Council Minutes - Section A: Procedural Matters - 27 May 2014

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Held at the Geelong Greyhound Racing Club, Princes Freeway, Corio commencing at 7:00pm.




Present


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Also present:



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Opening

The Mayor declared the meeting open at 7:00pm.


Acknowledgements

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.


Apologies

Nil.


Confirmation of Minutes

Cr Ansett moved, Cr Harwood seconded -

That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 13 May 2014 be confirmed and signed.

Carried.


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Declaration of Conflicts of Interest

Nil.


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Question Time

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.


Maria French asked the following in relation to Accensi Pesticide Plant:

  1. I live in Canterbury Road East, Lara, within 2km of the Council approved Accensi pesticide plant.  The EPA have noted that the recommended separation distance for industrial air emissions is not met.  Why wasn’t I and the other residents notified and given a chance to object?

  2. Given that each site is unique, why hasn’t any major incident modelling been done for the Lara site, and why haven’t environmental and health impact and risk assessment reports been made public?

  3. Accensi intend to store hazardous chemicals in bunded areas but how do they propose to safely and permanently dispose of extremely toxic by-products and waste materials such as Dioxin; incineration is out of the question given that families live 200 metres away and the plant is adjacent to a water catchment basin?

Peter Bettess responded Accensi will be located within an industrial 2 zone which allows for this kind of use.

Worksafe has advised Council that health and safety risks from potential major incidents will not impact the local community.

Both WorkSafe and the EPA will monitor the safe handling of chemicals on the site.


Ross and Cath Johnson directed their questions to Cr Heagney in relation to Armstrong Creek Town Centre:

  1. When speaking to your motion to adopt the Council officer’s recommendation for Item 5, did you state that the Cardno Costing to construct the intersection of Boundary Road and Connector A in the ACTC at $3,832,832 was incorrect?

    Cr Heagney responded, “yes, I did say it was incorrect”.

  2. When speaking to your motion to adopt the Council officer’s recommendation for Item 5, did you advise Council that you have spoken to a senior manager of VicRoads who advised you that the correct costing to construct the intersection of Boundary Road and Connector A in the ACTC was between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000?

    Cr Heagney responded she had been advised by Council staff that the costs would be between $1 and $2ml and in discussions with VicRoads they concurred with that estimate.

  3. When speaking to your motion to adopt the Council officers recommendation for Item 5, did you advise Councillors that the Council had a policy on the construction of subdivision road and the recommendations of the Council officers were in accordance with that policy?

    1. If so, what is the name of that policy?

    2. When did the Council adopt it as policy?

    3. When was it last reviewed? 

    4. Is this policy incorporate in the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme? 

    5. Is this policy available to the general public? 

    6. Has it been publicly exhibited?

    Cr Heagney responded, yes, I inadvertently used the word policy in lieu of reference to the principles that Council applies in assessing DCP’s.


Lorel Robinson addressed Council as follows regarding the Kevin Hoffman Walk:

As Windermere Ward funding of $600,000 is no longer, I seek from you (on behalf of all interested parties under our current rolling “live” MOU, an assurance of continued support for this amazing walk – by way of either:

  1. Some Geelong Botanical Gardens staffing on-site support (for plantings, maintenance, etc);

  2. Some City Services ground crew staff on-site support (via Northern Sector under Renee) for tree prunings, green waste removals, etc., or

  3. Some recurrent funding (under a proposed Plan of Management and Future Funding) for on-site costs, i.e. plants and equipment via to the Friends of Kevin Hoffman Walk Inc.

    4. Paul Jane responded that Council would welcome a conversation in relation to Kevin Hoffman Walk and would set up a meeting to discuss.

    Cr Ansett thanked Ms Robinson for the works undertaken in relation to Kevin Hoffman Walk.


Lionel McWilliam asked the following on behalf of Barry White, President Lara Care Group:

The Lara Care Group has circulated a letter to all Councillors which raises questions regarding a permanent 200 metre buffer around Serendip Sanctuary and management of domestic animals in the proposed new estate.  These issues were central to community acceptance of the planning application for the Caddys Road development proposed near Serendip. It should be noted that all parties, including the Minister for Planning, Council, the developers and of course, the community, have highlighted and accepted the need for a buffer to Serendip given its environmental significance and sensitivity.  The Minister has also recommended a ban on cats in the new estate.

We have been advised that the Minister has now approved this development and recommendations regarding the buffer and domestic animal management will become Council responsibilities.

Could Council now respond to the letter on these matters dated 19 May sent to all Councillors and how it proposes to implement and enforce these requirements?

The Mayor responded the questions would be responded to in writing.


Frank Chalifour asked questions re Planning Permit 1185/2013 Lara Central Estates at Caddy’s Road:

The Planning Minister has required a signed section 173 agreement banning the keeping of cats from all home buyers in the estate.  The Minister has recommended Council pass a local domestic animal law for the area to protect Serendip Sanctuary.  Both dogs and cats pose a critical danger to the State Sanctuary’s captive breeding programs and endangered species.

  1. How will Council be enforcing the cat ban in this estate?

  2. Is Council willing to adopt a cat impound and forfeiture process with stiff owner fines for violating the ban?

  3. Directed to all Councillors and specifically Crs Heagney and Ansett:  Will you support adding the Serendip and the You Yang precinct to the 2014 Bellarine Peninsula Localised Planning Statement?


The Mayor responded the questions would be taken on notice for a written response.


