.
We now move on to our Council event calendar, item 4.6.
It is requesting Council consider adopting the updated calendar
of awareness raising events for the period of 2023 to 2025.
Do I have a mover?
Councillor Stapleton, is that as per the recommendation?
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: It is, thank you, Mayor Pattison.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: And do I have a seconder?
Councillor Schonfelder, thank you.
Councillor Stapleton, would you like to speak to the motion?
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: I would, thank you, Mayor.
So the events calendar here, the events featured on this calendar seek
to raise awareness of causes that are aligned with the goals
of the current Council plan and are of interest to our community.
The calendar obviously doesn't list all the entertainment, sporting
and cultural events that are delivered across the community, such
as the Rip Curl Pro and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race,
nor local community events such as the Aireys Inlet Open Mic.
It also doesn't include council events such as ministerial openings,
guest speaking engagements or, for that matter, citizenship ceremonies.
The events listed on the calendar are about raising awareness on matters
of significance to our community aligning with the objectives in the current Council
plan and helping with the delivery of specific strategies, such
as Council's commitment to reconciliation and its goal of enabling people
to participate in community life.
I'm really thrilled to see the addition of two new events
on the calendar this year.
A one-off event has been added to acknowledge the 40th anniversary
of the Ash Wednesday bushfire on 16th of February next year.
It's hard to believe it's been 40 years and I know that there are many
in our community who would like to use this as a day to reflect
and acknowledge the significant loss and hardship this fire caused
in our community along with the ability to learn and to build resilience.
There is also an event proposed for the 26th of January
to acknowledge the impact of this date on First Nations people.
Council is collaborating with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners
Aboriginal Corporation on the event which will be known as Pilk Purriyn,
meaning sunrise in Wadawurrung language.
I think it's an honour that the Wadawurrung people have chosen to work
with Surf Coast Shire Council to initiate this event
and it signals the respect and trust they must feel within our community.
Other significant awareness raising events include National Reconciliation Week
and NAIDOC Week, Volunteer Week, International Women's Day,
National Youth Week, IDAHBT Day, which
is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia,
the Seniors Festival, Children's Week, the Barwon Month of Action for prevention
of violence against women and, lastly, the International Day of People
with Disability.
We encourage members of the community to seek out further information
for these events that are of interest to them and to please join us
in acknowledging and raising awareness of these important occasions.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Stapleton.
Councillor Schonfelder, did you wish to speak?
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: Yes, please, Mayor, and I'd just like
to say that Councillor Stapleton has very eloquently highlighted the various days
listed in this calendar and I'd like to reflect on two of the days
and the anniversary of Ash Wednesday is very significant to local people
in our shire and I recall the day vividly.
I was nine years old and school finished at midday that day.
The sky was orange and I thought the world was possibly going
to end on that day.
It was really an incredible day that we should remember
and I'm actually looking forward to attending that event.
And as you said, Councillor Stapleton, it is a one-off event in this program
and I know that members of the CFA fraternity
in particular are looking forward to attending this event.
Also, I'd like to say that the first part of our Council plan is reconciliation
and I have said once before
- or once or twice before
- that I am a sixth generation resident of the Surf Coast
and I must say that having been elected two years ago along
with other colleagues of mine, I have met traditional owners and Elders
and I've really enjoyed learning about their culture and about the history
of the First Nations people in Australia and I know that
with reconciliation it is ongoing.
It will take a long time because colonisation has occurred
and it has been a period of over two centuries
of the impacts of colonisation.
And I know that as far as dealing with reconciliation
and the fact that the day of reflection is referred to as sunrise I really
- I'm a type of person who would like to think of a glass being half full
as opposed to half empty and I feel it gives hope referring
to the day as a sunrise day of reflection and I'm really looking forward
to attending that event, the Pilk Purriyn event on the 26th
of January.
And I have said previously that I am a former member of the Geelong
and District Australia Day Committee and I know that we've made changes
in relation to Australia Day and with a lot of great care
and respect I look forward to walking with First Nations people
and continuing progress with reconciliation.
Thank you, Mayor.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thanks, Councillor Schonfelder.
Would any other Councillors like to speak?
Councillor Wellington.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks very much.
I am terribly disappointed at the approach this Council has taken
to Australia Day.
I would say the vast majority of people, certainly in the Winchelsea ward,
just feel that this approach is really divisive.
