Council Minutes - Section D: Notice of Motion - 25 September 2012

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Notices of Motion tabled at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Date which was held at City Hall in Little Malop Street, Geelong.

• Committee for Geelong Membership (Cr B Abley)

• Reallocation of Capital Funds - Deakin Ward (Cr Nelson)

• Trial Dust Suppression Seal - Church Street, Hamlyn Heights and Herne Hill (Cr E Kontelj)

• Reallocation of Capital Funds - Austin Ward (Cr Mitchell - Mayor)

• Geelong Ring Road Section 4c - Noise Impacts on Grovedale and Waurn Ponds Residents

• Vicroads Roads - Barwon Heads Road, Golf Links Road and Bridge Road

• Reallocation of Funds - Cr A Richards

• Grovedale/Waurn Ponds/Armstrong Creek Train Station

Committee for Geelong Membership (Cr B Abley)

Background

Council notes the recent public admission by the Committee for Geelong Chair, Mr Michael Betts of the serious breach of privacy by the Executive Director of the Committee for Geelong (CfG) in releasing the entire database of the CfG’s membership (including that of the City of Greater Geelong Council) to a third party without the knowledge or permission of its membership for the purposes of political fundraising.

The membership of the Committee for Geelong collectively has a common law right to privacy most particularly with regards to the collection, storage, handling and distribution of membership information.

It is contended that this privacy breach is an unauthorised disclosure of membership and contact details by the Executive Director that violates not only a common law right to privacy but also violates the operating principles of the Committee for Geelong as stated by its Board of Management.

Cr Abley moved, Cr Richards seconded -

That Council writes to the Committee for Geelong advising of the Council’s decision to immediately terminate its membership because the relationship between the two parties caused by the breach and the display of public interference in the political activities directly related to the forthcoming Local Government Elections has fractured to the extent that Council no longer has any confidence in the leadership of the Committee for Geelong.

Deferral Motion –

Cr Harwood moved, Cr E Kontelj seconded –

That the Notice of Motion be deferred.

Carried.

Cr Mitchell (Mayor) re-entered the meeting room and resumed the Chair at 9:25pm

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Reallocation of Capital Funds - Deakin Ward (Cr Nelson)

Background

Following the completion of The Highton Tennis Club Pavilion Project (C09869) approximately $50,000 in project funds remain unspent.

These funds can now be reallocated to other projects where funding shortfalls exist.

It is proposed that unused funds from the Highton Tennis Club Pavilion Project be redirected to the Queens Park Master Plan Project, Highton Reserve Rotunda & BBQ Facilities Project, and Healthy Eating Initiatives for the Bellaire, Ceres, Highton and Montpellier Primary Schools Project.

Cr Nelson moved, Cr Richards seconded –

That Council support the following funding reallocations:

Carried.

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Trial Dust Suppression Seal - Church Street, Hamlyn Heights and Herne Hill (Cr E Kontelj)

Background

Church Street west of Katoomba Court and Graylea Avenue is an unsealed road on the boundary between Cowie and Kildare wards. The current condition of the road is such that large amounts of dust are generated by traffic, particularly during the drier months of the year. In order to respond to relevant concerns from residents it is proposed to trial a low cost seal treatment as a dust suppression measure. The trial will be monitored over the next several years to determine the effectiveness of this measure. The trial is estimated to cost $24,000.00. It is proposed that funds be transferred from the Community Projects budget allocations as:

Cr E Kontelj moved, Cr S Kontelj seconded -

That Council support the following Ward re-allocation as follows:

Carried.

Reallocation of Capital Funds - Austin Ward (Cr Mitchell - Mayor)

Background

As part of the 2010/11, 11/12 and 12/13 budgets, Council has allocated a total of $95,000 for the implementation of the Ervin Reserve Master Plan project (C09826 and C12829).

Following a review of this project, it has become evident that the total allocated budget of $95,000 for the implementation of the Ervin Reserve Master Plan will not be required.

It is therefore appropriate that Council consider reallocating excess project funds to other projects.

An amount of $16,900 will remain with the Ervin Reserve Master Plan Implementation project.

It is proposed that the excess funds are re-allocated to the following projects:

• St Mary’s Tennis Club - $32,800
  Upgrade of four (4) asphalt tennis courts to provide two synthetic grass courts and two plexipave courts at Thomson Reserve. The upgraded courts will provide a facility for the St Mary’s Tennis Club that were displaced from their previous facility in Myers Street, Geelong.

