Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the Council Conference and Reception Centre - City Hall on 23 April 2013, commencing at 7:00pm.
Lionel McWilliam
Lee Atkinson
Colin Wallace
Mary Wallace
Cr K Fagg (Chair)
Crs:
T Ansett
L Ellis
J Farrell
K Fisher
B Harwood
M Heagney
J Irvine
E Kontelj
S Kontelj
R Macdonald
R Nelson
A Richards*(7:12pm)
S Griffin (Chief Executive Officer)
L Allan (Acting General Manager Corporate Services)
P Bettess (General Manager Economic Development, Planning and Tourism)
G Van Driel (General Manager City Services)
J McMahon (General Manager Community Services)
D Frost (General Manager Projects, Recreation and Central Geelong)
S Sodomaco (Manager Health and Local Laws)
J Brown (Manager Administration and Governance)
R Bourke (Governance Co ordinator)
D Chiller (Coordinator Communicaton and Marketing)
The Mayor declared the meeting open at 7:00pm.
The Mayor acknowledged that we are here today on the land of the Wathaurong People and we pay our respects to Aboriginal elders past and present.
Cr Ansett presented the Mayor with an Award received in respect to the Restoration of Customs House.
Nil
Cr E Kontelj moved, Cr Macdonald seconded -
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 9 April 2013 be confirmed and signed.
Carried.
Nil.
Question Time is an opportunity for questions to be addressed to Council and while the minutes record the general content, they do not purport to be a transcript of what was said by individuals. Likewise Councillor or Officer verbal responses are in summary form only. Views expressed may not be the views of Council.
Council's practice is to provide a separate document on its website setting out questions and responses including any more detailed written responses which may be provided subsequent to the meeting.
Lionel McWilliam asked that in light of previous decisions by Council regarding trucking operations in a rural living zone, i.e. 65 Old Melbourne Road, Lara, and the effects on quality of life to people who choose to live in this lifestyle, this application is and indication of in appropriate businesses being allowed to operate in sensitive areas. Will Council stick by their previous decision and reject his application in the Planning Department?
Peter Bettess responded that Council has an obligation to consider each planning application on its merits and issues relating to this particular site. Council cannot express an opinion on an application, prior to the application being considered.
Lee Atkinson addressed Council as follows regarding staff parking at Grace McKellar:
Considering Council’s response to the question time last meeting, Council has not fully responded in relation to the safety to residents and traders. My question is – “Do you consider the community as a whole”?
When the land of McKellar was upgraded and transformed into the new buildings and carparking areas it was from the State Government funds. It cost Barwon Health zero dollars. Now Barwon Health wants employees to pay for something already paid for including land donated to the public with hectares of open space for ample parking. We are requesting Council not to be biased but to work with us to work towards a solution that helps everyone.
Currently it’s unsafe parking on the roadways with 80km per hour zone speeds. Also the paths are unlit, no security, violence in the area re slashing of tyres on nine vehicles. This issue is one where the local residents as well as local workers are on the same side. All the problems would be fixed though Barwon Health abandoning its anti-staff cash grab.
Then why are you not considering the employees of the McKellar Centre as community members and residents of the City of Greater Geelong?
Why is Council helping Barwon Health against community, past employees, present employees, future employees who are residents of the City of Greater Geelong?
Cr Eddy Kontelj responded that Council has, as recently as last Thursday, been advocating with Barwon Health on behalf of everyone concerned.
Council is just as challenged with this as the rest of the community and we are trying to work with the community, traders and residents to determine a solution. It is not about Council trying to help Barwon Health, but more trying to come up with some solution that will provide safety and also protect traders against loss of income and try to help out residents.
There has been no decision made on any restrictive parking, but Council are in the process of liaising with residents and traders in the affected areas.
All parties are working towards a fair and safe solution to this issue.
*Cr Richards entered the meeting room at 7:12pm
Colin Wallace asked:
In relation to my wife Mary Wallace’s first question at the last Council Meeting, 9th April 2013:
After my wife read her first question and there had been no response to her from any of those to whom her question had been addressed, ie the Mayor and other Councillors, Peter Bettess asked the Mayor if he could make a comment and the Mayor allowed it, even though my wife said she did not want a comment from Mr. Bettess. Mr Bettess’s comment was so starkly irrelevant that not a trace of it appears in the Minutes and instead a response was attributed to the Mayor which he did not say. Would the Mayor, particularly in his roles as Chairperson and Governance portfolio holder, as well as the other Councillors note this and note also that when my wife twice said Mr Bettess was evading her question she was correct and that what happened subsequent to the Mayor imposing Mr Bettess’s comment on my wife shows that my wife, in not wanting a comment from Mr Bettess and saying so, was vindicated?
The Mayor noted the comments.
Council determined that Question 1 b) not to be included.
Has the CEO, Stephen Griffin, found out for himself if what my wife said in her first question at the most recent Council Meeting, 9th April 2013, concerning his employee Mr Bettess was valid and, if so, what was his assessment and, if not, who didn’t he check for himself?
Stephen Griffin took the question on notice.
What is CEO Stephen Griffin’s explanation for why the half-yearly summaries mentioned in Condition 7 of the Ropeworks Planning Permit were not provided to the permit holder/owner or even produced in the first place?
Stephen Griffin took the question on notice.
To my second question at last Council Meeting, 9th April 2013, which ended in me asking if Condition 1 t) of the Ropeworks Planning Permit had been satisfied, would the Mayor and other Councillors note that I did not get an answer and Mr Bettess’s response was ambiguous?
Would the Mayor and other Councillors note that the Road Safety Audit commissioned under Condition 16 of the Ropeworks Planning Permit, in recommending ‘the installation of a raised pavement in First Street at the intersection with Waratah Street’ stipulating that this raised pavement was to be constructed in the area of the then-existing concrete pavement across First Street, was faithful to and consistent with the Ropeworks Panel Report?
Would the Mayor and other Councillors note that Condition 1 t) of the Ropeworks Planning Permit says: ‘Details of how the design complies with the Road Safety Audit as required in Condition 16 or this permit?’
The above comments were noted by the Mayor.
Since I did not get an answer last time I am asking again: The road safety audit conducted in accordance with Condition 16 of the Ropeworks Planning Permit recommended ‘the installation of a raised pavement in First Street at the intersection with Waratah Street’ stipulating that this raised pavement was to be constructed in the area of the then-existing concrete pavement across First Street, the project manager accepted the recommendation and the Findings and Recommendations section of the audit report was endorsed by Council on 3rd December 2007, yet the raised pavement so described has not been installed, so I am asking if Condition 1 t) of the Ropeworks Planning Permit has been satisfied?
Peter Bettess responded that Condition 1 t) has been satisfied and the plans endorsed.
Nil.
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