We used to have Australia Day on our events calendar I think up
until probably last year and then we ended up with reconciliation
as being the number one priority on the strategic plan.
I get people often asking me how did that happen.
People are very supportive of reconciliation, but they're not
- they don't necessarily understand how it becomes a number one strategic priority
on the Council plan.
I know people would say oh, this only happened to get there,
it's not the first, it's one of nine.
But I think it's really divisive to say we're going
to stop celebrating contemporary Australia because it's held on this day which
is a day of great sorrow to Aboriginal people,
and I do understand that, and to Indigenous people generally.
I absolutely understand that, but why would you say we're going
to stop one and start another?
It's been seen as very divisive, it is very divisive.
I'm not going to support this events calendar
because I think it's hugely important.
There's enormous disappointment amongst people in the community who love
celebrating contemporary Australia.
They're not celebrating the colonisation of Australia.
They're celebrating contemporary Australia and they want to do it together
for the whole community and we're picking sides
is the way I see it.
I think it's very, very shortsighted, unfortunate, inappropriate, divisive,
yeah.
I can't say any more.
I'm not supporting it on that basis.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Would any other Councillors like to speak?
Councillor Allen.
CR GARY ALLEN: Thanks, Mayor.
When I've been approached by people in the ward last year being
critical of our attitude towards Australia Day,
I sat down with the people and explained that Australia Day
on the 26th is a very recent thing, that it's only 25 years
since January the 26th became Australia Day and I actually regard the then
Prime Minister Howard's move to make the 26th
of January Australia Day was divisive in the community.
That was the divisive move.
As far as I'm concerned, I would like to see perhaps no national holidays.
I think nationalism is the cause and root of most of our problems within the world,
but I know that view won't be held within the community.
So I know it's not a popular view, but I think we are doing the right thing
and very few people realise that the 26th of January is only a recent holiday
for Australia Day and that in my view was the divisive move.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Allen.
Councillor Hodge, would you like to speak?
CR ROSE HODGE: I think Councillor Bodsworth is waiting.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Oh, sorry, Councillor Bodsworth, did you wish
to speak?
CR MIKE BODSWORTH: Oh, thanks, Mayor.
No, I'd just like to say that my experience
from the Anglesea ward is contrary to the experience that Councillor
Wellington has relayed.
I've had some conversations from people who are unhappy
with the Council taking that position on Australia Day
and I've had a lot more feedback from people who are really happy
and see it as a really principled standards
compassionate toward First Nations people.
So yeah, I just wanted to make the point that my experience
in that ward is very different and there's very strong support,
I'd say overwhelming support, notwithstanding the fact that some people
are upset with us having made that decision
and I totally respect their right to hold a different view and respect
and feel sorry for any upset that it's caused people,
but just as the proportion
- the proportion in support is far higher from my experience than the proportion
against.
Thanks.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
CR ROSE HODGE: I was also going to quickly say with the people I know
in Torquay that have come to me too, yes, there was a little bit when it
was first announced, but now they realise and they see the value
of what we're trying to do.
And I know that there's other celebrations that the shire isn't involved with
and that's with the Lions and they have a very successful one
at Anglesea and also at Torquay.
So even if the shire doesn't have an Australia Day celebration,
other groups do that other people can join in, and I think that's terrific
by those standards of those groups, but also I look forward
to the Sunrise one.
I think that's moving with history and I think after the Council plan
and the huge feedback we had from the Council plan
and the 35 people that actually spent
- actually months probably doing it
- I'd like to thank them too.
That's probably why it was number one, it was the most important to them.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: And we'll now put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour.
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: I had some closing comments.
SPEAKER: Excuse me, Mayor, I think the mover would like right
of reply.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Sorry about that.
I mixed up.
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Thank you, Mayor.
I would also just like to make a few comments
regarding the 26th of January.
I love Australia and celebrating contemporary Australia,
but surely this can be done on a day that doesn't cause pain
and suffering to our First Nations people.
So let's just choose a different day to celebrate.
In 2021 Council embarked on a significant journey
by adopting a statement of commitment to reconciliation which is our pledge
to walk together and work together with First Nations people
in the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan.
Our adopted Council plan also points to respectful engagement and consultation
with First Nations and Council has appointed an officer
to specifically work in this role.
This is a key priority in our four-year strategic plan which this Council adopted
and it should be supported regardless of personal opinion.
In developing the Council plan and the Surf Coast Shire's first
Reconciliation Action Plan, Council has consulted with representatives
of the Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation
and the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.
