Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the Council Conference and Reception Centre - City Hall on 23 September 2014, commencing at 7:05pm.
Dennis Butler
Vanessa Anderson
Leanne Hinge
Barry White
Graeme Smith
Tom O’Connor
Colin Wallace
Mary Wallace
Georgios Tolongos
Crs:
B Harwood (Acting Mayor)
T Ansett
L Ellis
J Farrell
K Fisher
M Heagney
J Irvine
E Kontelj
S Kontelj
R Macdonald
R Nelson
A Richards
G Miles (Chief Executive Officer)
M Kelly (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)
M Gibbs (Acting Manager Administration and Governance)
R Bourke (Co-ordinator Governance)
D Chiller (Co ordinator Communication and Marketing)
The Acting Mayor declared the meeting open at 7.05pm.
Council acknowledges Wadawurrung Traditional Owners of this land and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who are part of the Greater Geelong community today.
Councillors:
Cr D Lyons (Mayor)
Cr Ansett moved, Cr Heagney seconded –
That Leave of Absence be granted to Cr Harwood from 16 October to 2 November 2014, inclusive.
Carried.
Cr Ansett moved, Cr E Kontelj seconded -
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 9 September 2014 be confirmed and signed.
Carried.
Cr S Kontelj declared an Indirect Interest by Close Association in Agenda Item 1 – Amendment C199 – Changes to Zones and Overlays, ICD Property Land, Fyansford and Item 7 – Managing Future Growth – Further Investigation Areas in that the developers have donated to fundraisers associated with his wife’s Election Campaign.
Cr E Kontelj declared an Indirect Interest by Close Association in Agenda Item 12 – Consideration of Tender Submissions for Tender T1400033 – Drysdale landfill Cells 6 and 4A Liner Construction in that one of the tenderers is a customer of his employer.
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.
Dennis Butler and Vanessa Anderson submitted questions prior to the Council Meeting, but as they were not in attendance at the Meeting a written response will be forwarded.
Leanne Hinge asked questions in relation to the container operations of Rocke Bros Transport based off McLelland Avenue on the site formerly occupied by Josies Transport:
We are greatly concerned with the container stacking and transport operations at this site which is now operating around the clock. The noise from this site is incredible and we are now being woken throughout the night. Many neighbours are complaining about the lack of sleep from the noise of container stacking, trucks coming over the Avalon Road bridge off the highway all night, operating their air brakes and gear changes as they slow to turn into McLelland Avenue. This is now at a point where the noise, light and dust from this operation is almost unbearable for local residents and is becoming a serious health issue?
Why has Council allowed this situation to develop, particularly so close to housing and when will action be taken to close or relocate this operation?
Cr Ansett responded that the Company is operating on a permit which was granted in 1994 to operate 24 hours. Cr Ansett added the company is aware of the noise and complaints and they are slightly backing off on the volume. They are also looking for alternate land in the area to carry out their operations.
Barry White representing the Lara Care Group addressed Council as follows also in relation to the operations at Rocke Bros Container Storage site in Lara:
We have requested a copy of the present permit and the conditions which apply to this site - noting that the original permit was issued in 1994 when the site was used for a completely different business -
When can we receive a copy of the permit which was issued in 1994?
Why was there no community consultation when the permit was extended to Rocke Bros given the significantly different nature of its business compared to the previous use of the site?
What action is Council taking, or will take to relocate this operation to a suitable industrial site?
Cr Ansett responded that the operation is not ours to relocate – its private enterprise.
Peter Bettess advised he would provide a copy of the permit and advised the permit runs with the land and can pass from the original permit holder to a subsequent landowner as there is no process to adjust or renew. They can operate lawfully under the 1994 permit.
Graeme Smith commended Council, on behalf of the residents of the Tanderra Court area, for their work in relation to Amendment C309.
Tom O’Connor provided several comments in relation to the Bellarine Strategic Plan which were acknowledged.
Colin Wallace asked:
Does Cr Ron Nelson agree that the word disrespectful was not in the recommended resolution for Item 3 Council Meeting Procedures Local Law 2013 in the Agenda for the Ordinary Meeting of Council 24th September 2013?
Cr Nelson took the question on notice.
Given that the word disrespectful is in the resolution for Item 3 Council Meeting Procedures Local Law 2013 in the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council 24th September 2013, does Cr Nelson agree there was no vote by Councillors at that meeting to include the word disrespectful in the resolution?
Cr Nelson took the question on notice.
Does Cr Nelson agree that he raised the word disrespectful when the Ordinary Meeting of Council 24th September 2013 got to Item 3 Council Meeting Procedures Local law 2013 and that he requested the inclusion of the word disrespectful in the resolution?
Cr Nelson responded, I think so from memory – yes.
Given that the Council Meeting Procedures Local law 2013 replaced the Council Meeting Procedures Local Law 2009, does Cr Nelson agree that the words defamatory, indecent, abusive, offensive, vexatious, frivolous, irrelevant, trivial and objectionable in language were not in the section headed Public Question Time in the Council Meeting Procedures Local Law 2009?
Cr Nelson took the question on notice.
Does Cr Nelson agree that when the Council Meeting Procedures Local Law 2013 Submissions Review Panel met on 2nd September 2013 he was an apology and did not attend?
Cr Nelson took the question on notice.
Mary Wallace asked:
At the Council Meeting on 8th October 2013, my husband Colin Wallace asked Cr Lindsay Ellis as one of the three Councillors on the Submissions Review Panel for the Council Meeting Procedures Local Law 2013 if he had the 2009 Local Law and specifically the section on Public Question Time so he could compare it with what was proposed for the Public Question Time section of the 2013 Local Law and, since the panel had met only a month beforehand, as far as my husband and I could tell there was only one submission – ours – and our submission was confined to Public Question Time, why did Cr Ellis not answer the question on the night?
Since Cr Ellis did not answer the question on the night and signed a subsequent written response that said he had access to the 2009 Council Meeting Procedures Local Law but did not say he had read the section on Public Question Time in it, can I take it that Cr Ellis did not read the Public Question Time section of the 2009 Council Meeting Procedures Local Law when he sat on the Submissions Review Panel which met to consider one submission only – ours, which was confined to Public Question Time?
Cr Ellis took the questions on notice.
Georgios Tolongos asked when will the Council take action to close down the container operations at the Rocke Bros site or relocate it to the GREP or to Avalon where it would not inconvenience the community and where it would create new industrial activity and employment opportunities which we all know are needed there?
Cr Ansett responded he met with Mr Tolongos Thursday week ago and therefore there has not been enough time to investigate. Cr Ansett also added the speed limit and main roads are the responsibility of Vicroads and not Council. He also indicated there are quite a few issues to be dealt with in relation to this operation.
Cr S Kontelj presented a petition from citizens of the City of Greater Geelong insisting that both our local and state government ban onshore gas extraction (fracking) permanently once and for all.
Cr Ansett presented a petition from concerned citizens who urge the City of Greater Geelong and/or relevant planning authorities to stop the proposed development of a 250 acre basalt quarry and blasting site on rural land 3 kilometres east of Anakie. They believe the application by Aerolite Quarries Pty Ltd is totally out of context in a quiet rural farming area and a major threat to the amenity of the region.
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