Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the Council Conference and Reception Centre - City Hall on 11 March 2014, commencing at 7:05pm.
Tom O'Connor
Colin Wallace
Mary Wallace
Colin Nightingale
Judith Trimble
Jennifer Bantow
Ian Mason
Michael Mifsud
Cr D Lyons (Mayor)
Crs:
T Ansett
L Ellis
J Farrell
K Fisher
B Harwood
M Heagney
J Irvine
E Kontelj
S Kontelj* (7:22pm)
R Macdonald
A Richards
S Griffin (Chief Executive Officer)
M Kelly (Acting General Manager Corporate Services)
P Bettess (General Manager Economic Development, Planning and Tourism)
V Shelton (Acting General Manager City Services)
J McMahon (General Manager Community Services)
D Frost (General Manager Projects, Recreation and Central Geelong)
J Brown (Manager Administration and Governance)
K Paton (Manager Arts and Culture)
B Johnsen (Senior ED Project Officer)
D Chiller (Senior Co-ordinator Communication & Marketing
A Paterson (Mayoral Advisor)
The Mayor declared the meeting open at 7:05pm.
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.
Councillors R Nelson
Cr Fisher moved, Cr Harwood seconded –
That Leave of Absence be granted to Cr Rod Macdonald from 27 March to 5 April, inclusive.
Carried.
Cr Harwood moved, Cr Ellis seconded -
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 25 February 2014 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.
Tom O’Connor asked the status of the City Parking report:
Stephen Griffin, Chief Executive Officer, advised a report is currently being prepared for Council consideration detailing the outcomes of the Central Geelong Parking Strategy. The report will come back to Council during April.
Colin Wallace asked:
Mr Mayor, during the meeting my wife and I had with you and Alister Paterson Monday of last week I said I had made a complaint to the State Ombudsman once and it was not about this, meaning First Street.
Are Councillors aware that the one time I made a complaint to the State Ombudsman was in 2008 and it had nothing to do with First Street, nothing to do with traffic, nothing to do with any part of the planning or development process beyond the Ropeworks Panel Hearing which concluded in September 2006 so it had nothing to do with the Panel Report, the decision Council made to approve the development, the Planning Permit or the administration of it, the complaint was by myself only, done in my name only, I gave no one permission to speak on my behalf to the State Ombudsman and the State Ombudsman did not conduct an investigation?
The Mayor noted the comments.
John Brown, Manager Administration and Governance, added the Ropeworks Hearing Panel issue in respect to the supermarket was referred to the Ombudsman and a response was provided to Mr Wallace by the Ombudsman.
Mary Wallace asked:
Are Councillors aware that I have never been to the State Ombudsman, never made a complaint to the State Ombudsman, never received anything from the State Ombudsman and never given anyone permission to speak for me to the State Ombudsman?
The Mayor responded he was not aware, but is now aware of it.
Colin Nightingale asked the following in relation to Amendment C300:
Will Council have legal planning representation at the Independent Panel?
Peter Bettess advised he believed Council will have a legal representative from Maddocks.
If so, do Councillors accept the proposition that it is inherently undemocratic to be using the rate payments of Geelong West residents to undertake a legal case against these same people, the vast majority of whom are strongly opposed to C300?
In the Schedule for local requirements in RGZ1, will the wording for the maximum height state this height should not/will not/ must not be exceeded?
The Mayor noted the comments.
Peter Bettess added the submissions are referred to the Independent Panel and wording is as it was in the report to Council on 25 February. Height had been reduced from 4 to 3 which wasn’t reflected in the Schedule.
Judith Trimble asked the following in relation to the Geelong Botanic Gardens:
Is Council aware that the Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens have raised and dispersed in excess of $500,000 to support the Gardens? We would therefore request that the Friends be included in discussions concerning planning infrastructure. We welcome Council’s new interest in the Gardens and the provision of renewed facilities.
The Mayor noted the comments.
Jennifer Bantow asked the following questions regarding the Planning Panel Process regarding Amendment C300:
What information does Council supply to the Panel given that the Panel is concerned with planning policy only, not other relevant matters such as people’s stress and their anxiety about loss of property values?
Does Council give the Panel the petitions and if so are they considered relevant by the Panel?
Is Council going to defend Amendment C300 at the Panel, thus putting Council in opposition to those people it represents?
If Council is presenting at the Panel how will that be done?
When the Planning Panel report is finished, what happens, does Council have the opportunity to review, and possibly change or modify the Panel’s report to come up with the final Amendment?
The Mayor responded the questions would be responded to in writing.
Cr Harwood added the Panel does not make a decision - the Minister has the final say. Council will review the Panel report and provide Council with a report for its consideration.
* Cr S Kontelj entered the meeting room at 7:22pm.
Ian Mason asked why there was no survey of residents of ‘heritage areas’ in Belmont, Hamlyn Heights, etc.
Peter Bettess responded that the Planning Scheme Amendment was widely publicised and suggested from previous questions a lot of residents were informed.
Michael Mifsud provided Council with a series of statements in relation to Amendment C288 – Adventure Park:
Peter Bettess advised that submissions will be referred to an Independent Panel and that Panel will consider the issues you have raised. Residents have the opportunity to be heard before the Panel. There is no time frame established at this stage.
Nil.
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