We can only progress toward true reconciliation by showing
through our actions understanding and compassion.
It's not possible to progress genuinely towards
reconciliation if we continue to ignore the hurt and suffering caused
to First Nations people on the 26th of January.
This date represents Europeans colonising this country and commencing the decimation
of First Nations ancestors and culture.
We can't change history, but we can change the way we celebrate it.
Council's position is informed, as Councillor Hodge said, by conversations
with many people through engagement on our Council plan
and has been identified as one of Council's key priorities.
We know not everyone will agree on the priorities of Council,
but we have heard clearly that the goal of reconciliation has strong community
support and I believe that the inclusion of this new event in our calendar
will be welcomed by many.
While Council may change the way it celebrates the 26th of January,
we are not seeking to impose this on others, acknowledging that people
in our community are free to celebrate and will celebrate in any way that feels
right for them.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Stapleton.
I put the motion to the vote.
All those in favour.
And all those opposed.
The motion is carried.
We now move on to our next report which asks Council
to consider the reappointment of the Chief Executive Officer Employment
Matters Committee Independent Chair Anne-Marie Leslie for a one-year term.
Do I have a mover of the motion?
Oh, sorry, first up.
ROBYN SEYMOUR: Mayor Pattison, I'd like to declare an interest in this item.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
It's my understanding that it's just an interest and so you can stay present.
Now, do I have a mover of a motion?
Thank you, Councillor Hodge.
Is that as per the recommendation?
CR ROSE HODGE: Yes, thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: It is.
And a seconder?
Councillor Schonfelder.
Councillor Hodge, would you like to speak?
CR ROSE HODGE: Yes, just very quickly I'd like to say I'm very pleased that Ms
Anne-Marie Leslie has said that she would do another year
if that was offered.
She has been with us since 2019 and her experience
is absolutely extensive.
She's a senior human resources executive with extensive experience
in executive recruitment and remuneration and we saw her abilities come
to the fore when we went through the process
of appointing the new CEO, Ms Seymour, and what an easy
and seamless process it was with Anne-Marie's guidance.
So I'm very pleased she's willing to do another year at least
and I do not hesitate to reappoint her in that process.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Hodge.
Councillor Schonfelder?
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: I formally second the item and shall reserve my right
to speak.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Do any other Councillors wish to speak?
Councillor Hodge, no more comments?
I put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
The next item on the agenda is to request Council to consider adopting a
public transparency policy SCS-051.
Do I have a mover of a motion?
Councillor Allen.
And do I have a seconder?
Councillor Stapleton.
Councillor Allen is
- sorry
- CR GARY ALLEN: As per the recommendation.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: As per the recommendation.
Would you like to speak to the motion?
CR GARY ALLEN: Thank you, Mayor.
This policy relates to improved Council transparency unless
the matter before us is contrary to a section of statute,
both Commonwealth and State, or contrary to public interest.
In the past two years we have taken steps to improve our transparency
- for example, the changes to the awarding of contracts,
an item that's on the agenda later on this evening.
Our reports and communications are
understandable and accessible.
I use myself as a measuring stick.
Now, I understand that the bar is not too high there,
but I find most reports meet these two benchmarks
of being understandable and accessible.
Now, I'm pleased to see in the report that the scope includes community asset
committees and also includes decisions
made under delegation.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Allen.
Councillor Stapleton?
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: Just that I welcome this policy.
It supports Council's ongoing drive for good governance and the importance
of open and accountable conduct.
I think it provides clear guidelines on what information
will be made publicly available and how it will be made available, which
is really important, and it also identifies information that
will not be made publicly available.
As pointed out by Councillor Allen, I think this Council has been improving
transparency over the past two years, which I know is greatly welcomed
by the community, and also that the community
will have an opportunity to engage over
- oh, sorry, there was a community engagement period
of four weeks where no feedback was received, but it has been to the Audit
and Risk Committee, who provided feedback that has been
incorporated into the policy.
So by adopting and maintaining a transparency policy,
Council is obviously complying with its legislative obligations,
but importantly, stating its commitment to providing public access
to Council information.
It's an important part of building community trust
in decisions made by the shire and by the Council and I fully endorse it.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Would any other Councillors like to speak to the motion?
Councillor Wellington.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: So Councillors would not be surprised
to know that I have an opinion about public transparency associated
with the Council.