• Geelong East Men’s Shed - $10,000
  This project will assist the club to develop a veranda extension to the south side of their building and provide additional weather protection for club patrons.

• St Albans / Breakwater Cricket Club - $5,000
  For drainage improvement works.

• St Albans Football Club - $5,000
  For drainage improvement works.

• Thomson Cricket Club - $9,000
  For the purchase of a new roller for the grounds.

• Newcomb Park Primary School - $1,000
  A contribution to the Fresh Fruit in Classrooms program that is organised by volunteers and provides a fresh fruit platter to every classroom every day for the health and benefit of the students.

• Whittington Primary School - $11,500
  A $10,000 contribution for works on the kitchen, plus $1,500 to contribute toward line-marking on the courts.

• Newcomb & District Cricket Club - $3,800

The remaining $16,900 in the Ervin Reserve Master Plan Implementation (C09826 / C12829) will remain to develop actions of the Master Plan.

Reallocation of $78,100 from projects C09826 / C12829 to the various projects will enable the continuous development and improvement of the community groups and sporting clubs.

Cr Mitchell moved, Cr Richards seconded -

That Council support the following reallocations:

Carried.

Geelong Ring Road Section 4c - Noise Impacts on Grovedale and Waurn Ponds Residents (Cr Richards)

Background

In the 2011, the Victorian state government set up an advisory committee to enquire into aspects of Geelong Ring Road Section 4C, including its alignment and other factors such as the possible impact in regard to noise from the road on residents in Grovedale and Waurn Ponds.

In relation to mitigation measures to address noise impacts, the City of Greater Geelong’s written submission to the Advisory Committee Hearing dated 10 May 2011 ‘strongly recommends’ that in addition to the 2m high earth mound along the northern boundary of the Section 4C alignment, a 2m high noise wall be constructed for the ‘entire length of the Bickford Road interface’ and that an open graded asphalt treatment be used.

Council considered these measures are required to ‘ensure that the amelioration of any impacts from the road are undertaken in such a manner to ensure that there is absolutely minimal impact on existing urban areas of Waurn Ponds and south Grovedale.’

Council’s written submission included the following conclusion:

The City submits that there needs to be explicit direction from this Advisory Committee in relation to amelioration associated with the road and this should not be left open to a further design detail at a later date. As has been stated in the City’s submission proper the City supports additional measures including earth mounding, 2 meter high noise wall on top of the earth mound for the entire length of Bickford Road, landscaping to minimise the visual impact of this noise wall, and open graded asphalt to reduce the decibel reading from road noise associate with traffic on 4C.

The advisory committee subsequently decided not to make these recommendations at the time.

Cr Richards moved, Cr Nelson seconded -

That Council writes to Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu, Victorian Opposition leader Daniel Andrews, Transport Minister Terry Mulder, Member for South Barwon, Andrew Katos, and all state upper house MPs in Western Victoria, requesting that construction of stage 1 of Geelong Ring Road Section 4C include:

1. construction of a 2m high earth mound along the northern boundary of the Section 4C alignment;

2. construction of a 2m high noise wall on top of the earth berm for the entire length of the Bickford Road interface;

3. an open graded asphalt treatment as the road surface.

Carried

Vicroads Roads - Barwon Heads Road, Golf Links Road and Bridge Road (Cr Richards)

In consecutive Victorian state budgets for 2011 and 2012, the Baillieu Liberal state government cut funding to VicRoads for maintenance of roads under state government control. This has led to a number of roads on the Bellarine and in Geelong continuing to deteriorate and many are now in need of substantial repair. Barwon Heads Road which runs from Belmont to Barwon Heads is one road that is now greatly in need of substantial maintenance. Several sections of Barwon Heads road are marked by severe potholing, and are in immediate need of repair.

Ocean Grove, Armstrong Creek and Barwon Heads have experienced substantial population growth, which has led to an increase in traffic going through Barwon Heads itself. This has put pressure on Golf Links Road, Bridge Road and Barwon Heads Road within the township itself. These roads are all under state government control. Golf Links Road, Bridge Road and Barwon Heads Road are all now in need of repair.

