Council Minutes - Section C: Notices of Motion - 11 December 2012
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Notices of Motion tabled by Cr Kylie Fisher at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 11 December 2012 which was held at City Hall in Little Malop Street, Geelong.
Following the completion of North Shore Multi Purpose Rooms Project (C09831), approximately $19,912 in project funds remains unallocated.
These funds can now be reallocated to support other new projects in the area.
It is proposed that unused funds from the North Shore Multi Purpose Rooms (C09831) be used to:
Design a netball verandah and storeroom for the North Shore Football Netball Club;
Construct walking paths in Windsor Park.
Cr Fisher moved, Cr Richards seconded –
That Council support the following funding reallocations:
|
Ward |
Project Description |
Budget |
Budget ID |
|
Corio |
North Shore Multi Purpose Rooms |
-$19,912 |
C09831 |
|
Corio |
North Shore Football Netball Club – Netball Verandah and Storeroom Design and Path works |
$19,912 |
TBC |
Carried.
Geelong Adoscent Sexuality Project (GASP) has been supported by the City of Greater Geelong Youth Development Unit since 1996. In 2011 GASP and the City of Greater Geelong Youth Development Unit received $860,000 over four years through the Department of Health’s Suicide Prevention Funds. One of the project objectives is to ‘increase community awareness of the impact of homophobia on the health and well being of Same Sex Attracted Gender Questioning (SSAGQ) young people and the whole community’.
There is a direct correlation between homophobic bullying and young people self harming and having suicidal ideation.
37% had thought about self harm; 31% had harmed themselves
37% had thought about suicide; 16% had attempted suicide
One in ten young people are same sex attracted. The impact of homophobia and transphobia on same SSAGQ young people can be devastating; resulting in higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse, mental health issues, self harm and suicide.
61% of same sex attracted young people have experienced verbal abuse
18% have experienced physical abuse
In order to address these issues the GASP project runs support groups for young people and for parents. GASP is also working across the community and with service providers and schools to support the implementation of inclusive practice and to celebrate diversity in the Geelong region.
Every year the GASP project takes a small number of young people to the Pride March, the final event and celebration of the Melbourne Midsummer Festival. In 2013 GASP is seeking the endorsement and support of Council to march in the Pride March under the City of Greater Geelong’s banner. The GASP project would also like to invite Councillors and CoGG employees to take part in this march. This would send a message to the community of Geelong that the City of Greater Geelong celebrates sexual and gender diversity within its community and in doing so it will help to reduce the stigma and isolation created by homophobic discrimination, and thus create a safer and healthier community for everyone.
Cr Farrell moved, Cr E Kontelj seconded -
That Council shows its support for SSAGQ young people, (and thereby the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community), by supporting the GASP group, Councillors and CoGG employees to march under the CoGG banner at Pride March on 3 February 2013.
Carried Unanimously.
Council has received notification from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) that it has received an application from Dun-ra Investments Pty Ltd to increase the number of electronic gaming machines (EGMs) from 63 to 67 at the Sphinx Entertainment Centre, 2 Thompsons Rd, North Geelong. Council has been notified that it must advise the VCGLR by 31 December 2012 as to whether it will be making a submission to the application.
The Sphinx is currently licensed for 63 EGMs however it currently has only 57 EGMs on site. The difference between existing and licensed EGMs is the result of the Victorian State Government’s state-wide auction of all EGM licence entitlements in Victoria in 2010 (which came into effect in August 2012.) During the auction process in 2010 Dun-ra Investments was successful in purchasing only 57 EGM entitlements. However, the venue’s existing licence to operate 63 EGM’s remains in place.
At the entitlement auction, the Bairnsdale RSL Club purchased 10 EGM entitlements which were part of the allocation within the area of the City of Greater Geelong. Following the auction, venues were permitted to trade their EGM entitlements with other venues.
The Bairnsdale RSL Club has since sold their 10 entitlements to Dun-ra Investments (Sphinx Hotel) on the open market. Because the Sphinx Hotel is only licensed for 63 EMGs, it has to apply to the VCGLR to increase its number to 67 (a further 4 machines).
Prior to 2006, venues were not required to apply for a planning permit to Council if their gambling space (for EGMs) comprised less than 25% of the venue’s total floor space. This changed in 2006 when the Victorian State Government passed legislation that required all venues to apply to their respective local government for any increase in their number of machines.
Council’s Planning Department has informed the applicant that they are not required to apply for a planning permit for the proposed increase in EGMs. The basis of this advice is the result of a matter heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria [McKinnon Hotels Pty ltd v Glen Eira City Council (2011) VCAT 413 (on 6 December 2011) (McKinnon Hotel decision)].
The Court determined that if a venue had electronic gaming machines as at 18 October 2006 (the date that amendment VC39 amended clause 52.28 to remove the old 25% rule) and provided the gaming area remained the same size as it existed on 18 October 2006, a venue could increase the number of gaming machines in the existing gaming room, without the need for a planning permit to install those machines. Therefore, given there are no proposals to increase the size of the gaming room, a planning permit is not required.
These costs will be met within existing budgets.
Cr Farrell moved, Cr Richards seconded -
Council informs the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) by 31 December 2012, of its intention to make a submission on the proposal by Dun-ra Investments Pty Ltd to increase the number of electronic gaming machines at the Sphinx entertainment Centre, 2 Thompsons Road, Geelong North.
Council undertakes a Social and Economic Assessment (SEIA) on the proposal.
If the Social and Economic Impact Assessment demonstrates a net detriment to the local community, Council will consider opposing the application at the VCGLR hearing.
Carried.
Division Requested:
For: Crs Farrell, Heagney, Richards, Ellis, Harwood, Fagg, Irvine
Against: Crs Ansett, Nelson, E Kontelj, Fisher, S Kontelj, Macdonald
The Regional Rail Link Authority is currently constructing a new VLine exclusive rail track to Southern Cross station servicing the regional centres of Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo. This project involves the upgrading of rail stations that currently exist on the new rail line, together with the construction of several new rail stations in western Melbourne.
The completion of the project will also require more rolling stock, and council notes the recent state government announcement to this effect. The rail line will become operational in 2016. The past five years has seen a significant increase in rail patronage across all regional lines in Victoria. The City of Greater Geelong is concerned that increased capacity is delivered to meet increasing demand.
The scope of the Regional Rail Link project does not cover upgrading of any rail stations in the City of Greater Geelong, nor the construction of any new stations such as the Waurn Ponds/ Armstrong Creek station, which is being funded separately by the state government.
It is widely recognized that rail station infrastructure in the City of Greater Geelong has needed substantial improvement for some time. This includes improvements to parking, disabled access, access via walking and cycling, and bus connections.
Cr Richards moved, Cr Fisher seconded -
That Council officers investigate the works required to be undertaken across all rail stations in the City of Greater Geelong in order to meet future increasing demand in public transport patronage. The report to cover issues such as car parking, disabled access, walking and cycling access, and bus connections, and to include the future rail station planned for Waurn Ponds/ Armstrong Creek as well as upgrades to the existing train station infrastructure. The investigation should be included in the G21 Public Transport Strategy, due for completion by 30 June 2013.
Carried.
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