The first thing I'd say is I agree with Councillor Stapleton that it
has improved significantly, particularly in relation to information coming
to Council.
I think the Council documents are clearer and we're sort of generally more open
in that regard.
But transparency is more than what do we make transparent
and what does Council have to retain because it's confidential.
There's a huge amount of information and documents in the middle
which individuals, members of the public, including me but others,
may have some interest in and may seek to access and my experience,
my personal experience, is very different from Councillor Allen's
because I was denied access to a lot of documents
under the last administration, including things like the community
- the staff satisfaction survey and all sorts of things, and I pursued that
through freedom of information and eventually got it.
So I've been given access to almost everything I've pursued
and I've done so properly and appropriately.
I've been blamed for causing Council a lot of cost in relation to that.
I had a recent County Court win in another matter
and it was absolutely clear from the decision
of the County Court judge, quite a senior County Court judge in fact,
that my actions in seeking it were entirely appropriate
for a Councillor to do and that I was not the cause
of cost that the Council has incurred in relation to various legal actions
like that.
I'll support the policy.
It's a start.
What's really important is culture and my experience
of FOI has been that it's been routinely knocked back, rejected
and then I've won, either later going through the information commissioner or
at mediation at VCAT or at VCAT proceedings.
And Council has always put up lawyers against me and I think why are we doing
that?
Why don't we take a different attitude and say is this confidential?
If it's not confidential, let's release it.
You know, you can release things and freedom
of information attracts only three little dot points in this, but it
is critical to transparency.
So the policy as far as it goes goes.
I've never seen a review of our freedom of information performance.
I expect that it would be very poor.
Most people who went through FOI would have the experience I
did, which is that they're rejected, and I know a couple who have and have been
in that situation and haven't got documents
they should have got and ultimately probably got them.
But I think we should do reviews of that nature to see
whether we're living the talk that we put forward.
I'd like to see a review of freedom of information
and see what we've done in the past and what we can do to improve it.
I've asked for that repeatedly with no support.
In fact, I've really been very much subjected
to very negative comment by a number of Councillors for even pursuing it,
and I think I do it in the public interest and I'm very proud of doing it.
So I support the policy, but the policy is only as good as the compliance
and the culture and
- CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: Point of order, Mayor.
Councillor Wellington has spoken over the allotted time.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: We'll just leave that, thanks, Councillor Schonfelder.
I think Councillor Wellington is finished.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thank you, Mayor Stapleton
- oh, gosh, I'm so sorry, Mayor Pattison, I'm happy to finish.
I've made my point and transparency is also about allowing people
to speak when there's an issue that they have knowledge and experience of
and believe in and think that other Councillors could
be interested in.
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: Mayor, is there
- MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: I think that we'll move on now, thanks, Councillor.
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: Is there a case of there's one rule that applies to most
of the Councillors and another one to Councillor Wellington pertaining
to the time allocated
- MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: No, thanks, Councillor Schonfelder.
Can we please leave it as it is, thank you, and I'd like to move on.
Councillor Allen, will you have any closing remarks?
CR GARY ALLEN: Yes, thanks, Mayor.
Look, it was very remiss of me and I apologise to Councillor Wellington
for not recognising her passion for this issue and her dogged pursuit
of transparency in the past is I believe responsible
for the fact that we have moved on, that we have developed a more open
and transparent practice within the shire, and I thank her for her dogged pursuit
of that and I think our Council is much better as a result of that.
And I do apologise that I didn't acknowledge her in my opening remarks.
Thank you.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thank you, Councillor Allen, very much.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: We'll now move to the vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is passed unanimously.
We'll now move on to our next policy, sale, exchange or transfer
of Council land, and it's requesting Council
to consider adoption of the Sale, Exchange or Transfer
of Council Land Policy SCS-013.
I would just like to note that attachment 2 was missing
from the agenda due to an upload issue, but has since been added to the website
as an addendum.
Do I have a mover of a motion?
Councillor Allen.
Is that as per the recommendation?
CR GARY ALLEN: As per the recommendation.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: And do I have a seconder?
Councillor Wellington.
Would you like to speak to the motion, Councillor Allen?
CR GARY ALLEN: Oh, just briefly, thank you, Chair.
Look, in my view, this policy expresses a clear
and transparent process regarding the sale, exchange or transfer
of the Council's land.
It has been well drafted in clear and understandable language.
It meets statute requirements, models best practice benchmarking
other Council practices.