Further, with the increase in traffic and with future growth planned, road infrastructure along this route needs substantial improvement. The corner of Bridge Road and Golf Links Road needs to be upgraded and made safer for pedestrians, cyclists, primary school children and their parents, and motorists. Traffic entering Barwon Heads from the west should be travelling at a slower speed from the Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden, in order to facilitate better outcomes for pedestrians and cyclists in Barwon Heads Road, and at the corner of Golf Links Road and Barwon Heads Road.

Further, key intersections along Barwon Heads Road such as the intersections of Blackrock Road, Breamlea Road and Bluestone School Road have now become substantially busier. These intersections need upgrading to make them safer for motorists.

Cr Richards moved, Cr Macdonald seconded -

That Council writes to Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu, Victorian Opposition leader Daniel Andrews, Transport Minister Terry Mulder, Member for South Barwon, Andrew Katos, and all state upper house MPs in Western Victoria, requesting that:

1. Barwon Heads Road between Belmont and Barwon Heads be repaired and made safe for motorists;

2. Bridge Road, Golf Links Road, and Barwon Heads Road within the Barwon Heads township be repaired and maintained;

3. The intersection of Golf Links Road and Bridge Road be upgraded to improve outcomes for pedestrians, cyclists, school children and their parents, and motorists;

4. Barwon Heads Road from the Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden to its intersection with Golf Links Road be upgraded to make it safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists;

5. Intersections on Barwon Heads Road be upgraded to provide safer outcomes for motorists.

Cr Harwood left the meeting room at 9:36pm

Cr Harwood re-entered the meeting room at 9:39pm

Deferral Motion:

Cr S Kontelj moved, Cr E Kontelj seconded –

That the Notice of Motion be deferred.

The Deferral Motion was put and lost.

The motion was then put and carried.

Reallocation Funds (Cr Richards)

Council has recently completed an upgrade of the Grovedale Sports Club social rooms, including doubling the size of the facility, installing new toilets, disabled access, and refurbishing the existing space.

As a result, the Grovedale and Waurn Ponds community now have a much better venue to use, and are attending the facility in much greater numbers. The venue is used for sports club functions, as a social space to watch sport during the day and the evening, and for many community events. Many local residents now frequent the facility and meals are served on different nights of the week, and the weekend.

The facility contains a kitchen which is now also in need of an upgrade. To put it simply, the current kitchen facilities cannot keep up with the new extended social rooms. The estimated cost of the kitchen upgrade is $80000.

These funds are to be transferred from Minor Capital Renewal – Buckley Ward.

Cr Richards moved, Cr Harwood seconded -

That Council support the following reallocation of funds:

Carried

Grovedale/Waurn Ponds/Armstrong Creek Train Station (Cr Richards)

Council at its meeting on 24^th July 2012 noted an updates report on the Armstrong Creek Urban Growth area, including some information on the proposed Waurn Ponds/ Armstrong Creek train station, and associated bus network planning. Council resolved to request a more detailed report on the train station and bus network planning, which was presented to council at it’s meeting on the 14^th August 2012. Council subsequently noted that report.

Stage one construction of the Waurn Ponds/ Armstrong Creek train station will have only 200 car parks on the northern side in Waurn Ponds, and no car parks on the southern side in Armstrong Creek. This will result in train passengers from all over southern Geelong, the Bellarine peninsula, and the Surf Coast parking through the streets of Waurn Ponds, with all the usual associated problems and issues that come with a lack of car parking at train stations.

Further, a lack of bus services to the new train station will exacerbate this problem.

Opening car parking on the southern Armstrong Creek side of the train station would alleviate this problem, and produce a much better outcome for Waurn Ponds residents and train passengers. Further, adequate provision of public transport to the train station from day one of it’s opening would further alleviate traffic and parking issues in Waurn Ponds after stage one of the Waurn Ponds/ Armstrong Creek train station opens.

Cr Richards moved, Cr Macdonald seconded -

That Council writes to Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu, Victorian Opposition leader Daniel Andrews, Transport Minister Terry Mulder, Member for South Barwon, Andrew Katos, and all state upper house MPs in Western Victoria, requesting that:

1. Stage one construction of Waurn Ponds/ Armstrong Creek Train station include substantial car parking on the southern Armstrong Creek side;

2. Bus network services from southern Geelong, the Surf Coast and the Bellarine Peninsula be available to train passengers at the Waurn Ponds/ Armstrong Creek Train station from day one of train station operation.

Carried.

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