Council Minutes - Section C: Notice of Motion - 10 December 2013

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Notices of Motion tabled at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 10 December 2013 which was held at City Hall in Little Malop Street, Geelong.


Notice of Motion – Cr M Heagney

Heritage Buildings Local Law

The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) commissioned a report on the issue of demolition of heritage buildings by neglect entitled Demolition by Neglect - Policy on Places in the Heritage Overlay. The report aims to produce a model methodology and policies for local governments to deal with locally significant properties threatened by neglect.

The report identifies eight case studies of significant heritage buildings across the state which are considered to fall within the category of demolition by neglect. The Ritz Hotel is one of these eight case studies.

The City of Greater Geelong has had a number of Heritage buildings which have been neglected to the point of potential demolition, the most notable being the Ritz Hotel in Yarra Street. Council has attempted on numerous occasions to assist the owner of the Ritz property with ways forward to development of the site. This includes issuing and extending Planning Permits for the site over a number of years.

The report makes a number of recommendations along the following lines:

While any changes to Building or Planning Controls would require a state wide review, the provision of local legislative measures could be instigated for the City of Greater Geelong. Criteria which could be included in these measures are:

The local legislations could also include penalties for failure to comply.

Cr Heagney moved, Cr S Kontelj seconded -

That Council:

  1. investigate the applicability of certain legislative measures including the Planning Scheme, Building Act or  Local Laws as a possible mechanism to increase controls over the maintenance and preservation of Heritage Significant Buildings within the Central Activity Area;

  2. receive a report detailing the recommended processes and legislative tools by the end of February 2014.

Carried.

Division Requested:

For: Crs Ansett, Ellis, Farrell, Fisher, Harwood, Heagney, Irvine, E Kontelj, S Kontelj, Lyons, Macdonald, Nelson, Richards

Against: Nil


Notice of Motion – Cr M Heagney

Trial of parking changes in Central Geelong between January 1 and March 31, 2014


Background

The Central Geelong Task Force has been developing an action plan to deliver a revitalised and thriving central Geelong. One of the issues investigated is that of convenient access to Central Geelong. The resulting action plan (to come to council in January 2014) has identified opportunities to improve the experience of visitation by car. Rather than wait for the full Action plan to be endorsed by council it is proposed to pull forward the following 3 trial initiatives. These trials aim to inform a possible broader suite of improvements that the council will be able to consider as part of the 14/15 budget process.

Councillors at times receive comments from residents, shoppers and some shopkeepers about the existence of 1 hour parking limits being too restrictive and not user friendly for those who choose to come into the Central Geelong for their business and shopping needs. It is felt that by increasing this time limit to 2 hours, customers have adequate time to do their business and will have a positive customer experience. An exception to this rule will be around the emergency entrance of the Geelong Hospital which will have the 1 hour zones maintained to provide turnover and enable emergency access.

In addition, there has been ongoing comment in the community about the fee that is charged to park in Central Geelong. Some people have an opinion that introducing free parking on Saturday will provide incentive for more visitors to the Central Geelong area. It is proposed that Saturday parking be made free of charge for a trial period to determine if more visitors are enticed to Central Geelong.

At times Council receives complaints from residents, shoppers and some shopkeepers who have being infringed for parking marginally longer than the permitted time period, including the grace period. It is felt that by extending the existing grace period from 10 minutes to 15 minutes, customers have a greater opportunity to return to their vehicle on time, thereby avoiding a fine.

It is estimated that there will be a loss of revenue to Council of approximately $212,000 in machine revenue and fines and an increase in expenditure of approximately $18,000 for sign replacement, machine tariff changes and resources to measure the effectiveness of such changes. As a result, operational savings will need to be found to cover the costs of implementation and reduced income.

Cr Heagney moved, Cr Farrell seconded -

That Council, for a trial period between January 1 and March 31, 2014

  1. increase all current Central Geelong 1 hour parking limits to 2 hours except for those areas adjacent to the emergency sections of the Geelong Hospital;

  2. extend and publicise the grace period to 15 minutes free on top of the purchased ticket or signed time allowance;

  3. trial free Saturday parking;

  4. establish a feedback process, 2 months into the trial, through the Central Geelong Place Management Unit to consult with customers, businesses and key agencies such as the Chamber of Commerce and Central Geelong Marketing on the effectiveness and impacts of the changes. A report is to be brought back to Council detailing the outcomes of the trial.

AMENDMENT

Cr Ansett moved, Cr Irvine seconded -

That:

Council, for a trial period between January 1 and March 31, 2014

  1. increase all current Central Geelong 1 hour parking limits to 2 hours except for those areas adjacent to the emergency sections of the Geelong Hospital;

  2. extend and publicise the grace period to 15 minutes free on top of the purchased ticket or signed time allowance;

  3. trial free Saturday parking;

  4. establish a feedback process, 2 months into the trial, through the Central Geelong Place Management Unit to consult with customers, businesses and key agencies such as the Chamber of Commerce and Central Geelong Marketing on the effectiveness and impacts of the changes. A report is to be brought back to Council detailing the outcomes of the trial.

  5. the proposed reduction in expenditure will occur in the following areas:

Carried.


AMENDMENT

Cr Farrell moved, Cr Nelson seconded -

That:

Council, for a trial period between January 1 and March 31, 2014

  1. increase all current Central Geelong 1 hour parking limits to 2 hours except for those areas adjacent to the emergency sections of the Geelong Hospital;

  2. extend and publicise the grace period to 15 minutes free on top of the purchased ticket or signed time allowance;

  3. trial free Saturday parking;

  4. establish a feedback process, 2 months into the trial, through the Central Geelong Place Management Unit to consult with customers, businesses and key agencies such as the Chamber of Commerce and Central Geelong Marketing on the effectiveness and impacts of the changes. A report is to be brought back to Council detailing the outcomes of the trial.

  5. the proposed reduction in expenditure will occur in the following areas:

FORMAL MOTION

Cr Richards moves, Cr S Kontelj seconded –

That the amendment be put.

Carried.


The amendment was put and carried.

The amendment became the motion.

The motion was put and carried.


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