From the public engagement process there has been an alteration adding a major
metropolitan newspaper in an effort to reach non-permanent
ratepayers, which I think was a great addition.
Any sale, exchange or transfer of land must be in the best interest
of the community and provide ratepayers with the best financial and non-financial
value from the process.
It must be in accordance with our economic, social
and environmental strategic objectives.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Allen.
Councillor Wellington, would you like to speak to the motion?
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks very much.
It's a good policy.
In terms of again engaging the community in these really important decisions,
I'm not
- I agree that adding major metropolitan
newspaper, you know, it is something, but most people don't even buy
the newspaper anymore, they look at it online and, you know, often
will look not at the sort of paper, kind of a virtual version,
a paper version.
So I don't know how many people that will get.
I think again we need to really
- we need to see this as a minimum.
A lot of people do not follow Council's website and we've actually seen
the failure of this type of process in the mud hut issue
at Winchelsea really.
You know, I think if there's a really
- depending on the land and how important it is.
You know, if it's a little slither of land that's been
- that is not of real public interest and it can make a difference,
that's quite different from being a major (inaudible),
for example.
So we just need to see this as the minimum standard,
not necessarily the only standard for advertisement and engagement.
But I think the policy itself is fine.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Do any other Councillors wish to speak
to the motion?
Councillor Allen, do you have any closing remarks?
CR GARY ALLEN: No, thanks, Mayor.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: We'll now put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
We'll now move on to Award of Contract T23-016 Provision
of Asphalt Services.
We have a recommendation requesting Council's approval to award this contract
and the motion will be put on the screen because it's been redacted
to keep the successful tenderers confidential until this agenda.
This is part of trying to move things into the public sphere.
So Councillor Allen, is this as per what's displayed?
CR GARY ALLEN: I think Councillor Wellington.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Oh, sorry, Councillor Wellington?
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Oh, thanks.
I just wanted to ask a question if I could before it's moved
- either before or after it's moved.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Yes.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: So I wasn't quite clear from this paper
whether or not these are services that we've previously been providing in house
and we're now contracting out or whether we've always contracted these
out just through a different process, that was all.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: I'll refer that to our CEO.
ROBYN SEYMOUR: Thank you, Councillor Wellington.
So we do do some resurfacing work ourselves, smaller jobs,
but larger jobs we tend to contract out to external agencies and so this
is establishing a panel of suppliers who can support us
in delivering some of those works.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: That's fine, thanks.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: And do I have a mover?
CR GARY ALLEN: Thank you, yes.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: And a seconder?
CR GARY ALLEN: As per the recommendation.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: As per the recommendation, and Councillor Hodge.
Councillor Allen, would you like to speak to the motion?
CR GARY ALLEN: Thanks, Chair.
Given the current road maintenance demands across the shire, the awarding
of this contract to a panel of contractors has increased importance.
Officers followed a public tender process as per our procurement policy
and the contract covers road surfacing, safety projects and maintenance.
Five suppliers submitted tenders and were assessed against pre-determined
evaluation criteria, including price and non-price criteria,
with three experienced companies being successful to form the panel
- namely, Greenhall Asphalt, Thompsett Asphalt, and Boral Resources.
The contract is for an initial 18 months with CPI adjustments and an option
for a further two-year extension and I'd just like to thank all
of those who were involved in the assessment panel.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, Councillor Allen.
Councillor Hodge?
CR ROSE HODGE: No.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Would any other Councillors wish to speak
to the motion?
We'll now put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
SPEAKER: Excuse me, Mayor, could I please move a motion
to suspend standing orders temporarily for a short break?
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: We can.
We've been going now for two hours.
Do I have a seconder?
Councillor Allen.
All those in favour.
And we will suspend for is it usually 5, 10?
10 minutes
- we'll be back in 10 minutes.
Thank you.
We'll just turn the live streaming off.
We'll be back in 10 minutes.
(Short break) MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you, everyone, for joining us again.
We'd now like to resume standing orders.
Do I have a mover?
Councillor Stapleton and seconded by Councillor Hodge.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried.
We'll now move on to our next item, item 4.11.
It contains proposed project budget adjustments and cash reserve transfers
for Council ratification and approval relating
to the 2023 financial year.
Do I have a mover of a motion?
Councillor Schonfelder, is that as per the recommendation?
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: Yes.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: It is.
And do I have a seconder?
Councillor Stapleton.