Mary Wallace asked:

Keith Fagg resigned as Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong on Friday 16 August 2013.  At the Council Meeting of 13 August 2013, at which Mayor Fagg was absent, why did Cr Andy Richards move an extension of leave for Mayor Fagg from 5 August to 16 August inclusive, when leave for Mayor Fagg had already been granted at the previous Council Meeting from 3 August to 9 August inclusive and, on Sunday 11 August, that is the second day after his leave ended, Mayor Fagg had attended in his mayoral role the Welcome to Geelong for Asylum Seekers and Refugees lunch at Geelong Trades Hall?  At the 13 August 2013 Council Meeting, shouldn’t Cr Andy Richards have moved an additional period of leave for Mayor Fagg, beginning on 12 or 13 August till 16 August?

Council concurs with Mrs Wallace’s observation.


Gary Gillett advised he owns a parcel of 100 acres of land at 240 Forest Road South, with boundaries fronting Forest Road to the east and the unmade continuation of Broderick Road to the west.  My corner boundary is diagonally about 50 metres from the proposed ACCENSI production site. 

Not too long ago all the land around me was all farming land.  Gradually Council has rezoned the land to industrial.  Then a few years ago they decided that we were to be a buffer zone between the industrial land and the township of Lara.

  1. I want to know why I cannot subdivide my property into 10 acre lifestyle blocks?

  2. The ACCENSI plant will produce the highly toxic chemical paraquat that is a non specific herbicide which kills all plant life on contact.  It can also enter the human body through inhalation, skin contact, mucus membranes and orally. There will be cattle grazing only 50 metres away from this plant.

Is this the same chemical plant that was originally going to be built in North Geelong?

Peter Bettess took the questions on notice for a written response.


Justin Teague addressed Council as follows:

In view the current Member for Bellarine telling us she had asked Cr Farrell that “If $1.5ml was contributed toward the development of the Shell Road Reserve, would that stop the sale of the netball courts?”, and that this was responded with, “it doesn’t matter if the money is given because no matter what, the netball courts are going to be sold” (making reference to the courts opposite Memorial Reserve).  Cr Farrell, do you confirm or deny these statements?

Cr Farrell responded she denied such a statement.

Cr Farrell added she had tried on several occasions to make contact with Justin which were unsuccessful on the contact number provided.  An email was then provided on the 19 May responding to several submitted questions in relation to the sale of the Draper Street land.

Cr Farrell also invited Justin to make contact on her mobile number provided to discuss further.

A written response will be forwarded to the additional questions submitted prior to the meeting.


Colin Wallace asked:

  1. Mr Mayor, do you realise that, when I said previously I believed you needed to have Alister Paterson helping you for much longer than the three months of his original contract, it was on the basis of him not being an employee of the City of Greater Geelong who would report ultimately or directly to the CEO?

    The Mayor responded, “No”.

  2. Mr Mayor, do you realise that, prior to the meeting my wife and I had with you and Alister Paterson on 3 March, I had a spark of hope that Mr Paterson would give you advice on the governance that was independent from the officers and councillors put in your way and that this hope was extinguished in the meeting, despite the fact Mr Paterson was yet to be an employee reporting to the CEO?

    The Mayor responded, “No”.

  3. Mr Mayor, do you expect the CEO to take responsibility for the actions of the staff?

    The Mayor responded, “yes, indeed I do”.

Ben Connoley asked that given the eastern end of McKillop Street, from Ormond Road through to Boundary Road is classified as a category 4 neighbourhood road, and is a Council controlled street.  And also given that there has been an increase in heavy vehicles using this part of McKillop Street due to the current truck trial in the CBD.

In consideration of many concerned residents, would Council consider placing relevant signage and/or barriers at the intersections of McKillop and Boundary Roads, and McKillop and Ormond Roads to enforce its category 4 neighbourhood road rating for local traffic only?

Gary Van Driel responded that the truck trials are nearing conclusion and dates are being set up for public submissions.  The trial is running for a six month period from 3 March 2014 with Council reviewing progress of the trial in July 2014.


Frank Kennedy asked, In order to seek an answer to the ongoing East/West Traffic issue, would it please be possible for Council to establish a working party of all stakeholders to have heavy vehicles use Boundary Road as the preferred route?

The Mayor took the question on notice for a written response.


Michael Garvey asked, as a resident of McKillop Street, I received advice from local member, Mr Ian Tresize MP that Council will review the current heavy vehicle restrictions in Central Geelong in July.

Can Council advise us at this time how that review will be conducted and how will it be judged to be successful and will any judgement be made of the negative effect of the trial on ratepayers in McKillop and Ryrie Streets? 

Gary Van Driel took the question on notice for a written response.


John Goodwin addressed Council as follows:

  1. New Max Prison

    Has this new facility been approved?

  2. Fertilizer Plant

    Why after all the protest has the estate been approved?

  3. Caddy’s

    Vicinity of the fertilizer plant to Herds and people?

  4. Olives

    Modern Olive Processing Plant within close proximity of location?

The questions were taken on notice for a written response.


Daniel Cowdell asked his questions in relation to the issue of funding for Sustainability and the Environment in the City of Greater Geelong Proposed Budget 2014-2015:

Given the concerns for funding of FPG, the PBN, and the EMS, and the clear priorities of the City Plan, how will Councillors demonstrate commitment to sustainability and the environment?  How will you achieve the objectives of the City Plan with the budget that has been proposed?

The Mayor responded the question would be responded to in writing and added that Council will review budget submissions on 13 June.


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Petitions

Rob Leonard - Spokesperson for RAG (Residents Action Group), presented the Mayor with a petition regarding a proposed chemical processing plant on a site not far from their dwellings.


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Contents | Next Page: Section B – Reports (1-2)

City of Greater Geelong