Councillor Schonfelder, would you like to speak?
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: I'll reserve my right, thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Councillor Stapleton?
CR LIBBY STAPLETON: No need.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Would anyone like to speak to the motion?
No.
We'll put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
Council is asked to consider appointing one independent
member to the Audit and Risk Committee.
Do I have a mover of a motion?
Councillor Wellington
- is that as per the recommendation?
It is.
And a seconder?
Councillor Hodge.
Councillor Wellington, would you like to speak?
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks very much.
I'd just like to acknowledge the recommendation is
to acknowledge the valuable contribution of John Gavens and Debra Russell.
That sounds a bit sort of bland in a way, but I just wanted
to say I think they've made a fantastic contribution.
We've been really lucky to have the two of them.
John as Chair has been just an exemplary chair really in my view and, you know,
calm and involved and knows exactly what's going on
and very thorough and the two of them have been very strong
on risk frameworks and accountability.
So they've given extremely good service to this Council and it
is a very big job being on the Audit and Risk Committee, a lot of reading
and they've done a great job.
They both have to retire because we've got a limit on terms,
which is good practice for audit committees,
and we've got a recommendation that we've gone through a process
of advertising the positions and we got some really good applicants
and we've gone through a process of interviewing shortlisted people
and the recommendation is that we appoint Michael,
Michael Ulbrick, who will bring a lot of skills to the Audit Committee and
will be a welcome new member.
So I'm happy to support it.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Councillor Hodge, would you like to speak to the motion?
CR ROSE HODGE: Just very quickly.
Yes, I'd like to welcome Michael Ulbrick too.
He's got a very well known name in local government.
He's the former CEO of Darebin and also he's worked with other Councils
in administration and in any financial trouble, so Michael
will be an absolute asset to our Audit and Risk Committee and welcome him.
And as Councillor Wellington said, John and Debra have done a great eight
years service and we thank them very much.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Would any other Councillors wish to speak to the motion?
No.
Councillor Wellington, do you have any closing remarks?
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: No, thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: No.
We'll put the motion to the vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
Our next item is Council is presented with a review of Audit
and Risk Committee Charter and asked to consider adopting this.
Do I have a mover of a motion?
Councillor Wellington.
Is it as per the recommendation?
Yes.
And do I have a seconder?
Councillor Schonfelder.
Councillor Wellington, would you like to speak to the motion?
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thank you very much
So this charter has been reviewed as it is required to be reviewed periodically
and there's been some minor
- you know, small amendments that are improvements
made.
It's gone to the Audit and Risk Committee for review and the committee is happy
with the charter.
It's a very detailed charter, actually.
It's more detailed probably than we might have seen elsewhere, but it's
all good sound guidance for the committee and I think it's very appropriate.
So I'm happy to move it.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Councillor Schonfelder?
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: I'll reserve my right, thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Okay.
Would anybody else like to speak to the motion?
Councillor Allen.
CR GARY ALLEN: Just to say that I was quite pleased
with the alteration that there will be one external auditor
without management and two internal auditors
without management and I think that's a very positive thing.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Any other Councillors?
No.
Councillor Wellington, would you like any closing remarks?
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Yes, just that I agree with Councillor Allen,
and the committee also does have a very good practice of meeting on its own
and there's really good frank and free information exchange
between the members and, you know, everyone is included
- we're in a different role really than the independent members, but everyone
is listened to and included.
It's a really functional committee and we'll have to reconstitute now,
but hopefully we can continue that objectivity, transparency
and accountability that's really been part of it.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
I'll now put the motion to the vote.
All those in favour.
And it's carried unanimously.
Council is asked now to note the Audit and Risk Committee Annual Assessment.
Do I have a mover of a motion?
Councillor Wellington.
Is it as per the recommendation?
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: It is.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: It is.
Do I have a seconder?
Councillor Bodsworth.
Councillor Wellington, would you like to speak to the motion?
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thank you very much
So this is a requirement under the Local Government Act that
the committee undertakes an annual assessment of its performance
against the charter and all of the members were sent a survey.
I think, from memory, I don't believe I filled this in myself
because I sort of feel that as a Councillor representative you're
in a bit of a different position from the independent members
and I suspect, but I'm not entirely sure, that the four responses that we got
to that survey were probably all from the independent members rather than
the Council representatives.
I'm not entirely sure on that.
It's a pretty strong endorsement I think of the committee's confidence
in what it's doing and the level of support that it gets
and there's a couple of things we probably need to look at.
One is the process of advice and training and so there's a little bit
of perhaps lack of clarity, although the people we've got are really
qualified and skilled, but there's always an opportunity
for training.
Obviously the question of
- there has been not an issue, but continuing work on the risk framework
and the risk profile and, you know, it's been a very big part
of the committee's work and there's a little bit of feedback there
about management commitment and support there with a couple
of people having a lower rating, but still a, you know, really core one.
So generally I think this shows a great endorsement that the committee,
which is very independent and very prepared to have its say,
is pretty happy with the way things are operating.
There's a couple of things there that we'll continue
to work on.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Councillor Bodsworth, do you wish to speak to the motion?
No.
Oh, sorry, Councillor Allen.
CR GARY ALLEN: Thanks, Chair.
Yeah, I was concerned that the risk profile
and mitigating actions were negatively skewed in the report, but I was happy
with the report by the chairman at a briefing that he was in fact happy
with the progress that was being made in that area.
So that was my only concern.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you for raising that.
Councillor Wellington, did you have any closing remarks?
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Just I think that there's been
- I think the organisation has really responded well to concerns
about that expressed
- not concerns, but a bit of frustration, I suppose, expressed by the committee
at various times in the last few years and recently the administration
and the leadership team have certainly focused their mind on that
and there's been a lot of progress and I think I would agree that
the committee feels that it has risen to its proper position of importance
and it will
- I think people are confident that we'll continue
to move towards best practice there.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: I'll now put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
Our next item is Council is asked to appoint Councillors to various regional
and peak organisations for 2023.
Do I have a mover?
Councillor Allen.
Is it as per the recommendation?
CR GARY ALLEN: As per the recommendation.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: It is.
And do I have a seconder?
Councillor Schonfelder.
Councillor Allen, would you like to speak to this?
CR GARY ALLEN: Thank you.
Mayor, firstly I'd like to thank you because you really gave
all Councillors plenty of time to express our preferences
for the committees and organisations that we wish to join
as the Council representative, but I'd also like
- I wish to highlight the Audit and Risk Committee appointments.
Could I start by thanking Councillor Barker
for his contribution over two years on the Audit and Risk Committee.
This position is, in my view, the most important committee
on which we can serve and I am sure the most time-consuming,
so I certainly thank him for his two years of commitment.
To Councillor Wellington, thank you for renominating.
You provide the committee with continuity and enormous skill.
And also to Councillor Bodsworth for nominating, as I think it is important
for several Councillors to gain the experience of serving
on this committee.
I'd also note I'd like to also thank Councillor Wellington
for her thoughtfulness last year in pointing
out that certain appointments carry with them director roles and thanks
to the CEO, these bodies are listed
in the key considerations, which I think is terrific.
So thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Would you like to speak, Councillor Schonfelder?
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: I would indeed and I'd like to thank Councillor Allen
for moving this item and if I may be so indulgent, Mayor,
as to give thanks and appreciation to have served
on the G21 Economic Development Pillar, that was chaired by Nat Anson,
and I really enjoyed that and I'd like to thank Matt Taylor
for also participating on behalf of the Council.
Over the last year the pillar has changed, so I won't be serving
on that in the future, but I wish Councillor Allen well
for representing the Council on that pillar.
I'd just like to add that our Councillor group
is diverse and I think there's strength in diversity and I'd also like
to echo Councillor Allen's appreciation directed towards Councillor Barker
for his service and also Councillor Wellington
on the Audit and Risk Committee.
Thank you, Mayor.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thanks, Councillor Schonfelder.
Would anyone else like to speak to this motion?
Councillor Wellington.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: Thanks.
I'm very glad to be back on the Audit and Risk Committee.
I think a level of continuity is good.
It has been good working with Councillor Barker,
but I welcome Councillor Bodsworth and I think he'll bring a lot of skills
to that committee, so I'm really looking forward
to his joining that committee.
I just also noted he is on a lot of committees,
which reflects his diversity of interest, I suspect,
but I think that's very generous of him to put that time forward, to be honest.
So, yeah, I'm looking forward to the next year.
It will be good.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Councillor Bodsworth, would you like to speak?
CR MIKE BODSWORTH: Just to express appreciation
for Councillor Wellington's support and Councillor Allen's words.
Without having a full-time job, I do have the time to put
into these things and as Councillor Wellington said,
I find them really interesting on a personal level and also
if I can bring skills and make a good contribution,
that's great.
And I'd also like to acknowledge the time and effort and passion that all
of the Councillors put into the various groups that they are on
and I'd like to also acknowledge the effort
that Council officers put into a lot of these groups as well.
I'd particularly like to highlight Shaan Briggs' contributions
on the sport and rec pillar of G21 and the recently sort
of amalgamated health and wellbeing pillar and Shaan's leaving the organisation
and I think he's made a great contribution to the organisation and also
as a Council officer representative on those pillars.
So I just want to acknowledge that and I'm really looking forward
- after a couple of meetings of audit and risk committee standing in
for Councillor Barker, his work, and looking forward to taking that on
and I learn a lot from those meetings and as Councillor Allen said, a huge amount
of work goes into those particularly.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: That's great.
Thank you.
And thanks, Councillor Barker for joining us, appreciate you coming
along.
I know you've been caught up, so thank you for being here.
We were just talking about our representation
on different committees, so people were thanking you for your time
on Audit and Risk, so it's quite timely when you arrived.
Did you have any closing remarks, Councillor Allen?
CR GARY ALLEN: No, thank you, just to repeat my thanks
to Councillor Barker now that he's present in the chamber for his contribution
over two years.
It's an enormous commitment and I thank him very much for that work.
CR PAUL BARKER: Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: We'll now put the motion to the vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
We're now moving along to the S6 Instrumentation of Delegation
- Council to staff.
Report 4.16 requests Council consider this delegation which delegates powers,
functions and duties to particular Council staff holding
the duties of the offices or positions referred to
in this instrument.
Do I have a mover of a motion?
Councillor Barker.
Is it as per the recommendation?
CR PAUL BARKER: Yes, it is.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: It is.
Great.
And do I have a seconder?
Councillor Allen.
Councillor Barker, would you like to speak to the motion?
CR PAUL BARKER: No thanks, Mayor.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: No.
Councillor Allen?
No.
Would anybody like to speak to the motion?
Councillor Wellington.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: I would.
I'd just like to
- look, all these delegations are really
important, but this sort of defeats me because it's just so comprehensive.
I mean, we really have to rely on the legal advice.
I think they use a template that's extracted
from the Act and, you know, I can't even remember the various acronyms
or the abbreviations for the different provisions, so you kind
of have to scan it and I always pride myself
on reading every page of the council agenda,
but this one beats me.
But I'm happy to support it.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
We now move the motion to a vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
We now move to Instrument of Appointment and Authorisation for Planning
and Environment Act 1987.
Council is asked to endorse the authorised officers
under the Planning and Environment Act 1987
through the updated Instrument of Authorisation and Appointment.
The report results from recent staff appointments.
Do I have a mover?
Councillor Barker.
Thank you, again.
And seconded by Councillor Stapleton.
I assume that's as per the recommendation, Councillor Barker?
CR PAUL BARKER: Yes, it is.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: And would you like to speak to it?
CR PAUL BARKER: No thanks, Mayor.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: No.
No, Councillor Stapleton?
Would anybody like to speak?
Councillor Wellington.
CR HEATHER WELLINGTON: I'd like to note, thank you, that we seem
to have lost I think three people and appointed six, which I think
is probably a very good thing in planning it.
It's a really important area and we seem to
- it is incredibly busy, obviously, with all the development in the shire.
So I'm not sure if our staff complement is permanently expanding, but certainly
for this instrument it seems to have expanded,
so I hope that reflects the resourcing we need.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
I'll put the motion to a vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
We now move on to our conflict of interest records.
We have a recommendation to note the conflict of interest records
since the previous Council meeting.
Do I have a mover?
Councillor Hodge.
And a seconder?
Councillor Schonfelder.
As per recommendation, Councillor Hodge?
Yes.
Would you like to speak?
No.
And Councillor Schonfelder?
CR ADRIAN SCHONFELDER: I formally second the item and reserve my right to speak.
Thank you.
MAYOR LIZ PATTISON: Thank you.
Would anybody like to speak to the motion?
No.
We'll put the motion to the vote.
All those in favour.
And the motion is carried unanimously.
And on that note I declare the meeting closed at 8.29.
Thank you very much for your time, everybody.
I really appreciate you sitting through this long agenda
and we'll see you again in February.
Merry Christmas to everybody.
Thank you very much.
Bye, everybody.